_December 15._--To-day, by an invitation of ten days standing, I waited
upon Mrs. Walsingham. She is a woman high in fame for her talents,[166]
and a wit by birth, as the daughter of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams.
She has the character of being only civil to people of birth, fame, or
wealth, and extremely insolent to all others. Of this, however, I could
see nothing, since she at least took care to invite no company to her
own house whom she was disposed to disdain. Her reception of me appeared
rather singular. She was violently dressed,--a large hoop, flowers in
her small and full dressed cap, ribands and ornaments extremely shown,
and a fan in her hand. She was very polite, said much of her particular
pleasure in seeing me, and kept advancing to me near, that involuntarily
I retreated from her, not knowing her design, and kept, therefore,
getting further and further back as she came forward, till I was stopped
from any power of moving by the wainscot. I then necessarily stood
still, and she saluted me.
We then quietly sat down, and my father began a very lively conversation
upon various subjects; she kept it up with attention and good breeding,
often referring to me, and seeming curious to know my notions.
The rest of the company who came to dinner were Mrs. Montagu, Mr. Percy,
Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, his lady and daughter, and Sir
Joshua Reynolds and Miss Palmer. I was excessively glad to see the
latter, who clung to me all the visit, and took off from its formality
and grandeur by her chatting and intimacy.
Mrs. Walsingham lives in a splendid house in Stratford place, elegantly
fitted up, chiefly by her own paintings and drawings, which are reckoned
extremely clever. I hate that word, but cannot think of another.
We did not stay late, for my father and I were both engaged to Miss
Monckton's; so was Sir Joshua, who accompanied us.