“* * is a Litterateur, the Oracle of the Coteries, of the * * s, L * W * (Sydney Smith’s ’Tory Virgin’), Mrs. Wilmot, (she, at least, is a swan, and might frequent a purer stream,) Lady B * *, and all the Blues, with Lady C * * at their head—­but I say nothing of her—­’look in her face and you forget them all,’ and every thing else.  Oh that face!—­by ‘te, Diva potens Cypri,’ I would, to be beloved by that woman, build and burn another Troy.

“M * * e has a peculiarity of talent, or rather talents,—­poetry, music, voice, all his own; and an expression in each, which never was, nor will be, possessed by another.  But he is capable of still higher flights in poetry.  By the by, what humour, what—­every thing, in the ‘Post-Bag!’ There is nothing M * * e may not do, if he will but seriously set about it.  In society, he is gentlemanly, gentle, and, altogether, more pleasing than any individual with whom I am acquainted.  For his honour, principle, and independence, his conduct to * * * * speaks ‘trumpet-tongued.’  He has but one fault—­and that one I daily regret—­he is not here.

[Footnote 94:  It was thus that he, in general, spelled this word.]

“Nov. 23.

“Ward—­I like Ward.[95] By Mahomet!  I begin to think I like every body;—­a disposition not to be encouraged;—­a sort of social gluttony that swallows every thing set before it.  But I like Ward.  He is piquant; and, in my opinion, will stand very high in the House, and every where else, if he applies regularly.  By the by, I dine with him to-morrow, which may have some influence on my opinion.  It is as well not to trust one’s gratitude after dinner.  I have heard many a host libelled by his guests, with his burgundy yet reeking on their rascally lips.

“I have taken Lord Salisbury’s box at Covent Garden for the season; and now I must go and prepare to join Lady Holland and party, in theirs, at Drury Lane, questa sera.

“Holland doesn’t think the man is Junius; but that the yet unpublished journal throws great light on the obscurities of that part of George the Second’s reign—­What is this to George the Third’s?  I don’t know what to think.  Why should Junius be yet dead?  If suddenly apoplexed, would he rest in his grave without sending his [Greek:  eidolon] to shout in the ears of posterity, ’Junius was X.Y.Z., Esq., buried in the parish of * * *.  Repair his monument, ye churchwardens!  Print a new edition of his Letters, ye booksellers!’ Impossible,—­the man must be alive, and will never die without the disclosure.  I like him;—­he was a good hater.

“Came home unwell and went to bed,—­not so sleepy as might be desirable.

[Footnote 95:  The present Lord Dudley.]

“Tuesday morning.

“I awoke from a dream!—­well! and have not others dreamed?—­Such a dream!—­but she did not overtake me.  I wish the dead would rest, however.  Ugh! how my blood chilled—­and I could not wake —­and—­and—­heigho!