Sunday, April 6th.—This day past like the rest till we had just finished tea at seven o'clock in the evening, when Mr. Dunning arrived from the Bristol circuit. I left them to converse together till ten o'clock.
Tuesday, April 8th.—We arrived in town. I was quite surprised at the improvement in my dear little child, who now takes notice of a watch. Mr. Nugent and Colonel Barre dined with us.
Wednesday, April 9th.—Lord Fitzmaurice was put into a tub of water and bore it much better than I expected. General Clerke supped here.
Monday, April 14th.—We all went, after breakfast, to walk over the house in Berkeley Square,[1] after which I came home. After dinner my Lord came up and called me out of the room and told me that he had received a letter from the country with an account of Mr. Duckett's death, which made it necessary for him to go down the next day as he was to bring in the new member, which would be Mr. Calcraft, as he was under a sort of engagement to him, and if that met with difficulty, Mr. Dunning.[2] That evening he went to Mr. Pitt.
May 14th.—We got into the coach for Birmingham, and arrived through rough roads at nine o'clock there. We were kindly and politely received by Mr. Garbett; but before I dwell upon the curiosities of this place I must mention having seen some very good portraits at Warwick Castle, particularly one said to be an original of the famous Earl of Essex.
May 15th.—We breakfasted, and went soon after with Mr. Garbett to see the manufactory of buttons and hardwares, which are very curious,[3] and entertained us very much till dinner-time. Mr. Taylor, the principal manufacturer there, dined with us, and we went afterwards to Mr. Bolden's, who trades much in the same way.
- ↑ The site had been bought by Lord Bute, who commenced a house upon it. Lord Shelburne bought the site and the building, which he finished. He is said to have had the refusal at the time of what if now the main building of the British Museum. Adams was the architect of Shelburne House.
- ↑ Calcraft was returned. He held the seat till 1768, when Dunning succeeded him.
- ↑ There are a great number of letters and papers from Mr. Garbett on commercial questions among the Lansdowne House MSS.
