We went in July to Woburn; Mr. Brougham was with us. Our party consisted of Lauderdale, D. of Argyle, W. Elliot, Adam, etc. Extremely pleasant place, both grand and comfortable, and the park very pretty in some parts. Went over to see Luton, belonging to Ld. Bute. The house was built by his father, the Minister, and does no credit to his choice of an architect, the Adams. The collection of pictures is very numerous, the Flemish and Dutch schools are the finest, altho’ amongst the great number of Italian pictures some are good. The most remarkable portraits are those grouped with some malicious skill by Sr. Joshua. They are those of Ld. Bute and his Secretary, Jenkinson, now Ld. Liverpool.[323] The Prime Minister is represented with all the pomp and dignity of office, a splendid dress and commanding air; he is taking, rather than receiving, from his Secretary a bundle of papers, which the Secretary, with a most submissive air, is holding in his hands. The story tells itself,--the Duke of Lerma and Gil Blas; the abject, fawning, sly Secretary, and the haughty great man. People say Sr. Joshua Reynolds marked the characters so strongly in order to stamp the origin of a man, whose sneaking qualities he foresaw would raise him to distinction. Ld. Liverpool, I have been assured, offered frequently a very large sum to withdraw from the eye of the public this memorial. The Library is very extensive, and the three rooms which join it are handsome, altho’ it might have been infinitely better. [Sidenote: WILLIAM BELSHAM] We went to Hinckley to see Henry E., who had been there about a month with his aunt; his limb is not worse. From thence for one night to Farming Woods, belonging to Ld. Ossory; charming spot, fine trees, abundance of deer, and wild woodland scenery. Slept at Bromham, Mr. Trevor’s, a pretty water place on the banks of the Ouse. From thence for three nights to Mr. Whitbread’s at Southill. Ly. Madelina Palmer[324] was there. With the exception of the Trevors for one day, the rest of the company was _remplissage_ of the very worst sort, fulsome flatterers, and disgusting dependents. Mr. Belsham, the gazetteer or pamphleteer, who calls his heavy compilation a History of England, was one of them; his manners and appearance are positively offensive to all the senses. He extols Whitbread to the skies, and makes him believe no man can serve the country with equal talents and honesty, and that nothing but Ld. Grey’s envy at his superiority could have kept him out of the highest offices in the late Administration. He has composed a virulent libel against the late Governt., which he circulates about the country, and boasts of his forbearance, that out of consideration to Mr. Whitbread’s _affection_ for Ld. Grey that he does not publish it. It is particularly offensive to Grey, and the subject most urged is the failure of the negotiation. Mr. W. has an unfortunate relish for the society he indulges in at Southill.