January 16th, 1814
To-morrow I leave town for a few days. I saw Lewis to-day, who is just returned from Oatlands, where he has been squabbling with Mad. de Stael about himself,
Clarissa Harlowe
, Mackintosh, and me. My homage has never been paid in that quarter, or we would have agreed still worse. I don't talk—I can't flatter, and won't listen, except to a pretty or a foolish woman. She bored Lewis with praises of himself till he sickened— found out that
Clarissa
was perfection, and Mackintosh the first man in England. There I agree, at least
one
of the first—but Lewis did not. As to