POET. 149 



well knew how to appreciate that part of 

 his entertainment. After the cloth was 

 withdrawn, and the bottle had circulated a 

 little, it did not take me long to discover, 

 that I was indebted for my invitation to 

 the gentleman whose acquaintance I had 

 already so unexpectedly made at Gorham- 

 bury. It was natural that the conversa- 

 tion should turn on that meeting, and I 

 learnt that the correspondence already 

 spoken of, which had been read before 

 the Bench, had attracted Lord Verulam's 

 attention, and raised perhaps alike his cu- 

 riosity and his disapprobation of the con- 

 duct of his neighbour hence my reception 

 at the hall, and the gratification I there 

 experienced. 



Flattered at having made a favourable 

 impression, I failed to perceive that the 

 good old port, of which the host was by 

 no means sparing, was likely to make an 

 impression on me. Wishing, as I supposed, 



