 the coach as soon as we had done breakfast, in order to wait on you, to request that you would favour us with your company to the play, if you are not engaged on Wednesday next. Mrs. Siddons is to appear in Belvidera. All the world will be there; and as we have engaged places, I hope you will certainly accompany us.
Lady Farnford joining in the request, we consented, altho' I do not much wish to appear in public, till we know on what footing we are to be introduced.
To-day we have spent at home, and entirely by ourselves, which the two ladies regretted as a calamity their politeness would undoubtedly have prevented, had not previous engagements put it out of their power. Mr. Howard has been from home too most part of the day, employed

I believe about our affairs with Mr. Benseley's executors.
EIGHT IN THE EVENING.
Mr. Howard is just come in. With his accustomed kindness, he has been making enquiries I find respecting the situations and dispositions of our nearest relations, with the view of being enabled to judge from which of them we are likely to receive the most cordial reception. But tho' he does not wish to raise a prejudice in our minds against my uncle's family, he has been constrained to acknowledge, that with the exception of his second son, (who is high in the world's estimation,) they are not generally beloved.
Tho' of acknowledged probity and honor, a vain passion for state and parade obscures their good qualities, and renders

their society so shackled with ostentatious ceremonials, that it is very little either courted or desired. Lady Linrose in particular exacts an homage on account of her rank, which is beheld with ridicule and granted with reluctance, of course out of a very general acquaintance she enjoys the blessing of but few friends.
My uncle and her Ladyship, it seems, had lived separate for some years previous to his death. He was a man of a very violent, untractable disposition, and his lady possessed not that mild compliance of temper that could submit to the headstrong humour of her husband. Lord Belmont, it is said, approved of and even advised the separation, and has preserved for her Ladyship a respect and regard which leads the world to exculpate her from the share of blame that usually in similar instances involves in some measure both parties.
Lady Ann Vere, my father's only sister,

Mr. Howard is told died about a twelve month ago. She had buried her husband some years before, and
