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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Journal to Stella
+by Jonathan Swift
+(#5 in our series by Jonathan Swift)
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+Title: The Journal to Stella
+
+Author: Jonathan Swift
+
+Release Date: July, 2003  [Etext #4208]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on December 6, 2001]
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Journal to Stella
+by Jonathan Swift
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+This etext was produced by Les Bowler, St. Ives, Dorset.
+
+THE JOURNAL TO STELLA
+by JONATHAN SWIFT.
+
+With preface, introduction and notes by George A. Aitken.
+
+[Numbers thus [5] refer to the Notes at the end, which are arranged by
+"Introduction" or by "Letter 'number'".]
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+
+The history of the publication of the Journal to Stella is somewhat curious.
+On Swift's death twenty-five of the letters, forming the closing portion of
+the series, fell into the hands of Dr. Lyon, a clergyman who had been in
+charge of Swift for some years.  The letters passed to a man named Wilkes, who
+sold them for publication.  They accordingly appeared in 1766 in the tenth
+volume of Dr. Hawkesworth's quarto edition of Swift's works; but the editor
+made many changes in the text, including a suppression of most of the "little
+language."  The publishers, however, fortunately for us, were public-spirited
+enough to give the manuscripts (with one exception) to the British Museum,
+where, after many years, they were examined by John Forster, who printed in
+his unfinished "Life of Swift" numerous passages from the originals, showing
+the manner in which the text had been tampered with by Hawkesworth.  Swift
+himself, too, in his later years, obliterated many words and sentences in the
+letters, and Forster was able to restore not a few of these omissions.  His
+zeal, however, sometimes led him to make guesses at words which are quite
+undecipherable.  Besides Forster's work, I have had the benefit of the careful
+collation made by Mr. Ryland for his edition of 1897.  Where these authorities
+differ I have usually found myself in agreement with Mr. Ryland, but I have
+felt justified in accepting some of Forster's readings which were rejected by
+him as uncertain; and the examination of the manuscripts has enabled me to
+make some additions and corrections of my own.  Swift's writing is extremely
+small, and abounds in abbreviations.  The difficulty of arriving at the true
+reading is therefore considerable, apart from the erasures.
+
+The remainder of the Journal, consisting of the first forty letters, was
+published in 1768 by Deane Swift, Dr. Swift's second cousin.  These letters
+had been given to Mrs. Whiteway in 1788, and by her to her son-in-law, Deane
+Swift.  The originals have been lost, with the exception of the first, which,
+by some accident, is in the British Museum; but it is evident that Deane Swift
+took even greater liberties with the text than Hawkesworth.  He substituted
+for "Ppt" the word "Stella," a name which Swift seems not to have used until
+some years later; he adopted the name "Presto" for Swift, and in other ways
+tried to give a greater literary finish to the letters.  The whole of the
+correspondence was first brought together, under the title of the "Journal to
+Stella", in Sheridan's edition of 1784.
+
+Previous editions of the Journal have been but slightly annotated.  Swift's
+letters abound with allusions to people of all classes with whom he came in
+contact in London, and to others known to Esther Johnson in Ireland; and a
+large proportion of these persons have been passed over in discreet silence by
+Sir Walter Scott and others.  The task of the annotator has, of course, been
+made easier of late years by the publication of contemporary journals and
+letters, and of useful works of reference dealing with Parliament, the Army,
+the Church, the Civil Service, and the like, besides the invaluable Dictionary
+of National Biography.  I have also been assisted by a collection of MS. notes
+kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. Thomas Seccombe.  I have aimed at brevity
+and relevance, but it is hoped that the reader will find all the information
+that is necessary.  Here and there a name has baffled research, but I have
+been able to give definite particulars of a very large number of people--
+noblemen and ladies in society in London or Dublin, Members of Parliament,
+doctors, clergymen, Government officials, and others who have hitherto been
+but names to the reader of the Journal.  I have corrected a good many errors
+in the older notes, but in dealing with so large a number of persons, some of
+whom it is difficult to identify, I cannot hope that I myself have escaped
+pitfalls.
+
+G. A. A.
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+When Swift began to write the letters known as the Journal to Stella, he was
+forty-two years of age, and Esther Johnson twenty-nine.  Perhaps the most
+useful introduction to the correspondence will be a brief setting forth of
+what is known of their friendship from Stella's childhood, the more specially
+as the question has been obscured by many assertions and theories resting on a
+very slender basis of fact.
+
+Jonathan Swift, born in 1667 after his father's death, was educated by his
+uncle Godwin, and after a not very successful career at Trinity College,
+Dublin, went to stay with his mother, Abigail Erick, at Leicester.  Mrs. Swift
+feared that her son would fall in love with a girl named Betty Jones, but, as
+Swift told a friend, he had had experience enough "not to think of marriage
+till I settle my fortune in the world, which I am sure will not be in some
+years; and even then, I am so hard to please that I suppose I shall put it off
+to the other world."  Soon afterwards an opening for Swift presented itself.
+Sir William Temple, now living in retirement at Moor Park, near Farnham, had
+been, like his father, Master of the Irish Rolls, and had thus become
+acquainted with Swift's uncle Godwin.  Moreover, Lady Temple was related to
+Mrs. Swift, as Lord Orrery tells us.  Thanks to these facts, the application
+to Sir William Temple was successful, and Swift went to live at Moor Park
+before the end of 1689.  There he read to Temple, wrote for him, and kept his
+accounts, and growing into confidence with his employer, "was often trusted
+with matters of great importance."  The story--afterwards improved upon by
+Lord Macaulay--that Swift received only 20 pounds and his board, and was not
+allowed to sit at table with his master, is wholly untrustworthy.  Within
+three years of their first intercourse, Temple had introduced his secretary to
+William the Third, and sent him to London to urge the King to consent to a
+bill for triennial Parliaments.
+
+When Swift took up his residence at Moor Park he found there a little girl of
+eight, daughter of a merchant named Edward Johnson, who had died young.  Swift
+says that Esther Johnson was born on March 18, 1681; in the parish register of
+Richmond,[1] which shows that she was baptized on March 20, 1680-81, her name
+is given as Hester; but she signed her will "Esther," the name by which she
+was always known.  Swift says, "Her father was a younger brother of a good
+family in Nottinghamshire, her mother of a lower degree; and indeed she had
+little to boast in her birth."  Mrs. Johnson had two children, Esther and Ann,
+and lived at Moor Park as companion to Lady Giffard, Temple's widowed sister.
+Another member of the household, afterwards to be Esther's constant companion,
+was Rebecca Dingley, a relative of the Temple family.[2]  She was a year or
+two older than Swift.
+
+The lonely young man of twenty-two was both playfellow and teacher of the
+delicate child of eight.  How he taught her to write has been charmingly
+brought before us in the painting exhibited by Miss Dicksee at the Royal
+Academy a few years ago; he advised her what books to read, and instructed
+her, as he says, "in the principles of honour and virtue, from which she never
+swerved in any one action or moment of her life."
+
+By 1694 Swift had grown tired of his position, and finding that Temple, who
+valued his services, was slow in finding him preferment, he left Moor Park in
+order to carry out his resolve to go into the Church.  He was ordained, and
+obtained the prebend of Kilroot, near Belfast, where he carried on a
+flirtation with a Miss Waring, whom he called Varina.  But in May 1696 Temple
+made proposals which induced Swift to return to Moor Park, where he was
+employed in preparing Temple's memoirs and correspondence for publication, and
+in supporting the side taken by Temple in the Letters of Phalaris controversy
+by writing The Battle of the Books, which was, however, not published until
+1704.  On his return to Temple's house, Swift found his old playmate grown
+from a sickly child into a girl of fifteen, in perfect health.  She came, he
+says, to be "looked upon as one of the most beautiful, graceful, and agreeable
+young women in London, only a little too fat.  Her hair was blacker than a
+raven, and every feature of her face in perfection."
+
+On his death in January 1699, Temple left a will,[3] dated 1694, directing the
+payment of 20 pounds each, with half a year's wages, to Bridget Johnson "and
+all my other servants"; and leaving a lease of some land in Monistown, County
+Wicklow, to Esther Johnson, "servant to my sister Giffard."  By a codicil of
+February 1698, Temple left 100 pounds to "Mr. Jonathan Swift, now living with
+me."  It may be added that by her will of 1722, proved in the following year,
+Lady Giffard gave 20 pounds to Mrs. Moss--Mrs. Bridget Johnson, who had
+married Richard Mose or Moss, Lady Giffard's steward.  The will proceeds:  "To
+Mrs. Hester (sic) Johnson I give 10 pounds, with the 100 pounds I put into the
+Exchequer for her life and my own, and declare the 100 pounds to be hers which
+I am told is there in my name upon the survivorship, and for which she has
+constantly sent over her certificate and received the interest.  I give her
+besides my two little silver candlesticks."
+
+Temple left in Swift's hands the task of publishing his posthumous works, a
+duty which afterwards led to a quarrel with Lady Giffard and other members of
+the family.  Many years later Swift told Lord Palmerston that he stopped at
+Moor Park solely for the benefit of Temple's conversation and advice, and the
+opportunity of pursuing his studies.  At Temple's death he was "as far to seek
+as ever."  In the summer of 1699, however, he was offered and accepted the
+post of secretary and chaplain to the Earl of Berkeley, one of the Lords
+Justices, but when he reached Ireland he found that the secretaryship had been
+given to another.  He soon, however, obtained the living of Laracor, Agher,
+and Rathbeggan, and the prebend of Dunlavin in St. Patrick's Cathedral,
+Dublin.  The total value of these preferments was about 230 pounds a year, an
+income which Miss Waring seems to have thought enough to justify him in
+marrying.  Swift's reply to the lady whom he had "singled out at first from
+the rest of women" could only have been written with the intention of breaking
+off the connection, and accordingly we hear no more of poor Varina.
+
+At Laracor, a mile or two from Trim, and twenty miles from Dublin, Swift
+ministered to a congregation of about fifteen persons, and had abundant
+leisure for cultivating his garden, making a canal (after the Dutch fashion of
+Moor Park), planting willows, and rebuilding the vicarage.  As chaplain to
+Lord Berkeley, he spent much of his time in Dublin.  He was on intimate terms
+with Lady Berkeley and her daughters, one of whom is best known by her married
+name of Lady Betty Germaine; and through them he had access to the fashionable
+society of Dublin.  When Lord Berkeley returned to England in April 1701,
+Swift, after taking his Doctor's degree at Dublin, went with him, and soon
+afterwards published, anonymously, a political pamphlet, A Discourse on the
+Contests and Dissentions in Athens and Rome.  When he returned to Ireland in
+September he was accompanied by Stella--to give Esther Johnson the name by
+which she is best known--and her friend Mrs. Dingley.  Stella's fortune was
+about 1500 pounds, and the property Temple had left her was in County Wicklow.
+Swift, very much for his "own satisfaction, who had few friends or
+acquaintance in Ireland," persuaded Stella--now twenty years old--that living
+was cheaper there than in England, and that a better return was obtainable on
+money.  The ladies took his advice, and made Ireland their home.  At first
+they felt themselves strangers in Dublin; "the adventure looked so like a
+frolic," Swift says, "the censure held for some time as if there were a secret
+history in such a removal:  which however soon blew off by her excellent
+conduct."  Swift took every step that was possible to avoid scandal.  When he
+was away, the ladies occupied his rooms; when he returned, they went into
+their own lodgings.  When he was absent, they often stopped at the vicarage at
+Laracor, but if he were there, they moved to Trim, where they visited the
+vicar, Dr. Raymond, or lived in lodgings in the town or neighbourhood.  Swift
+was never with Stella except in the presence of a third person, and in 1726 he
+said that he had not seen her in a morning "these dozen years, except once or
+twice in a journey."
+
+During a visit to England in the winter of 1703-4 we find Swift in
+correspondence with the Rev. William Tisdall, a Dublin incumbent whom he had
+formerly known at Belfast.  Tisdall was on friendly terms with Stella and Mrs.
+Dingley, and Swift sent messages to them through him.  "Pray put them upon
+reading," he wrote, "and be always teaching something to Mrs. Johnson, because
+she is good at comprehending, remembering and retaining."  But the
+correspondence soon took a different turn.  Tisdall paid his addresses to
+Stella, and charged Swift with opposing his suit.  Tisdall's letters are
+missing, but Swift's reply of April 20, 1704, puts things sufficiently
+clearly.  "My conjecture is," he says, "that you think I obstructed your
+inclinations to please my own, and that my intentions were the same with
+yours.  In answer to all which I will, upon my conscience and honour, tell you
+the naked truth.  First, I think I have said to you before that, if my
+fortunes and humour served me to think of that state, I should certainly,
+among all persons upon earth, make your choice; because I never saw that
+person whose conversation I entirely valued but hers; this was the utmost I
+ever gave way to.  And secondly, I must assure you sincerely that this regard
+of mine never once entered into my head to be an impediment to you."  He had
+thought Tisdall not rich enough to marry; "but the objection of your fortune
+being removed, I declare I have no other; nor shall any consideration of my
+own misfortune, in losing so good a friend and companion as her, prevail on
+me, against her interest and settlement in the world, since it is held so
+necessary and convenient a thing for ladies to marry, and that time takes off
+from the lustre of virgins in all other eyes but mine.  I appeal to my letters
+to herself whether I was your friend or not in the whole concern, though the
+part I designed to act in it was purely passive."  He had even thought "it
+could not be decently broken," without disadvantage to the lady's credit,
+since he supposed it was known to the town; and he had always spoken of her in
+a manner far from discouraging.  Though he knew many ladies of rank, he had
+"nowhere met with an humour, a wit, or conversation so agreeable, a better
+portion of good sense, or a truer judgment of men or things."  He envied
+Tisdall his prudence and temper, and love of peace and settlement, "the
+reverse of which has been the great uneasiness of my life, and is likely to
+continue so."
+
+This letter has been quoted at some length because of its great importance.
+It is obviously capable of various interpretations, and some, like Dr.
+Johnson, have concluded that Swift was resolved to keep Stella in his power,
+and therefore prevented an advantageous match by making unreasonable demands.
+I cannot see any ground for this interpretation, though it is probable that
+Tisdall's appearance as a suitor was sufficiently annoying.  There is no
+evidence that Stella viewed Tisdall's proposal with any favour, unless it can
+be held to be furnished by Swift's belief that the town thought--rightly or
+wrongly--that there was an engagement.  In any case, there could be no mistake
+in future with regard to Swift's attitude towards Stella.  She was dearer to
+him than anyone else, and his feeling for her would not change, but for
+marriage he had neither fortune nor humour.  Tisdall consoled himself by
+marrying another lady two years afterwards; and though for a long time Swift
+entertained for him feelings of dislike, in later life their relations
+improved, and Tisdall was one of the witnesses to Swift's will.
+
+The Tale of a Tub was published in 1704, and Swift was soon in constant
+intercourse with Addison and the other wits.  While he was in England in 1705,
+Stella and Mrs. Dingley made a short visit to London.  This and a similar
+visit in 1708 are the only occasions on which Stella is known to have left
+Ireland after taking up her residence in that country.  Swift's influence over
+women was always very striking.  Most of the toasts of the day were his
+friends, and he insisted that any lady of wit and quality who desired his
+acquaintance should make the first advances.  This, he says--writing in 1730--
+had been an established rule for over twenty years.  In 1708 a dispute on this
+question with one toast, Mrs. Long, was referred for settlement to Ginckel
+Vanhomrigh, the son of the house where it was proposed that the meeting should
+take place; and by the decision--which was in Swift's favour--"Mrs. Vanhomrigh
+and her fair daughter Hessy" were forbidden to aid Mrs. Long in her
+disobedience for the future.  This is the first that we hear of Hester or
+Esther Vanhomrigh, who was afterwards to play so marked a part in the story of
+Swift's life.  Born on February 14, 1690, she was now eighteen.  Her father,
+Bartholomew Vanhomrigh, a Dublin merchant of Dutch origin, had died in 1703,
+leaving his wife a fortune of some sixteen thousand pounds.  On the income
+from this money Mrs. Vanhomrigh, with her two daughters, Hester and Mary, were
+able to mix in fashionable society in London.  Swift was introduced to them by
+Sir Andrew Fountaine early in 1708, but evidently Stella did not make their
+acquaintance, nor indeed hear much, if anything, of them until the time of the
+Journal.
+
+Swift's visit to London in 1707-9 had for its object the obtaining for the
+Irish Church of the surrender by the Crown of the First-Fruits and Twentieths,
+which brought in about 2500 pounds a year.  Nothing came of Swift's interviews
+with the Whig statesmen, and after many disappointments he returned to Laracor
+(June 1709), and conversed with none but Stella and her card-playing friends,
+and Addison, now secretary to Lord Wharton.[4]  Next year came the fall of the
+Whigs, and a request to Swift from the Irish bishops that he would renew the
+application for the First-Fruits, in the hope that there would be greater
+success with the Tories.  Swift reached London in September 1710, and began
+the series of letters, giving details of the events of each day, which now
+form the Journal to Stella.  "I will write something every day to MD," he
+says, "and make it a sort of journal; and when it is full I will send it,
+whether MD writes or no; and so that will be pretty; and I shall always be in
+conversation with MD, and MD with Presto."  It is interesting to note that by
+way of caution these letters were usually addressed to Mrs. Dingley, and not
+to Stella.
+
+The story of Swift's growing intimacy with the Tory leaders, of the success of
+his mission, of the increasing coolness towards older acquaintances, and of
+his services to the Government, can best be read in the Journal itself.  In
+the meantime the intimacy with the Vanhomrighs grew rapidly.  They were near
+neighbours of Swift's, and in a few weeks after his arrival in town we find
+frequent allusions to the dinners at their house (where he kept his best gown
+and periwig), sometimes with the explanation that he went there "out of mere
+listlessness," or because it was wet, or because another engagement had broken
+down.  Only thrice does he mention the "eldest daughter":  once on her
+birthday; once on the occasion of a trick played him, when he received a
+message that she was suddenly very ill ("I rattled off the daughter"); and
+once to state that she was come of age, and was going to Ireland to look after
+her fortune.  There is evidence that "Miss Essy," or Vanessa, to give her the
+name by which she will always be known, was in correspondence with Swift in
+July 1710--while he was still in Ireland--and in the spring of 1711;[5] and
+early in 1711 Stella seems to have expressed surprise at Swift's intimacy with
+the family, for in February he replied, "You say they are of no consequence;
+why, they keep as good female company as I do male; I see all the drabs of
+quality at this end of the town with them."  In the autumn Swift seems to have
+thought that Vanessa was keeping company with a certain Hatton, but Mrs. Long-
+-possibly meaning to give him a warning hint--remarked that if this were so
+"she is not the girl I took her for; but to me she seems melancholy."
+
+In 1712 occasional letters took the place of the daily journal to "MD," but
+there is no change in the affectionate style in which Swift wrote.  In the
+spring he had a long illness, which affected him, indeed, throughout the year.
+Other reasons which he gives for the falling off in his correspondence are his
+numerous business engagements, and the hope of being able to send some good
+news of an appointment for himself.  There is only one letter to Stella
+between July 19 and September 15, and Dr. Birkbeck Hill argues that the poem
+"Cadenus and Vanessa" was composed at that time.[6]  If this be so, it must
+have been altered next year, because it was not until 1713 that Swift was made
+a Dean.  Writing on April 19, 1726, Swift said that the poem "was written at
+Windsor near fourteen years ago, and dated:  it was a task performed on a
+frolic among some ladies, and she it was addressed to died some time ago in
+Dublin, and on her death the copy shewn by her executor."  Several copies were
+in circulation, and he was indifferent what was done with it; it was "only a
+cavalier business," and if those who would not give allowances were malicious,
+it was only what he had long expected.
+
+From this letter it would appear that this remarkable poem was written in the
+summer of 1712; whereas the title-page of the pamphlet says it was "written at
+Windsor, 1713."  Swift visited Windsor in both years, but he had more leisure
+in 1712, and we know that Vanessa was also at Windsor in that year.  In that
+year, too, he was forty-four, the age mentioned in the poem.  Neither Swift
+nor Vanessa forgot this intercourse:  years afterwards Swift wrote to her, "Go
+over the scenes of Windsor. . . .  Cad thinks often of these"; and again,
+"Remember the indisposition at Windsor."  We know that this poem was revised
+in 1719, when in all probability Swift added the lines to which most exception
+can be taken.  Cadenus was to be Vanessa's instructor:--
+
+     "His conduct might have made him styled
+      A father, and the nymph his child."
+
+He had "grown old in politics and wit," and "in every scene had kept his
+heart," so that he now "understood not what was love."  But he had written
+much, and Vanessa admired his wit.  Cadenus found that her thoughts wandered--
+
+     "Though she seemed to listen more
+      To all he spoke than e'er before."
+
+When she confessed her love, he was filled with "shame, disappointment, guilt,
+surprise."  He had aimed only at cultivating the mind, and had hardly known
+whether she was young or old.  But he was flattered, and though he could not
+give her love, he offered her friendship, "with gratitude, respect, esteem."
+Vanessa took him at his word, and said she would now be tutor, though he was
+not apt to learn:--
+
+     "But what success Vanessa met
+      Is to the world a secret yet.
