nd legislator of Canada. He was
engaged to dine with Bingham Baring on Friday last, but in
consequence of his having voted in the minority the other night,
on Chandos's motion, Durham chose to construe this vote into a
personal offence towards himself, and sent an excuse saying that
'he had no alternative.' He wrote to Lady Harriet Baring a very
civil note, and conveyed his motive by implication, but quite
clearly. The note was, of course, handed about for the amusement
of the company, and the story, subsequently, for that of the
town.

April 12th, 1838 {p.088}

[Page Head: WOLFF THE MISSIONARY.]

Dined with Lord Anglesey yesterday, to meet Wolff, the
missionary. I had figured to myself a tall, gaunt, severe,
uncouth man; but I found a short, plump, cheerful person, with a
considerable resemblance to the Bonaparte family, and with some
to old Denon, with one of the most expressive countenances I ever
saw, and so agreeable as to compensate for very plain features;
eyes that become suddenly illuminated when he is warmed by his
subject, and a voice of peculiar sweetness and power of
intonation. He came prepared to hold forth, with his Bible in his
pocket, and accordingly after dinner we gathered round him in a
circle, and he held forth. It would be no easy matter to describe
a discourse which lasted a couple of hours, or indeed to say very
precisely what it was about. It was a rambling, desultory
reference to his travels and adventures in fluent and sometimes
eloquent language, and not without an occasional dash of humour
and drollery. He illustrated the truth of the Scriptures by
examples drawn from his personal observation and the habits,
expressions, and belief of the present inhabitants of Palestine,
and he spoke with evident sincerity and enthusiasm. He sang two
or three hymns as specimens of the psalmody now in use at
Jerusalem. The great fault of his discourse was its length and
desultory character, leaving no strong and permanent impression
on the mind. He subsequently gave us a second lecture upon the
Millennium, avowing his belief that it is near at hand; he 'hoped
and believed that it would take place in 1847,' and he proceeded
to show that this was to be inferred from the prophecies of
Daniel, and that the numbers in that book, rightly explained,
bore this meaning. He told us that he had learnt fourteen
languages, and had preached in nine.

May 7th, 1838 {p.089}

For three weeks past entirely engr