ancholy which lasted through
life. She did not talk much herself, but she had the tact to lead
conversation. She and her sister received every evening a select society
in their small house in Curzon Street. Besides any distinguished
foreigners who happened to be in London, among their habitual guests
were my friend, Lady Charlotte Lindsay, always witty and agreeable, the
brilliant and beautiful Sheridans, Lady Theresa Lister, afterwards Lady
Theresa Lewis, who edited Miss Berry's "Memoirs," Lord Lansdowne, and
many others. Lady Davy came occasionally, and the Miss Fanshaws, who
were highly accomplished, and good artists, besides Miss Catherine
Fanshaw wrote clever _vers de societe_, such as a charade on the letter
H, and, if I am not mistaken, "The Butterfly's Ball," &c. I visited
these ladies, but their manners were so cold and formal that, though I
admired their talents, I never became intimate with them. On the
contrary, like everyone else, I loved Mary Berry, she was so
warm-hearted and kind. When London began to fill, and the season was at
its height, the Miss Berrys used to retire to a pretty villa at
Twickenham, where they received their friends to luncheon, and
strawberries and cream, and very delightful these visits were in fine
spring weather. I recollect once, after dining there, to have been
fortunate enough to give a place in my carriage to Lord Macaulay, and
those who remember his charming and brilliant conversation will
understand how short the drive to London appeared.

We sometimes went to see Miss Lydia White, who received every evening;
she was clever, witty, and very free in her conversation. On one
occasion the party consisted, besides ourselves, of the Misses Berry,
Lady Davy; the three poets, Rogers, William Spencer, and Campbell; Sir
James Macintosh, and Lord Dudley. Rogers, who was a bitter satirist and
hated Lord Dudley, had written the following, epigram:--

Ward has no heart, 'tis said; but I deny it.
He has a heart, and gets his speeches by it.

I had never heard of this epigram, and on coming away Lord Dudley said,
"You are going home to sleep and I to work." I answered, "Oh! you are
going to prepare your speech for to-morrow." My appropriate remark
raised an universal laugh.

* * * * *

Mr. Bowditch, of Boston, U.S., who died in 1838, left among other works
a "Commentary on La Place's Mecanique Celeste" in four volumes. While
busily occupied in bringing