His intellect became clearer, and his manner more quiet, than usual.

He is the very man to make up his mind in three minutes if the Viceroy of Canton were in a rage, the mob bellowing round the doors of the factory, and an English ship of war making preparations to bombard the town.
A propos of places, my father has been at me again about P--.

Would you think it?
This lad has a hundred and twenty pounds a year for life! I could not believe my ears; but so it is; and I, who have not a penny, with half a dozen brothers and sisters as poor as myself, am to move heaven and earth to push this boy who, as he is the silliest, is also, I think, the richest relation that I have in the world.
I am to dine on Thursday with the Fishmongers' Company, the first company for gourmandise in the world.

Their magnificent Hall near London Bridge is not yet built, but, as respects eating and drinking, I shall be no loser; for we are to be entertained at the Albion Tavern.

This is the first dinner-party that I shall have been to for a long time.