how this must sound in the ears of Florentine cicisbeos, cock or hen!  Then there was Lady Euston, Lady Caroline Fitzroy, (274) Lady Lucy Manners, (275) Lady Camilla Bennett, (276) and Lady Sophia, (277) handsomer than all, but a little out of humour at the scarcity of minuets; however, as usual, she danced more than any body, and, as usual too, took out what men she liked or thought the best dancers.  Lord Holderness (278) is a little what Lord Lincoln (279) will be to-morrow; for he is expected.  There was Churchill’s daughter (280) who is prettyish, and dances well; and the Parsons (281) family from Paris, who are admired too; but indeed it is `a force des muscles.  Two other pretty women were Mrs. Colebroke (did you know the he-Colebroke in Italy?) and a Lady Schaub, a foreigner, who, as Sir Luke says, would have him.  Sir R. was afraid of the heat, and did not go.  The supper was served at twelve; a large table of hot for the lady-dancers; their partners and other tables stood round.  We danced (for I country-danced) till four, then had tea and coffee, and came home.-Finis Balli.

* * Friday was the birthday; it was vastly full, the ball immoderately so, for there came all the second edition of my lord mayor’s, but not much finery:  Lord Fitzwilliam (282) and myself were far the most superb.  I did not get mine till nine that morning.

The opera will not tell as well as the other two shows, for they were obliged to omit the part of Amorevoli, who has a fever.  The audience was excessive, without the least disturbance, and almost as little applause; I cannot conceive why, for Monticelli ***** be able to sing to-morrow.

At court I met the Shadwells; (283) Mademoiselle Misse Molli, etc.  I love them, for they asked vastly after you, and kindly.  Do you know, I have had a mind to visit Pucci, the Florentine minister, but he is so black, and looks so like a murderer in a play, that I have never brought it about yet?  I know none of the foreign ministers, but Ossorio, (284) a little; he is still vastly in fashion, though extremely altered.  Scandal, who, I believe, is not mistaken, lays a Miss Macartney to his charge; she is a companion to the Duchess of Richmond, as Madame Goldsworthy was; but Ossorio will rather be Wachtendonck (285) than Goldsworthy:  what a lamentable story is that of the hundred sequins per month!  I have mentioned Mr. Jackson, as you desired, to Sir R., who says, he has a very good opinion of him.  In case of any change at Leghorn, you will let me know.  He will not lose his patron, Lord Hervey, (286) so soon as I imagined; he begins to recover.

I believe the Euston embroil is adjusted; I was with Lady Caroline Fitzroy on Friday evening; there were her brother and the bride, and quite bridal together, quite honeymoonish.