“Saturday, February 26, 1831—­At dinner we talked of the Grants.  Tom said he had found Mr. Robert Grant walking about in the lobbies of the House of Commons, and saying that he wanted somebody to defend his place in the Government, which he heard was going to be attacked.  ‘What did you say to him?’ we asked.  ’Oh, I said nothing; but, if they’ll give me the place, I’ll defend it.  When I am Judge Advocate, I promise you that I will not go about asking anyone to defend me.’

“After dinner we played at capping verses, and after that at a game in which one of the party thinks of something for the others to guess at.  Tom gave the slug that killed Perceval, the lemon that Wilkes squeezed for Doctor Johnson, the pork-chop which Thurtell ate after he had murdered Weare, and Sir Charles Macarthy’s jaw which was sent by the Ashantees as a present to George the Fourth.

“Some one mentioned an acquaintance who had gone to the West Indies, hoping to make money, but had only ruined the complexions of his daughters.  Tom said: 

 Mr. Walker was sent to Berbice
 By the greatest of statesmen and earls. 
 He went to bring back yellow boys,
 But he only brought back yellow girls.

“I never saw anything like the fun and humour that kindles in his eye when a repartee or verse is working in his brain.

“March 3, 1831.—­Yesterday morning Hannah and I walked part of the way to his chambers with Tom, and, as we separated, I remember wishing him good luck and success that night.  He went through it most triumphantly, and called down upon himself admiration enough to satisfy even his sister.  I like so much the manner in which he receives compliments.  He does not pretend to be indifferent, but smiles in his kind and animated way, with ’I am sure it is very kind of you to say so,’ or something of that nature.  His voice from cold and over-excitement got quite into a scream towards the last part.  A person told him that he had not heard such speaking since Fox.  ’You have not heard such screaming since Fox,’ he said.

“March 24, 1831.—­By Tom’s account, there never was such a scene of agitation as the House of Commons presented at the passing of the second reading of the Reform Bill the day before yesterday, or rather yesterday, for they did not divide till three or four in the morning.  When dear Tom came the next day he was still very much excited, which I found to my cost, for when I went out to walk with him he walked so very fast that I could scarcely keep up with him at all.  With sparkling eyes he described the whole scene of the preceding evening in the most graphic manner.

“‘I suppose the Ministers are all in high spirits,’ said Mamma.  ’In spirits, Ma’am?  I’m sure I don’t know.  In bed, I’ll answer for it.’  Mamma asked him for franks, that she might send his speech to a lady [This lady was Mrs. Hannah More.] who, though of high Tory principles, is very fond of Tom, and has left him in her will her valuable library.  ‘Oh, no,’ he said, ’don’t send it.  If you do, she’ll cut me off with a prayer-book.’