February 20th [1814]
Got up and tore out two leaves of this Journal—I don't know why. Hodgson just called and gone. He has much
bonhommie
with his other good qualities, and more talent than he has yet had credit for beyond his circle.
An invitation to dine at Holland House to meet Kean. He is worth meeting; and I hope, by getting into good society, he will be prevented from falling like Cooke. He is greater now on the stage, and off he should never be less. There is a stupid and underrating criticism upon him in one of the newspapers. I thought that, last night, though great, he rather under-acted more than the first time. This may be the effect of these cavils; but I hope he has more sense than to mind them. He cannot expect to maintain his present eminence, or to advance still higher, without the envy of his green-room fellows, and the nibbling of their admirers. But,
he don't beat them all, why then—merit hath no purchase in "these coster-monger days."
I wish that I had a talent for the drama; I would write a tragedy
now