They took a multitude of titles.

They were the Women of England, the Daughters of Britain, the Sisters of all the cardinal virtues separately, the Females of America, the Ladies of a hundred denominations.

They appeared to be always excited about canvassing and electing.

They seemed to our poor wits, and according to their own accounts, to be constantly polling people by tens of thousands, yet never bringing their candidates in for anything.

It made our heads ache to think, on the whole, what feverish lives they must lead.
Among the ladies who were most distinguished for this rapacious benevolence (if I may use the expression) was a Mrs.Pardiggle, who seemed, as I judged from the number of her letters to Mr.Jarndyce, to be almost as powerful a correspondent as Mrs.Jellyby herself.