sday
evening[101] in Sydney Gardens, a concert, with
illuminations and fireworks. To the latter
Elizabeth and I look forward with pleasure, and
even the concert will have more than its usual
charm for me, as the gardens are large enough for
me to get pretty well beyond the reach of its
sound. In the morning Lady Willoughby is to
present the colours to some corps, or Yeomanry, or
other, in the Crescent.

13 Queen Square: Tuesday [June 11, 1799].

I would not let Martha read _First Impressions_
again upon any account, and am very glad that I
did not leave it in your power. She is very
cunning, but I saw through her design; she means
to publish it from memory, and one more perusal
must enable her to do it. As for _Fitz-Albini_,
when I get home she shall have it, as soon as ever
she will own that Mr. Elliott is handsomer than
Mr. Lance, that fair men are preferable to black;
for I mean to take every opportunity of rooting
out her prejudices.

I am very glad you liked my lace, and so are you,
and so is Martha, and we are all glad together. I
have got your cloak home, which is quite
delightful--as delightful at least as half the
circumstances which are called so.

I do not know what is the matter with me to-day,
but I cannot write quietly; I am always wandering
away into some exclamation or other. Fortunately I
have nothing very particular to say.

* * * * *

Fanny desires her love to you, her love to
grandpapa, her love to Anna, and her love to
Hannah; the latter is particularly to be
remembered. Edward desires his love to you, to
grandpapa, to Anna, to little Edward, to Aunt
James and Uncle James, and he hopes all your
turkeys and ducks, and chicken and guinea fowls
are very well; and he wishes you very much to send
him a printed letter, and so does Fanny--and they
both rather think they shall answer it.

13 Queen Square: Wednesday [June 19, 1799].

Last Sunday we all drank tea in Paragon; my uncle
is still in his flannels, but is ge