6
either the couple’ s closeness or the benefit such union might bring to family businesses. In 1788 Joseph iterates that having‘ consulted’ his father, since when he has‘ said no more to him’ and‘ not living in Derby [ his father ] knows no more about it’; his sister‘ highly disapproved of my precipitation’; and family conversations‘ implied a disapprobation of my conduct [...]( being feelingly alive to every idea which had a reference to you)’. 5 Joseph appears to take this disapproval as related to Isabella’ s conduct, which he thinks can be amended by education, self-improvement and ultimately her conversion to Unitarianism, something which does not become evident until 1792 when‘ Your Christening I find is fixed for the 17 th [ January ]’, although Joseph has so many engagements he is unable to attend. 6 The first reading of these letters, chronologically, did not reveal an explicit religious element in Joseph’ s narrative, although this seemed a possible scenario, it was Joseph’ s confirmation in 1792 that Isabella was to be christened, that provided the missing evidence for his spirituallyinspired advice.
While Unitarians generally were prohibited by law from holding public office they were nonetheless part of a vibrant public face. 7 Both men and women were to be equally educated sufficiently to be able to‘ reason’ and to live a continuous pathway of self-improvement. This equality meant that married-women were accepted in socioeconomic roles beyond the domestic. 8 In his coercion of Isabella to educate herself and seek self-improvement he attaches faith-driven behaviour to the expectations of his future wife. Joseph notes his concern for her( Presbyterian) society which‘ is not the most improving – unmeaning conversation & idle company take up much of your time’ believing this to be an evil‘ which if not checked will grow upon you’. 9 Joseph’ s personal Unitarianism contained intractable opinions on the rightness of certain behaviours, seen through his letters and acted out at the assemblies and entertainments in and around Derbyshire. He was candid in his reports to Isabella of her own shortfall in meeting his high, congregationally-determined expectations. Joseph saw it as his‘ duty’ to point out her faults which he would not have discovered
5
Letters from Joseph to Isabella, 26 th October 1788, 26 th January 1789, and 13 th October 1789( BAHPS MS3101 / C / E / 4 / 8 / 14, 17 and 19).
6
Letter from Joseph to Isabella, 3 rd January 1792( BAHPS MS3101 / C / E / 4 / 8 / 30).
7
Toleration Act 1689.
8
Leonore Davidoff and Catherine Hall, Family Fortunes: Men and Women of the English Middle Class 1780-1850( Routledge, 2019).
9
Letter from Joseph to Isabella, 16 th November 1790( BAHPS MS3101 / C / E / 4 / 8 / 21).