e better for this discipline. She has
overwhelmed me ever since with attentions and invitations. I have at
last found out the cause of her ill-humour, or at least of that portion
of it of which I was the object. She is in a rage at my article on
Walpole, but at what part of it I cannot tell. I know that she is very
intimate with the Waldegraves, to whom the manuscripts belong, and for
whose benefit the letters were published. But my review was surely not
calculated to injure the sale of the book. Lord Holland told me, in an
aside, that he quite agreed with me, but that we had better not discuss
the subject.

A note; and, by my life, from my Lady Holland: "Dear Mr. Macaulay, pray
wrap yourself very warm, and come to us on Wednesday." No, my good
Lady. I am engaged on Wednesday to dine at the Albion Tavern with the
Directors of the East India Company; now my servants; next week, I hope,
to be my masters.

Ever yours

T. B. M.

To Hannah M. Macaulay.

London: November 22, 1833.

My dear Sister,--The decision is postponed for a week; but there is no
chance of an unfavourable result. The Chairs have collected the
opinions of their brethren; and the result is, that, of the twenty-four
Directors, only six or seven at the most will vote against me.

I dined with the Directors on Wednesday at the Albion Tavern. We had a
company of about sixty persons, and many eminent military men amongst
them. The very courteous manner in which several of the Directors begged
to be introduced to me, and drank my health at dinner, led me to think
that the Chairs have not overstated the feeling of the Court. One of
them, an old Indian and a great friend of our uncle the General, told
me in plain words that he was glad to hear that I was to be in their
service. Another, whom I do not even know by sight, pressed the Chairman
to propose my health. The Chairman with great judgment refused. It
would have been very awkward to have had to make a speech to them in the
present circumstances.

Of course, my love, all your expenses, from the day of my appointment,
are my affair. My present plan, formed after conversation with
experienced East Indians, is not to burden myself with an extravagant
outfit. I shall take only what will be necessary for the voyage. Plate,
wine, coaches, furniture, glass, china, can be bought in Calcutta as
well as in London. I shall not have money enough to fit myself out
handsomely with such things here; and to fit mys