+      Whether the nymph to please her swain
+      Talks in a high romantic strain;
+      Or whether he at last descends
+      To act with less seraphic ends;
+      Or, to compound the business, whether
+      They temper love and books together,
+      Must never to mankind be told,
+      Nor shall the conscious Muse unfold."
+
+Such is the poem as we now have it, written, it must be remembered, for
+Vanessa's private perusal.  It is to be regretted, for her own sake, that she
+did not destroy it.
+
+Swift received the reward of his services to the Government--the Deanery of
+St. Patrick's, Dublin--in April 1713.  Disappointed at what he regarded as
+exile, he left London in June.  Vanessa immediately began to send him letters
+which brought home to him the extent of her passion; and she hinted at
+jealousy in the words, "If you are very happy, it is ill-natured of you not to
+tell me so, except 'tis what is inconsistent with my own."  In his reply Swift
+dwelt upon the dreariness of his surroundings at Laracor, and reminded her
+that he had said he would endeavour to forget everything in England, and would
+write as seldom as he could.
+
+Swift was back again in the political strife in London in September, taking
+Oxford's part in the quarrel between that statesman and Bolingbroke.  On the
+fall of the Tories at the death of Queen Anne, he saw that all was over, and
+retired to Ireland, not to return again for twelve years.  In the meantime the
+intimacy with Vanessa had been renewed.  Her mother had died, leaving debts,
+and she pressed Swift for advice in the management of her affairs.  When she
+suggested coming to Ireland, where she had property, he told her that if she
+took this step he would "see her very seldom."  However, she took up her abode
+at Celbridge, only a few miles from Dublin.  Swift gave her many cautions, out
+of "the perfect esteem and friendship" he felt for her, but he often visited
+her.  She was dissatisfied, however, begging him to speak kindly, and at least
+to counterfeit his former indulgent friendship.  "What can be wrong," she
+wrote, "in seeing and advising an unhappy young woman?  You cannot but know
+that your frowns make my life unsupportable."  Sometimes he treated the matter
+lightly; sometimes he showed annoyance; sometimes he assured her of his esteem
+and love, but urged her not to make herself or him "unhappy by imaginations."
+He was uniformly unsuccessful in stopping Vanessa's importunity.  He
+endeavoured, she said, by severities to force her from him; she knew she was
+the cause of uneasy reflections to him; but nothing would lessen her
+"inexpressible passion."
+
+Unfortunately he failed--partly no doubt from mistaken considerations of
+kindness, partly because he shrank from losing her affection--to take
+effective steps to put an end to Vanessa's hopes.  It would have been better
+if he had unhesitatingly made it clear to her that he could not return her
+passion, and that if she could not be satisfied with friendship the intimacy
+must cease.  To quote Sir Henry Craik, "The friendship had begun in literary
+guidance:  it was strengthened by flattery:  it lived on a cold and almost
+stern repression, fed by confidences as to literary schemes, and by occasional
+literary compliments:  but it never came to have a real hold over Swift's
+heart."
+
+With 1716 we come to the alleged marriage with Stella.  In 1752, seven years
+after Swift's death, Lord Orrery, in his Remarks on Swift, said that Stella
+was "the concealed, but undoubted, wife of Dr. Swift. . . .  If my
+informations are right, she was married to Dr. Swift in the year 1716, by Dr.
+Ashe, then Bishop of Clogher."  Ten years earlier, in 1742, in a letter to
+Deane Swift which I have not seen quoted before, Orrery spoke of the advantage
+of a wife to a man in his declining years; "nor had the Dean felt a blow, or
+wanted a companion, had he been married, or, in other words, had Stella
+lived."  What this means is not at all clear.  In 1754, Dr. Delany, an old
+friend of Swift's, wrote, in comment upon Orrery's Remarks, "Your account of
+his marriage is, I am satisfied, true."  In 1789, George Monck Berkeley, in
+his Literary Relics, said that Swift and Stella were married by Dr. Ashe, "who
+himself related the circumstances to Bishop Berkeley, by whose relict the
+story was communicated to me."  Dr. Ashe cannot have told Bishop Berkeley by
+word of mouth, because Ashe died in 1717, the year after the supposed
+marriage, and Berkeley was then still abroad.  But Berkeley was at the time
+tutor to Ashe's son, and may therefore have been informed by letter, though it
+is difficult to believe that Ashe would write about such a secret so soon
+after the event.  Thomas Sheridan, on information received from his father,
+Dr. Sheridan, Swift's friend, accepted the story of the marriage in his book
+(1784), adding particulars which are of very doubtful authenticity; and
+Johnson, in his Lives of the Poets, says that Dr. Madden told him that Stella
+had related her "melancholy story" to Dr. Sheridan before her death.  On the
+other hand, Dr. Lyon, Swift's attendant in his later years, disbelieved the
+story of the marriage, which was, he said, "founded only on hearsay"; and Mrs.
+Dingley "laughed at it as an idle tale," founded on suspicion.
+
+Sir Henry Craik is satisfied with the evidence for the marriage.  Mr. Leslie
+Stephen is of opinion that it is inconclusive, and Forster could find no
+evidence that is at all reasonably sufficient; while Mr. Stanley Lane-Poole,
+Mr. Churton Collins, and others are strongly of opinion that no such marriage
+ever took place.  A full discussion of the evidence would involve the
+consideration of the reliability of the witnesses, and the probability of
+their having authentic information, and would be out of place here.  My own
+opinion is that the evidence for the marriage is very far from convincing, and
+this view seems to be confirmed by all that we know from his own letters of
+Swift's relations with Stella.  It has been suggested that she was pained by
+reports of Swift's intercourse with Vanessa, and felt that his feelings
+towards herself were growing colder; but this is surmise, and no satisfactory
+explanation has been given to account for a form of marriage being gone
+through after so many years of the closest friendship.  There is no reason to
+suppose that there was at the time any gossip in circulation about Stella, and
+if her reputation was in question, a marriage of which the secret was
+carefully kept would obviously be of no benefit to her.  Moreover, we are told
+that there was no change in their mode of life; if they were married, what
+reason could there be for keeping it a secret, or for denying themselves the
+closer relationship of marriage?  The only possible benefit to Stella was that
+Swift would be prevented marrying anyone else.  It is impossible, of course,
+to disprove a marriage which we are told was secretly performed, without banns
+or licence or witnesses; but we may reasonably require strong evidence for so
+startling a step.  If we reject the tale, the story of Swift's connection with
+Stella is at least intelligible; while the acceptance of this marriage
+introduces many puzzling circumstances, and makes it necessary to believe that
+during the remainder of Stella's life Swift repeatedly spoke of his wife as a
+friend, and of himself as one who had never married.[7]  What right have we to
+put aside Swift's plain and repeated statements?  Moreover, his attitude
+towards Vanessa for the remaining years of her life becomes much more culpable
+if we are to believe that he had given Stella the claim of a wife upon him.[8]
+
+From 1719 onwards we have a series of poems to Stella, written chiefly in
+celebration of her birthday.  She was now thirty-eight (Swift says, "Thirty-
+four--we shan't dispute a year or more"), and the verses abound in laughing
+allusions to her advancing years and wasting form.  Hers was "an angel's face
+a little cracked," but all men would crowd to her door when she was fourscore.
+His verses to her had always been
+
+     "Without one word of Cupid's darts,
+      Of killing eyes, or bleeding hearts;
+      With friendship and esteem possessed,
+      I ne'er admitted Love a guest."
+
+Her only fault was that she could not bear the lightest touch of blame.  Her
+wit and sense, her loving care in illness--to which he owed that fact that he
+was alive to say it--made her the "best pattern of true friends."  She
+replied, in lines written on Swift's birthday in 1721, that she was his pupil
+and humble friend.  He had trained her judgment and refined her fancy and
+taste:--
+
+     "You taught how I might youth prolong
+      By knowing what was right and wrong;
+      How from my heart to bring supplies
+      Of lustre to my fading eyes;
+      How soon a beauteous mind repairs
+      The loss of changed or falling hairs;
+      How wit and virtue from within
+      Send out a smoothness o'er the skin
+      Your lectures could my fancy fix,
+      And I can please at thirty-six."
+
+In 1723 Vanessa is said to have written to Stella or to Swift--there are
+discrepancies in the versions given by Sheridan and Lord Orrery, both of whom
+are unreliable--asking whether the report that they were married was true.
+Swift, we are told, rode to Celbridge, threw down Vanessa's letter in a great
+rage, and left without speaking a word.[9]  Vanessa, whose health had been
+failing for some time, died shortly afterwards, having cancelled a will in
+Swift's favour.  She left "Cadenus and Vanessa" for publication, and when
+someone said that she must have been a remarkable woman to inspire such a
+poem, Stella replied that it was well known that the Dean could write finely
+upon a broomstick.
+
+Soon after this tragedy Swift became engrossed in the Irish agitation which
+led to the publication of the Drapier's Letters, and in 1726 he paid a long-
+deferred visit to London, taking with him the manuscript of Gulliver's
+Travels.  While in England he was harassed by bad news of Stella, who had been
+in continued ill-health for some years.  His letters to friends in Dublin show
+how greatly he suffered.  To the Rev. John Worrall he wrote, in a letter which
+he begged him to burn, "What you tell me of Mrs. Johnson I have long expected
+with great oppression and heaviness of heart.  We have been perfect friends
+these thirty-five years.  Upon my advice they both came to Ireland, and have
+been ever since my constant companions; and the remainder of my life will be a
+very melancholy scene, when one of them is gone, whom I most esteemed, upon
+the score of every good quality that can possibly recommend a human creature."
+He would not for the world be present at her death:  "I should be a trouble to
+her, and a torment to myself."  If Stella came to Dublin, he begged that she
+might be lodged in some airy, healthy part, and not in the Deanery, where too
+it would be improper for her to die.  "There is not a greater folly," he
+thinks, "than to contract too great and intimate a friendship, which must
+always leave the survivor miserable."  To Dr. Stopford he wrote in similar
+terms of the "younger of the two" "oldest and dearest friends I have in the
+world."  "This was a person of my own rearing and instructing from childhood,
+who excelled in every good quality that can possibly accomplish a human
+creature. . . .  I know not what I am saying; but believe me that violent
+friendship is much more lasting and as much engaging as violent love."  To Dr.
+Sheridan he said, "I look upon this to be the greatest event that can ever
+happen to me; but all my preparation will not suffice to make me bear it like
+a philosopher nor altogether like a Christian.  There hath been the most
+intimate friendship between us from our childhood, and the greatest merit on
+her side that ever was in one human creature towards another."[10]  Pope
+alludes in a letter to Sheridan to the illness of Swift's "particular friend,"
+but with the exception of another reference by Pope, and of a curiously
+flippant remark by Bolingbroke, the subject is nowhere mentioned in Swift's
+correspondence with his literary and fashionable friends in London.
+
+Swift crossed to Ireland in August, fearing the worst; but Stella rallied, and
+in the spring of 1727 he returned to London.  In August, however, there came
+alarming news, when Swift was himself suffering from giddiness and deafness.
+To Dr. Sheridan he wrote that the last act of life was always a tragedy at
+best:  "it is a bitter aggravation to have one's best friend go before one."
+Life was indifferent to him; if he recovered from his disorder it would only
+be to feel the loss of "that person for whose sake only life was worth
+preserving.  I brought both those friends over that we might be happy together
+as long as God should please; the knot is broken, and the remaining person you
+know has ill answered the end; and the other, who is now to be lost, is all
+that was valuable."  To Worrall he again wrote (in Latin) that Stella ought
+not to be lodged at the Deanery; he had enemies who would place a bad
+interpretation upon it if she died there.
+
+Swift left London for Dublin in September; he was detained some days at
+Holyhead by stress of weather, and in the private journal which he kept during
+that time he speaks of the suspense he was in about his "dearest friend."[11]
+In December Stella made a will--signed "Esther Johnson, spinster"--disposing
+of her property in the manner Swift had suggested.  Her allusions to Swift are
+incompatible with any such feeling of resentment as is suggested by Sheridan.
+She died on January 28, 1728.  Swift could not bear to be present, but on the
+night of her death he began to write his very interesting Character of Mrs.
+Johnson, from which passages have already been quoted.  He there calls her
+"the truest, most virtuous and valuable friend that I, or perhaps any other
+person, was ever blessed with."  Combined with excellent gifts of the mind,
+"she had a gracefulness, somewhat more than human, in every motion, word, and
+action.  Never was so happy a conjunction of civility, freedom, easiness, and
+sincerity."  Everyone treated her with marked respect, yet everyone was at
+ease in her society.  She preserved her wit, judgment, and vivacity to the
+last, but often complained of her memory.  She chose men rather than women for
+her companions, "the usual topic of ladies' discourse being such as she had
+little knowledge of and less relish."  "Honour, truth, liberality, good
+nature, and modesty were the virtues she chiefly possessed, and most valued in
+her acquaintance."  In some Prayers used by Swift during her last sickness, he
+begged for pity for "the mournful friends of Thy distressed servant, who sink
+under the weight of her present condition, and the fear of losing the most
+valuable of our friends."  He was too ill to be present at the funeral at St.
+Patrick's.  Afterwards, we are told, a lock of her hair was found in his desk,
+wrapped in a paper bearing the words, "Only a woman's hair."
+
+Swift continued to produce pamphlets manifesting growing misanthropy, though
+he showed many kindnesses to people who stood in need of help.  He seems to
+have given Mrs. Dingley fifty guineas a year, pretending that it came from a
+fund for which he was trustee.  The mental decay which he had always feared--
+"I shall be like that tree," he once said, "I shall die at the top"--became
+marked about 1738.  Paralysis was followed by aphasia, and after acute pain,
+followed by a long period of apathy, death relieved him in October 1745.  He
+was buried by Stella's side, in accordance with his wishes.  The bulk of his
+fortune was left to found a hospital for idiots and lunatics.
+
+There has been much rather fruitless discussion respecting the reason or
+reasons why Swift did not marry Stella; for if there was any marriage, it was
+nothing more than a form.  Some have supposed that Swift resolved to remain
+unmarried because the insanity of an uncle and the fits and giddiness to which
+he was always subject led him to fear insanity in his own case.  Others,
+looking rather to physical causes, have dwelt upon his coldness of temperament
+and indisposition to love; upon the repugnance he often showed towards
+marriage, and the tone of some of the verses on the subject written in his
+later years.  Others, again, have found a cause in his parsimonious habits, in
+his dread of poverty, the effects of which he had himself felt, and in the
+smallness of his income, at least until he was middle-aged.[12]  It may well
+be that one or all of these things influenced Swift's action.  We cannot say
+more.  He himself, as we have seen, said, as early as 1704, that if his humour
+and means had permitted him to think of marriage, his choice would have been
+Stella.  Perhaps, however, there is not much mystery in the matter.  Swift
+seems to have been wanting in passion; probably he was satisfied with the
+affection which Stella gave him, and did not wish for more.  Such an
+attachment as his usually results in marriage, but not necessarily.  It is not
+sufficiently remembered that the affection began in Stella's childhood.  They
+were "perfect friends" for nearly forty years, and her advancing years in no
+way lessened his love, which was independent of beauty.  Whether Stella was
+satisfied, who shall say?  Mrs. Oliphant thought that few women would be
+disposed to pity Stella, or think her life one of blight or injury.  Mr.
+Leslie Stephen says, "She might and probably did regard his friendship as a
+full equivalent for the sacrifice. . . .  Is it better to be the most intimate
+friend of a man of genius or the wife of a commonplace Tisdall?"  Whatever we
+may surmise, there is nothing to prove that she was disappointed.  She was the
+one star which brightened Swift's storm-tossed course; it is well that she was
+spared seeing the wreck at the end.
+
+
+The Journal to Stella is interesting from many points of view:  for its
+bearing upon Swift's relations with Stella and upon his own character; for the
+light which it throws upon the history of the time and upon prominent men of
+the day; and for the illustrations it contains of the social life of people of
+various classes in London and elsewhere.  The fact that it was written without
+any thought of publication is one of its greatest attractions.  Swift jotted
+down his opinions, his hopes, his disappointments, without thought of their
+being seen by anybody but his correspondents.  The letters are transparently
+natural.  It has been said more than once that the Journal, by the nature of
+the case, contains no full-length portraits, and hardly any sketches.  Swift
+mentions the people he met, but rarely stops to draw a picture of them.  But
+though this is true, the casual remarks which he makes often give a vivid
+impression of what he thought of the person of whom he is speaking, and in
+many cases those few words form a chief part of our general estimate of the
+man.  There are but few people of note at the time who are not mentioned in
+these pages.  We see Queen Anne holding a Drawing-room in her bedroom:  "she
+looked at us round with her fan in her mouth, and once a minute said about
+three words to some that were nearest her."  We see Harley, afterwards the
+Earl of Oxford, "a pure trifler," who was always putting off important
+business; Bolingbroke, "a thorough rake"; the prudent Lord Dartmouth, the
+other Secretary of State, from whom Swift could never "work out a dinner."
+There is Marlborough, "covetous as Hell, and ambitious as the prince of it,"
+yet a great general and unduly pressed by the Tories; and the volatile Earl of
+Peterborough, "above fifty, and as active as one of five-and-twenty"--"the
+ramblingest lying rogue on earth."  We meet poor Congreve, nearly blind, and
+in fear of losing his commissionership; the kindly Arbuthnot, the Queen's
+physician; Addison, whom Swift met more and more rarely, busy with the
+preparation and production of Cato; Steele, careless as ever, neglecting
+important appointments, and "governed by his wife most abominably"; Prior,
+poet and diplomatist, with a "lean carcass"; and young Berkeley of Trinity
+College, Dublin, "a very ingenious man and great philosopher," whom Swift
+determined to favour as much as he could.  Mrs. Masham, the Duchess of
+Somerset, the Duchess of Shrewsbury, the Duchess of Hamilton, Lady Betty
+Germaine, and many other ladies appear with more or less distinctness; besides
+a host of people of less note, of whom we often know little but what Swift
+tells us.
+
+Swift throws much light, too, on the daily life of his time.  The bellman on
+his nightly rounds, calling "Paaast twelvvve o'clock"; the dinner at three, or
+at the latest, four; the meetings at coffee-houses; the book-sales; the visit
+to the London sights--the lions at the Tower, Bedlam, the tombs in Westminster
+Abbey, and the puppet-show; the terrible Mohocks, of whom Swift stood in so
+much fear; the polite "howdees" sent to friends by footmen; these and more are
+all described in the Journal.  We read of curious habits and practices of
+fashionable ladies; of the snuff used by Mrs. Dingley and others; of the
+jokes--"bites," puns, and the like--indulged in by polite persons.  When Swift
+lodged at Chelsea, he reached London either by boat, or by coach,--which was
+sometimes full when he wanted it,--or by walking across the "Five Fields," not
+without fear of robbers at night.  The going to or from Ireland was a serious
+matter; after the long journey by road came the voyage (weather permitting) of
+some fifteen hours, with the risk of being seized or pursued by French
+privateers; and when Ireland was reached the roads were of the worst.  We have
+glimpses of fashionable society in Dublin, of the quiet life at Laracor and
+Trim, and of the drinking of the waters at Wexford, where visitors had to put
+up with primitive arrangements:  "Mrs. Dingley never saw such a place in her
+life."
+
+Swift's own characteristics come out in the clearest manner in the Journal,
+which gives all his hopes and fears during three busy years.  He was pleased
+to find on his arrival in London how great a value was set on his friendship
+by both political parties:  "The Whigs were ravished to see me, and would lay
+hold on me as a twig while they are drowning;" but Godolphin's coldness
+enraged him, so that he was "almost vowing vengeance."  Next day he talked
+treason heartily against the Whigs, their baseness and ingratitude, and went
+home full of schemes of revenge.  "The Tories drily tell me I may make my
+fortune, if I please; but I do not understand them, or rather, I DO understand
+them."  He realised that the Tories might not be more grateful than others,
+but he thought they were pursuing the true interests of the public, and was
+glad to contribute what was in his power.  His vanity was gratified by Harley
+inviting him to the private dinners with St. John and Harcourt which were
+given on Saturdays, and by their calling him Jonathan; but he did not hope too
+much from their friendship:  "I said I believed they would leave me Jonathan,
+as they found me. . .  but I care not."
+
+Of Swift's frugal habits there is abundant evidence in the Journal.  When he
+came to town he took rooms on a first floor, "a dining-room and bed-chamber,
+at eight shillings a week; plaguy dear, but I spend nothing for eating, never
+go to a tavern, and very seldom in a coach; yet after all it will be
+expensive."  In November he mentions that he had a fire:  "I am spending my
+second half-bushel of coals."  In another place he says, "People have so left
+the town, that I am at a loss for a dinner. . . .  It cost me eighteenpence in
+coach-hire before I could find a place to dine in."  Elsewhere we find:  "This
+paper does not cost me a farthing:  I have it from the Secretary's office."
