With walking and rowing about;
I agree with him heartily when he was there
’Twas a pity he ever came out.
Ld. H. told me this morning a piece of slyness of the Jacobinical party towards him. About two years ago a man of the name of Gurney, a solicitor, on behalf of the manufacturers entreated Ld. H. to speak against a Bill, which involved their interests, then brought before Parliament. It was entitled, a Bill to prevent unlawful combination among the workmen. He spoke, and distinguished himself; his speech was printed at Manchester and Liverpool, and distributed among the manufacturers. It seems Burdett and Ld. Stanhope[124] grew jealous of his popularity among their friends, and have now contrived to get the petitions given to them, and have, now that resistance to it is become a little popular, espoused the cause. Ld. Stanhope told Ld. H. that he had made himself ‘many friends among the most valuable part of the community.’ Ld. H. of course does not care a straw upon the occasion one way or the other; it only makes him laugh.
Ld. Thanet quitted his captivity on Monday last; he is delighted at regaining his freedom, but a little annoyed at walking the streets where he is shown as a sight, ‘There he goes: aye, that is him.’ He says all rooms appear immense, his eye having been so long accustomed to the straitened little apartment he occupied. Madame Bonawitz latterly shared his confinement: she is reckoned clever, she writes English verses.
Our planet must have got out of its orbit and flown off further from the sun, as the cold is very remarkable. Fires are indispensable, and I, who have within these four years said the only place where a fire was useful was the kitchen, am perishing. This is the 11th June, and the servants continue fires, which is the more singular, as they in general lay more stress upon the calendar than upon their feelings. Bread is 17½d. the quartern loaf, butcher’s meat from one shilling to 14d. pr. lb.; poultry, enormously dear; and every other article of consumption in proportion. How the labouring poor subsist and suffer their hardships patiently, are both problems.
1800 LORD ELLENBOROUGH
Burke observed upon Mrs. Hastings’s[125] reception at Court, that the Queen had but one vice, avarice, and but one virtue, decorum; but when accident had brought them to contend, the vice had proved the stronger.
I dined with the Smiths on Saturday, where I met Serjeant Law,[126] a man whose abilities are rated high in his profession, but who by a singular piece of misfortune, has never yet had a fair opportunity of distinguishing himself. He has a brief, clear way of expressing himself, with a portion of causticity: he puts me in mind of Mr. Wm. Fawkener. He dined here the next day. Our party consisted of almost all the rising talents at the Bar, Bobus Smith, Mackintosh, Mr. Scarlett, Sturges, Mr. Brand who, tho’ only an amateur, yet studies the law. Fergusson, who is just liberated from the captivity of a year, called so near the moment of dinner that it was impossible, with the most adverse dispositions towards him, not to invite him. He accordingly accepted the proposal. His beauty is much praised, I did not admire him; about his mouth he has a mean expression. My accueil was not flattering or warm; as a guest he had my civility, otherwise a particle of notice would not have been bestowed. I neither like the man nor his cause. On Sunday the Beauclerks came to stay a day or two only.
I made, through my mother, to Mr. Frogatt a proposal to be laid before the guardians who may be appointed for my children by Chancery, the substance of which is an offer to take upon myself the whole expense of the maintenance and education of Harriet, that her fortune, which is but five thousand pounds, may be allowed to accumulate until she marries or is of age. I also wrote to him myself, adding that what I asked was solely for the girl’s benefit, and that she would be equally under the superintendence and control of her guardians. To this offer I this day received an answer, merely to signify to me, that Mr. Chaplin, in pursuance of the earnest desire of ye late Sir G. Webster, had applied to Chancery for the guardianship of the children: a very improbable story, because if Sir G. Webster had recommended his children to Chaplin, there would have existed a suspicion of his intention of destroying himself; and, on the other hand, if it had been his steady wish, he would at least have made a will in case of a death as sudden and more unexpected. Sir Gilbert Affleck called upon Chaplin yesterday, to propose to join in the application for the guardianship, but Chaplin rejected the offer in a manner that Sir Gilbert told me it was a force upon his feelings not to resent as it merited.