APPENDICES 319 



known her all my life, and her confidence and manner 

 afi'ected me extremely. 



They all dined here yesterday. We were to have gone 

 to Eichmond to walk in the garden, but the weather was 

 too bad ; so they stayed and supped.^ The little Barrymore 

 was to have been with us ; but we had an excuse, so the 

 little lover went, after dinner, to see Lord Holland. 



About nine o'clock, in the midst of these new acquaint- 

 ances, Allen brought me Avord that Lord Townshend was 

 below, and wanted to speak to me. What he had to say 

 was not easy to guess, and I am sure I had not the least 

 idea. I found him in my dining-room with one of his 

 aide-de-camps. I defy you to guess what it was. It was 

 the civilest thing in the world. He had heard that Lord 

 F. C.^ was my competitor; and said that he had taken 

 him out of my way, by having appointed him his 

 secretary, and that he was desirous that I should know it 

 as soon as possible. He enquired very much about you ; 

 in short, he was determined to be as civil as possible, and 

 I hope he thought I was very much obliged, which I 

 really was. 



I have been at Petersham to give this information to my 

 friends there,^ and I would not let the post go without 

 your knowing it, who are my best of all friends, as I hope 

 you believe I am always yours at all times, and upon all 

 occasions. Farewell, my dear George. 



^ Lady Emilia Stanhope, wife of the sixth Earl of Barrj'more, and 

 mother of that extraordinary quartette that flourished in the days 

 of the Regency. — J. R. R. 



^ Cavendish. ^ Lord Harrington's. 



