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rived only some days after, and the rumors are the subject of his letter. That I shall preserve-it is as well. Lewis and Galt were both horrified; and L. wondered I did not introduce the situation into 'the Giaour.' He may wonder-he might wonder more at that production's being written at all. But to describe the feelings of that situation were impossible it is icy even to recollect them.

of judges. I reverence and admire him; but I won't
give up my opinion-why should I? I read her again
and again, and there can be no affectation in this. I
cannot be mistaken (except in taste) in a book I
read and lay down, and take up again; and no book
can be totally bad, which finds one, even one reader,
who can say as much sincerely.

"Campbell talks of lecturing next spring; his "The Bride of Abydos was published on Thurs- last lectures were eminently successful. Moore day the second of December; but how it is liked or thought of it, but gave it up, I don't know why. disliked, I know not. Whether it succeeds or not had been prating dignity to him, and such stuff; is no fault of the public, against whom I can have as if a man disgraced himself by instructing and no complaint. But I am much more indebted to pleasing at the same time. the tale than I can ever be to the most partial "Introduced to Marquis Buckingham-saw Lord reader; as it wrung my thoughts from reality to im-Gower-he is going to Holand; Sir J. and Lady agination-from selfish regrets to vivid recollections Mackintosh and Horner, G. Lamb, with, I know -and recalled me to a country replete with the brightest and darkest, but always most lively colors of my memory. Sharpe called, but was not let in, which I regret.

*

"Saw yesterday. I have not kept my appointment at Middleton, which has not pleased him, perhaps; and my projected voyage with ** will, perhaps, please him less. But I wish to keep well with both. They are instruments that don't do, in concert; but, surely, their separate tones are very musical, and I won't give up either.

not how many, (R. Wellesley, one-a clever man,)
grouped about the room. Little Henry Fox, a fine
boy, and very promising in mind and manner,-he
went away to bed, before I had time to talk to him.
I am sure I had rather hear him than all the sarans.
"Monday, Dec. 6.
"Murray tells me that Croker asked him why the
thing was called the Bride of Abydos?
It is a
cursed awkward question, being unanswerable. She
is not a bride, only about to be one; but for, &c.,
&c., &c.

"I don't wonder at his finding out the bull; but
the detection *** is too late to do any good. I was
a great fool to make it, and am ashamed of not being
an Irishman.

"It is well if I don't jar between these great discords. At present, I stand tolerably well with all, but I cannot adopt their dislikes-so many sets. Holland's is the first;-every thing distingué is welcome there, and certainly the ton of his society "Campbell last night seemed a little nettled at is the best. Then there is Mde, de Stael's-there I something or other-I know not what. We were never go, though I might, had I courted it. It is standing in the ante-saloon, when Lord H. brought composed of the **s and the ** family, with a out of the other room a vessel of some composition strange sprinkling,-orators, dandies, and all kinds similar to that which is used in Catholic churches, of blue, from the regular Grub street uniform, and, seeing us, he exclaimed, Here is some incense down to the azure jacket of the Litérateur. To for you.' Campbell answered-Carry it to Lord see and✶✶ sitting together, at dinner, always Byron-he is used to it.'

reminds me of the grave, where all distinctions of "Now, this comes of 'bearing no brother near the friend and foe are levelled; and they-the Reviewer throne.' I, who have no throne, nor wish to have and Reviewee, the rhinoceros and elephant, the one now-whatever I may have done-am at perfect mammoth and Megalonyx-all will lie quietly to- peace with all the poetical fraternity;-or, at least, gether. They now sit together, as silent, but not if I dislike any, it is not poetically, but personally. so quiet, as if they were already immured.

*

*

"I did not go to the Berry's the other night. The elder is a woman of much talent, and both are handsome, and must have been beautiful. To-night asked to Lord H.'s-shall I go? um! perhaps.

"Morning, two o'clock.

