I fear that my ambassador and I shall not continue much longer together.  He is really growing past endurance.  He transacts his business in so ridiculous a manner, that I am often compelled to contradict him, and do things my own way; and then, of course, he thinks them very ill done.  He complained of me lately on this account at court; and the minister gave me a reprimand, —­ a gentle one it is true, but still a reprimand.  In consequence of this, I was about to tender my resignation, when I received a letter, to which I submitted with great respect, on account of the high, noble, and generous spirit which dictated it.  He endeavoured to soothe my excessive sensibility, paid a tribute to my extreme ideas of duty, of good example, and of perseverance in business, as the fruit of my youthful ardour, an impulse which he did not seek to destroy, but only to moderate, that it might have proper play and be productive of good.  So now I am at rest for another week, and no longer at variance with myself.  Content and peace of mind are valuable things:  I could wish, my dear friend, that these precious jewels were less transitory.

FERRUARY 20.

God bless you, my dear friends, and may he grant you that happiness which he denies to me!

I thank you, Albert, for having deceived me.  I waited for the news that your wedding-day was fixed; and I intended on that day, with solemnity, to take down Charlotte’s profile from the wall, and to bury it with some other papers I possess.  You are now united, and her picture still remains here.  Well, let it remain!  Why should it not?  I know that I am still one of your society, that I still occupy a place uninjured in Charlotte’s heart, that I hold the second place therein; and I intend to keep it.  Oh, I should become mad if she could forget!  Albert, that thought is hell!  Farewell, Albert farewell, angel of heaven farewell, Charlotte!

March 15.

I have just had a sad adventure, which will drive me away from here.  I lose all patience! —­ Death! —­ It is not to be remedied; and you alone are to blame, for you urged and impelled me to fill a post for which I was by no means suited.  I have now reason to be satisfied, and so have you!  But, that you may not again attribute this fatality to my impetuous temper, I send you, my dear sir, a plain and simple narration of the affair, as a mere chronicler of facts would describe it.

The Count of O—­ likes and distinguishes me.  It is well known, and I have mentioned this to you a hundred times.  Yesterday I dined with him.  It is the day on which the nobility are accustomed to assemble at his house in the evening.  I never once thought of the assembly, nor that we subalterns did not belong to such society.  Well, I dined with the count; and, after dinner, we adjourned to the large hall.  We walked up and down together:  and I conversed with him, and with Colonel B—­, who joined us; and in this manner the hour for the