_Sunday, November 10_, brings in a new person. The e Honourable Miss
Monckton,[159] who is here with her mother, the Dowager Lady Galway, has
sent various messages of her earnest desire to be acquainted with Mrs.
Thrale and your humble servant to command. Dr. Johnson 'she already
knew,' for she is one of those who stand foremost in collecting all
extraordinary or curious people to her London conversaziones, which,
like those of Mrs. Vesey, mix the rank and file literature, and exclude
all beside. Well--after divers intimations of this sort, it was at last
settled that Lady De Ferrars should bring her here this morning.
In the evening came Lady De Ferrars, Miss Monckton, and Miss Ellerker.
Miss Monckton is between thirty and forty very short, very fat, but
handsome; splendidly and fantastically dressed, rouged not unbecomingly,
yet evidently and palpably desirous of gaining notice and admiration.
She has an easy levity in her air, manner, voice, and discourse, that
speak all within to be comfortable; and her rage of seeing anything
curious may be satisfied, if she pleases, by looking in a mirror.
I can give you no account of the conversation, as it was broken, and not
entertaining. Miss Monckton went early, having another engagement,
but the other ladies stayed very late. She told us, however, one story
extremely well worth recalling. The Duke of Devonshire was standing near
a very fine glass lustre in a corner of a room, at an assembly, and in a
house of people who, Miss Monckton said, were by no means in a style of
life to hold expense as immaterial; and, by carelessly lolling back,
he threw the lustre down and it was broke. He shewed not, however,
the smallest concern or confusion at the accident, but coolly said, “I
wonder how I did that!” He then removed to the opposite corner, and to
shew, I suppose, he had forgotten what he had done, leaned his head in
the same manner, and down came the opposite lustre! He looked at it
very calmly, and, with a philosophical dryness, merely said, “This is
singular enough!” and walked to another part of the room, without either
distress or apology.