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 room with few windows; it is impossible to say what the heat was, but the acting was really excellent; I never saw better. We stayed only for one farce—‘Naval Engagements’—and, notwithstanding the heat, laughed all the time. There is a nephew of Joseph Hume’s, a lawyer, who acts very well, and Stocqueler, the editor of one of the papers, is quite as good as Farren. I wish it were possible to have a cool theatre; a good farce is the only real amusement in this country.

Wednesday, 25th. We had one of our visiting evenings last night, and they go off wonderfully. The clergymen and their families all come, sure not to be shocked by dancing; and I filled the great Marble Hall with sofas and ottomans and all the print books and my sketch-books; and the people sat in groups, not all of a row, and George and Sir Jasper got their whist, and it was all over by half-past ten, and they all walked off saying ‘these early little soirées are quite the thing for the climate, and it is quite a pleasure to see Government House so gay again.’ Such gaiety! Oh my!