bed at
different hours between two and four. 'Nous faisions la bonne
chere, ce qui ajoute beaucoup a l'agrement de la societe. Je ne
dis pas ceci par rapport a mes propres gouts; mais parce que je
l'ai observe, et que les philosophes n'y sont pas plus indifferents
que les bons vivants.'

[Page Head: PARTY AT TIXALL.]

When the party at Tixall was over we all removed to Teddesley.
Littleton[14] is good-natured, liberal, hospitable, and anxious
to oblige, but he wants tact, and his table is more copious than
refined. The house is ugly and in an ugly situation; the rooms
are small, but not ill furnished. The dinners were not good, and
Luttrell and Nugent were both very angry at the badness of the
fare. We had a brilliant _chasse_. Luttrell left Teddesley on
Monday, the Granvilles on Sunday, and Nugent and I on Tuesday; we
travelled together to Oxford. He is very agreeable, full of
information, and has a great facility in expressing himself. We
parted at Oxford. I went to Redrice, and came to town on Sunday.

[14] [Edward Littleton, Esq., at that time M.P. for the
county of Stafford; raised to the Privy Council in
1833, when he became Chief Secretary for Ireland, and
to the peerage under the title of Baron Hatherton in
1835.]

Tixall was the most agreeable party I ever was at. We were all
pleased and satisfied; we played at whist, and afterwards at
macao. Littleton was the greatest winner and Lord Granville the
loser. I wrote a description of the macao in verse:--

_MACAO_

The solemn chime from out the ancient tower[15]
Invites to Macao at th' accustomed hour.
The welcome summons heard, around the board
Each takes his seat and counts his iv'ry hoard.
'Tis strange to see how in the early rounds
The cautious punters risk their single pounds,
Till, fired with generous rage, they double stake
And offer more than prudent dealers take.
My Lady[16] through her glass with keen delight
Observes the brisk beginnings of the fight;
To some propitious, but to me unkind,
With candour owns the bias of her mind,
And asks of Fortune the severe decree
T' enrich the happy Skew,[17] to ruin me.
The fickle Goddess heard one-half the prayer,
The rest was melted into empty air;
For while she smiled complacent