Mrs. Fane and Mrs. Beresford were part of Sir Henry’s party, and the most conversable of the ladies we have seen—a slight tinge of London topics about them, or at least of London readiness to talk. After dinner all the ladies sit in a complete circle round the room, and the gentlemen stand at the farther end of it. I do not suppose they would have anything to say if they met, but it would look better. Luckily it does not last long.
Our day for morning visits. It is doubtful whether they are not more fatiguing than the dinners, but it is difficult to judge; they last longer. We gave a dinner to part of the ‘Jupiter’s’ crew—the sailors who had acted, or who had sung in the evening to us, or who had assisted the servants, or who belonged to our barge. They came at five to a magnificent dinner—Giles presiding and Mars superintending. We all went down to see them, and the coxswain proposed ‘Lord Auckland’s health,’ upon which another sailor said, ‘and his two sisters’, of course,’ and then some of the others added, ‘ with three times three, at least,’ and then George made them a little speech, and
