1813-1814] Mackintosh in London 45 



equal to the company; he was not well and did not himself 

 exhibit, and it was evident the [Bosanquet dinner] had 

 been more agreeable to him, tho' he would never own it. 

 Mme de Stael, Brougham, Lord Byron, Sharp, and some 

 others of not very inferior note were the party. Mack 

 and Brougham fraternized almost affectionately, and the 

 latter and Mme de Stael were far better friends than were 

 expected. They talked chiefly to each other so that 

 Brougham, I suppose, is entirely softened to her. He and 

 Homer stand almost alone in not admiring her book. 1 

 They are two powerful oppositions, but I do not believe the 

 faction against it gains much in numbers. 



Thursday Mackintosh went yesterday to the Staffords 

 at Richmond, with the Stae'ls. He does not return till to- 

 morrow. He received a very kind and approving letter from 

 Lord Grey on Wednesday. Lord G. writes immediately 

 after reading his speech, and seems warmly and unaffectedly 

 to admire it, particularly the part on Switzerland, and this 

 particularly pleases Mackintosh. He felt a good deal the 

 Examiner's attack on Sunday in the critique on Grattan, 

 so that nothing could be better timed than Lord Grey's 

 praise. How unfit for public life M. is. His unresenting 

 nature lays him open to every coward. I wish he had the 

 baton of Diogenes to lay about him a little. Brougham 

 complimented him on his speech and expressed sorrow, 

 with some feeling, on his illness. Mackintosh is convinced 

 he is not the writer of those parliamentary critiques in the 

 Examiner, and is much pleased to believe he is not; it is 

 odd so good a writer is not known. Mackintosh goes to 

 Whitbread's on Sunday : he does not think it wise to refuse 

 the friendly invitation of so potent a defender, but while he 

 is so constantly engaged it is impossible he can get well. 

 Lady Holland has sent him two invitations since yester- 

 day; he dines I believe to-day with the Duchess of Devon- 

 shire. I cannot endure that these old Jesdbels should make 

 such a property of him. How he wastes his strength and 

 time amongst them ! 



1 De VAllemagne. 