+He often complains of having to take a coach owing to the dirty condition of
+the streets:  "This rain ruins me in coach-hire; I walked away sixpennyworth,
+and came within a shilling length, and then took a coach, and got a lift back
+for nothing."[13]
+
+Swift's arrogance--the arrogance, sometimes, of a man who is morbidly
+suspicious that he may be patronised--is shown in the manner in which he
+speaks of the grand ladies with whom he came in contact.  He calls the Duke of
+Ormond's daughters "insolent drabs," and talks of his "mistress, Ophy Butler's
+wife, who is grown a little charmless."  When the Duchess of Shrewsbury
+reproached him for not dining with her, Swift said that was not so soon done;
+he expected more advances from ladies, especially duchesses.  On another
+occasion he was to have supped at Lady Ashburnham's, "but the drab did not
+call for us in her coach, as she promised, but sent for us, and so I sent my
+excuses."  The arrogance was, however, often only on the surface.  It is
+evident that Swift was very kind in many cases.  He felt deeply for Mrs. Long
+in her misfortunes, living and dying in an obscure country town.  On the last
+illness of the poet Harrison he says, "I am very much afflicted for him, as he
+is my own creature. . . .  I was afraid to knock at the door; my mind misgave
+me."  He was "heartily sorry for poor Mrs. Parnell's death; she seemed to be
+an excellent good-natured young woman, and I believe the poor lad is much
+afflicted; they appeared to live perfectly well together."  Afterwards he
+helped Parnell by introducing him to Bolingbroke and Oxford.  He found kind
+words for Mrs. Manley in her illness, and Lady Ashburnham's death was
+"extremely moving. . . .  She was my greatest favourite, and I am in excessive
+concern for her loss."  Lastly, he was extraordinarily patient towards his
+servant Patrick, who drank, stopped out at night, and in many ways tried
+Swift's temper.  There were good points about Patrick, but no doubt the great
+consideration which Swift showed him was due in part to the fact that he was a
+favourite of the ladies in Dublin, and had Mrs. Vanhomrigh to intercede for
+him.
+
+But for the best example of the kindly side of Swift's nature, we must turn to
+what he tells us in the Journal about Stella herself.  The "little language"
+which Swift used when writing to her was the language he employed when playing
+with Stella as a little child at Moor Park.  Thackeray, who was not much in
+sympathy with Swift, said that he knew of "nothing more manly, more tender,
+more exquisitely touching, than some of these notes."  Swift says that when he
+wrote plainly, he felt as if they were no longer alone, but "a bad scrawl is
+so snug it looks like a PMD."  In writing his fond and playful prattle, he
+made up his mouth "just as if he were speaking it."[14]
+
+Though Mrs. Dingley is constantly associated with Stella in the affectionate
+greetings in the Journal, she seems to have been included merely as a cloak to
+enable him to express the more freely his affection for her companion.  Such
+phrases as "saucy girls," "sirrahs," "sauceboxes," and the like, are often
+applied to both; and sometimes Swift certainly writes as if the one were as
+dear to him as the other; thus we find, "Farewell, my dearest lives and
+delights, I love you better than ever, if possible, as hope saved, I do, and
+ever will. . . .  I can count upon nothing, nor will, but upon MD's love and
+kindness. . . .  And so farewell, dearest MD, Stella, Dingley, Presto, all
+together, now and for ever, all together."  But as a rule, notwithstanding
+Swift's caution, the greetings intended for Stella alone are easily
+distinguishable in tone.  He often refers to her weak eyes and delicate
+health.  Thus he writes, "The chocolate is a present, madam, for Stella.
+Don't read this, you little rogue, with your little eyes; but give it to
+Dingley, pray now; and I will write as plain as the skies."  And again, "God
+Almighty bless poor Stella, and her eyes and head:  what shall we do to cure
+them, poor dear life?"  Or, "Now to Stella's little postscript; and I am
+almost crazed that you vex yourself for not writing.  Can't you dictate to
+Dingley, and not strain your dear little eyes?  I am sure 'tis the grief of my
+soul to think you are out of order."  They had been keeping his birthday;
+Swift wished he had been with them, rather than in London, where he had no
+manner of pleasure:  "I say Amen with all my heart and vitals, that we may
+never be asunder again ten days together while poor Presto lives."  A few days
+later he says, "I wish I were at Laracor, with dear charming MD," and again,
+"Farewell, dearest beloved MD, and love poor poor Presto, who has not had one
+happy day since he left you."  "I will say no more, but beg you to be easy
+till Fortune takes his course, and to believe MD's felicity is the great goal
+I aim at in all my pursuits."  "How does Stella look, Madam Dingley?" he asks;
+"pretty well, a handsome young woman still?  Will she pass in a crowd?  Will
+she make a figure in a country church?"  Elsewhere he writes, on receipt of a
+letter, "God Almighty bless poor dear Stella, and send her a great many
+birthdays, all happy and healthy and wealthy, and with me ever together, and
+never asunder again, unless by chance. . . .  I can hardly imagine you absent
+when I am reading your letter or writing to you.  No, faith, you are just here
+upon this little paper, and therefore I see and talk with you every evening
+constantly, and sometimes in the morning."  The letters lay under Swift's
+pillow, and he fondled them as if he were caressing Stella's hand.
+
+Of Stella herself we naturally have no direct account in the Journal, but we
+hear a good deal of her life in Ireland, and can picture what she was.  Among
+her friends in and about Trim and Laracor were Dr. Raymond, the vicar of Trim,
+and his wife, the Garret Wesleys, the Percevals, and Mr. Warburton, Swift's
+curate.  At Dublin there were Archdeacon Walls and his family; Alderman
+Stoyte, his wife and sister-in-law; Dean Sterne and the Irish Postmaster-
+General, Isaac Manley.  For years these friends formed a club which met in
+Dublin at each other's houses, to sup and play cards ("ombre and claret, and
+toasted oranges"), and we have frequent allusions to Stella's indifferent
+play, and the money which she lost, much to Mrs. Dingley's chagrin:  "Poor
+Dingley fretted to see Stella lose that four and elevenpence t'other night."
+Mrs. Dingley herself could hardly play well enough to hold the cards while
+Stella went into the next room.  If at dinner the mutton was underdone, and
+"poor Stella cannot eat, poor dear rogue," then "Dingley is so vexed."  Swift
+was for ever urging Stella to walk and ride; she was "naturally a stout
+walker," and "Dingley would do well enough if her petticoats were pinned up."
+And we see Stella setting out on and returning from her ride, with her riband
+and mask:  "Ah, that riding to Laracor gives me short sighs as well as you,"
+he says; "all the days I have passed here have been dirt to those."
+
+If the Journal shows us some of Swift's less attractive qualities, it shows
+still more how great a store of humour, tenderness, and affection there was in
+him.  In these letters we see his very soul; in his literary work we are
+seldom moved to anything but admiration of his wit and genius.  Such daily
+outpourings could never have been written for publication, they were meant
+only for one who understood him perfectly; and everything that we know of
+Stella--her kindliness, her wit, her vivacity, her loyalty--shows that she was
+worthy of the confidence.
+
+                                 ----------
+
+
+
+JOURNAL TO STELLA
+
+
+LETTER 1.[1]
+
+CHESTER, Sept. 2, 1710.
+
+Joe[2] will give you an account of me till I got into the boat; after which
+the rogues made a new bargain, and forced me to give them two crowns, and
+talked as if we should not be able to overtake any ship:  but in half an hour
+we got to the yacht; for the ships lay by [to] wait for my Lord Lieutenant's
+steward.  We made our voyage in fifteen hours just.  Last night I came to this
+town, and shall leave it, I believe, on Monday.  The first man I met in
+Chester was Dr. Raymond.[3]  He and Mrs. Raymond were here about levying a
+fine, in order to have power to sell their estate.  They have found everything
+answer very well.  They both desire to present their humble services to you:
+they do not think of Ireland till next year.  I got a fall off my horse,
+riding here from Parkgate,[4] but no hurt; the horse understanding falls very
+well, and lying quietly till I get up.  My duty to the Bishop of Clogher.[5]
+I saw him returning from Dunleary; but he saw not me.  I take it ill he was
+not at Convocation, and that I have not his name to my powers.[6]  I beg you
+will hold your resolution of going to Trim, and riding there as much as you
+can.  Let the Bishop of Clogher remind the Bishop of Killala[7] to send me a
+letter, with one enclosed to the Bishop of Lichfield.[8]  Let all who write to
+me, enclose to Richard Steele, Esq., at his office at the Cockpit, near
+Whitehall.[9]  But not MD; I will pay for their letters at St. James's Coffee-
+house,[10] that I may have them the sooner.  My Lord Mountjoy[11] is now in
+the humour that we should begin our journey this afternoon; so that I have
+stole here again to finish this letter, which must be short or long
+accordingly.  I write this post to Mrs. Wesley,[12] and will tell her, that I
+have taken care she may have her bill of one hundred and fifteen pounds
+whenever she pleases to send for it; and in that case I desire you will send
+it her enclosed and sealed, and have it ready so, in case she should send for
+it:  otherwise keep it.  I will say no more till I hear whether I go to-day or
+no:  if I do, the letter is almost at an end.  My cozen Abigail is grown
+prodigiously old.  God Almighty bless poo dee richar MD; and, for God's sake,
+be merry, and get oo health.  I am perfectly resolved to return as soon as I
+have done my commission, whether it succeeds or no.  I never went to England
+with so little desire in my life.  If Mrs. Curry[13] makes any difficulty
+about the lodgings, I will quit them and pay her from July 9 last, and Mrs.
+Brent[14] must write to Parvisol[15] with orders accordingly.  The post is
+come from London, and just going out; so I have only time to pray God to bless
+poor richr MD FW FW MD MD ME ME ME.
+
+
+
+LETTER 2.
+
+LONDON, Sept. 9, 1710.
+
+Got here last Thursday,[1] after five days' travelling, weary the first,
+almost dead the second, tolerable the third, and well enough the rest; and am
+now glad of the fatigue, which has served for exercise; and I am at present
+well enough.  The Whigs were ravished to see me, and would lay hold on me as a
+twig while they are drowning,[2] and the great men making me their clumsy
+apologies, etc.  But my Lord Treasurer[3] received me with a great deal of
+coldness, which has enraged me so, I am almost vowing revenge.  I have not yet
+gone half my circle; but I find all my acquaintance just as I left them.  I
+hear my Lady Giffard[4] is much at Court, and Lady Wharton[5] was ridiculing
+it t'other day; so I have lost a friend there.  I have not yet seen her, nor
+intend it; but I will contrive to see Stella's mother[6] some other way.  I
+writ to the Bishop of Clogher from Chester; and I now write to the Archbishop
+of Dublin.[7]  Everything is turning upside down; every Whig in great office
+will, to a man, be infallibly put out; and we shall have such a winter as hath
+not been seen in England.  Everybody asks me, how I came to be so long in
+Ireland, as naturally as if here were my being; but no soul offers to make it
+so:  and I protest I shall return to Dublin, and the Canal at Laracor,[8] with
+more satisfaction than ever I did in my life.  The Tatler[9] expects every day
+to be turned out of his employment; and the Duke of Ormond,[10] they say, will
+be Lieutenant of Ireland.  I hope you are now peaceably in Presto's[11]
+lodgings; but I resolve to turn you out by Christmas; in which time I shall
+either do my business, or find it not to be done.  Pray be at Trim by the time
+this letter comes to you; and ride little Johnson, who must needs be now in
+good case.  I have begun this letter unusually, on the post-night, and have
+already written to the Archbishop; and cannot lengthen this.  Henceforth I
+will write something every day to MD, and make it a sort of journal; and when
+it is full, I will send it, whether MD writes or no; and so that will be
+pretty:  and I shall always be in conversation with MD, and MD with Presto.
+Pray make Parvisol pay you the ten pounds immediately; so I ordered him.  They
+tell me I am grown fatter, and look better; and, on Monday, Jervas[12] is to
+retouch my picture.  I thought I saw Jack Temple[13] and his wife pass by me
+to-day in their coach; but I took no notice of them.  I am glad I have wholly
+shaken off that family.  Tell the Provost,[14] I have obeyed his commands to
+the Duke of Ormond; or let it alone, if you please.  I saw Jemmy Leigh[15]
+just now at the Coffee-house, who asked after you with great kindness:  he
+talks of going in a fortnight to Ireland.  My service to the Dean,[16] and
+Mrs. Walls, and her Archdeacon.[17]  Will Frankland's[18] wife is near
+bringing to-bed, and I have promised to christen the child.  I fancy you had
+my Chester letter the Tuesday after I writ.  I presented Dr. Raymond to Lord
+Wharton[19] at Chester.  Pray let me know when Joe gets his money.[20]  It is
+near ten, and I hate to send by the bellman.[21]  MD shall have a longer
+letter in a week, but I send this only to tell I am safe in London; and so
+farewell, etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 3.
+
+LONDON, Sept. 9, 1710.
+
+After seeing the Duke of Ormond, dining with Dr. Cockburn,[1] passing some
+part of the afternoon with Sir Matthew Dudley[2] and Will Frankland, the rest
+at St.  James's Coffee-house, I came home, and writ to the Archbishop of
+Dublin and MD, and am going to bed.  I forgot to tell you, that I begged Will
+Frankland to stand Manley's[3] friend with his father in this shaking season
+for places.  He told me, his father was in danger to be out; that several were
+now soliciting for Manley's place; that he was accused of opening letters;
+that Sir Thomas Frankland[4] would sacrifice everything to save himself; and
+in that, I fear, Manley is undone, etc.
+
+l0.  To-day I dined with Lord Mountjoy at Kensington; saw my mistress, Ophy
+Butler's[5] wife, who is grown a little charmless.  I sat till ten in the
+evening with Addison and Steele:  Steele will certainly lose his Gazetteer's
+place, all the world detesting his engaging in parties.[6]  At ten I went to
+the Coffee-house, hoping to find Lord Radnor,[7] whom I had not seen.  He was
+there; and for an hour and a half we talked treason heartily against the
+Whigs, their baseness and ingratitude.  And I am come home, rolling
+resentments in my mind, and framing schemes of revenge:  full of which (having
+written down some hints) I go to bed.  I am afraid MD dined at home, because
+it is Sunday; and there was the little half-pint of wine:  for God's sake, be
+good girls, and all will be well.  Ben Tooke[8] was with me this morning.
+
+11.  Seven, morning.  I am rising to go to Jervas to finish my picture, and
+'tis shaving-day, so good-morrow MD; but don't keep me now, for I can't stay;
+and pray dine with the Dean, but don't lose your money.  I long to hear from
+you, etc.--Ten at night.  I sat four hours this morning to Jervas, who has
+given my picture quite another turn, and now approves it entirely; but we must
+have the approbation of the town.  If I were rich enough, I would get a copy
+of it, and bring it over.  Mr. Addison and I dined together at his lodgings,
+and I sat with him part of this evening; and I am now come home to write an
+hour.  Patrick[9] observes, that the rabble here are much more inquisitive in
+politics than in Ireland.  Every day we expect changes, and the Parliament to
+be dissolved.  Lord Wharton expects every day to be out:  he is working like a
+horse for elections; and, in short, I never saw so great a ferment among all
+sorts of people.  I had a miserable letter from Joe last Saturday, telling me
+Mr. Pratt[10] refuses payment of his money.  I have told it Mr. Addison, and
+will to Lord Wharton; but I fear with no success.  However, I will do all I
+can.
+
+12.  To-day I presented Mr. Ford[11] to the Duke of Ormond; and paid my first
+visit to Lord President,[12] with whom I had much discourse; but put him
+always off when he began to talk of Lord Wharton in relation to me, till he
+urged it:  then I said, he knew I never expected anything from Lord Wharton,
+and that Lord Wharton knew that I understood it so.  He said that he had
+written twice to Lord Wharton about me, who both times said nothing at all to
+that part of his letter.  I am advised not to meddle in the affair of the
+First-Fruits, till this hurry is a little over, which still depends, and we
+are all in the dark.  Lord President told me he expects every day to be out,
+and has done so these two months.  I protest, upon my life, I am heartily
+weary of this town, and wish I had never stirred.
+
+13.  I went this morning to the city, to see Mr. Stratford the Hamburg
+merchant, my old schoolfellow;[13] but calling at Bull's[14] on Ludgate Hill,
+he forced me to his house at Hampstead to dinner among a great deal of ill
+company; among the rest Mr. Hoadley,[15] the Whig clergyman, so famous for
+acting the contrary part to Sacheverell:[16]   but tomorrow I design again to
+see Stratford.  I was glad, however, to be at Hampstead, where I saw Lady
+Lucy[17] and Moll Stanhope.  I hear very unfortunate news of Mrs. Long;[18]
+she and her comrade[19] have broke up house, and she is broke for good and
+all, and is gone to the country:  I should be extremely sorry if this be true.
+
+14.  To-day, I saw Patty Rolt,[20] who heard I was in town; and I dined with
+Stratford at a merchant's in the city, where I drank the first Tokay wine I
+ever saw; and it is admirable, yet not to the degree I expected.  Stratford is
+worth a plum,[21] and is now lending the Government forty thousand pounds; yet
+we were educated together at the same school and university.[22]  We hear the
+Chancellor[23] is to be suddenly out, and Sir Simon Harcourt[24] to succeed
+him:  I am come early home, not caring for the Coffee-house.
+
+15.  To-day Mr. Addison, Colonel Freind,[25] and I, went to see the million
+lottery[26] drawn at Guildhall.  The jackanapes of bluecoat boys gave
+themselves such airs in pulling out the tickets, and showed white hands open
+to the company, to let us see there was no cheat.  We dined at a country-house
+near Chelsea, where Mr. Addison often retires; and to-night, at the Coffee-
+house, we hear Sir Simon Harcourt is made Lord Keeper; so that now we expect
+every moment the Parliament will be dissolved; but I forgot that this letter
+will not go in three or four days, and that my news will be stale, which I
+should therefore put in the last paragraph.  Shall I send this letter before I
+hear from MD, or shall I keep it to lengthen?  I have not yet seen Stella's
+mother, because I will not see Lady Giffard; but I will contrive to go there
+when Lady Giffard is abroad.  I forgot to mark my two former letters; but I
+remember this is Number 3, and I have not yet had Number 1 from MD; but I
+shall by Monday, which I reckon will be just a fortnight after you had my
+first.  I am resolved to bring over a great deal of china.  I loved it
+mightily to-day.[27]  What shall I bring?
+
+16.  Morning.  Sir John Holland,[28] Comptroller of the Household, has sent to
+desire my acquaintance:  I have a mind to refuse him, because he is a Whig,
+and will, I suppose, be out among the rest; but he is a man of worth and
+learning.  Tell me, do you like this journal way of writing?  Is it not
+tedious and dull?
+
+Night.  I dined to-day with a cousin, a printer,[29] where Patty Rolt lodges,
+and then came home, after a visit or two; and it has been a very insipid day.
+Mrs. Long's misfortune is confirmed to me; bailiffs were in her house; she
+retired to private lodgings; thence to the country, nobody knows where:  her
+friends leave letters at some inn, and they are carried to her; and she writes
+answers without dating them from any place.  I swear, it grieves me to the
+soul.
+
+17.  To-day I dined six miles out of town, with Will Pate,[30] the learned
+woollen-draper; Mr. Stratford went with me; six miles here is nothing:  we
+left Pate after sunset, and were here before it was dark.  This letter shall
+go on Tuesday, whether I hear from MD or no.  My health continues pretty well;
+pray God Stella may give me a good account of hers! and I hope you are now at
+Trim, or soon designing it.  I was disappointed to-night:  the fellow gave me
+a letter, and I hoped to see little MD's hand; and it was only to invite me to
+a venison pasty to-day:  so I lost my pasty into the bargain.  Pox on these
+declining courtiers!  Here is Mr. Brydges,[31] the Paymaster-General, desiring
+my acquaintance; but I hear the Queen sent Lord Shrewsbury[32] to assure him
+he may keep his place; and he promises me great assistance in the affair of
+the First-Fruits.  Well, I must turn over this leaf to-night, though the side
+would hold another line; but pray consider this is a whole sheet; it holds a
+plaguy deal, and you must be content to be weary; but I'll do so no more.  Sir
+Simon Harcourt is made Attorney-General, and not Lord Keeper.
+
+18.  To-day I dined with Mr. Stratford at Mr. Addison's retirement near
+Chelsea; then came to town; got home early, and began a letter to the
+Tatler,[33] about the corruptions of style and writing, etc., and, having not
+heard from you, am resolved this letter shall go to-night.  Lord Wharton was
+sent for to town in mighty haste, by the Duke of Devonshire:[34]  they have
+some project in hand; but it will not do, for every hour we expect a thorough
+revolution, and that the Parliament will be dissolved.  When you see Joe, tell
+him Lord Wharton is too busy to mind any of his affairs; but I will get what
+good offices I can from Mr. Addison, and will write to-day to Mr. Pratt; and
+bid Joe not to be discouraged, for I am confident he will get the money under
+any Government; but he must have patience.
+
+19.  I have been scribbling this morning, and I believe shall hardly fill this
+side to-day, but send it as it is; and it is good enough for naughty girls
+that won't write to a body, and to a good boy like Presto.  I thought to have
+sent this to-night, but was kept by company, and could not; and, to say the
+truth, I had a little mind to expect one post more for a letter from MD.
+Yesterday at noon died the Earl of Anglesea,[35] the great support of the
+Tories; so that employment of Vice-Treasurer of Ireland is again vacant.  We
+were to have been great friends, and I could hardly have a loss that could
+grieve me more.  The Bishop of Durham[36] died the same day.  The Duke of
+Ormond's daughter[37] was to visit me to-day at a third place by way of
+advance,[38] and I am to return it to-morrow.  I have had a letter from Lady
+Berkeley, begging me for charity to come to Berkeley Castle, for company to my
+lord,[39] who has been ill of a dropsy; but I cannot go, and must send my
+excuse to-morrow.  I am told that in a few hours there will be more removals.
