Three months I lingered in dull apathy and close imprisonment; (which to a coat of such a volatile spirit as I was then, was worse than total dissolution, or the tormenting needle of a botcher, than which nothing was half so dreadful to me) thrice a week indeed a general review was made of our company, and every one cleansed with cane and brush from moths and dust. But now a young gentleman of a most graceful appearance, ordered me to be tried upon him. I was fearful of being something too large, but the desire I had to accompany this agreeable youth, made me contract every thread to clasp him; and I so far succeeded, that he seemed equally pleased with me as I with him. In short, we soon left the neighbourhood of St. Giles’s, and with genteel deportment he conducted me towards the court-end of the town, each, if I may be allowed to say so much in my own praise, lending grace to the other. Being arrived near St. James’s (after traversing the park once or twice, during which I could discover great anxiety of mind in my conductor; and feel his heart throb with great force) he stopt at a house that bespoke the owner to be a man of distinction, and being entered the hall, he enquired if his lordship was to be spoke with; being answered in the affirmative, he was immediately waited upon up stairs, and introduced into a spacious room, which was almost filled with gentlemen who were waiting for his lordship: from the time of his entering the house I found his heart beat with stronger emotions, from whence I concluded he was near some important period; I soon discovered the _major domo_ was a minister in a certain department, and that this was his lordship’s levee;—It was near an hour before his lordship appeared; during this time, I employed myself in an endeavour to discover, from the physiognomy of the persons present, the various expectations that might be traced in each countenance; doubt of success seemed to be predominant in the assembly, and so much was every one engaged in a tacit conversation betwixt himself and his lordship, that for the greatest part of the time a total silence prevailed. At length the doors flew open, and the minister’s coming was announced.—The peer entered, and with great dignity bowed to his dependants, who returned the salute with humble reverence. His lordship spoke to each with a mild affability, as they stood in rotation, and procrastinating the desires of his dependants, seemed to be the general benefit conferred upon the company. At last it came to be my conductor’s turn to address the peer, which he did in the following words, but something inarticulate from his extreme modesty—I beg permission to acquaint your lordship that it is this day two years since I had the honour to be put upon your lordship’s list, to be employed in an office your lordship should appoint, in the embassy to the court of Spain, in consequence of an application to your lordship from the honourable Mr. ——.