London, October 1779–June 1780

Last Night the weather was so bad we tho^t nobody w^d venture out — however soon after Tea Piozzi ⁵ came. He arrived from the Country (M^r Cox’s) ⁶ the Eve^g before, where he had spent two Months — He was in excellent spirits & humour, & before he went away play’d 2 or 3 of his new Lessons ⁷ w^ch I don’t like, But sung some songs divinely — one of Jomelli’s ⁸ w^ch was new to me — ‘Superbo di me stesso’ from the Olimpiade ⁹ w^ch was new to him — he had never seen it before. — Merlin ¹⁰ was here Friday night, ¹ & infinitely ridiculous Diverting, talking of Politics — the decay of trades & commerce &c &c very learnedly, & no less dismally.