Surely, the field of thought is infinite;-what does
it signify who is before or behind in a race where
there is no goal? The temple of Fame is like that
of the Persians, the Universe;-our altar, the tops
of mountains. I should be equally content with
Mount Caucasus or Mount- Anything; and those
who like it may have Mont Blanc or Chimborazo,
without my envy of their elevation.

"Went to Lord H.'s-party numerous-milady | "I think I may now speak thus; for I have just in perfect good humor, and consequently perfect. published a poem, and am quite ignorant whether it No one more agreeable, or perhaps so much so, is likely to be liked or not. I have hitherto heard when she will. Asked for Wednesday to dine and little in its commendation, and no one can downmeet the Staël;-asked particularly, I believe, out right abuse it to one's face, except in print. It can't of mischief, to see the first interview after the note, be good, or I should not have stumbled over the with which Corinne professes herself to be so much threshold, and blundered in my very title. But I taken. I don't much like it;-she always talks of begun it with heart full of ***, and my head of myself or herself, and I am not (except in solilo-orientialities, (I can't call them isms,) and wrote on quy, as now) much enamored of either subject-rapidly.

especially one's works. What the devil shall I say This journal is a relief. When I am tired-as
about De l'Allemagne?' I like it prodigiously; I generally am-out comes this, and down goes every
but unless I can twist my admiration into some fan- thing. But I can't read it over;-and God knows
tastical expression, she won't believe me; and I what contradictions it may contain. If I am sincere
know, by experience, I shall be overwhelmed with with myself, (but I fear one lies more to one's self
fine things about rhyme, &c., &c. The lover, Mr. than to any one else,) every page should confute,
Rocia, was there to-night, and Campbell said, 'it refute, and utterly abjure its predecessor.
was the only proof he had seen of her good taste.'
Monsieur L'Amant is remarkably handsome; but I
don't think more so than her book.

"Another scribble from Martin Baldwin the petitioner: I have neither head nor nerves to present it. That confounded supper at Lewis's has spoiled "Campbell looks well-seemed pleased, and dressed my digestion and my philanthropy. I have no more to sprucery. A blue coat becomes him, so does his charity than a cruet of vinegar. Would I were an new wig. He really looked as if Apollo had sent ostrich, and dieted on fire-irons-or any thing that him a birth-day suit, or a wedding-garment, and was my gizzards could get the better of.

66

witty and lively. *** He abused Corinne's book, To-day saw W. His uncle is dying, and W. which I regret; because, firstly, he understands don't much affect our Dutch determinations. I dine German, and is, consequently, a fair judge; and, with him on Thursday, provided l'oncle is not dined secondly, he is first-rate, and, consequently, the best upon, or peremptorily bespoke by the posthumous

1

epicures, before that day. I wish he may recover, the note annexed to the Bride.' This is to be acnot for our dinner's sake, but to disappoint the un- counted for in several ways:-firstly, all women like dertaker, and the rascally reptiles that may well all, or any praise; secondly, this was unexpected, wait, since they will dine at last. because I have never courted her; and, thirdly, as "Gell called-he of Troy-after I was out. Mem. Scrub says, those who have been all their lives regu-to return his visit. But my Mems. are the very larly praised, by regular critics, like a little variety, landmarks of forgetfulness :-something like a light- and are glad when any one goes out of his way to house, with a ship wrecked under the nose of its say a civil thing; and, fourthly, she is a very goodlantern. I never look at a Mem. without seeing that natured creature, which is the best reason, after all, I have remembered to forget. Mem.-I have for- and, perhaps, the only one. gotten to pay Pitt's taxes, and suppose I shall be "A knock-knocks single and double. surcharged.An' I do not turn rebel when thou art called. He says Dutch society (he has been in Holking-oons! I believe my very biscuit is leavened land) is second-hand. French; but the women are with that impostor's imposts. like women every where else. This is a bore; I should like to see them a little unlike; but that can't be expected.

