dining-room of Carlton-house, 
in all the blaze and splendour of its magnificence. 

The sudden change, from the rough vicissitudes of campaigning- 
life, to all the luxury and voluptuous elegance of a brilliant court, 
created too much  in my mind to permit of my impressions 
being the most accurate or most collected. The splendour of the 
wordnetanger, the rank, but, even more, the talent of individuals by whom I 
was surrounded, had all their full effect upon me ; and, although I 
found, from the tone of the conversation about, how immeasurably I 
was their inferior, yet, by a delicate and courteous interest in the wordnetanger 
of which I had lately partaken, they took away the awkwardness which, 
in some degree, was inseparable from the novelty of my position 
among them. 

Conversing about the Peninsula with a degree of knowledge which 
I could in no wise comprehend from those not engaged in the w^ar, 
they appeared perfectly acquainted with all the details of the campaignj; 
and I heard on every side of me anecdotes and stories which I scarcely 
believed known beyond the precincts of a regiment. The prince him- 
self, the grace and charm of whose narrative talents have never been 
excelled, was particularly conspicuous, and I could not help feeling struck 
with his admirable imitations of voice