Such a fog covered the whole town this morning that I could not see to breakfast without candles. Going out till evening was not to be thought of. I was invited to dinner at ----: P---- was there too, to whom she generally shows great hostility, I know not why. To-day, with his usual 'étourderie,' he ruined himself for ever. The lady has, as you may remember, rather a red nose, which the malicious have ascribed to the custom with which General Pillett reproaches Englishwomen. P---- probably did not know this, and remarked that she mixed a dark liquid with her wine. In the innocence--or the wickedness--of his heart, he asked her whether she was so much of an Englishwoman as to mix her wine with Cognac. It was not till he remarked the redness diffuse itself over her whole face, and the embarrassment of those who sat near, that he was conscious of his 'bévue;' for the innocent beverage was toast and water. This suggested to me the ludicrous directions given by a book of _Rules for Good Behaviour_, written in our pedantic national manner. "When you go into company," says the author, "be sure to inform yourself accurately beforehand concerning the persons you are likely to meet; their parentage, connexions, foibles, faults, and peculiarities; so that you may not, on the one hand, say any thing unknowingly which may touch a sore place, and on the other, may be able to flatter in an easy and appropriate manner." Laughably expressed enough, and difficult to accomplish, but not a bad precept! There was a great deal of political talk, particularly of this dashing commencement of a war, by the destruction of the Turkish fleet. How inconsistent is the language of Englishmen on this subject! But ever since the fall of Napoleon the leading politicians do not seem to know rightly what they would be at. The miserable results of their Congresses do not satisfy even them; but yet there has appeared no original mind capable of making these meetings conduce to more important consequences; no master-will to guide them; and the fate of Europe depends no longer on its leaders, but on chance. Canning was but a transient vision; and how are his successors employed? The destruction of the fleet of an old and faithful ally, without a declaration of war, is the best proof; though, as man and Philhellene, I heartily rejoice at it. But amid all these political abortions, this tottering and vacillating of all parts, we shall certainly live to witness still more extraordinary things;--perhaps combinations which have hitherto been deemed impossible. This is partly to be ascribed to Canning himself,--for his plans were not matured; and a man of eminent genius is always detrimental to his successors when they are pygmies. The present Ministers have completely the air of wishing to lead England slowly into the pit which Canning dug for others.