I have received a very friendly and polite visit from the Countess of Effingham.  She called, and not finding me at home, left a card.  I returned her visit, but was obliged to do it by leaving my card too, as she was gone out of town; but when her ladyship returned, she sent her compliments and word that if agreeable she would take a dish of tea with me, and named her day.  She accordingly came, and appeared a very polite, sensible woman.  She is about forty, a good person, though a little masculine, elegant in her appearance, very easy and social.  The Earl of Effingham is too well remembered by America to need any particular recital of his character.  His mother is first lady to the Queen.  When her ladyship took leave, she desired I would let her know the day I would favor her with a visit, as she should be loath to be absent.  She resides, in summer, a little distance from town.  The Earl is a member of Parliament, which obliges him now to be in town, and she usually comes with him, and resides at a hotel a little distance from this.

I find a good many ladies belonging to the Southern States here, many of whom have visited me; I have exchanged visits with several, yet neither of us have met.  The custom is, however, here much more agreeable than in France, for it is as with us:  the stranger is first visited.

The ceremony of presentation here is considered as indispensable.  There are four minister-plenipotentiaries’ ladies here; but one ambassador, and he has no lady.  In France, the ladies of ambassadors only are presented.  One is obliged here to attend the circles of the Queen, which are held in summer once a fortnight, but once a week the rest of the year; and what renders it exceedingly expensive is, that you cannot go twice the same season in the same dress, and a Court dress you cannot make use of anywhere else.  I directed my mantuamaker to let my dress be elegant, but plain as I could possibly appear, with decency; accordingly, it is white lutestring, covered and full trimmed with white crape, festooned with lilac ribbon and mock point lace, over a hoop of enormous extent; there is only a narrow train of about three yards in length to the gown waist, which is put into a ribbon upon the left side, the Queen only having her train borne.  Ruffle cuffs for married ladies, treble lace lappets, two white plumes, and a blond lace handkerchief.  This is my rigging, I should have mentioned two pearl pins in my hair, earrings and necklace of the same kind.

THURSDAY MORNING.

My head is dressed for St. James’s, and in my opinion looks very tasty.  While my daughter’s is undergoing the same operation, I set myself down composedly to write you a few lines.  “Well,” methinks I hear Betsey and Lucy say, “what is cousin’s dress?” White, my dear girls, like your aunt’s, only differently trimmed and ornamented:  her train being wholly of white crape, and trimmed with white ribbon; the petticoat, which