+
+20.  To-day I returned my visits to the Duke's daughters;[40] the insolent
+drabs came up to my very mouth to salute me.  Then I heard the report
+confirmed of removals; my Lord President Somers; the Duke of Devonshire, Lord
+Steward; and Mr. Boyle,[41] Secretary of State, are all turned out to-day.  I
+never remember such bold steps taken by a Court:  I am almost shocked at it,
+though I did not care if they were all hanged.  We are astonished why the
+Parliament is not yet dissolved, and why they keep a matter of that importance
+to the last.  We shall have a strange winter here, between the struggles of a
+cunning provoked discarded party, and the triumphs of one in power; of both
+which I shall be an indifferent spectator, and return very peaceably to
+Ireland, when I have done my part in the affair I am entrusted with, whether
+it succeeds or no.  To-morrow I change my lodgings in Pall Mall for one in
+Bury Street,[42] where I suppose I shall continue while I stay in London.  If
+anything happens tomorrow, I will add it.--Robin's Coffee-house.[43]  We have
+great news just now from Spain; Madrid taken, and Pampeluna.  I am here ever
+interrupted.
+
+21.  I have just received your letter, which I will not answer now; God be
+thanked all things are so well.  I find you have not yet had my second:  I had
+a letter from Parvisol, who tells me he gave Mrs. Walls a bill of twenty
+pounds for me, to be given to you; but you have not sent it.  This night the
+Parliament is dissolved:  great news from Spain; King Charles and Stanhope are
+at Madrid, and Count Staremberg has taken Pampeluna.  Farewell.  This is from
+St. James's Coffee-house.  I will begin my answer to your letter to-night, but
+not send it this week.  Pray tell me whether you like this journal way of
+writing.--I don't like your reasons for not going to Trim.  Parvisol tells me
+he can sell your horse.  Sell it, with a pox?  Pray let him know that he shall
+sell his soul as soon.  What? sell anything that Stella loves, and may
+sometimes ride? It is hers, and let her do as she pleases:  pray let him know
+this by the first that you know goes to Trim.  Let him sell my grey, and be
+hanged.
+
+
+
+LETTER 4.
+
+LONDON, Sept. 21, 1710.
+
+Here must I begin another letter, on a whole sheet, for fear saucy little MD
+should be angry, and think MUCH that the paper is too LITTLE.  I had your
+letter this night, as told you just and no more in my last; for this must be
+taken up in answering yours, saucebox.  I believe I told you where I dined to-
+day; and to-morrow I go out of town for two days to dine with the same company
+on Sunday; Molesworth[1] the Florence Envoy, Stratford, and some others.  I
+heard to-day that a gentlewoman from Lady Giffard's house had been at the
+Coffee-house to inquire for me.  It was Stella's mother, I suppose.  I shall
+send her a penny-post letter[2] to-morrow, and contrive to see her without
+hazarding seeing Lady Giffard, which I will not do until she begs my pardon.
+
+22.  I dined to-day at Hampstead with Lady Lucy, etc., and when I got home
+found a letter from Joe, with one enclosed to Lord Wharton, which I will send
+to his Excellency, and second it as well as I can; but to talk of getting the
+Queen's order is a jest.  Things are in such a combustion here, that I am
+advised not to meddle yet in the affair I am upon, which concerns the clergy
+of a whole kingdom; and does he think anybody will trouble the Queen about
+Joe?  We shall, I hope, get a recommendation from the Lord Lieutenant to the
+trustees for the linen business, and I hope that will do; and so I will write
+to him in a few days, and he must have patience.  This is an answer to part of
+your letter as well as his.  I lied; it is to-morrow I go to the country, and
+I won't answer a bit more of your letter yet.
+
+23.  Here is such a stir and bustle with this little MD of ours; I must be
+writing every night; I can't go to bed without a word to them; I can't put out
+my candle till I have bid them good-night:  O Lord, O Lord!  Well, I dined the
+first time to-day, with Will Frankland and his fortune:  she is not very
+handsome.  Did I not say I would go out of town to-day?  I hate lying abroad
+and clutter; I go tomorrow in Frankland's chariot, and come back at night.
+Lady Berkeley has invited me to Berkeley Castle, and Lady Betty Germaine[3] to
+Drayton in Northamptonshire; and I'll go to neither.  Let me alone, I must
+finish my pamphlet.  I have sent a long letter to Bickerstaff:[4] let the
+Bishop of Clogher smoke[5] it if he can.  Well, I'll write to the Bishop of
+Killala; but you might have told him how sudden and unexpected my journey was
+though.  Deuce take Lady S---; and if I know D---y, he is a rawboned-faced
+fellow, not handsome, nor visibly so young as you say:  she sacrifices two
+thousand pounds a year, and keeps only six hundred.  Well, you have had all my
+land journey in my second letter, and so much for that.  So, you have got into
+Presto's lodgings; very fine, truly!  We have had a fortnight of the most
+glorious weather on earth, and still continues:  I hope you have made the best
+of it.  Ballygall[6] will be a pure[7] good place for air, if Mrs. Ashe makes
+good her promise.  Stella writes like an emperor:  I am afraid it hurts your
+eyes; take care of that pray, pray, Mrs. Stella.  Can't you do what you will
+with your own horse?  Pray don't let that puppy Parvisol sell him.  Patrick is
+drunk about three times a week, and I bear it, and he has got the better of
+me; but one of these days I will positively turn him off to the wide world,
+when none of you are by to intercede for him.--Stuff--how can I get her
+husband into the Charter-house? get a ---- into the Charter-house.--Write
+constantly!  Why, sirrah, don't I write every day, and sometimes twice a day
+to MD?  Now I have answered all your letter, and the rest must be as it can
+be:  send me my bill.  Tell Mrs. Brent what I say of the Charter-house.  I
+think this enough for one night; and so farewell till this time to-morrow.
+
+24.  To-day I dined six miles out of town at Will Pate's, with Stratford,
+Frankland, and the Molesworths,[8] and came home at night, and was weary and
+lazy.  I can say no more now, but good-night.
+
+25.  I was so lazy to-day that I dined at next door,[9] and have sat at home
+since six, writing to the Bishop of Clogher, Dean Sterne, and Mr. Manley:  the
+last, because I am in fear for him about his place, and have sent him my
+opinion, what I and his other friends here think he ought to do.  I hope he
+will take it well.  My advice was, to keep as much in favour as possible with
+Sir Thomas Frankland, his master here.
+
+26.  Smoke how I widen the margin by lying in bed when I write.  My bed lies
+on the wrong side for me, so that I am forced often to write when I am up.
+Manley, you must know, has had people putting in for his place already; and
+has been complained of for opening letters.  Remember that last Sunday,
+September 24, 1710, was as hot as midsummer.  This was written in the morning;
+it is now night, and Presto in bed.  Here's a clutter, I have gotten MD's
+second letter, and I must answer it here.  I gave the bill to Tooke, and so--
+Well, I dined to-day with Sir John Holland the Comptroller, and sat with him
+till eight; then came home, and sent my letters, and writ part of a
+lampoon,[10] which goes on very slow:  and now I am writing to saucy MD; no
+wonder, indeed, good boys must write to naughty girls.  I have not seen your
+mother yet; my penny-post letter, I suppose, miscarried:  I will write
+another.  Mr. S---- came to see me; and said M---- was going to the country
+next morning with her husband (who I find is a surly brute); so I could only
+desire my service to her.
+
+27.  To-day all our company dined at Will Frankland's, with Steele and Addison
+too.  This is the first rainy day since I came to town; I cannot afford to
+answer your letter yet.  Morgan,[11] the puppy, writ me a long letter, to
+desire I would recommend him for purse-bearer or secretary to the next Lord
+Chancellor that would come with the next Governor.  I will not answer him; but
+beg you will say these words to his father Raymond,[12] or anybody that will
+tell him:  That Dr. Swift has received his letter; and would be very ready to
+serve him, but cannot do it in what he desires, because he has no sort of
+interest in the persons to be applied to.  These words you may write, and let
+Joe, or Mr. Warburton,[13] give them to him:  a pox on him!  However, it is by
+these sort of ways that fools get preferment.  I must not end yet, because I
+cannot say good-night without losing a line, and then MD would scold; but now,
+good-night.
+
+28.  I have the finest piece of Brazil tobacco for Dingley that ever was
+born.[14]  You talk of Leigh; why, he won't be in Dublin these two months:  he
+goes to the country, then returns to London, to see how the world goes here in
+Parliament.  Good-night, sirrahs; no, no, not night; I writ this in the
+morning, and looking carelessly I thought it had been of last night.  I dined
+to-day with Mrs. Barton[15] alone at her lodgings; where she told me for
+certain, that Lady S----  was with child when she was last in England, and
+pretended a tympany, and saw everybody; then disappeared for three weeks, her
+tympany was gone, and she looked like a ghost, etc.  No wonder she married
+when she was so ill at containing.  Connolly[16] is out; and Mr. Roberts in
+his place, who loses a better here, but was formerly a Commissioner in
+Ireland.  That employment cost Connolly three thousand pounds to Lord Wharton;
+so he has made one ill bargain in his life.
+
+29.  I wish MD a merry Michaelmas.  I dined with Mr. Addison, and Jervas the
+painter, at Addison's country place; and then came home, and writ more to my
+lampoon.  I made a Tatler since I came:  guess which it is, and whether the
+Bishop of Clogher smokes it.  I saw Mr. Sterne[17] to-day:  he will do as you
+order, and I will give him chocolate for Stella's health.  He goes not these
+three weeks.  I wish I could send it some other way.  So now to your letter,
+brave boys.  I don't like your way of saving shillings:  nothing vexes me but
+that it does not make Stella a coward in a coach.[18] I don't think any lady's
+advice about my ear signifies twopence:  however I will, in compliance to you,
+ask Dr. Cockburn.  Radcliffe[19] I know not, and Barnard[20] I never see.
+Walls will certainly be stingier for seven years, upon pretence of his
+robbery.  So Stella puns again; why, 'tis well enough; but I'll not second it,
+though I could make a dozen:  I never thought of a pun since I left Ireland.--
+Bishop of Clogher's bill?  Why, he paid it to me; do you think I was such a
+fool to go without it?  As for the four shillings, I will give you a bill on
+Parvisol for it on t'other side of this paper; and pray tear off the two
+letters I shall write to him and Joe, or let Dingley transcribe and send them;
+though that to Parvisol, I believe, he must have my hand for.  No, no, I'll
+eat no grapes; I ate about six the other day at Sir John Holland's; but would
+not give sixpence for a thousand, they are so bad this year.  Yes, faith, I
+hope in God Presto and MD will be together this time twelvemonth.  What then?
+Last year I suppose I was at Laracor; but next I hope to eat my Michaelmas
+goose at my two little gooses' lodgings.  I drink no aile (I suppose you mean
+ale); but yet good wine every day, of five and six shillings a bottle.  O
+Lord, how much Stella writes! pray don't carry that too far, young women, but
+be temperate, to hold out.  To-morrow I go to Mr. Harley.[21] Why, small hopes
+from the Duke of Ormond:  he loves me very well, I believe, and would, in my
+turn, give me something to make me easy; and I have good interest among his
+best friends.  But I don't think of anything further than the business I am
+upon.  You see I writ to Manley before I had your letter, and I fear he will
+be out.  Yes, Mrs. Owl, Bligh's corpse[22] came to Chester when I was there;
+and I told you so in my letter, or forgot it.  I lodge in Bury Street, where I
+removed a week ago.  I have the first floor, a dining-room, and bed-chamber,
+at eight shillings a week; plaguy deep, but I spend nothing for eating, never
+go to a tavern, and very seldom in a coach; yet after all it will be
+expensive.  Why do you trouble yourself, Mistress Stella, about my instrument?
+I have the same the Archbishop gave me; and it is as good now the bishops are
+away.  The Dean friendly! the Dean be poxed:  a great piece of friendship
+indeed, what you heard him tell the Bishop of Clogher; I wonder he had the
+face to talk so:  but he lent me money, and that's enough.  Faith, I would not
+send this these four days, only for writing to Joe and Parvisol.  Tell the
+Dean that when the bishops send me any packets, they must not write to me at
+Mr. Steele's; but direct for Mr. Steele, at his office at the Cockpit, and let
+the enclosed be directed for me:  that mistake cost me eighteenpence the other
+day.
+
+30.  I dined with Stratford to-day, but am not to see Mr. Harley till
+Wednesday:  it is late, and I send this before there is occasion for the bell;
+because I would have Joe have his letter, and Parvisol too; which you must so
+contrive as not to cost them double postage.  I can say no more, but that I
+am, etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 5.
+
+LONDON, Sept. 30, 1710.
+
+Han't I brought myself into a fine praemunire,[1] to begin writing letters in
+whole sheets? and now I dare not leave it off.  I cannot tell whether you like
+these journal letters:  I believe they would be dull to me to read them over;
+but, perhaps, little MD is pleased to know how Presto passes his time in her
+absence.  I always begin my last the same day I ended my former.  I told you
+where I dined to-day at a tavern with Stratford:  Lewis,[2] who is a great
+favourite of Harley's, was to have been with us; but he was hurried to Hampton
+Court, and sent his excuse; and that next Wednesday he would introduce me to
+Harley.  'Tis good to see what a lamentable confession the Whigs all make me
+of my ill usage:  but I mind them not.  I am already represented to Harley as
+a discontented person, that was used ill for not being Whig enough; and I hope
+for good usage from him.  The Tories drily tell me, I may make my fortune, if
+I please; but I do not understand them--or rather, I do understand them.
+
+Oct. 1.  To-day I dined at Molesworth's, the Florence Envoy; and sat this
+evening with my friend Darteneuf,[3] whom you have heard me talk of; the
+greatest punner of this town next myself.  Have you smoked the Tatler that I
+writ?[4]  It is much liked here, and I think it a pure[5] one.  To-morrow I go
+with Delaval,[6] the Portugal Envoy, to dine with Lord Halifax near Hampton
+Court.[7]  Your Manley's brother, a Parliament-man here, has gotten an
+employment;[8] and I am informed uses much interest to preserve his brother:
+and, to-day, I spoke to the elder Frankland to engage his father (Postmaster
+here); and I hope he will be safe, although he is cruelly hated by all the
+Tories of Ireland.  I have almost finished my lampoon, and will print it for
+revenge on a certain great person.[9]  It has cost me but three shillings in
+meat and drink since I came here, as thin as the town is.  I laugh to see
+myself so disengaged in these revolutions.  Well, I must leave off, and go
+write to Sir John Stanley,[10] to desire him to engage Lady Hyde as my
+mistress to engage Lord Hyde[11] in favour of Mr. Pratt.[12]
+
+2.  Lord Halifax was at Hampton Court at his lodgings, and I dined with him
+there with Methuen,[13] and Delaval, and the late Attorney-General.[14] I went
+to the Drawing-room before dinner (for the Queen was at Hampton Court), and
+expected to see nobody; but I met acquaintance enough.  I walked in the
+gardens, saw the cartoons of Raphael, and other things; and with great
+difficulty got from Lord Halifax, who would have kept me to-morrow to show me
+his house and park, and improvements.  We left Hampton Court at sunset, and
+got here in a chariot and two horses time enough by starlight.  That's
+something charms me mightily about London; that you go dine a dozen miles off
+in October, stay all day, and return so quickly:  you cannot do anything like
+this in Dublin.[15] I writ a second penny post letter to your mother, and hear
+nothing of her.  Did I tell you that Earl Berkeley died last Sunday was
+se'nnight, at Berkeley Castle, of a dropsy?  Lord Halifax began a health to me
+to-day; it was the Resurrection of the Whigs, which I refused unless he would
+add their Reformation too and I told him he was the only Whig in England I
+loved, or had any good opinion of.
+
+3.  This morning Stella's sister[16] came to me with a letter from her mother,
+who is at Sheen; but will soon be in town, and will call to see me:  she gave
+me a bottle of palsy water,[17] a small one, and desired I would send it you
+by the first convenience, as I will; and she promises a quart bottle of the
+same:  your sister looked very well, and seems a good modest sort of girl.  I
+went then to Mr. Lewis, first secretary to Lord Dartmouth,[18] and favourite
+to Mr. Harley, who is to introduce me to-morrow morning.  Lewis had with him
+one Mr. Dyot,[19] a Justice of Peace, worth twenty thousand pounds, a
+Commissioner of the Stamp Office, and married to a sister of Sir Philip
+Meadows,[20] Envoy to the Emperor.  I tell you this, because it is odds but
+this Mr. Dyot will be hanged; for he is discovered to have counterfeited
+stamped paper, in which he was a Commissioner; and, with his accomplices, has
+cheated the Queen of a hundred thousand pounds.  You will hear of it before
+this come to you, but may be not so particularly; and it is a very odd
+accident in such a man.  Smoke Presto writing news to MD.  I dined to-day with
+Lord Mountjoy at Kensington, and walked from thence this evening to town like
+an emperor.  Remember that yesterday, October 2, was a cruel hard frost, with
+ice; and six days ago I was dying with heat.  As thin as the town is, I have
+more dinners than ever; and am asked this month by some people, without being
+able to come for pre-engagements.  Well, but I should write plainer, when I
+consider Stella cannot read,[21] and Dingley is not so skilful at my ugly
+hand.  I had tonight a letter from Mr. Pratt, who tells me Joe will have his
+money when there are trustees appointed by the Lord Lieutenant for receiving
+and disposing the linen fund; and whenever those trustees are appointed, I
+will solicit whoever is Lord Lieutenant, and am in no fear of succeeding.  So
+pray tell or write him word, and bid him not be cast down; for Ned
+Southwell[22] and Mr. Addison both think Pratt in the right.  Don't lose your
+money at Manley's to-night, sirrahs.
+
+4.  After I had put out my candle last night, my landlady came into my room,
+with a servant of Lord Halifax, to desire I would go dine with him at his
+house near Hampton Court; but I sent him word, I had business of great
+importance that hindered me, etc.  And to-day I was brought privately to Mr.
+Harley, who received me with the greatest respect and kindness imaginable:  he
+has appointed me an hour on Saturday at four, afternoon, when I will open my
+business to him; which expression I would not use if I were a woman.  I know
+you smoked it; but I did not till I writ it.  I dined to-day at Mr. Delaval's,
+the Envoy for Portugal, with Nic Rowe[23] the poet, and other friends; and I
+gave my lampoon to be printed.  I have more mischief in my heart; and I think
+it shall go round with them all, as this hits, and I can find hints.  I am
+certain I answered your 2d letter, and yet I do not find it here.  I suppose
+it was in my 4th:  and why N. 2d, 3d; is it not enough to say, as I do, 1, 2,
+3? etc.  I am going to work at another Tatler:[24]  I'll be far enough but I
+say the same thing over two or three times, just as I do when I am talking to
+little MD; but what care I? they can read it as easily as I can write it:  I
+think I have brought these lines pretty straight again.  I fear it will be
+long before I finish two sides at this rate.  Pray, dear MD, when I
+occasionally give you any little commission mixed with my letters, don't
+forget it, as that to Morgan and Joe, etc., for I write just as I can
+remember, otherwise I would put them all together.  I was to visit Mr. Sterne
+to-day, and give him your commission about handkerchiefs:  that of chocolate I
+will do myself, and send it him when he goes, and you'll pay me when the
+GIVER'S BREAD,[25] etc.  To-night I will read a pamphlet, to amuse myself.
+God preserve your dear healths!
+
+5.  This morning Delaval came to see me, and we went together to
+Kneller's,[26] who was not in town.  In the way we met the electors for
+Parliament-men:[27]  and the rabble came about our coach, crying, "A Colt, a
+Stanhope," etc.  We were afraid of a dead cat, or our glasses broken, and so
+were always of their side.  I dined again at Delaval's; and in the evening, at
+the Coffee-house, heard Sir Andrew Fountaine[28] was come to town.  This has
+been but an insipid sort of day, and I have nothing to remark upon it worth
+threepence:  I hope MD had a better, with the Dean, the Bishop, or Mrs.
+Walls.[29]  Why, the reason you lost four and eightpence last night but one at
+Manley's was, because you played bad games:  I took notice of six that you had
+ten to one against you:  Would any but a mad lady go out twice upon Manilio;
+Basto, and two small diamonds?[30] Then in that game of spades, you blundered
+when you had ten-ace; I never saw the like of you:  and now you are in a huff
+because I tell you this.  Well, here's two and eightpence halfpenny towards
+your loss.
+
+6.  Sir Andrew Fountaine came this morning, and caught me writing in bed.  I
+went into the city with him; and we dined at the Chop-house with Will
+Pate,[31] the learned woollen-draper:  then we sauntered at China-shops[32]
+and booksellers; went to the tavern, drank two pints of white wine, and never
+parted till ten:  and now I am come home, and must copy out some papers I
+intend for Mr. Harley, whom I am to see, as I told you, to-morrow afternoon;
+so that this night I shall say little to MD, but that I heartily wish myself
+with them, and will come as soon as I either fail, or compass my business.  We
+now hear daily of elections; and, in a list I saw yesterday of about twenty,
+there are seven or eight more Tories than in the last Parliament; so that I
+believe they need not fear a majority, with the help of those who will vote as
+the Court pleases.  But I have been told that Mr. Harley himself would not let
+the Tories be too numerous, for fear they should be insolent, and kick against
+him; and for that reason they have kept several Whigs in employments, who
+expected to be turned out every day; as Sir John Holland the Comptroller, and
+many others.  And so get you gone to your cards, and your claret and orange,
+at the Dean's; and I'll go write.
