rry means
to stand for Westminster, as Cochrane (the stock-jobbing hoaxer) must
vacate. Brougham is a candidate. I fear for poor dear Sherry. Both have
talents of the highest order, but the youngster has _yet_ a character.
We shall see, if he lives to Sherry's age, how he will pass over the
redhot ploughshares of public life. I don't know why, but I hate to see
the _old_ ones lose; particularly Sheridan, notwithstanding all his
_mechancete_.

"Received many, and the kindest, thanks from Lady Portsmouth, _pere_ and
_mere_, for my match-making. I don't regret it, as she looks the
countess well, and is a very good girl. It is odd how well she carries
her new honours. She looks a different woman, and high-bred, too. I had
no idea that I could make so good a peeress.

"Went to the play with Hobhouse. Mrs. Jordan superlative in Hoyden, and
Jones well enough in Foppington. _What plays!_ what wit!--helas!
Congreve and Vanbrugh are your only comedy. Our society is too insipid
now for the like copy. Would _not_ go to Lady Keith's. Hobhouse thought
it odd. I wonder _he_ should like parties. If one is in love, and wants
to break a commandment and covet any thing that is there, they do very
well. But to go out amongst the mere herd, without a motive, pleasure,
or pursuit--'sdeath! 'I'll none of it.' He told me an odd report,--that
_I_ am the actual Conrad, the veritable Corsair, and that part of my
travels are supposed to have passed in privacy. Um!--people sometimes
hit near the truth; but never the whole truth. H. don't know what I was
about the year after he left the Levant; nor does any
one--nor--nor--nor--however, it is a lie--but, 'I doubt the equivocation
of the fiend that lies like truth!'

"I shall have letters of importance to-morrow. Which, * *, * *, or * *?
heigho!--* * is in my heart, * * in my head, * * in my eye, and the
_single_ one, Heaven knows where. All write, and will be answered.
'Since I have crept in favour with myself, I must maintain it;' but _I_
never 'mistook my person,' though I think others have.

"* * called to-day in great despair about his mistress, who has taken a
freak of * * *. He began a letter to her, but was obliged to stop
short--I finished it for him, and he copied and sent it. If he holds
out, and keeps to my instructions of affected indifference, she will
lower her colours. If she don't, he will, at least, get rid of her, and
she don't seem much worth keeping. But the poor lad is in lov