Bland

"Ly. Me. returns from Jersey's to-morrow;-I must call. A Mr. Thomson has sent a song, which I must applaud. I hate annoying them with cen- "Went out-came home-this, that, and the sure or silence, and yet I hate lettering. other-and all is vanity, saith the preacher,' and "Saw Lord Glenbervie and his prospectus, at so say I, as part of his congregation. Talking of Murray's, of a new Treatise on Timber. Now here vanity-whose praise do I prefer? Why, Mrs. is a man more useful than all the historians and Inchbald's, and that of the Americans. The first, rhymers ever planted. For, by preserving our because her 'Simple Story' and 'Nature and Art' woods and forests, he furnishes materials for all the are, to me, true to their titles; and consequently, history of Britain worth reading, and all the odes her short note to Rogers about the Giaour' deworth nothing. lighted me more than any thing, except the Edin"Redde a good deal, but desultorily. My head burgh Review. I like the Americans, because 1 is crammed with the most useless lumber. It is happened to be in Asia, while the English Bards odd that when I do read, I can only bear the chicken- and Scotch Reviewers were redde in America. If I broth of any thing but novels. It is many a year could have had a speech against the Slave Trade, since I have looked into one, (though they are some-in Africa, and an epitaph on a dog, in Europe, (i. times ordered, by way of experiment, but never e. in the Morning Post,) my vertex sublimis would taken,) till I looked yesterday at the worst parts of certainly have displaced stars enough to overthrow the Monk. These descriptions ought to have been the Newtonian system. written by Tiberias at Caprea-they are forced

"Friday, Dec. 10, 1813.

the philtred ideas of a jaded voluptuary. It is to "I am ennuy beyond my usual tense of that me inconceivable how they could have been com- yawning verb, which I am always conjugating; and posed by a man of only twenty-his age when he I don't find that society much mends the matter. wrote them. They have no nature-all the sour I am too lazy to shoot myself-and it would annoy cream of cantharides. I should have suspected Augusta, and perhaps **; but it would be a good Buffon of writing them on the death-bed of his de- thing for George, on the other side, and no bad one testable dotage. I had never redde this edition, and for me; but I won't be tempted.

merely looked at them from curiosity and recollec- "I have had the kindest letter from Moore. tion of the noise they made, and the name they do think that man is the best-hearted, the only have left to Lewis. But they could do no harm hearted being I ever encountered; and then, his except talents are equal to his feelings. "Called this evening on my agent-my business "Dined on Wednesday at Lord H.'s-the Stafas usual. Our strange adventures are the only in-fords, Staëls, Cowpers, Ossulstones, Melbournes, heritances of our family that have not diminished. Mackintoshes, &c., &c.,-and was introduced to

the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford,-an unexpected event. My quarrel with Lord Carlisle (their or his brother-in-law) having rendered it improper, I suppose, brought it about. But, if it was to happen at all, I wonder it did not occur before. She is handsome, and must have been beautifuland her manners are princessly. *

"I shall now smoke two cigars, and get me to bed. The cigars don't keep well here. They get as old as a donna di quaranti anni in the sun of Africa. The Havana are the best ;-but neither are so pleasant as a hooka or chibouque. The Turkish tobacco is mild, and their horses entire-two things as they should be. I am so far obliged to this jour- "The Staël was at the other end of the table, and nal, that it preserves me from verse,-at least from less loquacious than heretofore. We are now very keeping it. I have just thrown a poem into the good friends; though she asked Lady Melbourne fire (which it has relighted to my great comfort), whether I had really any bonhommie. She might as and have smoked out of my head the plan of an- well have asked that question before she told C. L. other. I wish I could as easily get rid of thinking,'c'est un démon.' True enough, but rather premaor, at least, the confusion of thought. ture, for she could not have found it out, and soshe wants me to dine there next Sunday.

