Warwick’s Reviews > Thraliana: The Diary of Mrs. Hester Lynch Thrale 1776-1809: Volume II: 1784-1809 > Status Update

Handbills too of an inflammatory Nature posted on our Church Doors at Streatham in Surrey—demanding, not requesting Relief for the lower Orders—terrifie one whilst they shew and indeed openly confess, that France in her Conduct—shall serve as Example to Britain…

We have all been reading the Mysteries of Udolpho; 'tis very horrible indeed says one, very like Macbeth says another: Yes truly replied H:L:P. as like as Pepper-Mint Water is to good Brandy.

Tis remarkable—& very shocking—that every Morning of this Year, and we are now near Midsummer Day—has been frosty. Such Things are surely rare, & I can attribute the (second) Cause only to an approaching Comet—perhaps that which Dr Halley bid us expect about two Years ago is now coming; & the Vapours carried forward by its Tail occasions this weight of Water in the Atmosphere…

Mr Piozzi has his own Country Prejudices agains writing Ladies.…While Johnson lived whatever I wrote would have been attributed to him & I could not turn Author. [Now] Piozzi likes the Money I get well enough, but dislikes ye Manner of getting it; he married a Dama not a Virtuosa he says.

even Clergymen now puclickly confess Incredulity, and Mr Chappelow said in my hearing three Days ago, that Adam & Eve and the Apple was an old Woman's Story—that he believed the World was five Hundred thousand years old at least, with many other equally impious Positions.

The difference of Dialects [here in Italy] is mighty disstracting. a Child is call'd Bambino at Florence, Putto at Venice, Creatura at Rome, Schietto at Brescia, Bergamo &c. and a Girl at Milan is Tosa. what can one say in such Cases?