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268 the very time when it was acknowledging the practical impossibility of accomplishing the immoral object at which it aimed, had to this confession coupled a solemn declaration of the right it possessed to try again another time? Posterity would probably have hesitated to pronounce whether the folly or the wickedness of such a course was greatest.

From the midst of the stormy scenes just described it is not unpleasant to turn to the diary which Lady Shelburne kept at this time.

January 4th.—Lord Shelburne came up to me early and read some of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War. We were particularly struck with his funeral oration to the surviving friends of the Athenians killed in the first war.

January 5th.—Lord Shelburne came up to me soon after breakfast and read part of a sermon of 's. He was called away by company, and Mr. Townshend made me a visit whilst Mr. Dunning was with my Lord.

January 10th.—Lady Louisa Fermor told us at breakfast a very genteel repartee of Mr. Greville's to the Duke of Gloucester, who was accusing Lady Waldegrave of affectation for pretending to be ill and looking so well, to which she answered that her's was such an apple face that it never looked sick. "What do you mean by an apple face?" says the Duke of Gloucester. Mr. Greville who stood next her, and saw her at a loss to explain it, answered for her, "A, Sir." After breakfast Lord Shelburne lent me a little book called Le Siècle d'Alexandre and I saw him no more till dinner, to which came Colonel Barré. After it I received a short visit from Lady Mary Hume. When she was gone to her other engagements and Lady Louisa to Princess Amelia, Lord Shelburne, Colonel Barré, and Mr. Fitzmaurice came to me and staid till near nine, when the two last went to Northumberland House. We all supped together,