When Horne Tooke harangued the electors of Westminster from the hustings he was often put out by one of the mob closing his sentences with a nasal ‘Amen.’ This ridiculous finale did him more mischief than all the arguments of his adversaries to prove his incapacity, on account of having taken Priest’s orders, and now the Bishop of London refuses to induct him because he is a layman. He is ingenious enough, I doubt not, to reconcile these seeming contradictions.[69] Hare, joking with Ld. H. upon his small divisions, some of which have been composed of Ld. King and himself only, says he ought to say, ‘Ego et _Rex_ meus.’ Marquis de la Rivière[70] has with a degree of superabundant loyal zeal, vexed me. At dinner here he overheard me telling Calonne the story of the Cte. d’Artois asking Pitt why a man like Tierney was not shut up. He straight went and asked Monsieur if it was true; he, of course, said _no_, and contradicted it plump. This contradiction Rivière believes implicitly, and wrote me a formal denial of the charge. This provokes me, as I hate being made a party in a _tracasserie_, and still more hate having named any person. However, the thing is of no importance, because I certainly credit Tierney’s statement in preference to Monsieur’s asseveration to the contrary. I was childish enough last night to go and see the new play; it was almost my first _sortie_ from my couch, but I am not punished for the imprudence, as I have been perfectly well all day. I found Lewis in my box; he is the only person I give leave to enter at all times. He was just returned from Cambridge, where he had heard Ld. Henry Petty deliver a declamation, composed in the very best taste, full of feeling and ingenuity. I have been reading Le Brun’s journey to Persepolis in 1704, the ruins of which (Persepolis) seem equal to anything of antiquity in point of solidity, size, and extent.