I had been invited by Mr. Cambridge to pass a day at Twickenham with Mr.
and Mrs. Hastings, who had proposed to carry me with them: accordingly,
on May 24th, Mrs. Hastings sent her carriage here before ten o'clock.
I made her and Mr. Hastings a visit of about half an hour previously to
our journey. I am quite charmed with Mr. Hastings, and, indeed, from
all I can gather, and all I can observe,--both which are but little,--he
appears to me to be one of the greatest men now living, as a public
character; while as a private one, his gentleness, candour, soft
manners, and openness of disposition, make him one of the most pleasing.
The little journey was extremely agreeable. He spoke with the utmost
frankness of his situation and affairs, and with a noble confidence in
his certainty of victory over his enemies, from his consciousness of
integrity and honour, that filled me with admiration and esteem for him.
Mrs. Hasting's is lively, obliging, and entertaining, and so adored
by her husband, that, in her sight and conversation he seems to find a
recompense, adequate to all his wishes, for the whole of his toils, and
long disturbances and labours. How rare, but how sweet and pleasant, the
sight of such unions.