44

"Tuesday, Dec. 7. Murray prospers, as far as circulation. For my "Went to bed, and slept dreamlessly, but not part, I adhere (in liking) to my Fragment. It is no refreshingly. Awoke and up an hour before being wonder that I wrote one-my mind is a fragment. called; but dawdled three hours in dressing. When "Saw Lord Gower, Tierney, &c., in the square. one subtracts from life infancy (which is vegetation) Took leave of Lord Gr., who is going to Holland -sleep, eating, and swilling-buttoning and unbut- and Germany. He tells me, that he carries with toning-how much remains of downright existence? him a parcel of Harolds' and 'Giaours,' &c., for The summer of a dormouse. the readers of Berlin, who, it seems, read English, "Redde the papers and tea-ed, and soda-watered, and have taken a caprice for mine. Um-have I and found out that the fire was badly lighted. Ld. been German all this time, when I thought myself Glenbervie wants me to go to Brighton-um! oriental?

*

"This morning a very pretty billet from the Staël "Lent Tierney my box for to-morrow; and reabout meeting her at Ld. H.'s to-morrow. She has ceived a new comedy sent by Lady C. A.-but not written, I dare say, twenty such this morning to hers. I must read it, and endeavor not to displease different people, all equally flattering to each. So the author. I hate annoying them with cavil; but much the better for her and those who believe all a comedy I take to be the most difficult of composhe wishes them, or they wish to believe. She has sitions, more so than tragedy.

been pleased to be pleased with my slight eulogy in "Galt says there is a coincidence between the

"Dec. 14, 15, 16.

"Much done, but nothing to record. It is quite enough to set down my thoughts; my actions wil! rarely bear retrospection.

"Dec. 17, 18.

first part of the Bride' and some story of hiswhether published or not, I know not, never having seen it. He is almost the last person on whom any one would commit literary larceny, and I am not conscious of any writing thefts on any of the genus. As to originality, all pretensions are ludicrous,- "Lord Holland told me a curious piece of senti'there is nothing new under the sun.' mentality in Sheridan. The other night we were "Went last night to the place. all delivering our respective and various opinions Invited out to a party, but did not go ;-right. Re- on him and other hommes marquans, and mine was fused to go to Lady's on Monday;-right again. this. Whatever Sheridan has done or chosen to If I must fritter away my life, I would rather do it do, has been, par excellence, always the best of its alone. I was much tempted ;-C looked so kind. He has written the best comedy, (School for Turkish with her red turban, and her regular dark Scandal,) the best drama, (in my mind, far before and clear features. Not that she and I ever were, that St. Giles's lampoon, the Beggar's Opera,) the or could be, any thing; but I love any aspect that best farce, (the Critic-it is only too good for a reminds me of the children of the sun.' farce,) and the best address, (Monologue on Gar"To dine to-day with Rogers and Sharpe, for rick,) and, to crown all, delivered the very best which I have some appetite, not having tasted food oration (the famous Begum Speech) ever conceived for the preceding forty-eight hours. I wish I could or heard in this country.' Somebody told S. this leave off eating altogether. the next day, and on hearing it, he burst into tears! "Poor Brinsley! if they were tears of pleasure, I would rather have said these few, but most sincere words, than have written the Iliad, or made his own celebrated Philippic. Nay, his own comedy never gratified me more than to hear that he had derived a moment's gratification from any praise of mine, humble as it must appear to my elders and my bet

"Saturday, Dec. 11.
"Sunday, Dec. 12.

"By Galt's answer, I find it is some story in real life, and not any work with which my late composition coincides. It is still more singular, for mine is

drawn from existence also.

ters.

"I have sent an excuse to M. de Staël. I do not feel sociable enough for dinner to-day; and I will not go to Sheridan's on Wednesday. Not that I do "Went to my box at Covent Garden to-night; not admire and prefer his unequalled conversation; S's mistress (who, to my certain knowledge, and my delicacy felt a little shocked at seeing but-that 'but' must only be intelligible to thoughts I cannot write. Sheridan was in good talk at Rogwas actually educated, from her birth, for her proers's the other night, but I only stayed till nine. fession) sitting with her mother, a three-piled All the world are to be at the Staël's to-night, and bd, b -d-Major to the army,' in a private I am not sorry to escape any part of it. I only go box opposite. I felt rather indignant; but, casting out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone. my eyes round the house, in the next box to me, Went out-did not go to the Staël's, but to Ld. and the next, and the next, were the most distinHolland's. Party numerous-conversation general. I burst out a laughing. It was really odd; Lady guished old and young Babylonians of quality;-so Stayed late-made a blunder-got over it-came home and went to bed, not having eaten. Rather empty, but fresco, which is the great point with me.