+
+7.  I wonder when this letter will be finished:  it must go by Tuesday, that's
+certain; and if I have one from MD before, I will not answer it, that's as
+certain too.  'Tis now morning, and I did not finish my papers for Mr. Harley
+last night; for you must understand Presto was sleepy, and made blunders and
+blots.  Very pretty that I must be writing to young women in a morning fresh
+and fasting, faith.  Well, good-morrow to you; and so I go to business, and
+lay aside this paper till night, sirrahs.--At night.  Jack How[33] told Harley
+that if there were a lower place in hell than another, it was reserved for his
+porter, who tells lies so gravely, and with so civil a manner.  This porter I
+have had to deal with, going this evening at four to visit Mr. Harley, by his
+own appointment.  But the fellow told me no lie, though I suspected every word
+he said.  He told me his master was just gone to dinner, with much company,
+and desired I would come an hour hence:  which I did, expecting to hear Mr.
+Harley was gone out; but they had just done dinner.  Mr. Harley came out to
+me, brought me in, and presented to me his son-in-law Lord Doblane[34] (or
+some such name) and his own son,[35] and, among others, Will Penn[36] the
+Quaker:  we sat two hours drinking as good wine as you do; and two hours more
+he and I alone; where he heard me tell my business; entered into it with all
+kindness; asked for my powers, and read them; and read likewise a memorial[37]
+I had drawn up, and put it in his pocket to show the Queen; told me the
+measures he would take; and, in short, said everything I could wish:  told me,
+he must bring Mr. St. John[38] (Secretary of State) and me acquainted; and
+spoke so many things of personal kindness and esteem for me, that I am
+inclined half to believe what some friends have told me, that he would do
+everything to bring me over.  He has desired to dine with me (what a comical
+mistake was that!).  I mean he has desired me to dine with him on Tuesday; and
+after four hours being with him, set me down at St. James's Coffee-house in a
+hackney-coach.  All this is odd and comical, if you consider him and me.  He
+knew my Christian name very well.  I could not forbear saying thus much upon
+this matter, although you will think it tedious.  But I'll tell you; you must
+know, 'tis fatal[39] to me to be a scoundrel and a prince the same day:  for,
+being to see him at four, I could not engage myself to dine at any friend's;
+so I went to Tooke,[40] to give him a ballad, and dine with him; but he was
+not at home:  so I was forced to go to a blind[41] chop-house, and dine for
+tenpence upon gill-ale,[42] bad broth, and three chops of mutton; and then go
+reeking from thence to the First Minister of State.  And now I am going in
+charity to send Steele a Tatler, who is very low of late.  I think I am
+civiller than I used to be; and have not used the expression of "you in
+Ireland" and "we in England" as I did when I was here before, to your great
+indignation.--They may talk of the you know what;[43] but, gad, if it had not
+been for that, I should never have been able to get the access I have had; and
+if that helps me to succeed, then that same thing will be serviceable to the
+Church.  But how far we must depend upon new friends, I have learnt by long
+practice, though I think among great Ministers, they are just as good as old
+ones.  And so I think this important day has made a great hole in this side of
+the paper; and the fiddle-faddles of tomorrow and Monday will make up the
+rest; and, besides, I shall see Harley on Tuesday before this letter goes.
+
+8.  I must tell you a great piece of refinement[44] of Harley.  He charged me
+to come to him often:  I told him I was loth to trouble him in so much
+business as he had, and desired I might have leave to come at his levee; which
+he immediately refused, and said, that was not a place for friends to come to.
+'Tis now but morning; and I have got a foolish trick, I must say something to
+MD when I wake, and wish them a good-morrow; for this is not a shaving-day,
+Sunday, so I have time enough:  but get you gone, you rogues, I must go write:
+Yes, 'twill vex me to the blood if any of these long letters
+should miscarry:  if they do, I will shrink to half-sheets again; but then
+what will you do to make up the journal? there will be ten days of Presto's
+life lost; and that will be a sad thing, faith and troth.--At night.  I was at
+a loss today for a dinner, unless I would have gone a great way, so I dined
+with some friends that board hereabout,[45] as a spunger;[46] and this evening
+Sir Andrew Fountaine would needs have me go to the tavern; where, for two
+bottles of wine, Portugal and Florence, among three of us, we had sixteen
+shillings to pay; but if ever he catches me so again, I'll spend as many
+pounds:  and therefore I have it among my extraordinaries but we had a neck of
+mutton dressed a la Maintenon, that the dog could not eat:  and it is now
+twelve o'clock, and I must go sleep.  I hope this letter will go before I have
+MD's third.  Do you believe me? and yet, faith, I long for MD's third too and
+yet I would have it to say, that I writ five for two.  I am not fond at all of
+St. James's Coffee-house,[47] as I used to be.  I hope it will mend in winter;
+but now they are all out of town at elections, or not come from their country
+houses.  Yesterday I was going with Dr. Garth[48] to dine with Charles
+Main,[49] near the Tower, who has an employment there:  he is of Ireland; the
+Bishop of Clogher knows him well:  an honest, good-natured fellow, a thorough
+hearty laugher, mightily beloved by the men of wit:  his mistress is never
+above a cook-maid.  And so, good-night, etc.
+
+9.  I dined to-day at Sir John Stanley's; my Lady Stanley[50] is one of my
+favourites:  I have as many here as the Bishop of Killala has in Ireland.  I
+am thinking what scurvy company I shall be to MD when I come back:  they know
+everything of me already:  I will tell you no more, or I shall have nothing to
+say, no story to tell, nor any kind of thing.  I was very uneasy last night
+with ugly, nasty, filthy wine, that turned sour on my stomach.  I must go to
+the tavern:  oh, but I told you that before.  To-morrow I dine at Harley's,
+and will finish this letter at my return; but I can write no more now, because
+of the Archbishop:  faith, 'tis true; for I am going now to write to him an
+account of what I have done in the business with Harley:[51] and, faith, young
+women, I'll tell you what you must count upon, that I never will write one
+word on the third side in these long letters.
+
+10.  Poor MD's letter was lying so huddled up among papers, I could not find
+it:  I mean poor Presto's letter.  Well, I dined with Mr. Harley to-day, and
+hope some things will be done; but I must say no more:  and this letter must
+be sent to the post-house, and not by the bellman.[52] I am to dine again
+there on Sunday next; I hope to some good issue.  And so now, soon as ever I
+can in bed, I must begin my 6th to MD as gravely as if I had not written a
+word this month:  fine doings, faith!  Methinks I don't write as I should,
+because I am not in bed:  see the ugly wide lines.  God Almighty ever bless
+you, etc.
+
+Faith, this is a whole treatise; I'll go reckon the lines on the other sides.
+I've reckoned them.[53]
+
+
+
+LETTER 6.
+
+LONDON, Oct. 10, 1710.
+
+So, as I told you just now in the letter I sent half an hour ago, I dined with
+Mr. Harley to-day, who presented me to the Attorney-General, Sir Simon
+Harcourt, with much compliment on all sides, etc.  Harley told me he had shown
+my memorial to the Queen, and seconded it very heartily; and he desires me to
+dine with him again on Sunday, when he promises to settle it with Her Majesty,
+before she names a Governor:[1] and I protest I am in hopes it will be done,
+all but the forms, by that time; for he loves the Church.  This is a popular
+thing, and he would not have a Governor share in it; and, besides, I am told
+by all hands, he has a mind to gain me over.  But in the letter I writ last
+post (yesterday) to the Archbishop, I did not tell him a syllable of what Mr.
+Harley said to me last night, because he charged me to keep it secret; so I
+would not tell it to you, but that, before this goes, I hope the secret will
+be over.  I am now writing my poetical "Description of a Shower in London,"
+and will send it to the Tatler.[2]  This is the last sheet of a whole quire I
+have written since I came to town.  Pray, now it comes into my head, will you,
+when you go to Mrs. Walls, contrive to know whether Mrs. Wesley[3] be in town,
+and still at her brother's, and how she is in health, and whether she stays in
+town.  I writ to her from Chester, to know what I should do with her note; and
+I believe the poor woman is afraid to write to me:  so I must go to my
+business, etc.
+
+11.  To-day at last I dined with Lord Mountrath,[4] and carried Lord Mountjoy,
+and Sir Andrew Fountaine with me; and was looking over them at ombre till
+eleven this evening like a fool:  they played running ombre half-crowns; and
+Sir Andrew Fountaine won eight guineas of Mr. Coote;[5] so I am come home
+late, and will say but little to MD this night.  I have gotten half a bushel
+of coals, and Patrick, the extravagant whelp, had a fire ready for me; but I
+picked off the coals before I went to bed.  It is a sign London is now an
+empty place, when it will not furnish me with matter for above five or six
+lines in a day.  Did you smoke in my last how I told you the very day and the
+place you were playing at ombre?  But I interlined and altered a little, after
+I had received a letter from Mr. Manley, that said you were at it in his
+house, while he was writing to me; but without his help I guessed within one
+day.  Your town is certainly much more sociable than ours.  I have not seen
+your mother yet, etc.
+
+12.  I dined to-day with Dr. Garth and Mr. Addison, at the Devil Tavern[6] by
+Temple Bar, and Garth treated; and 'tis well I dine every day, else I should
+be longer making out my letters:  for we are yet in a very dull state, only
+inquiring every day after new elections, where the Tories carry it among the
+new members six to one.  Mr. Addison's election[7] has passed easy and
+undisputed; and I believe if he had a mind to be chosen king, he would hardly
+be refused.  An odd accident has happened at Colchester:  one Captain
+Lavallin,[8] coming from Flanders or Spain, found his wife with child by a
+clerk of Doctors' Commons, whose trade, you know, it is to prevent
+fornications:  and this clerk was the very same fellow that made the discovery
+of Dyot's[9] counterfeiting the stamp-paper.  Lavallin has been this fortnight
+hunting after the clerk, to kill him; but the fellow was constantly employed
+at the Treasury, about the discovery he made:  the wife had made a shift to
+patch up the business, alleging that the clerk had told her her husband was
+dead and other excuses; but t'other day somebody told Lavallin his wife had
+intrigues before he married her:  upon which he goes down in a rage, shoots
+his wife through the head, then falls on his sword; and, to make the matter
+sure, at the same time discharges a pistol through his own head, and died on
+the spot, his wife surviving him about two hours, but in what circumstances of
+mind and body is terrible to imagine.  I have finished my poem on the
+"Shower," all but the beginning; and am going on with my Tatler.  They have
+fixed about fifty things on me since I came:  I have printed but three.[10]
+One advantage I get by writing to you daily, or rather you get, is, that I
+shall remember not to write the same things twice; and yet, I fear, I have
+done it often already:  but I will mind and confine myself to the accidents of
+the day; and so get you gone to ombre, and be good girls, and save your money,
+and be rich against Presto comes, and write to me now and then:  I am thinking
+it would be a pretty thing to hear sometimes from saucy MD; but do not hurt
+your eyes, Stella, I charge you.
+
+13.  O Lord, here is but a trifle of my letter written yet; what shall Presto
+do for prattle-prattle, to entertain MD?  The talk now grows fresher of the
+Duke of Ormond for Ireland; though Mr. Addison says he hears it will be in
+commission, and Lord Galway[11] one.  These letters of mine are a sort of
+journal, where matters open by degrees; and, as I tell true or false, you will
+find by the event whether my intelligence be good; but I do not care twopence
+whether it be or no.--At night.  To-day I was all about St. Paul's, and up at
+the top like a fool, with Sir Andrew Fountaine and two more; and spent seven
+shillings for my dinner like a puppy:  this is the second time he has served
+me so; but I will never do it again, though all mankind should persuade me,
+unconsidering puppies!  There is a young fellow here in town we are all fond
+of, and about a year or two come from the University, one Harrison,[12] a
+little pretty fellow, with a great deal of wit, good sense, and good nature;
+has written some mighty pretty things; that in your 6th Miscellanea,[13] about
+the Sprig of an Orange, is his:  he has nothing to live on but being governor
+to one of the Duke of Queensberry's[14] sons for forty pounds a year.  The
+fine fellows are always inviting him to the tavern, and make him pay his club.
+Henley[15] is a great crony of his:  they are often at the tavern at six or
+seven shillings reckoning, and he always makes the poor lad pay his full
+share.  A colonel and a lord were at him and me the same way to-night:  I
+absolutely refused, and made Harrison lag behind, and persuaded him not to go
+to them.  I tell you this, because I find all rich fellows have that humour of
+using all people without any consideration of their fortunes; but I will see
+them rot before they shall serve me so.  Lord Halifax is always teasing me to
+go down to his country house, which will cost me a guinea to his servants, and
+twelve shillings coach-hire; and he shall be hanged first.  Is not this a
+plaguy silly story?  But I am vexed at the heart; for I love the young fellow,
+and am resolved to stir up people to do something for him:  he is a Whig, and
+I will put him upon some of my cast Whigs; for I have done with them; and they
+have, I hope, done with this kingdom for our time.  They were sure of the four
+members for London above all places, and they have lost three in the four.[16]
+Sir Richard Onslow,[17] we hear, has lost for Surrey; and they are overthrown
+in most places.  Lookee, gentlewomen, if I write long letters, I must write
+you news and stuff, unless I send you my verses; and some I dare not; and
+those on the "Shower in London" I have sent to the Tatler, and you may see
+them in Ireland.  I fancy you will smoke me in the Tatler I am going to write;
+for I believe I have told you the hint.  I had a letter sent me tonight from
+Sir Matthew Dudley, and found it on my table when I came in.  Because it is
+extraordinary, I will transcribe it from beginning to end.  It is as follows:
+"Is the Devil in you?  Oct. 13, 1710."  I would have answered every particular
+passage in it, only I wanted time.  Here is enough for to-night, such as it
+is, etc.
+
+14.  Is that tobacco at the top of the paper,[18] or what?  I do not remember
+I slobbered.  Lord, I dreamt of Stella, etc., so confusedly last night, and
+that we saw Dean Bolton[19] and Sterne[20] go into a shop:  and she bid me
+call them to her, and they proved to be two parsons I know not; and I walked
+without till she was shifting, and such stuff, mixed with much melancholy and
+uneasiness, and things not as they should be, and I know not how:  and it is
+now an ugly gloomy morning.--At night.  Mr. Addison and I dined with Ned
+Southwell, and walked in the Park; and at the Coffee-house I found a letter
+from the Bishop of Clogher, and a packet from MD.  I opened the Bishop's
+letter; but put up MD's, and visited a lady just come to town; and am now got
+into bed, and going to open your little letter:  and God send I may find MD
+well, and happy, and merry, and that they love Presto as they do fires.  Oh, I
+will not open it yet! yes I will! no I will not!  I am going; I cannot stay
+till I turn over.[21]  What shall I do?  My fingers itch; and now I have it in
+my left hand; and now I will open it this very moment.--I have just got it,
+and am cracking the seal, and cannot imagine what is in it; I fear only some
+letter from a bishop, and it comes too late; I shall employ nobody's credit
+but my own.  Well, I see though--  Pshaw, 'tis from Sir Andrew Fountaine.
+What, another!  I fancy that's from Mrs. Barton;[22] she told me she would
+write to me; but she writes a better hand than this:  I wish you would
+inquire; it must be at Dawson's[23] office at the Castle.  I fear this is from
+Patty Rolt, by the scrawl.  Well, I will read MD's letter.  Ah, no; it is from
+poor Lady Berkeley, to invite me to Berkeley Castle this winter; and now it
+grieves my heart:  she says, she hopes my lord is in a fair way of
+recovery;[24] poor lady! Well, now I go to MD's letter:  faith, it is all
+right; I hoped it was wrong.  Your letter, N.3, that I have now received, is
+dated Sept. 26; and Manley's letter, that I had five days ago, was dated Oct.
+3, that's a fortnight difference:  I doubt it has lain in Steele's office, and
+he forgot.  Well, there's an end of that:  he is turned out of his place;[25]
+and you must desire those who send me packets, to enclose them in a paper
+directed to Mr. Addison, at St. James's Coffee-house:  not common letters, but
+packets:  the Bishop of Clogher may mention it to the Archbishop when he sees
+him.  As for your letter, it makes me mad:  slidikins, I have been the best
+boy in Christendom, and you come with your two eggs a penny.--Well; but stay,
+I will look over my book:  adad, I think there was a chasm between my N.2 and
+N.3.  Faith, I will not promise to write to you every week; but I will write
+every night, and when it is full I will send it; that will be once in ten
+days, and that will be often enough:  and if you begin to take up the way of
+writing to Presto, only because it is Tuesday, a Monday bedad it will grow a
+task; but write when you have a mind.--No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no--Agad,
+agad, agad, agad, agad, agad; no, poor Stellakins.[26]  Slids, I would the
+horse were in your--chamber!  Have not I ordered Parvisol to obey your
+directions about him?  And han't I said in my former letters that you may
+pickle him, and boil him, if you will?  What do you trouble me about your
+horses for?  Have I anything to do with them?--Revolutions a hindrance to me
+in my business?  Revolutions to me in my business?  If it were not for the
+revolutions, I could do nothing at all; and now I have all hopes possible,
+though one is certain of nothing; but to-morrow I am to have an answer, and am
+promised an effectual one.  I suppose I have said enough in this and a former
+letter how I stand with new people; ten times better than ever I did with the
+old; forty times more caressed.  I am to dine to-morrow at Mr. Harley's; and
+if he continues as he has begun, no man has been ever better treated by
+another.  What you say about Stella's mother, I have spoken enough to it
+already.  I believe she is not in town; for I have not yet seen her.  My
+lampoon is cried up to the skies; but nobody suspects me for it, except Sir
+Andrew Fountaine:  at least they say nothing of it to me.  Did not I tell you
+of a great man who received me very coldly?[27]  That's he; but say nothing;
+'twas only a little revenge.  I will remember to bring it over.  The Bishop of
+Clogher has smoked my Tatler,[28] about shortening of words, etc.  But, God
+So![29] etc.
+
+15.  I will write plainer if I can remember it; for Stella must not spoil her
+eyes, and Dingley can't read my hand very well; and I am afraid my letters are
+too long:  then you must suppose one to be two, and read them at twice.  I
+dined to-day with Mr. Harley:  Mr. Prior[30] dined with us.  He has left my
+memorial with the Queen, who has consented to give the First-Fruits and
+Twentieth Parts,[31] and will, we hope, declare it to-morrow in the Cabinet.
+But I beg you to tell it to no person alive; for so I am ordered, till in
+public:  and I hope to get something of greater value.  After dinner came in
+Lord Peterborow:[32]  we renewed our acquaintance, and he grew mightily fond
+of me.  They began to talk of a paper of verses called "Sid Hamet."  Mr.
+Harley repeated part, and then pulled them out, and gave them to a gentleman
+at the table to read, though they had all read them often.  Lord Peterborow
+would let nobody read them but himself:  so he did; and Mr. Harley bobbed[33]
+me at every line, to take notice of the beauties.  Prior rallied Lord
+Peterborow for author of them; and Lord Peterborow said he knew them to be
+his; and Prior then turned it upon me, and I on him.  I am not guessed at all
+in town to be the author; yet so it is:  but that is a secret only to you.[34]
+Ten to one whether you see them in Ireland; yet here they run prodigiously.
+Harley presented me to Lord President of Scotland,[35] and Mr. Benson,[36]
+Lord of the Treasury.  Prior and I came away at nine, and sat at the
+Smyrna[37] till eleven, receiving acquaintance.
+
+16.  This morning early I went in a chair, and Patrick before it, to Mr.
+Harley, to give him another copy of my memorial, as he desired; but he was
+full of business, going to the Queen, and I could not see him; but he desired
+I would send up the paper, and excused himself upon his hurry.  I was a little
+baulked; but they tell me it is nothing.  I shall judge by next visit.  I
+tipped his porter with half a crown; and so I am well there for a time at
+least.  I dined at Stratford's in the City, and had Burgundy and Tokay:  came
+back afoot like a scoundrel:  then went with Mr. Addison and supped with Lord
+Mountjoy, which made me sick all night.  I forgot that I bought six pounds of
+chocolate for Stella, and a little wooden box; and I have a great piece of
+Brazil tobacco for Dingley,[38] and a bottle of palsy-water[39] for Stella:
+all which, with the two handkerchiefs that Mr. Sterne has bought, and you must
+pay him for, will be put in the box, directed to Mrs. Curry's, and sent by Dr.
+Hawkshaw,[40] whom I have not seen; but Sterne has undertaken it.  The
+chocolate is a present, madam, for Stella.  Don't read this, you little rogue,
+with your little eyes; but give it to Dingley, pray now; and I will write as
+plain as the skies:  and let Dingley write Stella's part, and Stella dictate
+to her, when she apprehends her eyes, etc.
