I went to a Harlequin farce on ye 28th December after dining in Cavendish Square; a gun was fired off, which frightened me, and on the morrow I was taken ill. I was very weak and confined to my bed many days; this day is ye 13th, and I am still indisposed. During my confinement I have been reading among other things multitudes of novels, most of them sad trash, abounding with the general taste for spectres, hobgoblins, castles, etc., etc. Godwin has added to his publications; critics say, not to his reputation. In his preface he announces that he has not abided by the principles contained in his _Political Justice_, as he throughout the work shows that the greatest calamity is to loosen the ties of social confidence and domestic love.[54] Poor Mr. Weld, who dined here occasionally, dropped dead at the Tower, playing at whist with Ld. Thanet. He died under great pecuniary embarrassments. Marsh came to us the first day of the vacation; Ly. Lucy and the Dss.[55] were in the house, but it so happened by Ly. L.’s illness and sure management on our part that they never met. _13th Jan._--Monsieur de Bouillé se plaignant de la Révolution dit, ‘Ce sont nos gens d’esprit qui nous ont perdu.’ ‘Ah, Monsieur, que ne nous sauviez-vous’ [_sic_], said Mde. de Coigny. Quand le mariage de Lord Paget fut remis à cause de l’accident qu’il eut en se tirant la botte, elle dit, ‘C’était un mariage remis àpropos de bottes.’ Une personne, attaquée de paralisie à mi-corps, étant depuis grosse, elle dit, ‘Elle accouchera donc d’un profil.’ Lorsque Monsr. d’Épremesnil perdit sa popularité, il demanda à Mde. de Coigny pourquoi le même peuple qui l’avait couronné de laurier l’accablait d’injures et le brûlait en effigie. ‘C’est,’ dit-elle, ‘que rien ne brûle plus vite que le laurier dépêché.’ Allant dîner oû elle comptait s’ennuyer, elle dit, ‘Ce dîner me pèse sur le cœur avant de me peser sur l’estomac.’