I escorted two ladies to the ball,--the one a good-natured and sensible woman, still very pretty at five-and-thirty, who likes the world and is liked by it, and nurses an invalid husband with the most unremitting care. Her 'tournure' is agreeable, her disposition kind and good,--so that she is just the person 'pour en faire une amie dans le monde.' The other lady, her intimate friend, is a young and very pretty widow; not a very considerable only _seem_ realities. Nobody can furnish a greater abundance of plans to architects of such castles than I. On the slightest inducement I can build a fairy person, but a good-tempered friendly little creature, who is perfectly contented if you tell her that her teeth are pearls and her eyes violets. I had no reason to be ashamed of my ladies, either as to person or dress; but they, and all present, were eclipsed by the youthful Miss ----. She is really one of the most beautiful girls I have seen,--a little sylph,--who must have stolen her exquisite foot and her graces from another land. She is only sixteen,--wild, and mobile as quicksilver; unwearied in dancing as in frolic. I was so fortunate as to gain her good graces to-day by a lucky offering. This consisted in a 'cornet' of remarkably well-made 'bonbon' crackers, in the distribution of which she had found infinite diversion at the last ball. This indecorum had been strongly reprobated by the mammas; so that there were no more to be had at supper, as heretofore. I had providentially laid in a stock at the confectioner's, and now presented them to her unexpectedly; and I doubt whether the gift of a million of money would give poor me half the pleasure I now bestowed by such a trifle. The little thing was in an ecstacy of delight, and immediately prepared her batteries, which were the more successful, as the enemy thought themselves secure. At every explosion she laughed as if she would kill herself; and every time I met her she smiled upon me with her sparkling eyes, as sweetly as a little angel. Poor child! this perfect innocence, this overflow of happiness and joy, touched me deeply--for, alas! she will soon, like all the rest, be undeceived. There were many other very pretty young women; but they were too 'dressées'; some were loaded with jewels and trinkets, but none were comparable to this girl. _February 24th._ I spent this evening at Mrs. F----'s, a very dignified and delightful woman, formerly, as it is affirmed, married to the King. She is now without influence in that region, but still universally beloved and respected,--'d'un excellent ton et sans prétension.' I there heard some interesting details concerning Lord Liverpool: a man who, an hour before, ruled half a world with energy and sagacity, becomes an 'imbecile' from the neglect to open a vein! His predecessor, Lord Castlereagh, from the same cause commits suicide!--On how frail a tenure hangs the human intellect!