no, not a comedy, for she often makes me make reflections too serious for that sort of Drama; but thank heaven they no longer affect me. To-day she wanted to look over the plates of Devon's Egypt which Sir J. Banks 1 has lent me, and stayed below with her daughter looking at them, while we were dining above; but all this is by the bye.

"Well," I said, "tell me something before I go up to them." "Oh," she replied, recollecting herself, "the negociation with Pitt is entirely over.' "12 How really! which is curious, if, indeed, if you do not know before, you shall know when we meet, at least what she told me, and I doubt not the truth of it. This ending I think very good indeed. I mean, any ending, for it is a fresh beginning, I am sure, to my hopes of peace, and peace she says it will be. But this news, when ever it is confirmed, you will know sooner than I can tell it you. The D. of D.3 was, I heard yesterday (for I went there in the morning), at Strawberry Hill, the day I think before, nine strong, having very properly opened the castle gates tho' she had no ticket and the Duchess left word with her thanks that she wished much to come to see me and would come over from Chiswick (where she just now is or was) "whenever I please." Goodnight. It is past eleven and I shall have my sandwich. and go to bed.

Monday, April 18.

You will in future, I think give Mrs. Howe your directions yourself in your letters, as it will occur to you I may not be even in town, in which case I must write to her and a day or two will often be unavoidably lost, but for this time all is right. Your house in North Audley Street is yours, as you said, on the first

1 Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. (1743-1820), President of the Royal Society. 2 The ministerial negotiation between Addington and Pitt.

3 The Duke of Devonshire.

R

August and I have desired Hoper to be mindful of the rent at the proper time.

I have just heard that a negociation is opened between the present minister and Mr. Grey.1 That I have no objection to; it may end in nothing. At any rate all now, it is allowed, seems to be pacifically disposed.

I do not like what you tell me of yourself as well as I had hoped I should, your headaches affecting your spirits, I mean, more (as you say tho' less frequent) even than in England. I fear I must confess, that Miss Francis was not in the wrong in her ideas of the overfatigue that you put yourself to with seeing and living with more people than (so at least it always seems to me) you can really like, or that can really suit your taste. And then never giving yourself time to recover fully, as I have witnessed that too often! and now you must be, and are convinced, that all these sort of exertions on your part tend not to any good for Agnes; but often on the contrary. You ought, as a duty, more to consult yourself separately, I am sure, for the comfort and happiness of both, but I figure you now with a vortex, absolutely unmining the Devonshire system. I am not sure whether you will laugh or scold me, I hope it will not be the latter!

What H. told my man of my temper I know not, but certain it is that quick as I may be, am, naturally Servants and many have lived with me for years without having ever had scarcely a cause to complain in that respect, and tempers that are merely irritable are not irritated without a cause (tho' often so by an inadequate one); but tempers that are bad find a cause in their own imagination, which in reality exists nowhere else.

1 Charles Grey (1764-1845), eldest son of Charles, Baron Grey. His father was created an earl in 1806, after which he was known under the courtesy title of Viscount Howick, until he succeeded to the earldom in the following year. In the spring of 1803 he ceased to support Fox, and Addington made overtures to him, which were declined.

LORD LIEUTENANT AND CUSTOS ROTULORUM IN THE COUNTY OF DERBY From an engraving by Edward Scriven after G. Hayter, Member of the

The weather has, I told you, been more like summer even than spring, but to-day not quite so fine; 'tis commonly the case when one goes into the country. However I am now only going for a short time till Thursday at furthest. Farewell and Heaven preserve you.1

The Hon. Mrs. Damer to Mary Berry

STRAWBERRY HILL, Wednesday, April 20, 1803.

I must not forget to tell you that you are by two shillings a week further from ruin than I announced as, on enquiry, your two horses are only to pay eight shillings per week at Bushey Park, and your Gardener says that at home they cost ten now for hay and straw. The weather, as I told you in my last, seemed inclined to change, and since I came it has been a positive storm from the North West. This and other reasons among which, and not least, is the chance of finding a letter from you there, has determined me to go to town this evening instead of to-morrow morning. I shall be as quiet in my room in town, I think, for this evening as no one knows I came, and it will give me time, a commodity I want, as I mean to return on Saturday.

London, Wed. evening.-I was interrupted by the carriage being at the door. I found no letter from you here but one from Mrs. Cholmeley, who wants a direction of you, and one from Lady Douglas who encloses a letter to be sent to you, also not knowing where to direct, and desiring that I would inform her when I hear that your plans are "finally settled." I am sure for the latter request she ought to send a recipe.

Parliament met yesterday but the same mystery is kept up. Not a word from Ministry, only an exhausted "hope" (that is his word) from the Chancellor of the 1 Add. MSS. 37727, f. 58.