beautifully; after which I shall go to Mr Hope's, the finest house in
London, with respect to taste and _vertu_.

We have now fine weather. You would delight in Kensington Gardens, or
perhaps you would prefer joining the impertinent Loungers who sit on
Horseback, too lazy to join the walkers. The political world is at
present in a strange situation. Should Lord Melville be acquitted he
will probably take an active part in Indian affairs. There is a
canvass against him, but I trust British Peers are not to be
influenced.

I hope our _Dancing Chancellor_ will act properly as far as he is
concerned, but I believe he is now referred to the House of Peers. If
the intelligence has not yet reached you, you will wonder at the
expression "Dancing Chancellor." Know then that at Sheridan's ball the
Lord High Chancellor of England [34] danced with Miss Drummond after
having dined and sat too long with a party where was the Prime
Minister, [35] the Chancellor of the Exchequer [36] and a greater
Personage than any. They contrived to set Somerset House on fire
_twice_, and, after dancing, the head of the Law amused himself
with rowing on the Thames.--So much for the Rulers of this Land!


Thomas Hope of Deepdene, Surrey, and Duchess Street, Portland Place, who
is mentioned in the above letter, was a member of an eminent commercial
family, of Scottish descent, generally known as the Hopes of Amsterdam.
Having inherited an immense fortune at the age of eighteen, he became an
early patron of literature and the arts. Flaxman owed much to his support,
Thorwaldsen and Chantrey to his recognition of their genius early in life.
Crazy also about architecture, Mr Hope travelled all over the world,