+
+17.  This letter should have gone this post, if I had not been taken up with
+business, and two nights being late out; so it must stay till Thursday.  I
+dined to-day with your Mr. Sterne,[41] by invitation, and drank Irish
+wine;[42] but, before we parted, there came in the prince of puppies, Colonel
+Edgworth;[43] so I went away.  This day came out the Tatler, made up wholly of
+my "Shower," and a preface to it.  They say it is the best thing I ever writ,
+and I think so too.  I suppose the Bishop of Clogher will show it you.  Pray
+tell me how you like it.  Tooke is going on with my Miscellany.[44] I'd give a
+penny the letter to the Bishop of Killaloe[45] was in it:  'twould do him
+honour.  Could not you contrive to say, you hear they are printing my things
+together; and that you with the bookseller had that letter among the rest:
+but don't say anything of it as from me.  I forget whether it was good or no;
+but only having heard it much commended, perhaps it may deserve it.  Well, I
+have to-morrow to finish this letter in, and then I will send it next day.  I
+am so vexed that you should write your third to me, when you had but my
+second, and I had written five, which now I hope you have all:  and so I tell
+you, you are saucy, little, pretty, dear rogues, etc.
+
+18.  To-day I dined, by invitation, with Stratford and others, at a young
+merchant's in the City, with Hermitage and Tokay, and stayed till nine, and am
+now come home.  And that dog Patrick is abroad, and drinking, and I cannot I
+get my night-gown.  I have a mind to turn that puppy away:  he has been drunk
+ten times in three weeks.  But I han't time to say more; so good-night, etc.
+
+19.  I am come home from dining in the city with Mr. Addison, at a merchant's;
+and just now, at the Coffee-house, we have notice that the Duke of Ormond was
+this day declared Lord Lieutenant at Hampton Court, in Council.  I have not
+seen Mr. Harley since; but hope the affair is done about First-Fruits.  I will
+see him, if possible, to-morrow morning; but this goes to-night.  I have sent
+a box to Mr. Sterne, to send to you by some friend:  I have directed it for
+Mr. Curry, at his house; so you have warning when it comes, as I hope it will
+soon.  The handkerchiefs will be put in some friend's pocket, not to pay
+custom.  And so here ends my sixth, sent when I had but three of MD's:  now I
+am beforehand, and will keep so; and God Almighty bless dearest MD, etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 7.
+
+LONDON, Oct. 19, 1710.
+
+Faith, I am undone! this paper is larger than the other, and yet I am
+condemned to a sheet; but, since it is MD, I did not value though I were
+condemned to a pair.  I told you in my letter to-day where I had been, and how
+the day passed; and so, etc.
+
+20.  To-day I went to Mr. Lewis, at the Secretary's office, to know when I
+might see Mr. Harley; and by and by comes up Mr. Harley himself, and appoints
+me to dine with him to-morrow.  I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh,[1] and went to
+wait on the two Lady Butlers;[2] but the porter answered they were not at
+home:  the meaning was, the youngest, Lady Mary, is to be married to-morrow to
+Lord Ashburnham,[3] the best match now in England, twelve thousand pounds a
+year, and abundance of money.  Tell me how my "Shower" is liked in Ireland:  I
+never knew anything pass better here.  I spent the evening with Wortley
+Montagu[4] and Mr. Addison, over a bottle of Irish wine.  Do they know
+anything in Ireland of my greatness among the Tories?  Everybody reproaches me
+of it here; but I value them not.  Have you heard of the verses about the "Rod
+of Sid Hamet"?  Say nothing of them for your life.  Hardly anybody suspects me
+for them; only they think nobody but Prior or I could write them.  But I doubt
+they have not reached you.  There is likewise a ballad full of puns on the
+Westminster Election,[5] that cost me half an hour:  it runs, though it be
+good for nothing.  But this is likewise a secret to all but MD.  If you have
+them not, I will bring them over.
+
+21.  I got MD's fourth to-day at the Coffee-house.  God Almighty bless poor,
+dear Stella, and her eyes and head!  What shall we do to cure them? poor, dear
+life!  Your disorders are a pull-back for your good qualities.  Would to
+Heaven I were this minute shaving your poor, dear head, either here or there!
+Pray do not write, nor read this letter, nor anything else; and I will write
+plainer for Dingley to read from henceforward, though my pen is apt to ramble
+when I think whom I am writing to.  I will not answer your letter until I tell
+you that I dined this day with Mr. Harley, who presented me to the Earl of
+Stirling,[6] a Scotch lord; and in the evening came in Lord Peterborow.  I
+stayed till nine before Mr. Harley would let me go, or tell me anything of my
+affair.  He says the Queen has now granted the First-Fruits and Twentieth
+Parts; but he will not give me leave to write to the Archbishop, because the
+Queen designs to signify it to the Bishops in Ireland in form; and to take
+notice, that it was done upon a memorial from me; which, Mr. Harley tells me
+he does to make it look more respectful to me, etc.; and I am to see him on
+Tuesday.  I know not whether I told you that, in my memorial which was given
+to the Queen, I begged for two thousand pounds a year more, though it was not
+in my commission; but that, Mr. Harley says, cannot yet be done, and that he
+and I must talk of it further:  however, I have started it, and it may follow
+in time.  Pray say nothing of the First-Fruits being granted, unless I give
+leave at the bottom of this.  I believe never anything was compassed so soon,
+and purely done by my personal credit with Mr. Harley, who is so excessively
+obliging, that I know not what to make of it, unless to show the rascals of
+the other party that they used a man unworthily who had deserved better.  The
+memorial given to the Queen from me speaks with great plainness of Lord
+Wharton.  I believe this business is as important to you as the Convocation
+disputes from Tisdall.[7]  I hope in a month or two all the forms of settling
+this matter will be over; and then I shall have nothing to do here.  I will
+only add one foolish thing more, because it is just come into my head.  When
+this thing is made known, tell me impartially whether they give any of the
+merit to me, or no; for I am sure I have so much, that I will never take it
+upon me.--Insolent sluts! because I say Dublin, Ireland, therefore you must
+say London, England:  that is Stella's malice.--Well, for that I will not
+answer your letter till to-morrow-day, and so and so:  I will go write
+something else, and it will not be much; for 'tis late.
+
+22.  I was this morning with Mr. Lewis, the under-secretary to Lord Dartmouth,
+two hours, talking politics, and contriving to keep Steele in his office of
+stamped paper:  he has lost his place of Gazetteer, three hundred pounds a
+year, for writing a Tatler,[8] some months ago, against Mr. Harley, who gave
+it him at first, and raised the salary from sixty to three hundred pounds.
+This was devilish ungrateful; and Lewis was telling me the particulars:  but I
+had a hint given me, that I might save him in the other employment:  and leave
+was given me to clear matters with Steele.  Well, I dined with Sir Matthew
+Dudley, and in the evening went to sit with Mr. Addison, and offer the matter
+at distance to him, as the discreeter person; but found party had so possessed
+him, that he talked as if he suspected me, and would not fall in with anything
+I said.  So I stopped short in my overture, and we parted very drily; and I
+shall say nothing to Steele, and let them do as they will; but, if things
+stand as they are, he will certainly lose it, unless I save him; and therefore
+I will not speak to him, that I may not report to his disadvantage.  Is not
+this vexatious? and is there so much in the proverb of proffered service?
+When shall I grow wise?  I endeavour to act in the most exact points of honour
+and conscience; and my nearest friends will not understand it so.  What must a
+man expect from his enemies?  This would vex me, but it shall not; and so I
+bid you good-night, etc.
+
+23.  I know 'tis neither wit nor diversion to tell you every day where I dine;
+neither do I write it to fill my letter; but I fancy I shall, some time or
+other, have the curiosity of seeing some particulars how I passed my life when
+I was absent from MD this time; and so I tell you now that I dined to-day at
+Molesworth's, the Florence Envoy, then went to the Coffee-house, where I
+behaved myself coldly enough to Mr. Addison, and so came home to scribble.  We
+dine together to-morrow and next day by invitation; but I shall alter my
+behaviour to him, till he begs my pardon, or else we shall grow bare
+acquaintance.  I am weary of friends; and friendships are all monsters, but
+MD's.
+
+24.  I forgot to tell you, that last night I went to Mr. Harley's, hoping--
+faith, I am blundering, for it was this very night at six; and I hoped he
+would have told me all things were done and granted:  but he was abroad, and
+came home ill, and was gone to bed, much out of order, unless the porter lied.
+I dined to-day at Sir Matthew Dudley's, with Mr. Addison, etc.
+
+25.  I was to-day to see the Duke of Ormond; and, coming out, met Lord
+Berkeley of Stratton,[9] who told me that Mrs. Temple,[10] the widow, died
+last Saturday, which, I suppose, is much to the outward grief and inward joy
+of the family.  I dined to-day with Addison and Steele, and a sister of Mr.
+Addison, who is married to one Mons.  Sartre,[11] a Frenchman, prebendary of
+Westminster, who has a delicious house and garden; yet I thought it was a sort
+of monastic life in those cloisters, and I liked Laracor better.  Addison's
+sister is a sort of a wit, very like him.  I am not fond of her, etc.
+
+26.  I was to-day to see Mr. Congreve,[12] who is almost blind with cataracts
+growing on his eyes; and his case is, that he must wait two or three years,
+until the cataracts are riper, and till he is quite blind, and then he must
+have them couched; and, besides, he is never rid of the gout, yet he looks
+young and fresh, and is as cheerful as ever.  He is younger by three years or
+more than I; and I am twenty years younger than he.  He gave me a pain in the
+great toe, by mentioning the gout.  I find such suspicions frequently, but
+they go off again.  I had a second letter from Mr. Morgan,[13] for which I
+thank you:  I wish you were whipped, for forgetting to send him that answer I
+desired you in one of my former, that I could do nothing for him of what he
+desired, having no credit at all, etc.  Go, be far enough, you negligent
+baggages.  I have had also a letter from Parvisol, with an account how my
+livings are set; and that they are fallen, since last year, sixty pounds.  A
+comfortable piece of news!  He tells me plainly that he finds you have no mind
+to part with the horse, because you sent for him at the same time you sent him
+my letter; so that I know not what must be done.  It is a sad thing that
+Stella must have her own horse, whether Parvisol will or no.  So now to answer
+your letter that I had three or four days ago.  I am not now in bed, but am
+come home by eight; and, it being warm, I write up.  I never writ to the
+Bishop of Killala, which, I suppose, was the reason he had not my letter.  I
+have not time, there is the short of it.--As fond as the Dean[14] is of my
+letter, he has not written to me.  I would only know whether Dean Bolton[15]
+paid him the twenty pounds; and for the rest, he may kiss--And that you may
+ask him, because I am in pain about it, that Dean Bolton is such a whipster.
+'Tis the most obliging thing in the world in Dean Sterne to be so kind to you.
+I believe he knows it will please me, and makes up, that way, his other
+usage.[16]  No, we have had none of your snow, but a little one morning; yet I
+think it was great snow for an hour or so, but no longer.  I had heard of Will
+Crowe's[17] death before, but not the foolish circumstance that hastened his
+end.  No, I have taken care that Captain Pratt[18] shall not suffer by Lord
+Anglesea's death.[19]  I will try some contrivance to get a copy of my picture
+from Jervas.  I will make Sir Andrew Fountaine buy one as for himself, and I
+will pay him again, and take it, that is, provided I have money to spare when
+I leave this.--Poor John! is he gone? and Madam Parvisol[20] has been in town!
+Humm.  Why, Tighe[21] and I, when he comes, shall not take any notice of each
+other; I would not do it much in this town, though we had not fallen out.--I
+was to-day at Mr. Sterne's lodging:  he was not within; and Mr. Leigh is not
+come to town; but I will do Dingley's errand when I see him.  What do I know
+whether china be dear or no?  I once took a fancy of resolving to grow mad for
+it, but now it is off; I suppose I told you in some former letter.  And so you
+only want some salad-dishes, and plates, and etc.  Yes, yes, you shall.  I
+suppose you have named as much as will cost five pounds.--Now to Stella's
+little postscript; and I am almost crazed that you vex yourself for not
+writing.  Cannot you dictate to Dingley, and not strain your little, dear
+eyes?  I am sure it is the grief of my soul to think you are out of order.
+Pray be quiet; and, if you will write, shut your eyes, and write just a line,
+and no more, thus, "How do you do, Mrs. Stella?"  That was written with my
+eyes shut.  Faith, I think it is better than when they are open:  and then
+Dingley may stand by, and tell you when you go too high or too low.--My
+letters of business, with packets, if there be any more occasion for such,
+must be enclosed to Mr. Addison, at St. James's Coffee-house:  but I hope to
+hear, as soon as I see Mr. Harley, that the main difficulties are over, and
+that the rest will be but form.--Take two or three nutgalls, take two or three
+---galls, stop your receipt in your--I have no need on't.  Here is a clutter!
+Well, so much for your letter, which I will now put up in my letter-partition
+in my cabinet, as I always do every letter as soon as I answer it.  Method is
+good in all things.  Order governs the world.  The Devil is the author of
+confusion.  A general of an army, a minister of state; to descend lower, a
+gardener, a weaver, etc.  That may make a fine observation, if you think it
+worth finishing; but I have not time.  Is not this a terrible long piece for
+one evening?  I dined to-day with Patty Rolt at my cousin Leach's,[22] with a
+pox, in the City:  he is a printer, and prints the Postman, oh hoo, and is my
+cousin, God knows how, and he married Mrs. Baby Aires of Leicester; and my
+cousin Thomson was with us:  and my cousin Leach offers to bring me acquainted
+with the author of the Postman;[23] and says he does not doubt but the
+gentleman will be glad of my acquaintance; and that he is a very ingenious
+man, and a great scholar, and has been beyond sea.  But I was modest and said,
+may be the gentleman was shy, and not fond of new acquaintance; and so put it
+off:  and I wish you could hear me repeating all I have said of this in its
+proper tone, just as I am writing it.  It is all with the same cadence with
+"Oh hoo," or as when little girls say, "I have got an apple, miss, and I won't
+give you some."  It is plaguy twelvepenny weather this last week, and has cost
+me ten shillings in coach and chair hire.  If the fellow that has your money
+will pay it, let me beg you to buy Bank Stock with it, which is fallen near
+thirty per cent. and pays eight pounds per cent. and you have the principal
+when you please:  it will certainly soon rise.  I would to God Lady Giffard
+would put in the four hundred pounds she owes you,[24] and take the five per
+cent. common interest, and give you the remainder.  I will speak to your
+mother about it when I see her.  I am resolved to buy three hundred pounds of
+it for myself, and take up what I have in Ireland; and I have a contrivance
+for it, that I hope will do, by making a friend of mine buy it as for himself,
+and I will pay him when I can get in my money.  I hope Stratford will do me
+that kindness.  I'll ask him tomorrow or next day.
+
+27.  Mr. Rowe[25] the poet desired me to dine with him to-day.  I went to his
+office (he is under-secretary in Mr. Addison's place that he had in England),
+and there was Mr. Prior; and they both fell commending my "Shower" beyond
+anything that has been written of the kind:  there never was such a "Shower"
+since Danae's, etc.  You must tell me how it is liked among you.  I dined with
+Rowe; Prior could not come:  and after dinner we went to a blind tavern,[26]
+where Congreve, Sir Richard Temple,[27] Estcourt,[28] and Charles Main,[29]
+were over a bowl of bad punch.  The knight sent for six flasks of his own wine
+for me, and we stayed till twelve.  But now my head continues pretty well; I
+have left off my drinking, and only take a spoonful mixed with water, for fear
+of the gout, or some ugly distemper; and now, because it is late, I will, etc.
+
+28.  Garth and Addison and I dined to-day at a hedge[30] tavern; then I went
+to Mr. Harley, but he was denied, or not at home:  so I fear I shall not hear
+my business is done before this goes.  Then I visited Lord Pembroke,[31] who
+is just come to town; and we were very merry talking of old things; and I hit
+him with one pun.  Then I went to see the Ladies Butler, and the son of a
+whore of a porter denied them:  so I sent them a threatening message by
+another lady, for not excepting me always to the porter.  I was weary of the
+Coffee-house, and Ford[32] desired me to sit with him at next door; which I
+did, like a fool, chatting till twelve, and now am got into bed.  I am afraid
+the new Ministry is at a terrible loss about money:  the Whigs talk so, it
+would give one the spleen; and I am afraid of meeting Mr. Harley out of
+humour.  They think he will never carry through this undertaking.  God knows
+what will come of it.  I should be terribly vexed to see things come round
+again:  it will ruin the Church and clergy for ever; but I hope for better.  I
+will send this on Tuesday, whether I hear any further news of my affair or
+not.
+
+29.  Mr. Addison and I dined to-day with Lord Mountjoy; which is all the
+adventures of this day.--I chatted a while to-night in the Coffee-house, this
+being a full night; and now am come home, to write some business.
+
+30.  I dined to-day at Mrs. Vanhomrigh's, and sent a letter to poor Mrs.
+Long,[33] who writes to us, but is God knows where, and will not tell anybody
+the place of her residence.  I came home early, and must go write.
+
+31.  The month ends with a fine day; and I have been walking, and visiting
+Lewis, and concerting where to see Mr. Harley.  I have no news to send you.
+Aire,[34] they say, is taken, though the Whitehall letters this morning say
+quite the contrary:  'tis good, if it be true.  I dined with Mr. Addison and
+Dick Stewart, Lord Mountjoy's brother;[35] a treat of Addison's.  They were
+half-fuddled, but not I; for I mixed water with my wine, and left them
+together between nine and ten; and I must send this by the bellman, which
+vexes me, but I will put it off no longer.  Pray God it does not miscarry.  I
+seldom do so; but I can put off little MD no longer.  Pray give the under note
+to Mrs. Brent.
+
+I am a pretty gentleman; and you lose all your money at cards, sirrah Stella.
+I found you out; I did so.
+
+I am staying before I can fold up this letter, till that ugly D is dry in the
+last line but one.  Do not you see it?  O Lord, I am loth to leave you, faith-
+-but it must be so, till the next time.  Pox take that D; I will blot it, to
+dry it.
+
+
+
+LETTER 8.
+
+LONDON, Oct. 31, 1710.
+
+So, now I have sent my seventh to your fourth, young women; and now I will
+tell you what I would not in my last, that this morning, sitting in my bed, I
+had a fit of giddiness:  the room turned round for about a minute, and then it
+went off, leaving me sickish, but not very:  and so I passed the day as I told
+you; but I would not end a letter with telling you this, because it might vex
+you:  and I hope in God I shall have no more of it.  I saw Dr. Cockburn[1] to-
+day, and he promises to send me the pills that did me good last year; and
+likewise has promised me an oil for my ear, that he has been making for that
+ailment for somebody else.
+
+Nov. 1.  I wish MD a merry new year.  You know this is the first day of it
+with us.[2]  I had no giddiness to-day; but I drank brandy, and have bought a
+pint for two shillings.  I sat up the night before my giddiness pretty late,
+and writ very much; so I will impute it to that.  But I never eat fruit, nor
+drink ale; but drink better wine than you do, as I did to-day with Mr. Addison
+at Lord Mountjoy's:  then went at five to see Mr. Harley, who could not see me
+for much company; but sent me his excuse, and desired I would dine with him on
+Friday; and then I expect some answer to this business, which must either be
+soon done, or begun again; and then the Duke of Ormond and his people will
+interfere for their honour, and do nothing.  I came home at six, and spent my
+time in my chamber, without going to the Coffee-house, which I grow weary of;
+and I studied at leisure, writ not above forty lines, some inventions of my
+own, and some hints, and read not at all, and this because I would take care
+of Presto, for fear little MD should be angry.
+
+2.  I took my four pills last night, and they lay an hour in my throat, and so
+they will do to-night.  I suppose I could swallow four affronts as easily.  I
+dined with Dr. Cockburn to-day, and came home at seven; but Mr. Ford has been
+with me till just now, and it is near eleven.  I have had no giddiness to-day.
+Mr.  Dopping[3] I have seen; and he tells me coldly, my "Shower" is liked well
+enough; there's your Irish judgment!  I writ this post to the Bishop of
+Clogher.  It is now just a fortnight since I heard from you.  I must have you
+write once a fortnight, and then I will allow for wind and weather.  How goes
+ombre?  Does Mrs. Walls[4] win constantly, as she used to do?  And Mrs.
+Stoyte;[5] I have not thought of her this long time:  how does she?  I find we
+have a cargo of Irish coming for London:  I am sorry for it; but I never go
+near them.  And Tighe is landed; but Mrs. Wesley,[6] they say, is going home
+to her husband, like a fool.  Well, little monkeys mine, I must go write; and
+so goodnight.
