“Sunday, I dined with the Lord Holland in St. James’s Square.  Large party—­among them Sir S. Romilly and Lady Ry.—­General Sir Somebody Bentham, a man of science and talent, I am told—­Horner—­the Horner, an Edinburgh Reviewer, an excellent speaker in the ‘Honourable House,’ very pleasing, too, and gentlemanly in company, as far as I have seen—­Sharpe—­Phillips of Lancashire—­Lord John Russell, and others, ‘good men and true.’  Holland’s society is very good; you always see some one or other in it worth knowing.  Stuffed myself with sturgeon, and exceeded in champagne and wine in general, but not to confusion of head.  When I do dine, I gorge like an Arab or a Boa snake, on fish and vegetables, but no meat.  I am always better, however, on my tea and biscuit than any other regimen, and even that sparingly.

“Why does Lady H. always have that damned screen between the whole room and the fire?  I, who bear cold no better than an antelope, and never yet found a sun quite done to my taste, was absolutely petrified, and could not even shiver.  All the rest, too, looked as if they were just unpacked, like salmon from an ice-basket, and set down to table for that day only.  When she retired, I watched their looks as I dismissed the screen, and every cheek thawed, and every nose reddened with the anticipated glow.

“Saturday, I went with Harry Fox to Nourjahad; and, I believe, convinced him, by incessant yawning, that it was not mine.  I wish the precious author would own it, and release me from his fame.  The dresses are pretty, but not in costume;—­Mrs. Horn’s, all but the turban, and the want of a small dagger (if she is a sultana), perfect.  I never saw a Turkish woman with a turban in my life—­nor did any one else.  The sultanas have a small poniard at the waist.  The dialogue is drowsy—­the action heavy—­the scenery fine—­the actors tolerable.  I can’t say much for their seraglio—­Teresa, Phannio, or * * * *, were worth them all.

“Sunday, a very handsome note from Mackintosh, who is a rare instance of the union of very transcendent talent and great good nature.  To-day (Tuesday) a very pretty billet from M. la Baronne de Stael Holstein.  She is pleased to be much pleased with my mention of her and her last work in my notes.  I spoke as I thought.  Her works are my delight, and so is she herself, for—­half an hour.  I don’t like her politics—­at least, her having changed them; had she been qualis ab incepto, it were nothing.  But she is a woman by herself, and has done more than all the rest of them together, intellectually;—­she ought to have been a man.  She flatters me very prettily in her note;—­but I know it.  The reason that adulation is not displeasing is, that, though untrue, it shows one to be of consequence enough, in one way or other, to induce people to lie, to make us their friend:—­that is their concern.