gluttony I will not commit
to writing. I blush when I think of it. You, however, are not wholly
guiltless in this matter. My nameless offence was partly occasioned by
Napier; and I have a very strong reason for wishing to keep Napier in
good humour. He has promised to be at Edinburgh when I take a certain
damsel thither; to loop out for very nice lodgings for us in Queen
Street; to show us everything and everybody; and to see us as far as
Dunkeld on our way northward, if we do go northward. In general I abhor
visiting; but at Edinburgh we must see the people as well as the walls
and windows; and Napier will be a capital guide.

Ever yours

T. B. M.

To Hannah M. Macaulay.

London: June 14, 1833.

My dear Sister,--I do not know what you may have been told. I may have
grumbled, for ought I know, at not having more letters from you; but, as
to being angry, you ought to know by this time what sort of anger mine
is when you are its object.

You have seen the papers, I dare say, and you will perceive that I did
not speak yesterday night.[The night of the First Reading of the India
Bill.] The House was thin. The debate was languid. Grant's speech had
done our work sufficiently for one night; and both he and Lord Althorp
advised me to reserve myself for the Second Reading.

What have I to tell you? I will look at my engagement book, to see where
I am to dine.

Friday June 14 . Lord Grey.
Saturday June 15. Mr. Boddington.
Sunday June 16 . Mr. S. Rice.
Saturday June 22. Sir R. Inglis.
Thursday June 27. The Earl of Ripon.
Saturday June 29. Lord Morpeth.

Read, and envy, and pine, and die. And yet I would give a large slice of
my quarter's salary, which is now nearly due, to be at the Dingle. I am
sick of Lords with no brains in their heads, and Ladies with paint on
their cheeks, and politics, and politicians, and that reeking furnace of
a House. As the poet says,

Oh! rather would I see this day
My little Nancy well and merry
Than the blue riband of Earl Grey,
Or the blue stockings of Miss Berry.

Margaret tells us that you are better, and better, and better. I want to
hear that you are well. At all events our Scotch tour will set you up.
I hope, for the sake of the tour, that we shall keep our places; but I
firmly believe that, before many days have passed, a desperate attempt
will be made in the House of Lords to turn us out. If we stand the
shock, we shall be firmer than ever. I