There is a great deal of pleasant society in Geneva to be met with, and many have welcomed us most affably. Those who have an establishment in the city issue such general invitations, that we regularly meet to take in the papers, and enjoy walking and discussing the events of the world in the gardens. The Swiss are knowledgeable and urbane, and both sexes discourse on the most learned subjects. The women are very well-read, and not at all reluctant to engage in discussions, with great interest, along-side the men—much the same as the women of France, but with a more congenial and reasonable stile of address. The calm orderliness of the city and the modesty and industry of the Genevans is a marked contrast to France, and the atmosphere of tolerance amongst the Swiss—of ideas, of dress, of education, of everything—enables me to understand why men such as Shelley and Byron sought the liberality of its society. We have not met them, although exiled writers are plentiful here, and tales of their irregularities of behaviour provide an endless source of conversation for the respectable Swiss. It is doubtful that our own family will be adjudged to have acquitted ourselves creditably against such standards of eccentricity of which we are daily reminded, and I fear that the Darcy family will be remembered for saying only things very dull, indeed, as measured against such exemplars of the creative genius.

Bingley, I will congratulate myself heartily on the choice of horses and the carriages. The coach and chaise have proven very comfortable and commodious against all manner of poor road, and the horses have gone most admirably through the least expected of situations without moving off an hair’s-breath from straight. The harness we have seen! English fishermen have better rope than that which binds the French horse and coach—such a bundle of knots and irregularity of construction you cannot imagine. The wonder is that anything or anybody gets down the road in one piece. Harmon remains in continual indignation over the state of the French equipage, and we have been here nearly a week. I secured a few days of capital fishing in France, and hope to be able to get in a few more days’ sport ere we return, but will defer my raptures until I have more leisure for writing.

I have been reminded thrice by the desire of my wife and sister to send their love and many kisses to baby Georgiana. I will only add, God bless you,

FITZWILLIAM DARCY