+
+3.  I ought to read these letters I write, after I have done; for, looking
+over thus much, I found two or three literal mistakes, which should not be
+when the hand is so bad.  But I hope it does not puzzle little Dingley to
+read, for I think I mend:  but methinks, when I write plain, I do not know
+how, but we are not alone, all the world can see us.  A bad scrawl is so snug,
+it looks like a PMD.[7]  We have scurvy Tatlers of late:  so pray do not
+suspect me.  I have one or two hints I design to send him, and never any more:
+he does not deserve it.  He is governed by his wife most abominably,[8] as bad
+as ----.  I never saw her since I came; nor has he ever made me an invitation:
+either he dares not, or is such a thoughtless Tisdall[9] fellow, that he never
+minds[10] it.  So what care I for his wit? for he is the worst company in the
+world, till he has a bottle of wine in his head.  I cannot write straighter in
+bed, so you must be content.--At night in bed.  Stay, let me see where's this
+letter to MD among these papers?  Oh! here.  Well, I will go on now; but I am
+very busy (smoke the new pen.)  I dined with Mr. Harley to-day, and am invited
+there again on Sunday.  I have now leave to write to the Primate and
+Archbishop of Dublin, that the Queen has granted the First-Fruits; but they
+are to take no notice of it, till a letter is sent them by the Queen's orders
+from Lord Dartmouth, Secretary of State, to signify it.  The bishops are to be
+made a corporation, to dispose of the revenue, etc.; and I shall write to the
+Archbishop of Dublin to-morrow (I have had no giddiness to-day).  I know not
+whether they will have any occasion for me longer to be here; nor can I judge
+till I see what letter the Queen sends to the bishops, and what they will do
+upon it.  If despatch be used, it may be done in six weeks; but I cannot
+judge.  They sent me to-day a new Commission, signed by the Primate and
+Archbishop of Dublin,[11] and promise me letters to the two archbishops here;
+but mine a ---- for it all.  The thing is done, and has been so these ten
+days; though I had only leave to tell it to-day.  I had this day likewise a
+letter from the Bishop of Clogher, who complains of my not writing; and, what
+vexes me, says he knows you have long letters from me every week.  Why do you
+tell him so?  'Tis not right, faith:  but I won't be angry with MD at
+distance.  I writ to him last post, before I had his; and will write again
+soon, since I see he expects it, and that Lord and Lady Mountjoy[12] put him
+off upon me, to give themselves ease.  Lastly, I had this day a letter from a
+certain naughty rogue called MD, and it was N. 5; which I shall not answer to-
+night, I thank you.  No, faith, I have other fish to fry; but to-morrow or
+next day will be time enough.  I have put MD's commissions in a memorandum
+paper.  I think I have done all before, and remember nothing but this to-day
+about glasses and spectacles and spectacle cases.  I have no commission from
+Stella, but the chocolate and handkerchiefs; and those are bought, and I
+expect they will be soon sent.  I have been with, and sent to, Mr. Sterne, two
+or three times to know; but he was not within.  Odds my life, what am I doing?
+I must go write and do business.
+
+4.  I dined to-day at Kensington, with Addison, Steele, etc., came home, and
+writ a short letter to the Archbishop of Dublin, to let him know the Queen has
+granted the thing, etc.  I writ in the Coffee-house, for I stayed at
+Kensington till nine, and am plaguy weary; for Colonel Proud[13] was very ill
+company, and I will never be of a party with him again; and I drank punch, and
+that and ill company has made me hot.
+
+5.  I was with Mr. Harley from dinner to seven this night, and went to the
+Coffee-house, where Dr. Davenant[14] would fain have had me gone and drink a
+bottle of wine at his house hard by, with Dr. Chamberlen,[15] but the puppy
+used so many words, that I was afraid of his company; and though we promised
+to come at eight, I sent a messenger to him, that Chamberlen was going to a
+patient, and therefore we would put it off till another time:  so he, and the
+Comptroller,[16] and I, were prevailed on by Sir Matthew Dudley to go to his
+house, where I stayed till twelve, and left them.  Davenant has been teasing
+me to look over some of his writings that he is going to publish; but the
+rogue is so fond of his own productions, that I hear he will not part with a
+syllable; and he has lately put out a foolish pamphlet, called The Third Part
+of Tom Double; to make his court to the Tories, whom he had left.
+
+6.  I was to-day gambling[17] in the City to see Patty Rolt, who is going to
+Kingston, where she lodges; but, to say the truth, I had a mind for a walk to
+exercise myself, and happened to be disengaged:  for dinners are ten times
+more plentiful with me here than ever, or than in Dublin.  I won't answer your
+letter yet, because I am busy.  I hope to send this before I have another from
+MD:  it would be a sad thing to answer two letters together, as MD does from
+Presto.  But when the two sides are full, away the letter shall go, that is
+certain, like it or not like it; and that will be about three days hence, for
+the answering-night will be a long one.
+
+7.  I dined to-day at Sir Richard Temple's, with Congreve, Vanbrugh,
+Lieutenant-General Farrington,[18] etc.  Vanbrugh, I believe I told you, had a
+long quarrel with me about those verses on his house;[19] but we were very
+civil and cold.  Lady Marlborough used to tease him with them, which had made
+him angry, though he be a good-natured fellow.  It was a Thanksgiving-day,[20]
+and I was at Court, where the Queen passed us by with all Tories about her;
+not one Whig:  Buckingham,[21] Rochester,[22] Leeds,[23] Shrewsbury, Berkeley
+of Stratton, Lord Keeper Harcourt, Mr. Harley, Lord Pembroke, etc.; and I have
+seen her without one Tory.  The Queen made me a curtsey, and said, in a sort
+of familiar way to Presto, "How does MD?"  I considered she was a Queen, and
+so excused her.[24]  I do not miss the Whigs at Court; but have as many
+acquaintance there as formerly.
+
+8.  Here's ado and a clutter!  I must now answer MD's fifth; but first you
+must know I dined at the Portugal Envoy's[25] to-day, with Addison, Vanbrugh,
+Admiral Wager,[26] Sir Richard Temple,[27] Methuen,[28] etc.  I was weary of
+their company, and stole away at five, and came home like a good boy, and
+studied till ten, and had a fire, O ho! and now am in bed.  I have no
+fireplace in my bed-chamber; but 'tis very warm weather when one's in bed.
+Your fine cap,[29] Madam Dingley, is too little, and too hot:  I will have
+that fur taken off; I wish it were far enough; and my old velvet cap is good
+for nothing.  Is it velvet under the fur?  I was feeling, but cannot find:  if
+it be, 'twill do without it else I will face it; but then I must buy new
+velvet:  but may be I may beg a piece.  What shall I do?  Well, now to rogue
+MD's letter.  God be thanked for Stella's eyes mending; and God send it holds;
+but faith you writ too much at a time:  better write less, or write it at ten
+times.  Yes, faith, a long letter in a morning from a dear friend is a dear
+thing.  I smoke a compliment, little mischievous girls, I do so.  But who are
+those WIGGS that think I am turned Tory?  Do you mean Whigs?  Which WIGGS and
+WAT do you mean?  I know nothing of Raymond, and only had one letter from him
+a little after I came here.[Pray remember Morgan.)  Raymond is indeed like to
+have much influence over me in London, and to share much of my conversation.
+I shall, no doubt, introduce him to Harley, and Lord Keeper, and the Secretary
+of State.  The Tatler upon Ithuriel's spear[30] is not mine, madam.  What a
+puzzle there is betwixt you and your judgment!  In general you may be
+sometimes sure of things, as that about STYLE,[31] because it is what I have
+frequently spoken of; but guessing is mine a----, and I defy mankind, if I
+please.  Why, I writ a pamphlet when I was last in London, that you and a
+thousand have seen, and never guessed it to be mine.  Could you have guessed
+the "Shower in Town" to be mine?  How chance you did not see that before your
+last letter went? but I suppose you in Ireland did not think it worth
+mentioning.  Nor am I suspected for the lampoon; only Harley said he smoked
+me; (have I told you so before?) and some others knew it.  'Tis called "The
+Rod of Sid Hamet."  And I have written several other things that I hear
+commended, and nobody suspects me for them; nor you shall not know till I see
+you again.  What do you mean, "That boards near me, that I dine with now and
+then?"  I know no such person:  I do not dine with boarders.  What the pox!
+You know whom I have dined with every day since I left you, better than I do.
+What do you mean, sirrah?  Slids, my ailment has been over these two months
+almost.  Impudence, if you vex me, I will give ten shillings a week for my
+lodging; for I am almost st--k out of this with the sink, and it helps me to
+verses in my "Shower."[32]  Well, Madam Dingley, what say you to the world to
+come?  What ballad?  Why go look, it was not good for much:  have patience
+till I come back:  patience is a gay thing as, etc.  I hear nothing of Lord
+Mountjoy's coming for Ireland.  When is Stella's birthday? in March?  Lord
+bless me, my turn at Christ Church;[33] it is so natural to hear you write
+about that, I believe you have done it a hundred times; it is as fresh in my
+mind, the verger coming to you; and why to you?  Would he have you preach for
+me?  O, pox on your spelling of Latin, Johnsonibus atque, that is the way.
+How did the Dean get that name by the end?  'Twas you betrayed me:  not I,
+faith; I'll not break his head.  Your mother is still in the country, I
+suppose; for she promised to see me when she came to town.  I writ to her four
+days ago, to desire her to break it to Lady Giffard, to put some money for you
+in the Bank, which was then fallen thirty per cent.  Would to God mine had
+been here, I should have gained one hundred pounds, and got as good interest
+as in Ireland, and much securer.  I would fain have borrowed three hundred
+pounds; but money is so scarce here, there is no borrowing, by this fall of
+stocks.  'Tis rising now, and I knew it would:  it fell from one hundred and
+twenty-nine to ninety-six.  I have not heard since from your mother.  Do you
+think I would be so unkind not to see her, that you desire me in a style so
+melancholy?  Mrs. Raymond,[34] you say, is with child:  I am sorry for it; and
+so is, I believe, her husband.  Mr. Harley speaks all the kind things to me in
+the world; and, I believe, would serve me, if I were to stay here; but I
+reckon in time the Duke of Ormond may give me some addition to Laracor.  Why
+should the Whigs think I came to England to leave them?  Sure my journey was
+no secret.  I protest sincerely, I did all I could to hinder it, as the Dean
+can tell you, although now I do not repent it.  But who the Devil cares what
+they think?  Am I under obligations in the least to any of them all?  Rot 'em,
+for ungrateful dogs; I will make them repent their usage before I leave this
+place.  They say here the same thing of my leaving the Whigs; but they own
+they cannot blame me, considering the treatment I have had.  I will take care
+of your spectacles, as I told you before, and of the Bishop of Killala's; but
+I will not write to him, I have not time.  What do you mean by my fourth,
+Madam Dinglibus?  Does not Stella say you have had my fifth, Goody Blunder?
+You frighted me till I looked back.  Well, this is enough for one night.  Pray
+give my humble service to Mrs. Stoyte and her sister, Kate is it, or
+Sarah?[35]  I have forgot her name, faith.  I think I will even (and to Mrs.
+Walls and the Archdeacon) send this to-morrow:  no, faith, that will be in ten
+days from the last.  I will keep it till Saturday, though I write no more.
+But what if a letter from MD should come in the meantime?  Why then I would
+only say, "Madam, I have received your sixth letter; your most humble servant
+to command, Presto"; and so conclude.  Well, now I will write and think a
+little, and so to bed, and dream of MD.
+
+9.  I have my mouth full of water, and was going to spit it out, because I
+reasoned with myself, how could I write when my mouth was full?  Han't you
+done things like that, reasoned wrong at first thinking?  Well, I was to see
+Mr. Lewis this morning, and am to dine a few days hence, as he tells me, with
+Mr. Secretary St. John; and I must contrive to see Harley soon again, to
+hasten this business from the Queen.  I dined to-day at Lord Mountrath's,[36]
+with Lord Mountjoy,[37] etc.; but the wine was not good, so I came away,
+stayed at the Coffee-house till seven, then came home to my fire, the
+maidenhead of my second half-bushel, and am now in bed at eleven, as usual.
+'Tis mighty warm; yet I fear I should catch cold this wet weather, if I sat an
+evening in my room after coming from warm places:  and I must make much of
+myself, because MD is not here to take care of Presto; and I am full of
+business, writing, etc., and do not care for the Coffee-house; and so this
+serves for all together, not to tell it you over and over, as silly people do;
+but Presto is a wiser man, faith, than so, let me tell you, gentlewomen.  See,
+I am got to the third side; but, faith, I will not do that often; but I must
+say something early to-day, till the letter is done, and on Saturday it shall
+go; so I must leave something till to-morrow, till to-morrow and next day.
+
+10.  O Lord, I would this letter was with you with all my heart!  If it should
+miscarry, what a deal would be lost!  I forgot to leave a gap in the last line
+but one for the seal, like a puppy; but I should have allowed for night,
+goodnight; but when I am taking leave, I cannot leave a bit, faith; but I
+fancy the seal will not come there.  I dined to-day at Lady Lucy's, where they
+ran down my "Shower"; and said, "Sid Hamet" was the silliest poem they ever
+read; and told Prior so, whom they thought to be author of it.  Don't you
+wonder I never dined there before?  But I am too busy, and they live too far
+off; and, besides, I do not like women so much as I did.  (MD, you must know,
+are not women.)  I supped to-night at Addison's, with Garth, Steele, and Mr.
+Dopping; and am come home late.  Lewis has sent to me to desire I will dine
+with some company I shall like.  I suppose it is Mr. Secretary St. John's
+appointment.  I had a letter just now from Raymond, who is at Bristol, and
+says he will be at London in a fortnight, and leave his wife behind him; and
+desires any lodging in the house where I am:  but that must not be.  I shall
+not know what to do with him in town:  to be sure, I will not present him to
+any acquaintance of mine; and he will live a delicate life, a parson and a
+perfect stranger!  Paaast twelvvve o'clock,[38] and so good-night, etc.  Oh!
+but I forgot, Jemmy Leigh is come to town; says he has brought Dingley's
+things, and will send them with the first convenience.  My parcel, I hear, is
+not sent yet.  He thinks of going for Ireland in a month, etc.  I cannot write
+tomorrow, because--what, because of the Archbishop; because I will seal my
+letter early; because I am engaged from noon till night; because of many kind
+of things; and yet I will write one or two words to-morrow morning, to keep up
+my journal constant, and at night I will begin my ninth.
+
+11.  Morning by candlelight.  You must know that I am in my nightgown every
+morning between six and seven, and Patrick is forced to ply me fifty times
+before I can get on my nightgown; and so now I will take my leave of my own
+dear MD for this letter, and begin my next when I come home at night.  God
+Almighty bless and protect dearest MD.  Farewell, etc.
+
+This letter's as long as a sermon, faith.
+
+
+
+LETTER 9.
+
+LONDON, Nov. 11, 1710.
+
+I dined to-day, by invitation, with the Secretary of State, Mr. St. John.  Mr.
+Harley came in to us before dinner, and made me his excuses for not dining
+with us, because he was to receive people who came to propose advancing money
+to the Government:  there dined with us only Mr. Lewis, and Dr. Freind[1]
+(that writ "Lord Peterborow's Actions in Spain").  I stayed with them till
+just now between ten and eleven, and was forced again to give my eighth to the
+bellman, which I did with my own hands, rather than keep it till next post.
+The Secretary used me with all the kindness in the world.  Prior came in after
+dinner; and, upon an occasion, he (the Secretary) said, "The best thing I ever
+read is not yours, but Dr. Swift's on Vanbrugh"; which I do not reckon so very
+good neither.[2]  But Prior was damped, until I stuffed him with two or three
+compliments.  I am thinking what a veneration we used to have for Sir William
+Temple, because he might have been Secretary of State at fifty; and here is a
+young fellow, hardly thirty, in that employment.[3]  His father is a man of
+pleasure,[4] that walks the Mall, and frequents St. James's Coffee-house, and
+the chocolate-houses; and the young son is principal Secretary of State.  Is
+there not something very odd in that?  He told me, among other things, that
+Mr. Harley complained he could keep nothing from me, I had the way so much of
+getting into him.  I knew that was a refinement; and so I told him, and it was
+so:  indeed, it is hard to see these great men use me like one who was their
+betters, and the puppies with you in Ireland hardly regarding me:  but there
+are some reasons for all this, which I will tell you when we meet.  At coming
+home, I saw a letter from your mother, in answer to one I sent her two days
+ago.  It seems she is in town; but cannot come out in a morning, just as you
+said; and God knows when I shall be at leisure in an afternoon:  for if I
+should send her a penny-post letter, and afterwards not be able to meet her,
+it would vex me; and, besides, the days are short, and why she cannot come
+early in a morning, before she is wanted, I cannot imagine.  I will desire her
+to let Lady Giffard know that she hears I am in town; and that she would go to
+see me, to inquire after you.  I wonder she will confine herself so much to
+that old beast's humour.  You know I cannot in honour see Lady Giffard, and
+consequently not go into her house.  This I think is enough for the first
+time.
+
+12.  And how could you write with such thin paper?   (I forgot to say this in
+my former.)  Cannot you get thicker?  Why, that's a common caution that
+writing-masters give their scholars; you must have heard it a hundred times.
+'Tis this:
+
+     "If paper be thin,
+      Ink will slip in;
+      But, if it be thick,
+      You may write with a stick."[5]
+
+I had a letter to-day from poor Mrs. Long,[6] giving me an account of her
+present life, obscure in a remote country town, and how easy she is under it.
+Poor creature!  'tis just such an alteration in life, as if Presto should be
+banished from MD, and condemned to converse with Mrs. Raymond.  I dined to-day
+with Ford, Sir Richard Levinge,[7] etc., at a place where they board, hard by.
+I was lazy, and not very well, sitting so long with company yesterday.  I have
+been very busy writing this evening at home, and had a fire:  I am spending my
+second half-bushel of coals; and now am in bed, and 'tis late.
+
+13.  I dined to-day in the City, and then went to christen Will Frankland's[8]
+child; and Lady Falconbridge[9] was one of the godmothers:  this is a daughter
+of Oliver Cromwell, and extremely like him by his pictures that I have seen.
+I stayed till almost eleven, and am now come home and gone to bed.  My
+business in the City was, to thank Stratford for a kindness he has done me,
+which now I will tell you.  I found Bank Stock was fallen thirty-four in the
+hundred, and was mighty desirous to buy it; but I was a little too late for
+the cheapest time, being hindered by business here; for I was so wise to guess
+to a day when it would fall.  My project was this:  I had three hundred pounds
+in Ireland; and so I writ to Mr. Stratford in the City, to desire he would buy
+me three hundred pounds in Bank Stock, and that he should keep the papers, and
+that I would be bound to pay him for them; and, if it should rise or fall, I
+would take my chance, and pay him interest in the meantime.  I showed my
+letter to one or two people who understand those things; and they said money
+was so hard to be got here, that no man would do it for me.  However,
+Stratford, who is the most generous man alive, has done it:  but it costs one
+hundred pounds and a half, that is, ten shillings; so that three hundred
+pounds cost me three hundred pounds and thirty shillings.  This was done about
+a week ago, and I can have five pounds for my bargain already.  Before it
+fell, it was one hundred and thirty pounds; and we are sure it will be the
+same again.  I told you I writ to your mother, to desire that Lady Giffard
+would do the same with what she owes you; but she tells your mother she has no
+money.  I would to God all you had in the world was there.  Whenever you lend
+money, take this rule, to have two people bound, who have both visible
+fortunes; for they will hardly die together; and, when one dies, you fall upon
+the other, and make him add another security:  and if Rathburn (now I have his
+name) pays you in your money, let me know, and I will direct Parvisol
+accordingly:  however, he shall wait on you and know.  So, ladies, enough of
+business for one night.  Paaaaast twelvvve o'clock.  I must only add, that,
+after a long fit of rainy weather, it has been fair two or three days, and is
+this day grown cold and frosty; so that you must give poor little Presto leave
+to have a fire in his chamber morning and evening too; and he will do as much
+for you.
+
+14.  What, has your Chancellor[10] lost his senses, like Will Crowe?[11]  I
+forgot to tell Dingley that I was yesterday at Ludgate, bespeaking the
+spectacles at the great shop there, and shall have them in a day or two.  This
+has been an insipid day.  I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, and came gravely home,
+after just visiting the Coffee-house.  Sir Richard Cox,[12] they say, is sure
+of going over Lord Chancellor, who is as arrant a puppy as ever ate bread:
+but the Duke of Ormond has a natural affection to puppies; which is a thousand
+pities, being none himself.  I have been amusing myself at home till now, and
+in bed bid you good-night.
+
+15.  I have been visiting this morning, but nobody was at home, Secretary St.
+John, Sir Thomas Hanmer,[13] Sir Chancellor Cox-comb, etc.  I attended the
+Duke of Ormond with about fifty other Irish gentlemen at Skinners' Hall, where
+the Londonderry Society laid out three hundred pounds to treat us and his
+Grace with a dinner.  Three great tables with the dessert laid in mighty
+figure.  Sir Richard Levinge and I got discreetly to the head of the second
+table, to avoid the crowd at the first:  but it was so cold, and so confounded
+a noise with the trumpets and hautboys, that I grew weary, and stole away
+before the second course came on; so I can give you no account of it, which is
+a thousand pities.  I called at Ludgate for Dingley's glasses, and shall have
+them in a day or two; and I doubt it will cost me thirty shillings for a
+microscope, but not without Stella's permission; for I remember she is a
+virtuoso.  Shall I buy it or no?  'Tis not the great bulky ones, nor the
+common little ones, to impale a louse (saving your presence) upon a needle's
+point; but of a more exact sort, and clearer to the sight, with all its
+equipage in a little trunk that you may carry in your pocket.  Tell me,
+sirrah, shall I buy it or not for you?   I came home straight, etc.
