“August 1_st_—­Baretti has been grossly abusive in the ’European Magazine’ to me:  that hurts me but little; what shocks me is that those treacherous Burneys should abet and puff him.  He is a most ungrateful because unprincipled wretch; but I am sorry that anything belonging to Dr. Burney should be so monstrously wicked.”

“1789, January 17_th_.—­Mrs. Siddons dined in a coterie of my unprovoked enemies yesterday at Porteous’s.  She mentioned our concerts, and the Erskines lamented their absence from one we gave two days ago, at which Mrs. Garrick was present and gave a good report to the Blues.  Charming Blues! blue with venom I think; I suppose they begin to be ashamed of their paltry behaviour.  Mrs. Grarrick, more prudent than any of them, left a loophole for returning friendship to fasten through, and it shall fasten:  that woman has lived a very wise life, regular and steady in her conduct, attentive to every word she speaks and every step she treads, decorous in her manners and graceful in her person.  My fancy forms the Queen just like Mrs. Grarrick:  they are countrywomen and have, as the phrase is, had a hard card to play; yet never lurched by tricksters nor subdued by superior powers, they will rise from the table unhurt either by others or themselves ... having played a saving game.  I have run risques to be sure, that I have; yet—­

  “’When after some distinguished leap
  She drops her pole and seems to slip,
  Straight gath’ring all her active strength,
  She rises higher half her length;’

and better than now I have never stood with the world in general, I believe.  May the books just sent to press confirm the partiality of the Public!”

“1789, January.—­I have a great deal more prudence than people suspect me for:  they think I act by chance while I am doing nothing in the world unintentionally, and have never, I dare say, in these last fifteen years uttered a word to husband, or child, or servant, or friend, without being very careful what it should be.  Often have I spoken what I have repented after, but that was want of judgment, not of meaning.  What I said I meant to say at the time, and thought it best to say, ...  I do not err from haste or a spirit of rattling, as people think I do:  when I err, ’tis because I make a false conclusion, not because I make no conclusion at all; when I rattle, I rattle on purpose.”

“1789, May 1_st_.—­Mrs. Montagu wants to make up with me again.  I dare say she does; but I will not be taken and left even at the pleasure of those who are much nearer and dearer to me than Mrs. Montagu.  We want no flash, no flattery.  I never had more of either in my life, nor ever lived half so happily:  Mrs. Montagu wrote creeping letters when she wanted my help, or foolishly thought she did, and then turned her back upon me and set her adherents to do the same.  I despise such conduct, and Mr. Pepys, Mrs. Ord, &c. now sneak about and look ashamed of themselves—­well they may!”