Gregg dines to-day at Lavie’s; I shall go down to meet him there, and perhaps order my chicken over from Almack’s, that I may converse more en detail with Gregg upon this business of the Annuities.  I like his conversation the best, I own, because I see less resentment in it.  He speaks to the matters of fact, and not to the characters of the actors, which now is losing of time.  God knows how well, and how universally, all that is established.

The women in town have found this a good morsel for their invective disposition, and the terms in which they express themselves tiennent de la frenesie, et de l’entousiasme.  Lady Albemarle, who is not a wise woman, certainly, was at Lady Gower’s the other evening, and was regretting only that Charles had not been consumed in the Fire, instead of the linnets.  I am glad it was no worse.  I think your fears about the rebuilding of the House are not so well founded as your satisfaction might be, that you had not been drawn in to insure it.  I think that you are more obliged to what he thinks upon that subject (for he said that he did not believe in fire) than to your own prudence.  I am in daily expectation of the arrival of these late sufferers at Holl[an]d H(ouse).  I wish them all arrived there, I own, and that they may stay there, and that there may be no real sufferers by the fire, which there would be if any workmen had begun to rebuild the House.  That would be a case of true compassion.

You desire me to tell you something of Hare and Storer,(99) &c.  Storer, the Bon ton, is still at Lord Craven’s.  I supped with the Mauvais ton at Harry St. John’s last night.  I do not dislike him:  he does not seem to be at all deficient in understanding, and has besides de la bonne plaisanterie.  Hare is in town, and, if I was to credit his own insinuations, upon the point of bringing his affair to a conclusion.  But I think that he prepares the world too much for some change in his condition, for he drives about in an old chariot of Foley’s,(100) as I am told, with a servant of his own in livery; and this occasions so much speculation, that his great secret diu celari non potest.  I would advise him to conclude as soon as he can this business; sans cela la machine sera d’erangee; elle ne peut aller jusques au printemps, cela est sur.

The Duke of Buccleugh has said nothing to us as yet about our anniversary dinner, but I hope that so good a custom will not be laid aside.  If it is, Richard must take it up, as it is his birthday, and so I shall tell him.  I have myself, by all which I have said upon the history and fate of that unfortunate Prince, excused myself from giving any sort of fete at my own house; but I do not carry my rigour so far, as not to accept one on that day at the house of another person.  Voila le point ou ma devotion se prete un feu.  Your letter to Lord Grantham shall be sent to the Secretary’s Office this evening, and some compliments from me at the same time.  I wish that he was here, that I might talk with [him] for half an hour upon your subject.