pprehensions of violence from the people who
might be assembled at the door of the carriage. However, I was not
deterred by these counsels from seeing Kean in his best characters,
nor from voting according to my principles; and, with regard to the
third and last apprehensions of my friends, I could not share in
them, not being made acquainted with their extent till some time
after I had crossed the Channel. Even if I had been so, I am not of
a nature to be much affected by men's anger, though I may feel hurt
by their aversion. Against all individual outrage, I could protect
or redress myself; and against that of a crowd, I should probably
have been enabled to defend myself, with the assistance of others,
as has been done on similar occasions.

"I retired from the country, perceiving that I was the object of
general obloquy; I did not indeed imagine, like Jean Jacques
Rousseau, that all mankind was in a conspiracy against me, though I
had perhaps as good grounds for such a chimera as ever he had; but
I perceived that I had to a great extent become personally
obnoxious in England, perhaps through my own fault, but the fact
was indisputable; the public in general would hardly have been so
much excited against a more popular character, without at least an
accusation or a charge of some kind actually expressed or
substantiated; for I can hardly conceive that the common and
every-day occurrence of a separation between man and wife could in
itself produce so great a ferment. I shall say nothing of the usual
complaints of 'being prejudged,' 'condemned unheard,' 'unfairness,'
'partiality,' and so forth, the usual changes rung by parties who
have had, or are to have, a trial; but I was a little surprised to
find myself condemned without being favoured with the act of
accusation, and to perceive in the absence of this portentous
charge or charges, whatever it or they were to be, that every
possible or impossible crime was rumoured to supply its place, and
taken for granted. This could only occur in the case of a person
very much disliked, and I knew no remedy, having already used to
their extent whatever little powers I might possess of pleasing in
society. I had no party in fashion, though I was afterwards told
that there was one--but it was not of my formati