ent of every sort, and
offer this mark of respect as well to the man as the office. The
Chancellor was flattered by the attention, and shook the Duke by the
hand very cordially * * *. Not the least remarkable personage in the
room was the Lord Advocate of Scotland. Brougham and he are very old
friends, and have been much engaged in the same species of literature.
Brougham was his predecessor in the editorship of the Edinburgh
Review--a fact which is not generally known, but which is certain.
Brougham was not the first editor, having filled that office for a
short time after Sidney Smith withdrew from the situation. Jeffrey
appeared extremely _petit_ in his court-dress, and did not seem very
much at home: he was acquainted with but few of his fellow visiters,
and had too much good taste to occupy much of the Chancellor's
attention: they did not seem to hold any conversation beyond the usual
common-place inquiries * * *. After I had paid my respects to the
Chancellor, there came tripping up the Marquess of Bristol, with a
springy step, which he must surely have acquired at the old court
of France; for I am sure that no such movement could be attained on
English ground. The elasticity of this noble lord was such, that when
once put in motion, he continued to spring up and down in the manner
of the Chinese figures, which are hawked by the Italian toy-venders.
Had I been told that the head of the house of Newry was a
dancing-master, who had not yet learned the present modes, I should
certainly have believed the story without scruple, if I had met him
anywhere else. He had no sooner left the Chancellor, than he was laid
hold of by a fidgetty solicitor, who was the only member of his class
in the room, and who, I understand, is a sort of favourite of the
Chancellor. The obsequious grin, and the affected ease of this worthy,
do not convey any very favourable impression on his behalf. He was
solicitor for the Queen, and in this capacity formed an intimacy with
her chief counsel, which an ill-natured person would perhaps think
makes him now forget in some measure the great disparity betwixt
their present condition. The Chancellor gave no discouragement to
his familiarity * * *. A variety of lords, squires, generals, _ossa
innominata_ followed, for whom the Chancellor cared perhaps about as
much as I did. At length Sir James Scarlett was announced, and the
Chancellor left his place to meet him. His welcome was very hearty.
Brougha