On the 17th of January, 1838, we, viz., my beloved husband and myself, accompanied by our dear niece, Josephine Clarke, and our trusty servants from Ireland, John and Mary Forman, took possession of our dear, very dear house, No. 11, William Street. Belgrave Square is the only place of any note, i.e., of gentility near us. I take great interest in this new and pretty quartier; but I must have a new Gate where the Fox and Bull pot-house now stands; there is a rural air over the whole that is pretty; but a gate we must have into the park at the top of William Street, for pretty it will be when it is finished, though I shall regret having houses opposite to me in place of the green swards. We have a branch-Gunter, the confectioner, near us, and I have paid my score to that illustrious house, by giving him a receipt for a plombière, which I had from Carême in 1829.
March 5.—Colburn followed up his efforts at recon-
| ALBERT GATE—1838. | 439 |
March 11, William Street.—I see it is quite absurd to attempt keeping a diary here within the sound of workmen and mills; I give it up. I have been so busy, with my good Woman and her Master, lying in abeyance—heaps of letters to write—having to receive all day and go out every evening. When I had nothing to write about, then I had time to journalise. Now, when every day would supply a volume, I have not a moment to write a line!
