freak of * * *. He began a letter to her, but was obliged to stop
short--I finished it for him, and he copied and sent it. If he holds
out, and keeps to my instructions of affected indifference, she will
lower her colours. If she don't, he will, at least, get rid of her, and
she don't seem much worth keeping. But the poor lad is in love--if that
is the case, she will win. When they once discover their power, _finita
e la musica_.

"Sleepy, and must go to bed.


"Tuesday, March 15.

"Dined yesterday with R., Mackintosh, and Sharpe. Sheridan could not
come. Sharpe told several very amusing anecdotes of Henderson, the
actor. Stayed till late, and came home, having drank so much _tea_, that
I did not get to sleep till six this morning. R. says I am to be in
_this_ Quarterly--cut up, I presume, as they 'hate us youth.'
_N'importe_. As Sharpe was passing by the doors of some debating
society (the Westminster Forum), in his way to dinner, he saw rubricked
on the walls _Scott_'s name and _mine_--'Which the best poet?' being the
question of the evening; and I suppose all the Templars and _would bes_
took our rhymes in vain, in the course of the controversy. Which had the
greater show of hands, I neither know nor care; but I feel the coupling
of the names as a compliment,--though I think Scott deserves better
company.

"W.W. called--Lord Erskine, Lord Holland, &c. &c. Wrote to * * the
Corsair report. She says she don't wonder, since 'Conrad is so _like_.'
It is odd that one, who knows me so thoroughly, should tell me this to