"Monday, Dec. 13, 1813.

divorced-Lady and her daughter, Lady * and still nearer both divorceable Mrs. in the next, the like, What an assemblage to me, who know all their histories. It was as if the house had been divided between your public and "Called at three places-read, and got ready to your understood courtesans; but the intriguantes leave town to-morrow. Murray has had a letter much outnumbered the regular mercenaries. On from his brother Bibliopole of Edinburgh, who says the other side were only Pauline and her mother, he is lucky in having such a poet '-something as and, next box to her, three of inferior note. Now, if one was a pack-horse, or ass, or any thing that where lay the difference between her and mamma, is his or, like Mrs. Packwood, who replied to and Lady ** and daughter? except that the two some inquiry after the Odes on Razors, Law, sir, last may enter Carleton and any other house, and we keeps a Poet.' The same illustrious Edinburgh the two first are limited to the opera and L bookseller once sent an order for books, poesy, and house. How I do delight in observing life as it cookery, with this agreeable postscript-The Har- really is! and myself, after all, the worst of any. old and Cookery are much wanted.' Such is fame, But, no matter, I must avoid egotism, which, just and, after all, quite as good as any other life in now, would be no vanity.

·

other's breath." "Tis much the same to divide pur- "I have lately written a wild, rambling, unfinchasers with Hannah Glasse or Hannah More. ished rhapsody, called The Devil's Drive,'t the "Some editor of some Magazine has announced notion of which I took from Porson's Devil's to Murray his intention of abusing the thing with- Walk.'

out reading it.' So much the better; if he redde it "Redde some Italian, and wrote two sonnets on first, he would abuse it more. I never wrote but one sonnet before, and "Allen (Lord Holland's Allen-the best informed that was not in earnest, and many years ago, as an and one of the ablest men I know-a perfect Mag- exercise-and I will never write another. They are liabecchi-a devourer, a Helluo of books, and an the most puling, petrifying, stupidly platonic comobserver of men) has lent me a quantity of Burns's positions. I detest the Petrarch so much, that I unpublished, and never-to-be-published, letters. would not be the man even to have obtained his They are full of oaths and obscene songs. What Laura, which the metaphysical, whining dotard an antithetical mind!-tenderness, roughness-del-never could icacy, coarseness-sentiment, sensuality-soaring |

and grovelling, dirt and deity-all mixed up in that

one compound of inspired clay!

"It seems strange; a true voluptuary will never

"Jan. 16, 1814.

*

abandon his mind to the grossness of reality. It is "To-morrow I leave town for a few days. I saw by exalting the earthly, the material, the physique Lewis to-day, who has just returned from Oatlands, of our pleasures, by veiling these ideas, by forget- where he has been squabbling with Mad. de Staë ting them altogether, or, at least, never naming about himself, Clarissa Harlowe, Mackintosh, and them hardly to one's self, that we alone can prevent

them from disgusting.

• These names are all left blank in the original.

↑ See Poems, p. 566.

See Poems, p. 548.

me. My homage has never been paid in that together.

ter, or we would have agreed still worse.

