I have been acting Lady Teazle for Mr. Bartley
and my father's benefit. It seems to have pleased the public very
well. Without caring for it much myself, I find it light and
amusing work, and much easier for me than Lady Townley, because it
is a natural and that an entirely artificial character; the whole
tone and manners, too, of Sheridan's rustic belle are much more
within my scope than those of the woman of fashion of Sir John
Vanbrugh's play.
On Friday we had our first rehearsal of "Hernani," at Bridgewater
House, and I was greatly surprised with some of the acting, which,
allowing for a little want of technical experience, was, in Mr.
Craven's instance, really very good. He is the grandson of old Lady
Craven, the Margravine of Anspach, and enacts the hero of the
piece, which I think he will do very well. The whole play, I think,
will be fairly acted for an amateur performance. Lord and Lady
Francis have pressed my mother very much to go down for a little
while to Oatlands, the beautiful place close to Weybridge, which
belonged to the Duke of York, and of which they have taken a lease.
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