This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
288
LIFE OF EDMOND MALONE.

sucked out of him something for my Life, together with the promise of a very interesting letter, relative to Mr. Burke and my uncle, which will greatly enrich my volume. The Trafalgar victory, and the death of Lord Nelson, occupied every one, and I had the pleasure of talking it over with Mr. Trevor, late ambassador at Turin, who knows all continental business, and the probable effects of our naval success upon them, as well as any man in England.

In a day or two after Luttrell arrived from Lord Egremont’s with Lord Cowper<!— Peter Leopold Louis Francis Nassau Clavering-Cowper, 5th Earl Cowper (1778–1837), mentioned previously. -->. He ran to me in an absolute ecstasy; next morning introduced me to Lord C, whom I like better, I think, than any one I ever met upon a short acquaintance. Luttrell dined next day with Mr. Malone; and the day but one after, gave a dinner to Lord C, Mr. M. and myself. It was absolutely delightful; and we sat till near twelve in a perpetual talk, and of the best kind. You cannot often, my dearest Anne, see such men as Lord C, but I am a little out of luck about him. He has lately married Lord Melbourne’s daughter, and is fitting up his house, residing till it is finished with Lord Melbourne. He lamented over and over again this circumstance, which prevented him giving me certain dinners, which he assures me are at my service whenever I come again to London. Lord Melbourne’s house was inaccessible, on account of the Prince of Wales, who lived there all the time Lord C. staid in town, and must not have new personages to dine with him. I should otherwise, I believe, have had an entrée here. Lord C, Luttrell, and I, however, had a long and very pleasant walk to Kensington, and consequently a lot of talking.

I have been twice to the play; once because Mr. M. passed the evening abroad. It was at Drury Lane, a new play, dreadfully bad—The Prior Claim; but Bannister very diverting in Moliere’s Médecin Malgre Lui. The next was to hear Braham. I was delighted with him and Storace. He is in appearance so like Harvey Daniel, that I was thinking myself every moment at New Forest. I have not been at the Opera, but will give you a variety of reasons for not doing what you desire, beginning with the last, namely, that