188 Letter on Affairs in general. [ Ave. 
and people were scandalized at the supposed immorality. In fact, the 
paragraph was as harmless as any of the rest of the paper. ‘s 
Our accounts from Manchester, and the weaving districts generally, 
get worse and worse every day; and I hear some people affecting to 
trace the distress to a “ stagnation of trade” consequent upon the 
‘diminution of the paper currency ;” and to the “want of confidence,”— 
(preventing orders from being given, &c.)—which exists among commer- 
cial men. This exposition amounts, I think, to the figure that we call 
“ humbug.” If a want of confidence to trade be really the cause of the 
overstocked market, some persons—and a great many persons—accus- 
tomed to consume, must be in want of their usual commodities. Now, 
where are these persons who have “ corn and oil,” and are yet uncloth- 
ed and unperfumed for want of well-filled shops, and “ confidence to 
exchange ?” Is the Duke of Devonshire—that Duke who sent to 
France to buy provisions for his Russian voyage—is his Grace without 
hose or breeches ?—let that fact be maintained. 
Now I am on the question of “ France,” and “ provisions,” Wright's 
champaigne is cheap; but there are people who know how to go to work 
to get champaigne cheaper. I called yesterday upon an acquaintance in 
Lincoln’s-Inn, who is to be called to the Bar in a few weeks; and found 
him making the wine that is to be drank on the occasion, with his own 
hand, and in his own chambers! This is so excellent an idea, that publi- 
city ought to be given to it, for the sake of imitation. Mem. To caution 
my friends not to drink any wine at “ calls” for along time to come— 
but nobody that is worth cautioning ever does drink any. 
The Globe and Traveller newspaper alarmed me last week, by the an- 
nouncement of “a great sensation,” created by the appearances of Miss 
Forde and a Mr. Lee at the Haymarket theatre. These are dangerous 
times to be trifling with the public sympathies; but, thank heaven, 
the danger seems to be over !—I don’t see any further observations about 
it. Perhaps the shock was only local: I think I have witnessed such 
occasionally before : just operating round Exeter Change, between the 
Globe and Traveller and the Morning Post offices. 
A very odd anecdote is telling against Lord B*¥*****,(*) whom you 
recollect in 1823 figuring away at Naples. I don’t vouch for its truth; 
but, right or wrong, you have it—as the blackguards say—* as cheap” as 
Ihad. When B****** went down to stay some time in Gloucester- 
shire, immediately after his father’s death, he heard by chance that there 
was a young farmer living about.two miles from the castle who bore 
a remarkable personal resemblance to himself. As he had been abroad 
for many years, and was only then just of age, he knew very little of the 
tenantry ; but the story struck him, and he took an opportunity of calling 
at the man’s house ; when the likeness did seem certainly to be a most 
extraordinary one. “It is very odd!” said Charles L—— who accom- 
panied B*****, «JT never saw sucha likeness in my life! and the fellow’s 
age, too, must be as nearly as possible the same as your own !”—“ Why, 
it is strange,” returned B******, « but there are ways of accounting 
for such things.—Your family are old tenants of our’s, I believe, Jenkins ? 
Was your mother in the habit much of coming to the Castle?” —*« Noa, 
Sir,” replied Mr. Jenkins ; “ not my mother, I believe, never:—but my 
Seyther, I hear say, were down at castle very often.” 
(*) Our friend must excuse us, in cases like this, from publishing names.—Eb. 
