He is, however, a great actor: in all sarcastic and bitter passages very great; never pleasing, though undoubtedly sometimes affecting. But this might be owing to the play itself, which unquestionably has in it some heartrending passages to excite compassion in favour of the frivolous, insolent Richard. The genius of Shakspeare is peculiarly manifest in the change of sentiment you cannot fail experiencing between the first and last act of this extraordinary drama. It has been altered so as to terminate with something like a dénouement, making the Queen and Bolingbroke come and lament over the dead Richard, which does very well for the gallery, but does not coincide with history or Shakspeare’s delineation of character. Mrs. Bartley, formerly Miss Smith, ranted the Queen, and is rather a fine-looking woman. Many passages allusive to present times seemed to be spoken with peculiar emphasis, and silence was vociferated on these occasions.
The accounts from France are more alarming. Bonaparte was telegraphed as approaching Lyons, and it was supposed he entered that city on the 11th.
14th.—It is said that Bonaparte professes no desire to trouble the lawful heir of the crown of France, but claims his rights and those of his wife and son. Reports are in town of the Marshals Soult and Marmont being assassinated, and of an insurrection at Paris, but it is difficult to obtain certain intelligence from them. The King received the ambassadors and foreigners on the 7th with his usual propriety; remarked[[31]] that they saw him suffering, but that it was with the gout, and that they might inform their respective Courts that he hoped that the peace of Europe would not be disturbed. Lord Arthur Hill was at this levee, and has, as well as others, written it home. I dined at Princess Castelcicala’s, who had been making diligent inquiries into the story of the Moniteur said to be arrived with a telegraphic account of Bonaparte having reached Bourgoin, and being expected at Lyons, but could not find any one who had seen this Moniteur.
15th.—Baroness Montalembert called with Mrs. C. B. Egerton. She had been at the Foreign-office, and found more Moniteurs of the 11th were arrived, and of course the vicinity of Bonaparte to Lyons confirmed. Rayneval says the game is up, but Montalembert is going to fight for his King. At the public offices the business is considered in as bad a light as possible. Reports are spread of our cruisers being bribed, &c. &c. I dined at General Egerton’s, where I met Mr. and Mrs. Philip Egerton, and Captain Finlay, who commanded the Harrier, and brought to the Cape, in 1807, the fatal news of the storm in which the Blenheim and Java disappeared.
The French Ambassador had received no despatches from Paris. In a second edition of the Courier the intelligence contained in the Moniteur appeared.
16th.—The accounts from Paris are very bad. Monsieur was well received at Lyons, and the troops promised to stand by him; but the next day, when they were ordered to march, they refused to a man, saying, they wished no harm to Monsieur, and would not do him any, but they would not march against their former general. Monsieur left Lyons, but stopped on the road for orders from the King. The Duke of Orleans returned to Paris, saw the King, and set off again for Lyons. Soult is discovered to be a traitor, and the King has appointed General Clarke[[32]] in his stead.
There has been no insurrection at Paris. Plays and operas go on as usual; but it is said Bonaparte will be there on the 17th. The King has declared he will not leave Paris while there is a hope of the troops fighting, and if they will not, he will retire with his family to the Netherlands. The Duke de Berri will stay to the last moment; five hundred English are arrived at Dover, or waiting for a passage from Calais. The Duchess of Wellington, Lord Arthur Hill, and Colonel Roberts were amongst the first. I dined at Mrs. Green’s, Bedford-place, where Mr. Gipps, Member for Ripon, arrived from the House, and said Lord Castlereagh’s language was warlike. He had heard Macdonald, Augereau, and some others had declared for the King.
17th.—Received a note from Princess Castelcicala to say that her son is arrived in England with the Duchess de Blacas, who is near her confinement, and the news is very bad. Prince Castelcicala still remains at Paris. I went to Lady Rolle’s, who is just arrived from Devonshire, and seems to have left much discontent there with respect to the Corn Bill. Afterwards I called on Princess Castelcicala. M. de Joinville came from the French Ambassador’s. He said Bonaparte was not at Paris on the 14th, but that the troops all went over to him. The generals are few of them in his favour.
18th.—At nine, Prince Castelcicala arrived, having conducted the Duchess d’Orleans and her children safely to Dover. I went out with Lady Aylesbury, who had been with Madame de Blacas. She said Soult had not been dismissed, but had resigned, as it was not known whether he was a traitor or not. She seemed rather to think he was not. When I came home I saw Charles Ruffo and the Abbé de Longuemain, his tutor, who told me that Prince Castelcicala had his audience on Sunday, and that as he went to Court the people cried “Vive le Roi!” “Vive le Souverain légitime de Naples!” Only one man cried “Vive l’Empereur!” and was taken by the collar and thrown out of the crowd. Affairs do not appear to be as desperate as they were represented. Madame de Talleyrand (Princess de Benevento) and Madame Moreau are arrived in England. The latter is said to be engaged to Marshal Macdonald. He appears to be very zealous in the royal cause.
19th.—The accounts from France are serious, but certainly have a better complexion than they had. Marshal Ney is said to be on his march to meet Bonaparte, and a battle is expected. Much will depend on the event of it.