my new apartments, rented of Lord Althorpe, on a
lease of seven years. Spacious, and room for my books and sabres. _In_
the _house_, too, another advantage. The last few days, or whole week,
have been very abstemious, regular in exercise, and yet very _un_well.

"Yesterday, dined _tete-a-tete_ at the Cocoa with Scrope Davies--sat
from six till midnight--drank between us one bottle of champagne and six
of claret, neither of which wines ever affect me. Offered to take Scrope
home in my carriage; but he was tipsy and pious, and I was obliged to
leave him on his knees praying to I know not what purpose or pagod. No
headach, nor sickness, that night nor to-day. Got up, if any thing,
earlier than usual--sparred with Jackson _ad sudorem_, and have been
much better in health than for many days. I have heard nothing more from
Scrope. Yesterday paid him four thousand eight hundred pounds, a debt of
some standing, and which I wished to have paid before. My mind is much
relieved by the removal of that _debit_.

"Augusta wants me to make it up with Carlisle. I have refused _every_
body else, but I can't deny her any thing;--so I must e'en do it, though
I had as lief 'drink up Eisel--eat a crocodile.' Let me see--Ward, the
Hollands, the Lambs, Rogers, &c. &c.--every body, more or less, have
been trying for the last two years to accommodate this _couplet_ quarrel
to no purpose. I shall laugh if Augusta succeeds.

"Redde a little of many things--shall get in all my books to-morrow.
Luckily this room will hold them--with 'ample room and verge, &c. the
characters of hell to trace.' I must set about some employment soon; my
heart begins to eat _itself_ again.

"April 8.

"Out of town six days. On my return, find my poor little pagod,
Napoleon, pushed off his pedestal;--the thieves are in Paris. It is his
own fault. Like Milo, he would rend the oak[4]; but it closed again,
wedged his hands, and now the beasts--lion, bear, down to the dirtiest
jackall--may all tear him. That Muscovite winter _wedged_ his
arms;--ever since, he has fought with his feet and teeth. The last may
still leave their marks; and 'I guess now' (as the Yankees say) that he
will yet play them a pass. He is in their rear--between them and their
homes. Query--will they ever reach them?

[Footnote 4: He adopted this thought afterwards in his Ode to Napoleon,
as well as most of the historical examples in the following paragraph.]

"Saturday, April 9. 1814.

"I