Dined with Mrs. Alexander of Ballochmyle, Lord and Lady Meath, who were kind to us in Ireland, and a Scottish party,—­pleasant, from hearing the broad accents and honest thoughts of my native land.  A large party in the evening.  A gentleman came up to me and asked “if I had seen the ‘Casket,’ a curious work, the most beautiful, the most highly ornamented—­and then the editor or editress—­a female so interesting,—­might he ask a very great favour,” and out he pulled a piece of this pic-nic.  I was really angry, and said for a subscription he might command me—­for a contribution no; that I had given to a great many of these things last year, and finding the labour occupied some considerable portion of my time, I had done a considerable article for a single collection this year, taking a valuable consideration for it, and engaged not to support any other.  This may be misrepresented, but I care not.  Suppose this patron of the Muses gives five guineas to his distressed lady, he will think he does a great deal, yet takes fifty from me with the calmest air in the world, for the communication is worth that if it be worth anything.  There is no equality in the proposal.

I saw to-day at Northumberland House, Bridge the jeweller, having and holding a George, richly ornamented with diamonds, being that which Queen Anne gave to the Duke of Marlborough, which his present representative pawned or sold, and which the present king bought and presented to the Duke of Wellington.  His Grace seemed to think this interesting jewel was one of two which had been preserved since the first institution of that order.  That, from the form and taste, I greatly doubt.  Mr. Bridge put it again into his coat pocket, and walked through the street with L10,000 in his pocket.  I wonder he is not hustled and robbed.  I have sometimes envied rich citizens, but it was a mean and erroneous feeling.  This man, who, I suppose, must be as rich as a Jew, had a shabby look in the Duke’s presence, and seemed just a better sort of pedlar.  Better be a poor gentleman after all.

May 9.—­Grounds of Foote’s farce of the Cozeners.  Lady ——.  A certain Mrs. Phipps audaciously set up in a fashionable quarter of the town as a person through whose influence, properly propitiated, favours and situations of importance might certainly be obtained—­always for a consideration.  She cheated many people, and maintained the trick for many months.  One trick was to get the equipage of Lord North, and other persons of importance, to halt before her door as if the owners were within.  With respect to most of them, this was effected by bribing the drivers.  But a gentleman, who watched her closely, observed that Charles J. Fox actually left his carriage and went into the house, and this more than once.  He was then, it must be noticed, in the Ministry.  When Mrs. Phipps was blown up, this circumstance was recollected as deserving explanation, which Fox readily gave at Brooks’s and elsewhere.