and carnivals, with their appendages; and the bore is, that if you go once, you are expected to be there daily, or rather nightly.  I went the round of the most noted soirees at Venice or elsewhere (where I remained not any time) to the Benzona, and the Albrizzi, and the Michelli, &c. &c. and to the Cardinals and the various potentates of the Legation in Romagna, (that is, Ravenna,) and only receded for the sake of quiet when I came into Tuscany.  Besides, if I go into society, I generally get, in the long run, into some scrape of some kind or other, which don’t occur in my solitude.  However, I am pretty well settled now, by time and temper, which is so far lucky, as it prevents restlessness; but, as I said before, as an acquaintance of yours, I will be ready and willing to know your friends.  He may be a sort of connection for aught I know; for a Palavicini, of Bologna, I believe, married a distant relative of mine half a century ago.  I happen to know the fact, as he and his spouse had an annuity of five hundred pounds on my uncle’s property, which ceased at his demise; though I recollect hearing they attempted, naturally enough, to make it survive him.  If I can do any thing for you here or elsewhere, pray order, and be obeyed.”

LETTER 511.  TO MR. MOORE.

“Genoa, April 2. 1823.

“I have just seen some friends of yours, who paid me a visit yesterday, which, in honour of them and of you, I returned to-day;—­as I reserve my bear-skin and teeth, and paws and claws, for our enemies.

“I have also seen Henry F——­, Lord H——­’s son, whom I had not looked upon since I left him a pretty, mild boy, without a neckcloth, in a jacket, and in delicate health, seven long years agone, at the period of mine eclipse—­the third, I believe, as I have generally one every two or three years.  I think that he has the softest and most amiable expression of countenance I ever saw, and manners correspondent.  If to those he can add hereditary talents, he will keep the name of F——­ in all its freshness for half a century more, I hope.  I speak from a transient glimpse—­but I love still to yield to such impressions; for I have ever found that those I liked longest and best, I took to at first sight; and I always liked that boy—­perhaps, in part, from some resemblance in the less fortunate part of our destinies—­I mean, to avoid mistakes, his lameness.  But there is this difference, that he appears a halting angel, who has tripped against a star; whilst I am Le Diable Boiteux,—­a soubriquet, which I marvel that, amongst their various nominis umbrae, the Orthodox have not hit upon.