bout the
emoluments of office, persuaded that a grateful country like this
will not suffer the wife and children of great characters to go
unprovided for, or their tradesmen unpaid, and a great deal of this
sublime nonsense.

Charles was infinitely agreeable, or I could not have stayed so
long. A quarrel, he says, had like to have happened at Quinze
between the General and the Fish. The General told the
Ambassador(192)2 how rich he was, and how well the English (meaning,
he said, people of distinction, such as his son) were received both
at Brunswick and at Vienna; lied immoderately about the affairs of
the India Company; and was ten times more at his ease than ever, to
shew Belgiosio that he had the ton de cour. Charles shewed me two of
Brooks's cards; on one he was Dr. 4,400, on another Cr. 11,000
pounds. This was the Rich Bank he belongs to.

(191) Charles, fourth Duke of Rutland, K.G. (1754-1787). He was
Pitt's first Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and died in office at the
opening of a promising political career.

(192) Belgiojoso.

(1782,) Feb. 4, Monday morning.--You will not expect me to give you
so soon any more account of George than I shall have from Sir John
Eden, who intends to go either to-day or to-morrow to Neasdon, and
who will bring me word how he does.

I was at Lord Gower's last night; and I saw there the Duke of
Bedford,(193) who, I must own, surprised me by his figure, beyond
measure; his long, lank, black hair, covering his face, shoulders,
back, neck, and everything, disguised him so that I have yet to know
his figure; I can but guess at his person. Why this singularity at
17 years of age? cela n'indique pas un esprit solide.

They saw the astonishment which this exhibition created in me, and
Lord Gower laughed, and said, "You perhaps do not know who it is?"
Indeed I did not. Je define seulement que sa figure n'est pas laide.
His chevelure was like that which I see in a picture of the grand
Conde. If there is anything of that hid under this disguise je lui
passerai cette singularity and yet, if your sons or either of them
should have all which Monsieur le Prince possessed, and Colbert too,
I had rather that they would not be singular. It may divert, but can
never add to the respect which they might otherwise have.

I went with Lord Trentham to the Speaker's, and returned to Lord
G(ower), but had no conversation either with him or the Countess.
When they go to Neasdon, I hope that they wil