“Harley Street, 13th April, 1782.—­When I took off my mourning, the watchers watched me very exactly, ’but they whose hands were mightiest have found nothing:’  so I shall leave the town, I hope, in a good disposition towards me, though I am sullen enough with the town for fancying me such an amorous idiot that I am dying to enjoy every filthy fellow.  God knows how distant such dispositions are from the heart and constitution of H.L.T.  Lord Loughboro’, Sir Richard Jebb, Mr. Piozzi, Mr. Selwyn, Dr. Johnson, every man that comes to the house, is put in the papers for me to marry.  In good time, I wrote to-day to beg the ‘Morning Herald’ would say no more about me, good or bad.”

“Streatham, 17th April, 1782.—­I am returned to Streatham, pretty well in health and very sound in heart, notwithstanding the watchers and the wager-layers, who think more of the charms of their sex by half than I who know them better.  Love and friendship are distinct things, and I would go through fire to serve many a man whom nothing less than fire would force me to go to bed to.  Somebody mentioned my going to be married t’other day, and Johnson was joking about it.  I suppose, Sir, said I, they think they are doing me honour with these imaginary matches, when, perhaps the man does not exist who would do me honour by marrying me!  This, indeed, was said in the wild and insolent spirit of Baretti, yet ’tis nearer the truth than one would think for.  A woman of passable person, ancient family, respectable character, uncommon talents, and three thousand a year, has a right to think herself any man’s equal, and has nothing to seek but return of affection from whatever partner she pitches on.  To marry for love would therefore be rational in me, who want no advancement of birth or fortune, and till I am in love, I will not marry, nor perhaps then.”

“22nd August, 1782.—­An event of no small consequence to our little family must here be recorded in the ‘Thraliana.’  After having long intended to go to Italy for pleasure, we are now settling to go thither for convenience.  The establishment of expense here at Streatham is more than my income will answer; my lawsuit with Lady Salusbury turns out worse in the event and infinitely more costly than I could have dreamed on; 8000_l._ is supposed necessary to the payment of it, and how am I to raise 8000_l_.?  My trees will (after all my expectations from them) fetch but 4000_l_., the money lent Perkins on his bond 1600_l_., the Hertfordshire copyholds may perhaps be worth 1000_l_., and where is the rest to spring from?  I must go abroad and save money.  To show Italy to my girls, and be showed it by Piozzi, has long been my dearest wish, but to leave Mr. Johnson shocked me, and to take him appeared impossible.  His recovery, however, from an illness we all thought dangerous, gave me courage to speak to him on the subject, and this day (after having been let blood) I mustered up resolution to