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DIARY • 1779 23
The first subject started was the Opera, and all joined
in the praise of Pacchierotti. Mrs Sheridan declared she
could not hear him without tears, and that he was the
first Italian singer who ever affected her to such a
degree.
Then they talked of the intended marriage of the Duke
of Dorset with Miss Cumberland, and many ridiculous
anecdotes were related. The conversation naturally fell
upon Mr Cumberland, and he was finely cut up!
A rat-tat-tat-tat ensued, and the Earl of Harcourt was
announced. When he had paid his compliments to Mrs
Cholmondeley:
'I knew, ma'am,' he said, 'that I should find you at
home.'
'I suppose then, my lord,' said she, 'that you have seen
Sir Joshua Reynolds; for he is engaged to be here.'
'I have,' answered his lordship; 'and heard from him
that I should be sure to find you.'
And then he added some very fine compliment, but I
have forgot it.
'Oh, my lord,' cried she, 'you have the most discernment
of anybody! His lordship (turning another way)
always says these things to me, and yet he never flatters.'
Lord Harcourt, speaking of the lady from whose house
he was just come, said:
'Mrs Vesey 1 is vastly agreeable, but her fear of ceremony
is really troublesome: for her eagerness to break a circle
is such, that she insists upon everybody's sitting with
their backs one to another; that is, the chairs are drawn
into little parties of three together, in a confused manner,
all over the room.'
'Why, then,' said my father, 'they may have the pleasure
of caballing and cutting up one another, even in the same
room.'
'Oh, I like the notion of all things,' cried Mrs Cholmondeley;
'I shall certainly adopt it!'
1 A blue-Stocking. Her salon in Bolton Street rivalled that of
Mrs Montagu.