I

*

probably arises from my indifference on the subject talk-I can't flatter, and won't listen, except to a "February 18. pretty or a foolish woman. She bored Lewis with "Better than a month since I last journalized :praises of himself till he sickened-found out that most of it out of London, and at Notts., but a busy Clarissa was perfection, and Mackintosh the first one and a pleasant, at least three weeks of it. On man in England. There I agree, at least, one of my return, I find all the newspapers in hysterics, the first-but Lewis did not. As to Clarissa, I and town in an uproar, on the avowal and republeave to those who can read it to judge and dispute. lication of two stanzas on Princess Charlotte's I could not do the one, and am, consequently, not weeping at Regency's speech to Lauderdale in 1812. qualified for the other. She told Lewis wisely, he They are daily at it still;-some of the abuse good, being my friend, that I was affected, in the first all of it hearty. They talk of a motion in our place; and that, in the next place, I committed the House upon it-be it so. heinous offence of sitting at dinner with my eyes "Got up-read the Morning Post containing the shut, or half shut. * I wonder if I really battle of Bonaparte, the destruction of the Customhouse, and a paragraph on me as long as my pedigree, and vituperative, as usual.

have this trick. I must cure myself of it, if true. One insensibly acquires awkward habits, which should be broken in time. If this is one, I wish I had been told of it before. It would not so much signify if one was always to be checkmated by a plain woman, but one may as well see some of one's neighbors, as well as the plate upon the table.

"Hobhouse is returned to England.. He is my best friend, the most lively, and a man of the most sterling talents extant.

"The Corsair' has been conceived, written, published, &c., since I last took up this journal. They "I should like, of all things, to have heard the tell me it has great success;-it was written con Amabæan eclogue between her and Lewis,-both amore, and much from existence. Murray is satisobstinate, clever, odd, garrulous, and shrill. In fied with its progress; and if the public are equally fact, one could have heard nothing else. But they so with the perusal, there's an end of the matter. fell out, alas!-and now they will never quarrel again. Could not one reconcile them for the

"Nine o'clock.

*

'nonce?' Poor Corinne,-she will find that some "Been to Hanson's on business. Saw Rogers, of her fine sayings won't suit our fine ladies and and had a note from Lady Melbourne, who says, it gentlemen. is said that I am much out of spirits.' I wonder "I am getting rather into admiration of **, the if I really am or not? I have certainly enough of youngest sister of **. A wife would be my salva- that perilous stuff which weighs upon the heart,' tion. I am sure the wives of my acquaintances and it is better they should believe it to be the rehave hitherto done me little good. is beautiful, sult of these attacks than of the real cause; but→ but very young, and, I think, a fool. But I have ay, ay, always but, to the end of the chapter. not seen enough to judge; besides, I hate an esprit "Hobhouse has told me ten thousand anecdotes in petticoats. That she won't love me is very pro- of Napoleon, all good and true. My friend H. is bable, nor shall I love her. But on my system, and the most entertaining of companions, and a fine the modern system in general, that don't signify. fellow to boot. The business (if it came to business) would proba- "Redde a little-wrote notes and letters, and am bly be arranged between papa and me. She would alone, which, Locke says, is bad company. Be not have her own way; I am good-humored to women, solitary, be not idle !'-Um!-the idleness is troubleand docile; and, if I did not fall in love with her, some; but I can't see so much to regret in the soliwhich I should try to prevent, we should be a very tude. The more I see of men, the less I like them. comfortable couple. As to conduct, that she must If I could but say so of women, too, all would be look to. ***** But if I love, I shall be jeal-well. Why can't I? I am now six-and-twenty; ous; and for that reason I will not be in love. my passions have had enough to cool them: my Though, after all, I doubt my temper, and fear I affections more than enough to wither them,-and should not be so patient as becomes the bienséance yet-and yet-always yet and but- Excellent well, of a married man in my station. Divorce you are a fishmonger-get thee to a nunnery.' They fool me to the top of my bent.'

ruins the poor femme, and damages are a paltry compensation. I do fear my temper would lead me into some of our oriental tricks of vengeance, or, at any rate, into a summary appeal to the court of twelve paces. So I'll none on 't,' but e'en remain single and solitary;-though I should like to have somebody, now and then, to yawn with one.

their own.

"Midnight.

"Began a letter, which I threw into the fire. Redde-but to little purpose. Did not visit Hobhouse, as I promised and ought. No matter, the loss is mine. Smoked cigars.

