my own daughter [mary] is considerably superior in capacity to the one her mother had before. fanny, the eldest, is of a quiet, modest, unshowy disposition, somewhat given to indolence, which is her greatest fault, but sober, observing, peculiarly clear and distinct in the faculty of memory, and disposed to exercise her own thoughts and follow her own judgment. mary, my daughter, is the reverse of her in many particulars. she is singularly bold, somewhat imperious, and active of mind. her desire for knowledge is great, and her perseverance in everything she undertakes is almost invincible. my own daughter is, i believe, very pretty; fanny is by no means handsome, but in general prepossessing.