22 February 1786 --
20th- I sent my Letter of this date from Lady Cremornes -- your
dear friend added a few lines -- the Company were Mrs. Carter, Mr. Watt,
Commodore Gardner and myself -- I told you before that it was
Thomas's Birthday -- after Tea we played at pope Joan -- whenever
I speak to your dear friend of you -- her Eyes sparkle and she seems to
devour every word -- I have had an happy opportunity of establishing
myself in her good opinion, and received a double satisfaction from it my
self -- the Evening being very wet Lady Cremornes Coach brought Mrs. Carter and your
Dickenson home -- 21st Called this morning upon Mrs. Walkinshaw -- she is
vastly well -- then I went to Sir Robert Herries -- Lady Herries was
rather low -- I stayed only a few minutes as I was to dine there --
I went to St James's -- Miss Gunning seemed very glad to see
me -- I sat with her an hour an half -- several times I attempted
to come away that I might not interrupt her, as she had
her writing -- but she always prevented me, & at last said
“must you go -- well if you have so many people to call upon I can't
ask you to stay any longer -- but do come and breakfast with me
before you leave town” -- She looks melancholy -- and as I
should do, were I in a situation that I did not like -- She appears
as if she had met with some great disappointment -- surely her
heart is affected -- otherwise, a handsome woman -- in the midst of
the world, possessed of great resources within herself -- and a
tolerable State of health, cannot fall out with the world and
be really unhappy, as she really seems to be -- the short Absence
of a dear sister, in perfect health -- is not a sufficient cause for
the indulgence of melancholy -- at least it does not satisfy
me, as I think her sensibility and common affections are not
strong enough -- she told me that whenever she sees a
certain gentleman, he always enquires after you, and lately
desired her to send his Compliments to you -- She says he is actually
married -- She told me a certain Lady (who entre nous, has
wounded her reputation by taking notice of a woman who she
knows lives in an open and avowed state of adultery) lately gave a
trifling present to Lady Egremont a souvenir d'amitié -- in Steel
the same day she gave Mrs- Hastings one in Diamonds -- When I
came home Mrs- Glover was going to Temple Bar -- so I petitioned
for a seat -- & whilst she was doing her business, I went to Mr. Coopers
and left my name as they were not at home -- Mrs- Glover set me down
at Charing Cross and I went to Whitehall -- Mr. Lightfoot was
glad to see me -- he has been constantly engaged since September
in arranging the shells &c under their different classes and affixing
the Linnean names to them -- it is an arduous work -- every Class is
a separate Lot -- Mr. Levers showed me the vase and Jupiter Serapis
Head, for which Mr. Lightfoot told me there had been offered a 1000