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Napoleon!-this week will decide his fate. All "Ward, and, after him,**, has stolen one of my seems against him; but I believe and hope he will buffooneries about Mde. de Staël's Metaphysics and win-at least, beat back the invaders. What right the Fog, and passed it, by speech and letter, as have we to prescribe sovereigns to France? Oh for As Gibbet says, they are the most of a republic! Brutus, thou sleepest.' Hobhouse a gentleman of any on the road.' W. is in sad abounds in continental anecdotes of this extraordienmity with the whigs about this review of Fox, (if nary man; all in favor of his intellect and courage, he did review him;)-all the epigrammatists and but against his bonhommie. No wonder;-how essayists are at him. I hate odds, and wish he may should he, who knows mankind well, do other than beat them. As for me, by the blessing of indiffer- despise and abhor them.

ence, I have simplified my politics into an utter The greater the equality, the more impartially detestation of all existing governments; and, as it evil is distributed, and becomes lighter by the diis the shortest and most agreeable and summary vision among so many-therefore, a republic! feeling imaginable, the first moment of a universal "More notes from Mad. de Staël unansweredrepublic would convert me into an advocate for sin- and so they shall remain. I admire her abilities, gle and uncontradicted despotism. The fact is, but really her society is overwhelming—an avalanche riches are power, and poverty is slavery, all over that buries one in glittering nonsense-all snow and the earth, and one sort of establishment is no bet- sophistry. ter, nor worse, for a people than another. I shall Shall I go to Mackintosh's on Tuesday? um!adhere to my party, because it would not be honor- I did not go to Marquis Lansdowne's, nor to Miss able to act otherwise; but, as to opinions, I don't Berry's, though both are pleasant. So is Sir James's, think politics worth an opinion. Conduct is another thing-if you begin with a party, go on with them. I have no consistency, except in politics, and that

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but I don't know-I believe one is not the better for parties; at least, unless some regnante is there. "I wonder how the deuce any body could make

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such a world; for what purpose dandies, for in-1 "Received a very singular epistle; and the mode stance, were ordained and kings-and fellows of of its conveyance, through Lord H.'s hands, as curicolleges and women of a certain age' and many ous as the letter itself. But it was gratifying and men of any age-and myself, most of all! pretty.

'Diveane prisco et natus ab Inacho,
Nil interest, an pauper, et infimâ

De gente, sub dio moreris,

Victima nil miserantis Orci.

Omnes eodem cogimur.'

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"Sunday, Feb. 27. "Here I am, alone, instead of dining at Lord H.'s, where was asked, but not inclined to go any where. Hobhouse says I am growing a loup garou,-a solitary hobgoblin. True;-I am myself alone.' The last week has been passed in read"Is there any thing beyond?-who knows? He ing-seeing plays-now and then, visitors-somethat can't tell. Who tells that there is? He who times yawning and sometimes sighing, but no writdon't know. And when shall he know? perhaps, ing-save of letters. If I could always read, I when he don't expect, and, generally, when he don't should never feel the want of society. Do I regret wish it. In this last respect, however, all are not it?-um!- Man delights not me,' and only one alike it depends a good deal upon education,-woman-at a time. something upon nerves and habits-but most upon digestion.

"There is something to me very softening in the presence of a woman,-some strange influence, even "Saturday, Feb. 19. if one is not in love with them,-which I cannot at "Just returned from seeing Kean in Richard. By all account for, having no very high opinion of the Jove, he is a soul! Life-nature-truth-without sex. But yet,-I always feel in better humor with exaggeration or diminution. Kemble's Hamlet is myself and every thing else, if there is a woman perfect!-but Hamlet is not Nature. Richard is a within ken. Even Mrs. Mule, my fire-lighted,man; and Kean is Richard. Now to my own con- the most ancient and withered of her kind and (except to myself) not the best tempered-always makes me laugh,-no difficult task when I am 'i' the vein.'

cerns.

"Went to Waite's. Teeth all right and white; but he says that I grind them in my sleep and chip the edges. That same sleep is no friend of mine, though I court him sometimes for half the twentyfour.

"February 20.

