Before I rode thither I called on Princess E---- and found three young and handsome 'ambassadrices en conférence, toutes les trois profondement occupées d'une queue;' namely, whether it was necessary to wear one at the queen of Würtemberg's, or not. At a ball this evening, at the forementioned Marchioness of Londonderry's, I saw the Polonaise and the Mazurka danced here for the first time,--and very badly. We supped in the Statue Gallery. Many ladies had hung shawls and other articles of dress on the statues, which dreadfully shocked one's feeling for art. At six I came home, and am writing to you while they are closing my shutters to make an artificial night. The valets here have a sad life of it, and can only sleep out of hand, if I may say so, or like watchmen, in the day. _June 13th._ I have already told you that one is invited here to a Royal Prince, just as in some other places, among intimate friends, to a dainty dish. I was thus invited yesterday to dine with the Duchess of Gloucester, and to-day with the Duke of Sussex. This Prince, who is 'brouillé' with the King, has gained great popularity by his liberal opinions, and quite deserves it. He has been much on the Continent, and likes the German mode of life. Our language is perfectly familiar to him, as indeed it is to most of his brothers. In compliment to him, after the ladies left the table, cigars were brought, and more than one smoked, which I never before saw in England. Monsieur de Moutron told a great many droll stories, with genuine French address. But the most amusing person was Major Keppel, the Persian traveller, who related some rather 'scabreuses' but amazingly 'piquantes' anecdotes, which he would not commit to print, and which I reserve till we meet. In the morning I drive to Ascot with young Captain R----, and shall visit Windsor, to make some break in this life of uniform dissipation. It is supposed that the races will be unusually brilliant, as the King is to be present, and his horses are to run. _Windsor, June 14th._ After a rapid drive of twenty-five English miles,--partly through Windsor Park, behind which the Castle, the residence of so many kings, rears its head,--we reached the wide and barren heath of Ascot, where the races are held. The place presented a perfect picture of pleasuring encampment. Endless lines of tents for horse and man; streets of carriages along the course, chiefly filled with pretty women; high stands, consisting of three or four stages one above another, with the King's stand at the goal;--all this enlivened by twenty or thirty thousand people, of whom many have been encamped here five or six days:--such are the leading features of the motley picture. One part forms a sort of fair, where among the other booths and tents,--like a Liberty or Free Quarter[58] in the middle ages,--are to be found various games of hazard, elsewhere severely forbidden.