Thursday.-Mr. Metcalf called upon Dr. Johnson, and took him out for an airing.  Mr. Hamilton is gone, and Mr. Metcalf is now the only person out of this house that voluntarily communicates with the doctor.  He has been in a terrible severe bumour of late, and has really frightened all the people, till they almost ran from him.  To me only I think he is now kind, for Mrs. Thrale fares worse than anybody.  ’Tis very strange and very melancholy that he will not a little more accommodate his manners and language to those of other people.  He likes Mr. Metcalf, however, and so do I, for he is very clever and entertaining when he pleases.

Poor Dr. Delap confessed to us, that the reason he now came so seldom, though he formerly almost lived with us when at this place, was his being too unwell to cope with Dr. Johnson.  And the other day Mr. Selwyn having refused an invitation from Mr. Hamilton to meet the doctor, because he preferred being here upon a day when he was out, suddenly rose at the time he was expected to return, and said he must run away, “for fear the doctor should call him to account.”

          Short, fat, handsome miss Monckton:  Ducal indifference.

Sunday, November 10, brings in a new person.  Th e Honourable Miss Monckton,(159) who is here with her mother, the

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Dowager Lady Galway, has sent various messages of her earnest desire to be acquainted with Mrs. Thrale and your humble servant to command.  Dr. Johnson ’she already knew,, for she is one of those who stand foremost in collecting all extraordinary or curious people to her London conversaziones, which, like those of Mrs. Vesey, mix the rank and file literature, and exclude all beside.  Well—­after divers intimations Of this sort, it was at last settled that Lady De Ferrars should bring her here this morning.

In the evening came Lady De Ferrars, Miss Monckton, and Miss Ellerker.  Miss Monckton is between thirty and forty very short, very fat, but handsome ; splendidly and fantastically dressed, rouged not unbecomingly, yet evidently and palpably desirous of gaining notice and admiration.  She has an easy levity in her air, manner, voice, and discourse, that speak all within to be comfortable; and her rage of seeing anything curious may be satisfied, if she pleases, by looking in a mirror.

I can give you no account of the conversation, as it was broken, and not entertaining.  Miss Monckton went early, having another engagement, but the other ladies stayed very late.  She told us, however, one story extremely well worth recarding.  The Duke of Devonshire was standing near a very fine glass lustre in a corner of a room, at an assembly, and in a house of people who, Miss Monckton said, were by no means in a style of life to hold expense as immaterial ; and, by carelessly lolling back, he threw the lustre down and it was broke.  He shewed not,