Lady Davy is in high glory at this moment, introducing Madame de Staël everywhere, enjoying the triumph and partaking the gale. They went down, a delightful party, to Cobham--Madame de Staël, Lady Davy, Lord Erskine, Rogers, etc. Have you heard that Jeffrey, the reviewer, is gone to America in pursuit of a lady, or, as some say, to take possession of an estate left to him by an uncle: he is to be back in time for the _Edinburgh Review_ in September! _August 19._ Lord and Lady Lansdowne came to us on Tuesday. Mr. Greenough comes on Saturday, and after that I think we shall get to Black Castle. Lord Longford came yesterday, and though he is not, you know, exuberant in praise, truly says Lord and Lady Lansdowne are people who must be esteemed and liked the more they are known. Mr. Forbes, just returned from Russia, has this moment come, and is giving a most interesting account of Petersburgh and Moscow: give me credit for retiring to finish this letter. My father is calling, calling, calling. _Nov. 19._ Last night a letter came from Lady Farnham, announcing Francis Fox's marriage, and naming next Monday for us to go to Farnham. We went last Monday to a play at Castle Forbes, or rather to three farces--"Bombastes Furioso," "Of Age To-morrow," and "The Village Lawyer," taken from the famous _Avocat Patelin_: the cunning servant-boy shamming simplicity was admirably acted by Lord Rancliffe. Tell me whether you have seen Madame de Staël's _Essai sur la Fiction_, prefixed to Zulma, Adelaide, and Pauline--the essay is excellent: I shall be curious to know whether you think as I do of Pauline. Madame de Staël calls Blenheim "a magnificent tomb: splendour without, and the deathlike silence of ennui within." She says she is very proud of having made the Duke of Marlborough speak four words. At the moment she was announced he was distinctly heard to utter these words: "Let me go away." We have just got her _Allemagne._ We have had great delight in Mrs. Graham's _India_,--a charming woman, writing, speaking, thinking, or feeling. _Nov. 25._ A letter from Lady Romilly--so easy, so like her conversation. All agree that Madame de Staël is frankness itself, and has an excellent heart. During her brilliant fortnight at Bowood--where, besides Madame de Staël, her Albertine, M. de Staël, and Count Palmella, there were the Romillys, the Macintoshes, Mr. Ward, Mr. Rogers, and M. Dumont--if it had not been for chess-playing, music, and dancing between times, poor human nature never could have borne the strain of attention and admiration. _Jan. 1, 1814._