'WHOEVER has visited Cambridge, can hardly fail of recollecting Lady ----. The leading idea of her life was to _do the pretty_; to say civil things and make agreeable speeches. But alas! her ladyship was not infallible, and sometimes with the very best intentions would fail desperately. They relate of her at Cambridge, that during a series of concerts which Madame CATALANI gave at the last grand commencement, this Queen of Song was staying at the house of her friend Mrs. F. At an evening party at D---- Lodge, Lady ---- was invited to meet her. 'My dear Madame CATALANI! how delighted, how transported I am to see you! When did you arrive? How is Monsieur VALBRIQUE? and your dear little boy?' CATALANI changed color; her lip quivered, and her fine dark eyes filled with tears, as she murmured: '_Ah! pauvre petit, je l'ai perdu!_' 'What an engaging, interesting, elegant little creature he is!' '_Je l'ai perdu!_' shrieked the foreigner, in a tone of agony. Lady ---- had forgot her French. 'Is he, indeed? I am happy to hear it. I always said he would come out something extraordinary.' '_Je l'ai perdu! Je l'ai perdu!_' cried poor CATALANI, in a more piercing tone, and with increased emotion. 'Don't exert yourself; yes, yes; I understand you, perfectly; well, pray remember me to him very kindly, since he is not with you, and offer him my congratulations.' '_He is dead! he is dead!_ Lady ----,' said Mrs. F. impatiently. 'Dead! Why didn't somebody tell me so? Poor little fellow! And so he's dead! Well, I declare, I am very sorry for him! Dead! That's very surprising!' On another occasion she said to another distinguished guest: 'Ah! my dear Mrs. SIDDONS, what an unexpected gratification to see you at Cambridge! How d'ye do? Ah! but you are altered, when one comes to look at you! very much altered! Let me see; it must be thirty years ago since Sir BENJAMIN and I were first delighted with your Lady Randolph. How life ebbs away! What changes we see! It was poor EDWIN'S night, I think. Surely, that was the Augustan era of the British Theatre! Ah! poor EDWIN! he's gone! And PALMER, Gentleman PALMER, he's gone! And DODD--clever actor, DODD--he's gone! We live in a world of changes!' Mrs. SIDDONS looked sad, and was silent. 'I've been recollecting when it was I saw you last. It must be about fourteen years ago. You played Queen Catherine, and your gifted brother JOHN played Wolsey. What a heat it was! Dear JOHN KEMBLE! and _he's_ gone!' Mrs. SIDDONS burst into tears. 'Amiable creature!' said Lady ---- to the astonished by-standers; 'what an affectionate heart she has!'