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"Heigho! I would I were in mine island!-I am not well; and yet I look in good health. At times, I fear, I am not in my perfect mind; '-and yet my heart and head have stood many a crash, and what should ail them now? They prey upon themselves, and I am sick-sick- Prithee, undo this button; "Got up and tore out two leaves of this Journal why should a cat, a rat, a dog, have life, and thou -I don't know why. Hodgson just called and no life at all? Six-and-twenty years, as they call gone. He has much bonhommie with his other them-why, I might and should have been a Pasha good qualities, and more talent than he has yet by this time. I'gin to be a weary of the sun.' had credit for beyond his circle. "Bonaparte is not yet beaten; but has rebutted "An invitation to dine at Holland House to meet Blucher, and repiqued Swartzenburg. This it is to Kean. He is worth meeting; and I hope, by get- have a head. If he again wins, Væ victis!' ting into good society, he will be prevented from falling like Cooke. He is greater now on the stage, and off he should never be less. There is a stupid and underrating criticism upon him in one of the "On Tuesday last dined with Rogers,-Mades de newspapers. I thought that, last night, though Stael, Mackintosh, Sheridan, Erskine, and Payne great, he rather underacted more than the first Knight, Lady Donegall and Miss R. there. Sheritime. This may be the effect of these cavils; but I dan told a very good story of himself and Me de hope he has more sense than to mind them. He Recamier's handkerchief; Erskine a few stories of cannot expect to maintain his present eminence, or himself only. She is going to write a big book about to advance still higher, without the envy of his England, she says;-I believe her. Asked by her green-room fellows, and the nibbling of their ad- how I liked Miss's thing, called, and anmirers. But, if he don't beat them all, why, then-swered (very sincerely) that I thought it very bad merit hath no purchase in these coster-monger for her, and worse than any of the others. Afterdays.' ward thought it possible Lady Donegall, being Irish,

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"Sunday, March 6.

I wish that I had a talent for the drama; I might be a patroness of **, and was rather sorry would write a tragedy now. But no, it is gone.- for my opinion, as I hate putting people into fusses, Hodgson talks of one,-he will do it well; and I either with themselves, or their favorites; it looks think Moore should try. He has wonderful powers, as if one did it on purpose. The party went off and much variety; besides, he has lived and felt.- -very well, and the fish was very much to my gusto. To write so as to bring home to the heart, the heart But we got up too soon after the women; and Mrs. must have been tried,-but, perhaps, ceased to be Corinne always lingers so long after dinner, that we 80. While you are under the influence of passions, wish her in-the drawing-room. you only feel, but cannot describe them,-any more "To-day C. called, and, while sitting here, in came than, when in action, you could turn round, and tell Merivale. During our colloquy, C. (ignorant that the story to your next neighbor! When all is over, M. was the writer) abused themawkishness of the -all, all, and irrevocable,-trust to memory-she is Quarterly Review of Grimm's Correspondence.' I then but too faithful. (knowing the secret) changed the conversation as "Went out, and answered some letters, yawned soon as I could; and C. went away, quite convinced now and then, and redde the Robbers. Fine,-but of having made the most favorable impression on Fiesco is better; and Alfieri and Monti's Aristode- his new acquaintance. Merivale is luckily a very mo best. They are more equal than the Tedeschi good-natured fellow, or God knows what might have dramatists. been engendered from such a malaprop. I did not

"Answered-or, rather, acknowledged-the re- look at him while this was going on, but I felt like ceipt of young Reynolds's poem, Safie. The lad is a coal,-for I like Merivale, as well as the article in clever, but much of his thoughts are borrowed,-question.

whence, the Reviewers may find out. I hate dis

couraging a young one; and I think,-though wild, "Asked to Lady Keith's to-morrow evening-I and more oriental than he would be, had he seen the think I will go; but it is the first party invitation I scenes where he has placed his tale,-that he has have accepted this season,' as the learned Fletcher much talent, and certainly, fire enough. called it, when that youngest brat of Lady * *'s cut

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