Sunday, we had a very pleasant party, Hare, Fitzpatrick, Ld. Robert, Mackintosh, Mr. Scarlett, Smiths, Dumont. Mackintosh talked very pleasantly: his efforts to please were guided by good taste. His memory is very correct and retentive; he illustrated literary criticisms with lively quotations, particularly from Burke and Gibbon. Mr. Scarlett[49] is a rising man at the Bar; his profits are more upon the circuit than in the King’s Bench, but when Erskine and some few of the monopolists are removed he will distinguish himself there. He has an uncommonly benevolent countenance; his heart seems full of mild virtues; tho’ very unassuming, he yet is agreeable in a mixed conversation. Smith’s boisterous yet superior intellect did not dominate; Hare’s keen wit and the General’s discerning taste subdued his usual propensity to overpower with clamour and dispute for victory alone. He was temperate and entertaining. Hare was in full glee; they had all dined at the Lord Mayor’s Feast the day before. Combe[50] is an Opposition man, and the _patriots_ were received with acclamations in the City; Fox was dragged by the populace, so was the Duke of Bedford. The whole civic festival went off with triumph to the _party_. Whitbread, the _arch-seceder_, is disposed to return to his duty in Parliament, and measures are to be taken to persuade Mr. Fox to do the same. God knows whether they will succeed. It is a matter of very little consequence whether they do nor not, as the prejudice in the country is too strong to be conquered even by the misconduct and failure of Ministers. The General stayed all night. [Sidenote: DUMONT] This morning, Monday, 11th, Dumont left. I was sorry to lose him, as he is _facile à vivre_ and full of amusement to me. He is very universally liked by all who have the least relish for literature and good conversation. We had rather a motley mixture at dinner: Hare, Fitzpatrick, General Dalrymple,[51] Capt. Murray, and the Duke of Bedford. The latter is in very bad health; his spirits are visibly affected. On ye 12th the General left us to make some alterations at Sunning Hill; Hare, only, to dinner. On Wednesday Ld. H. went out for the first time. Lewis dined: he repeated some verses he wrote this last summer in Scotland, ‘Reflections in a Royal Burying-ground.’ They are the best of his, quite in a grand style; there are parts full of philosophy and feeling. In the evening a very comfortable gossiping coze with Hare. The price of porter is raised; the augmentation has been admitted without clamour. Every article of _first necessity_ is alarmingly dear.