On rereading persuation this time I noticed the following line:

"...Sir Walter had improved it by adding, for the information of himself and his family, these words, after the date of Mary's birth -- "Married, December 16, 1810, Charles, son and heir of Charles Musgrove, Esq. of Uppercross, in the county of Somerset," and by inserting most accurately the day of the month on which he had lost his wife."

This to me gave some indication of his feelings for his wife. Cosidering how much he cherishes his 'Books of Books', the Baronetage, and how vain he is, for him to take the time to enter this extra detail, shows how significant this date is to him. Hence, IMHO, it shows the strength of his feeling for his wife.

Did anyone else think so? Or am I just reading too much into this, and he just wanted to keep his Baronetage upto date?