The monstrous extravagancies of the German drama would not have been endured at Paris. There they were refined enough to relish wit and sentiment. The obtuse faculties of the German are incapable of tasting the raillery of Molière or ye poetical harmony of Racine. Perhaps something may be imputed to their political situation, for there the limits or gradations are strictly preserved between the difft. classes, and a _bourgeois_ knows nothing of life but the dull diary of his own. Therefore fiction and bloody ribaldry is not more extraordinary or untrue to his comprehension than would be an ironical picture of the manners of his superiors. Ye sphere of fiction and German nobility are equally remote from his knowledge, one as the other. I do not mean by this to justify the arrogance of a French _Académicien_, who absolutely proposed the question, ‘Si un Allemand pouvait avoir d’esprit.’ [Illustration: _Louis Gauffier. pinx._ _Emery Walker Ph. sc._ _Elizabeth, third Lady Holland_ _1795_] Ye theatre reminds me of a reply of Piron’s to Voltaire in coming out from ye _Semiramis_, which had some nights before been hissed. V. said: ‘You see, they have not hissed to-night.’ ‘Comment, voulez-vous qu’on siffle quand on bâille.’ [Sidenote: LORD G. LEVESON-GOWER] _20th Nov._--Parliament met. Lord G. Leveson made his debut upon the Address; he did it uncommonly well, and was praised by the good judges on the opposite side to him. He is a man of mild, popular manners; without great force of intellect, but sufficiently endowed to distinguish himself and rise in politics. His family are accused of worldly wisdom, and have an uncommon share of that indefinable, useful quality, only to be rendered by the French word _tacte_. Ld. H. spoke, but was discontented with himself. He said Ld. Lansdown’s speech hampered him, for he did not like to contradict him, and yet he could not agree, as it breathed praise to the Ministers. In it he said, ‘_Rebellion and party are dead_.’ Mr. Hare said he coupled them like _robbery and murder_. _21st._--Lord H. completed his twenty-fifth year. His sister, Ld. Ossory, General Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Crewe, Tierney, Hamilton, and Ld. Boringdon dined. In the evening Ly. Bessborough and Ld. Morpeth, and Ld. G. Leveson came; we were very merry. I have been reading the _Memoir_, drawn up by the African Association, of Mungo Park’s journey. It is curious, as it proves that those who wrote 2000 years ago knew better the interior geography of Africa than we do, altho’ for many centuries their assertions were disbelieved.