“On the next day, Tuesday the 3rd, Mrs. Hinchliffe called on me in the morning to go see Webber’s drawings of the South Sea rareties.  We met the Smelts, the Ords, and numberless blues there, and displayed our pedantry at our pleasure.  Going and coming, however, I quite teazed Mrs. Hinchliffe with my low-spirited terrors about Mr. Thrale, who had not all this while one symptom worse than he had had for months; though the physicians this Tuesday morning agreed that a continuation of such dinners as he had lately made would soon dispatch a life so precarious and uncertain.  When I came home to dress, Piozzi, who was in the next room teaching Hester to sing, began lamenting that he was engaged to Mrs. Locke on the following evening, when I had such a world of company to meet these fine Orientals; he had, however, engaged Roncaglia and Sacchini to begin with, and would make a point of coming himself at nine o’clock if possible.  I gave him the money I had collected for his benefit—­35_l_.  I remember it was—­a banker’s note—­and burst out o’ crying, and said, I was sure I should not go to it.  The man was shocked, and wondered what I meant.  Nay, says I, ’tis mere lowness of spirits, for Mr. Thrale is very well now, and is gone out in his carriage to spit cards, as I call’d it—­sputar le carte.  Just then came a letter from Dr. Pepys, insisting to speak with me in the afternoon, and though there was nothing very particular in the letter considering our intimacy, I burst out o’ crying again, and threw myself into an agony, saying, I was sure Mr. Thrale would dye.

“Miss Owen came to dinner, and Mr. Thrale came home so well! and in such spirits! he had invited more people to my concert, or conversazione, or musical party, of the next day, and was delighted to think what a show we should make.  He eat, however, more than enormously.  Six things the day before, and eight on this day, with strong beer in such quantities! the very servants were frighted, and when Pepys came in the evening he said this could not last—­either there must be legal[1] restraint or certain death.  Dear Mrs. Byron spent the evening with me, and Mr. Crutchley came from Sunning-hill to be ready for the morrow’s flash.  Johnson was at the Bishop of Chester’s.  I went down in the course of the afternoon to see after my master as usual, and found him not asleep, but sitting with his legs up—­because, as he express’d it.  I kissed him, and said how good he was to be so careful of himself.  He enquired who was above, but had no disposition to come up stairs.  Miss Owen and Mrs. Byron now took their leave.  The Dr. had been gone about twenty minutes when Hester went down to see her papa, and found him on the floor.  What’s the meaning of this? says she, in an agony.  I chuse it, replies Mr. Thrale firmly; I lie so o’ purpose.  She ran, however, to call his valet, who was gone out—­happy to leave him so particularly well, as he thought.  When my servant went instead, Mr. Thrale bid him begone,