Tuesday, 28 March 1826: 'Reading at intervals a novel called Grandby [sic] one of that very difficult class which aspires to describe the actual current of society; whose colours are so evanescent that it is difficult to fix them on the canvas. It is well written but over labourd -- too much attempt to put the reader exactly up to the thoughts and sentiments of the parties -- The women do this better -- Edgeworth, Ferrier, Austen have all had their portraits of real society far superior to anything Man vain Man has produced of the like nature.'