'told a very good story of himself and Madame de 'Recamier's handkerchief; Erskine a few stories of 'himself only. She is going to write a big book about 'England, she says;-I believe her. Asked by her how I liked Miss **'s thing, called **, and answered '(very sincerely) that I thought it very bad for her, and worse than any of the others. Afterwards thought it possible Lady Donegall, being Irish, might 'be a Patroness of **, and was rather sorry for my opinion, as I hate putting people into fusses, either ' with themselves, or their favourites; it looks as if ' one did it on purpose. The party went off very well, ' and the fish was very much to my gusto. But we got up too soon after the women; and Mrs. Corinne 'always lingers so long after dinner, that we wish her in-the drawing-room.

'To-day C. called, and while sitting here, in came 'Merivale. During our colloquy, C. (ignorant that 'M. was the writer) abused the "mawkishness of the 'Quarterly Review of Grimm's Correspondence." I (knowing the secret) changed the conversation as 'soon as I could; and C. went away, quite convinced ' of having made the most favourable impression on 'his new acquaintance. Merivale is luckily a very good-natured fellow, or, God he knows what might 'have been engendered from such a malaprop. I did 'not look at him while this was going on, but I felt ' like a coal, for I like Merivale, as well as the article ' in question.

'Asked to Lady Keith's to-morrow evening-I think 'I will go; but it is the first party invitation I have 'accepted this "season," as the learned Fletcher called

it, when that youngest brat of Lady **'s cut my eye ' and cheek open with a misdirected pebble-" Never

'mind, my Lord, the scar will be gone before the 'season;" as if one's eye was of no importance in the " mean time.

'Lord Erskine called, and gave me his famous 'pamphlet, with a marginal note and corrections in 'his handwriting. Sent it to be bound superbly, and 'shall treasure it.

'Sent my fine print of Napoleon to be framed. It ' is framed; and the Emperor becomes his robes as if ' he had been hatched in them.

6

"March 7th.

'Rose at seven-ready by half-past eight-went to 'Mr. Hanson's, Berkeley-square-went to church with his eldest daughter, Mary Anne (a good girl), and gave her away to the Earl of Portsmouth. Saw her fairly a Countess-congratulated the family and groom (bride)-drank a bumper of wine (wholesome sherris) to their felicity, and all that,-and came 'home. Asked to stay to dinner, but could not. At ' three sat to Phillips for faces. Called on Lady M.I like her so well, that I always stay too long. (Mem. to mend of that.)

'Passed the evening with Hobhouse, who has begun ' a Poem, which promises highly ;—wish he would go ' on with it. Heard some curious extracts from a life ' of Morosini, the blundering Venetian, who blew up 'the Acropolis at Athens with a bomb, and be d-d to him! Waxed sleepy-just come home-must go to bed, and am engaged to meet Sheridan to-morrow ' at Rogers's.

'Queer ceremony that same of marriage-saw many abroad, Greek and Catholic-one, at home, many years ago. There be some strange phrases in the prologue (the exhortation), which made me turn

away, not to laugh in the face of the surpliceman. Made one blunder, when I joined the hands of the happy-rammed their left-hands, by mistake, into 'one another. Corrected it-bustled back to the altar-rail, and said "Amen." Portsmouth responded 'as if he had got the whole by heart; and, if anything, was rather before the priest. It is now midnight, and

6

*

'March 10th, Thor's Day. 'On Tuesday dined with Rogers,-Mackintosh, Sheridan, Sharpe,—much talk, and good,—all, except my own little prattlement. Much of old times '-Horne Tooke-the Trials-evidence of Sheridan, ' and anecdotes of those times, when I, alas! was an 'infant. If I had been a man, I would have made an "English Lord Edward Fitzgerald.

'Set down Sheridan at Brookes's,-where, by-thebye, he could not have well set down himself, as he ' and I were the only drinkers. Sherry means to stand 'for Westminster, as Cochrane (the stock-jobbing hoaxer) must vacate. Brougham is a candidate. I fear for poor dear Sherry. Both have talents of the highest order, but the youngster has yet a character. 'We shall see, if he lives to Sherry's age, how he will pass over the redhot ploughshares of public life. I 'don't know why, but I hate to see the old ones lose ; particularly Sheridan, notwithstanding all his mé'chanceté.

เ

Received many, and the kindest, thanks from Lady 'Portsmouth, père and mère, for my match-making. 'I don't regret it, as she looks the countess well, and is a very good girl. It is odd how well she carries her new honours. She looks a different woman, and high-bred, too. I had no idea that I could make so good a peeress.

Went to the play with Hobhouse. Mrs. Jordan 'superlative in Hoyden, and Jones well enough in Foppington. What plays! what wit!-helas! Congreve and Vanbrugh are your only comedy. Our 'society is too insipid now for the like copy. Would 'not go to Lady Keith's. Hobhouse thought it odd. 'I wonder he should like parties. If one is in love, and wants to break a commandment and covet anything that is there, they do very well. But to go ' out amongst the mere herd, without a motive, plea'sure, or pursuit-'sdeath! "I'll none of it." He 'told me an odd report,—that I am the actual Con'rad, the veritable Corsair, and that part of my travels 'are supposed to have passed in privacy. Um!'people sometimes hit near the truth; but never the 'whole truth. H. don't know what I was about the year after he left the Levant; nor does any one-nor 'nor-nor-however, it is a lie-but, "I doubt the 'equivocation of the fiend that lies like truth!"

'

'I shall have letters of importance to-morrow. Which, * or **? heigho!-* * is in my heart, *

**

* in my head, ** in my eye, and the single one, Heaven knows where. All write, and will be answered. "Since I have crept in favour with 'myself, I must maintain it;" but I never "mistook my person," though I think others have.

** called to-day in great despair about his mis'tress, who has taken a freak of ***. He began a ' letter to her, but was obliged to stop short-I finished 'it for him, and he copied and sent it. If he holds ' out and keeps to my instructions of affected indifference, she will lower her colours. If she don't, he will, at least, get rid of her, and she don't seem 'much worth keeping. But the poor lad is in love—

' if that is the case, she will win. When they once 'discover their power, finita e la musica.

'Sleepy, and must go to bed.

says

'Tuesday, March 15th. Mackintosh, and Sharpe. Sharpe told several very

'Dined yesterday with R., 'Sheridan could not come. ' amusing anecdotes of Henderson, the actor. Stayed 'till late, and came home, having drank so much tea, 'that I did not get to sleep till six this morning. R. I am to be in this Quarterly-cut up, I presume, as they "hate us youth." Nimporte. As Sharpe 'was passing by the doors of some debating society '(the Westminster Forum) in his way to dinner, he saw rubricked on the walls, Scott's name and mine"Which the best poet?' being the question of the ' evening; and I suppose all the Templars and would 'bes took our rhymes in vain, in the course of the 'controversy. Which had the greater show of hands, 'I neither know nor care; but I feel the coupling of 'the names as a compliment,-though I think Scott deserves better company.*

‹ W. W. called-Lord Erskine, Lord Holland, &c. &c. Wrote to the Corsair report. She says 'she don't wonder, since "Conrad is so like." It is ' odd that one, who knows me so thoroughly, should 'tell me this to my face. However, if she don't know, nobody can.

'Mackintosh is, it seems, the writer of the defensive letter in the Morning Chronicle. If so, it is very kind, and more than I did for myself.

Told Murray to secure for me Bandello's Italian Novels at the sale to-morrow. To me they will be 'nuts. Redde a satire on myself, called "Anti-Byron," and told Murray to publish it if he liked.

The