-there are six tickets issued for the modest women, and it is
supposed there will be three to spare. The passports for the lax
are beyond my arithmetic.

"P.S.--The Stael last night attacked me most furiously--said that I
had 'no right to make love--that I had used * * barbarously--that I
had no feeling, and was totally insensible to _la belle passion_,
and _had_ been all my life.' I am very glad to hear it, but did not
know it before. Let me hear from you anon."

* * * * *

LETTER 126. TO MR. MOORE.

"July 25. 1813.

"I am not well versed enough in the ways of single woman to make
much matrimonial progress.

"I have been dining like the dragon of Wantley for this last week.
My head aches with the vintage of various cellars, and my brains
are muddled as their dregs. I met your friends the D * * s:--she
sung one of your best songs so well, that, but for the appearance
of affectation, I could have cried; he reminds me of Hunt, but
handsomer, and more musical in soul, perhaps. I wish to God he may
conquer his horrible anomalous complaint. The upper part of her
face is beautiful, and she seems much attached to her husband. He
is right, nevertheless, in leaving this nauseous town. The first
winter would infallibly destroy her complexion,--and the second,
very probably, every thing else.

"I must tell you a story. M * * (of indifferent memory) was dining
out the other day, and complaining of the P----e's coldness to his
old wassailers. D * * (a learned Jew) bored him with questions--why
this? and why that? 'Why did the P----e act thus?'--'Why, sir, on
account of Lord * *, who ought to be ashamed of himself.'--'And why
ought Lord * * to be ashamed of himself?'--'Because the P----e,
sir, * * * * * * * *.'--'And why, sir, did the P----e cut
_you_?'--' Because, G----d d----mme, sir, I stuck to my
principles.'--'And _why_ did you stick to your principles?'

"Is not this last question the best that was ever put, when you
consider to whom? It nearly killed M * *. Perhaps you may think it
stupid, but, as Goldsmith said about the peas, it was a very good
joke when I heard it--as I did from an ear-witness--and is only
spoilt in my narration.

"The season has closed with a dandy ball;--but I have dinners with
the