+
+16.  I dined to-day in the city with Mr. Manley,[14] who invited Mr. Addison
+and me, and some other friends, to his lodging, and entertained us very
+handsomely.  I returned with Mr. Addison, and loitered till nine in the
+Coffee-house, where I am hardly known, by going so seldom.  I am here
+soliciting for Trounce; you know him:  he was gunner in the former yacht, and
+would fain be so in the present one if you remember him, a good, lusty, fresh-
+coloured fellow.  Shall I stay till I get another letter from MD before I
+close up this?  Mr. Addison and I meet a little seldomer than formerly,
+although we are still at bottom as good friends as ever, but differ a little
+about party.
+
+17.  To-day I went to Lewis at the Secretary's office; where I saw and spoke
+to Mr. Harley, who promised, in a few days, to finish the rest of my business.
+I reproached him for putting me on the necessity of minding him of it, and
+rallied him, etc., which he took very well.  I dined to-day with one Mr. Gore,
+elder brother to a young merchant of my acquaintance; and Stratford and my
+other friend merchants dined with us, where I stayed late, drinking claret and
+burgundy; and am just got to bed, and will say no more, but that it now begins
+to be time to have a letter from my own little MD; for the last I had above a
+fortnight ago, and the date was old too.
+
+18.  To-day I dined with Lewis and Prior at an eating-house, but with Lewis's
+wine.  Lewis went away, and Prior and I sat on, where we complimented one
+another for an hour or two upon our mutual wit and poetry.  Coming home at
+seven, a gentleman unknown stopped me in the Pall Mall, and asked my advice;
+said he had been to see the Queen (who was just come to town, and the people
+in waiting would not let him see her; that he had two hundred thousand men
+ready to serve her in the war; that he knew the Queen perfectly well, and had
+an apartment at Court, and if she heard he was there, she would send for him
+immediately; that she owed him two hundred thousand pounds, etc., and he
+desired my opinion, whether he should go try again whether he could see her;
+or because, perhaps, she was weary after her journey, whether he had not
+better stay till to-morrow.  I had a mind to get rid of my companion, and
+begged him of all love to go and wait on her immediately; for that, to my
+knowledge, the Queen would admit him; that this was an affair of great
+importance, and required despatch:  and I instructed him to let me know the
+success of his business, and come to the Smyrna Coffee-house, where I would
+wait for him till midnight; and so ended this adventure.  I would have fain
+given the man half a crown; but was afraid to offer it him, lest he should be
+offended; for, beside his money, he said he had a thousand pounds a year.  I
+came home not early; and so, madams both, goodnight, etc.
+
+19.  I dined to-day with poor Lord Mountjoy, who is ill of the gout; and this
+evening I christened our coffee-man Elliot's[15] child, where the rogue had a
+most noble supper, and Steele and I sat among some scurvy company over a bowl
+of punch; so that I am come home late, young women, and can't stay to write to
+little rogues.
+
+2O.  I loitered at home, and dined with Sir Andrew Fountaine at his lodging,
+and then came home:  a silly day.
+
+21.  I was visiting all this morning, and then went to the Secretary's office,
+and found Mr. Harley, with whom I dined; and Secretary St. John, etc., and
+Harley promised in a very few days to finish what remains of my business.
+Prior was of the company, and we all dine at the Secretary's to-morrow.  I saw
+Stella's mother this morning:  she came early, and we talked an hour.  I wish
+you would propose to Lady Giffard to take the three hundred pounds out of her
+hands, and give her common interest for life, and security that you will pay
+her:  the Bishop of Clogher, or any friend, would be security for you, if you
+gave them counter-security; and it may be argued that it will pass better to
+be in your hands than hers, in case of mortality, etc.  Your mother says, if
+you write, she will second it; and you may write to your mother, and then it
+will come from her.  She tells me Lady Giffard has a mind to see me, by her
+discourse; but I told her what to say, with a vengeance.  She told Lady
+Giffard she was going to see me:  she looks extremely well.  I am writing[16]
+in my bed like a tiger; and so good-night, etc.
+
+22.  I dined with Secretary St. John; and Lord Dartmouth, who is t'other
+Secretary, dined with us, and Lord Orrery[17] and Prior, etc.  Harley called,
+but could not dine with us, and would have had me away while I was at dinner;
+but I did not like the company he was to have.  We stayed till eight, and I
+called at the Coffee-house, and looked where the letters lie; but no letter
+directed for Mr. Presto:  at last I saw a letter to Mr. Addison, and it looked
+like a rogue's hand; so I made the fellow give it me, and opened it before
+him, and saw three letters all for myself:  so, truly, I put them in my
+pocket, and came home to my lodging.  Well, and so you shall hear:  well, and
+so I found one of them in Dingley's hand, and t'other in Stella's, and the
+third in Domville's.[18]  Well, so you shall hear; so, said I to myself, What
+now, two letters from MD together?   But I thought there was something in the
+wind; so I opened one, and I opened t'other; and so you shall hear, one was
+from Walls.  Well, but t'other was from our own dear MD; yes it was.  O faith,
+have you received my seventh, young women, already?   Then I must send this
+to-morrow, else there will be old[19] doings at our house, faith.--Well, I
+won't answer your letter in this:  no, faith, catch me at that, and I never
+saw the like.  Well; but as to Walls, tell him (with service to him and wife,
+etc.) that I have no imagination of Mr. Pratt's[20] losing his place:  and
+while Pratt continues, Clements is in no danger; and I have already engaged
+Lord Hyde[21] he speaks of, for Pratt and twenty others; but, if such a thing
+should happen, I will do what I can.  I have above ten businesses of other
+people's now on my hands, and, I believe, shall miscarry in half.  It is your
+sixth I now have received.  I writ last post to the Bishop of Clogher again.
+Shall I send this to-morrow?  Well, I will, to oblige MD.  Which would you
+rather, a short letter every week, or a long one every fortnight?   A long
+one; well, it shall be done, and so good-night.  Well, but is this a long one?
+No, I warrant you:  too long for naughty girls.
+
+23.  I only ask, have you got both the ten pounds, or only the first; I hope
+you mean both.  Pray be good housewives; and I beg you to walk when you can,
+for health.  Have you the horse in town? and do you ever ride him? how often?
+Confess.  Ahhh, sirrah, have I caught you?  Can you contrive to let Mrs.
+Fenton[22] know, that the request she has made me in her letter I will use
+what credit I have to bring about, although I hear it is very difficult, and I
+doubt I shall not succeed?  Cox is not to be your Chancellor:  all joined
+against him.  I have been supping with Lord Peterborow at his house, with
+Prior, Lewis, and Dr. Freind.  'Tis the ramblingest lying rogue on earth.  Dr.
+Raymond is come to town:  'tis late, and so I bid you good-night.
+
+24.  I tell you, pretty management!  Ned Southwell told me the other day he
+had a letter from the bishops of Ireland, with an address to the Duke of
+Ormond, to intercede with the Queen to take off the First-Fruits.  I dined
+with him to-day, and saw it, with another letter to him from the Bishop of
+Kildare,[23] to call upon me for the papers, etc.; and I had last post one
+from the Archbishop of Dublin, telling me the reason of this proceeding; that,
+upon hearing the Duke of Ormond was declared Lord Lieutenant, they met; and
+the bishops were for this project, and talked coldly of my being solicitor, as
+one that was favoured by t'other party, etc., but desired that I would still
+solicit.[24]  Now the wisdom of this is admirable; for I had given the
+Archbishop an account of my reception from Mr. Harley, and how he had spoken
+to the Queen, and promised it should be done; but Mr. Harley ordered me to
+tell no person alive.  Some time after, he gave me leave to let the Primate
+and Archbishop know that the Queen had remitted the First-Fruits; and that in
+a short time they should have an account of it in form from Lord Dartmouth,
+Secretary of State.  So while their letter was on the road to the Duke of
+Ormond and Southwell, mine was going to them with an account of the thing
+being done.  I writ a very warm answer[25] to the Archbishop immediately; and
+showed my resentments, as I ought, against the bishops; only, in good manners,
+excepting himself.  I wonder what they will say when they hear the thing is
+done.  I was yesterday forced to tell Southwell so, that the Queen had done
+it, etc.; for he said, my Lord Duke would think of it some months hence, when
+he was going for Ireland; and he had it three years in doing formerly, without
+any success.  I give you free leave to say, on occasion, that it is done; and
+that Mr. Harley prevailed on the Queen to do it, etc., as you please.  As I
+hope to live, I despise the credit of it, out of an excess of pride; and
+desire you will not give me the least merit when you talk of it; but I would
+vex the bishops, and have it spread that Mr. Harley had done it:  pray do so.
+Your mother sent me last night a parcel of wax candles, and a bandbox full of
+small plumcakes.  I thought it had been something for you; and, without
+opening them, sent answer by the maid that brought them, that I would take
+care to send the things, etc.; but I will write her thanks.  Is this a long
+letter, sirrahs?   Now, are you satisfied?   I have had no fit since the
+first:  I drink brandy every morning, and take pills every night.  Never fear,
+I an't vexed at this puppy business of the bishops, although I was a little at
+first.  I will tell you my reward:  Mr. Harley will think he has done me a
+favour; the Duke of Ormond, perhaps, that I have put a neglect on him; and the
+bishops in Ireland, that I have done nothing at all.  So goes the world.  But
+I have got above all this, and, perhaps, I have better reason for it than they
+know:  and so you shall hear no more of First-Fruits, dukes, Harleys,
+archbishops, and Southwells.
+
+I have slipped off Raymond upon some of his countrymen, to show him the town,
+etc., and I lend him Patrick.  He desires to sit with me in the evenings; upon
+which I have given Patrick positive orders that I am not within at evenings.
+
+
+
+LETTER 10.
+
+LONDON, Nov. 25, 1710.
+
+I will tell you something that's plaguy silly:  I had forgot to say on the 23d
+in my last, where I dined; and because I had done it constantly, I thought it
+was a great omission, and was going to interline it; but at last the silliness
+of it made me cry, Pshah, and I let it alone.  I was to-day to see the
+Parliament meet; but only saw a great crowd; and Ford and I went to see the
+tombs at Westminster, and sauntered so long I was forced to go to an eating-
+house for my dinner.  Bromley[1] is chosen Speaker, nemine contradicente:  Do
+you understand those two words?   And Pompey, Colonel Hill's[2] black, designs
+to stand Speaker for the footmen.[3]  I am engaged to use my interest for him,
+and have spoken to Patrick to get him some votes.  We are now all impatient
+for the Queen's speech, what she will say about removing the Ministry, etc.  I
+have got a cold, and I don't know how; but got it I have, and am hoarse:  I
+don't know whether it will grow better or worse.  What's that to you?   I
+won't answer your letter to-night.  I'll keep you a little longer in suspense:
+I can't send it.  Your mother's cakes are very good, and one of them serves me
+for a breakfast, and so I'll go sleep like a good boy.
+
+26.  I have got a cruel cold, and stayed within all this day in my nightgown,
+and dined on sixpennyworth of victuals, and read and writ, and was denied to
+everybody.  Dr. Raymond[4] called often, and I was denied; and at last, when I
+was weary, I let him come up, and asked him, without consequence, how Patrick
+denied me, and whether he had the art of it?  So by this means he shall be
+used to have me denied to him; otherwise he would be a plaguy trouble and
+hindrance to me:  he has sat with me two hours, and drank a pint of ale cost
+me fivepence, and smoked his pipe, and it is now past eleven that he is just
+gone.  Well, my eighth is with you now, young women; and your seventh to me is
+somewhere in a post-boy's bag; and so go to your gang of deans, and Stoytes,
+and Walls, and lose your money; go, sauceboxes:  and so good-night, and be
+happy, dear rogues.  Oh, but your box was sent to Dr. Hawkshaw by Sterne, and
+you will have it with Hawkshaw, and spectacles, etc., etc.
+
+27.  To-day Mr. Harley met me in the Court of Requests,[5] and whispered me to
+dine with him.  At dinner I told him what those bishops had done, and the
+difficulty I was under.  He bid me never trouble myself; he would tell the
+Duke of Ormond the business was done, and that he need not concern himself
+about it.  So now I am easy, and they may hang themselves for a parcel of
+insolent, ungrateful rascals.  I suppose I told you in my last, how they sent
+an address to the Duke of Ormond, and a letter to Southwell, to call on me for
+the papers, after the thing was over; but they had not received my letter,
+though the Archbishop might, by what I writ to him, have expected it would be
+done.  Well, there is an end of that; and in a little time the Queen will send
+them notice, etc.  And so the methods will be settled; and then I shall think
+of returning, although the baseness of those bishops makes me love Ireland
+less than I did.
+
+28.  Lord Halifax sent to invite me to dinner; where I stayed till six, and
+crossed him in all his Whig talk, and made him often come over to me.  I know
+he makes court to the new men, although he affects to talk like a Whig.  I had
+a letter to-day from the Bishop of Clogher; but I writ to him lately, that I
+would obey his commands to the Duke of Ormond.  He says I bid him read the
+London "Shaver," and that you both swore it was "Shaver," and not "Shower."[6]
+You all lie, and you are puppies, and can't read Presto's hand.  The Bishop is
+out entirely in his conjectures of my share in the Tatlers.--I have other
+things to mind, and of much greater importance;[7] else I have little to do to
+be acquainted with a new Ministry, who consider me a little more than Irish
+bishops do.
+
+29.  Now for your saucy, good dear letter:  let me see, what does it say? come
+then.  I dined to-day with Ford, and went home early; he debauched[8] me to
+his chamber again with a bottle of wine till twelve:  so good-night.  I cannot
+write an answer now, you rogues.
+
+30.  To-day I have been visiting, which I had long neglected; and I dined with
+Mrs. Barton alone; and sauntered at the Coffee-house till past eight, and have
+been busy till eleven, and now I'll answer your letter, saucebox.  Well, let
+me see now again.  My wax candle's almost out, but however I'll begin.  Well
+then, do not be so tedious, Mr. Presto; what can you say to MD's letter?  Make
+haste, have done with your preambles--Why, I say I am glad you are so often
+abroad; your mother thinks it is want of exercise hurts you, and so do I.
+(She called here to-night, but I was not within, that's by the bye.)  Sure you
+do not deceive me, Stella, when you say you are in better health than you were
+these three weeks; for Dr.  Raymond told me yesterday, that Smyth of the Blind
+Quay had been telling Mr. Leigh that he left you extremely ill; and in short,
+spoke so, that he almost put poor Leigh into tears, and would have made me run
+distracted; though your letter is dated the 11th instant, and I saw Smyth in
+the city above a fortnight ago, as I passed by in a coach.  Pray, pray, don't
+write, Stella, until you are mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty well in your eyes,
+and are sure it won't do you the least hurt.  Or come, I'll tell you what;
+you, Mistress Stella, shall write your share at five or six sittings, one
+sitting a day; and then comes Dingley all together, and then Stella a little
+crumb towards the end, to let us see she remembers Presto; and then conclude
+with something handsome and genteel, as your most humblecumdumble, or, etc.  O
+Lord!  does Patrick write word of my not coming till spring?  Insolent man! he
+know my secrets?  No; as my Lord Mayor said, No; if I thought my shirt knew,
+etc.  Faith, I will come as soon as it is any way proper for me to come; but,
+to say the truth, I am at present a little involved with the present Ministry
+in some certain things (which I tell you as a secret); and soon as ever I can
+clear my hands, I will stay no longer; for I hope the First-Fruit business
+will be soon over in all its forms.  But, to say the truth, the present
+Ministry have a difficult task, and want me, etc.  Perhaps they may be just as
+grateful as others:  but, according to the best judgment I have, they are
+pursuing the true interest of the public; and therefore I am glad to
+contribute what is in my power.  For God's sake, not a word of this to any
+alive.--Your Chancellor?[9]  Why, madam, I can tell you he has been dead this
+fortnight.  Faith, I could hardly forbear our little language about a nasty
+dead Chancellor, as you may see by the blot.[10]  Ploughing?   A pox plough
+them; they'll plough me to nothing.  But have you got your money, both the ten
+pounds?  How durst he pay you the second so soon?   Pray be good huswifes.
+Ay, well, and Joe, why, I had a letter lately from Joe, desiring I would take
+some care of their poor town,[11] who, he says, will lose their liberties.  To
+which I desired Dr. Raymond would return answer, that the town had behaved
+themselves so ill to me, so little regarded the advice I gave them, and
+disagreed so much among themselves, that I was resolved never to have more to
+do with them; but that whatever personal kindness I could do to Joe, should be
+done.  Pray, when you happen to see Joe, tell him this, lest Raymond should
+have blundered or forgotten--Poor Mrs. Wesley!--Why these poligyes[12] for
+being abroad?  Why should you be at home at all, until Stella is quite well?--
+So, here is Mistress Stella again, with her two eggs, etc.  My "Shower"
+admired with you; why, the Bishop of Clogher says, he has seen something of
+mine of the same sort, better than the "Shower."  I suppose he means "The
+Morning";[13] but it is not half so good.  I want your judgment of things, and
+not your country's.  How does MD like it? and do they taste it ALL? etc.  I am
+glad Dean Bolton[14] has paid the twenty pounds.  Why should not I chide the
+Bishop of Clogher for writing to the Archbishop of Cashel,[15] without sending
+the letter first to me?   It does not signify a ----; for he has no credit at
+Court.  Stuff--they are all puppies.  I will break your head in good earnest,
+young woman, for your nasty jest about Mrs. Barton.[16]  Unlucky sluttikin,
+what a word is there!   Faith, I was thinking yesterday, when I was with her,
+whether she could break them or no, and it quite spoilt my imagination.  "Mrs.
+Walls, does Stella win as she pretends?"  "No indeed, Doctor; she loses
+always, and will play so VENTERSOMELY, how can she win?"  See here now; an't
+you an impudent lying slut?  Do, open Domville's letter; what does it signify,
+if you have a mind?  Yes, faith, you write smartly with your eyes shut; all
+was well but the _n_.  See how I can do it; MADAM STELLA, YOUR HUMBLE
+SERVANT.[17]  O, but one may look whether one goes crooked or no, and so write
+on.  I will tell you what you may do; you may write with your eyes half shut,
+just as when one is going to sleep:  I have done so for two or three lines
+now; it is but just seeing enough to go straight.--Now, Madam Dingley, I think
+I bid you tell Mr. Walls that, in case there be occasion, I will serve his
+friend as far as I can; but I hope there will be none.  Yet I believe you will
+have a new Parliament; but I care not whether you have or no a better.  You
+are mistaken in all your conjectures about the Tatlers.  I have given him one
+or two hints, and you have heard me talk about the Shilling.[18]  Faith, these
+answering letters are very long ones:  you have taken up almost the room of a
+week in journals; and I will tell you what, I saw fellows wearing crosses to-
+day,[19] and I wondered what was the matter; but just this minute I recollect
+it is little Presto's birthday; and I was resolved these three days to
+remember it when it came, but could not.  Pray, drink my health to-day at
+dinner; do, you rogues.  Do you like "Sid Hamet's Rod"?   Do you understand it
+all?  Well, now at last I have done with your letter, and so I will lay me
+down to sleep, and about, fair maids; and I hope merry maids all.
+
+Dec. 1.  Morning.  I wish Smyth were hanged.  I was dreaming the most
+melancholy things in the world of poor Stella, and was grieving and crying all
+night.--Pshah, it is foolish:  I will rise and divert myself; so good-morrow;
+and God of His infinite mercy keep and protect you!  The Bishop of Clogher's
+letter is dated Nov. 21.  He says you thought of going with him to Clogher.  I
+am heartily glad of it, and wish you would ride there, and Dingley go in a
+coach.  I have had no fit since my first, although sometimes my head is not
+quite in good order.--At night.  I was this morning to visit Mr. Pratt, who is
+come over with poor, sick Lord Shelburne:  they made me dine with them; and
+there I stayed, like a booby, till eight, looking over them at ombre, and then
+came home.  Lord Shelburne's giddiness is turned into a colic, and he looks
+miserably.
+
+2.  Steele, the rogue, has done the imprudentest thing in the world:  he said
+something in a Tatler,[20] that we ought to use the word Great Britain, and
+not England, in common conversation, as, "The finest lady in Great Britain,"
+etc.  Upon this, Rowe, Prior, and I sent him a letter, turning this into
+ridicule.  He has to-day printed the letter,[21] and signed it J.S., M.P., and
+N.R., the first letters of all our names.  Congreve told me to-day, he smoked
+it immediately.  Congreve and I, and Sir Charles Wager, dined to-day at
+Delaval's, the Portugal Envoy; and I stayed there till eight, and came home,
+and am now writing to you before I do business, because that dog Patrick is
+not at home, and the fire is not made, and I am not in my gear.  Pox take
+him!--I was looking by chance at the top of this side, and find I make plaguy
+mistakes in words; so that you must fence against that as well as bad writing.
+Faith, I can't nor won't read what I have written.  (Pox of this puppy!) Well,
+I'll leave you till I am got to bed, and then I will say a word or two.--Well,
+'tis now almost twelve, and I have been busy ever since, by a fire too (I have
+my coals by half a bushel at a time, I'll assure you), and now I am got to
+bed.  Well, and what have you to say to Presto now he is abed?  Come now, let
+us hear your speeches.  No, 'tis a lie; I an't sleepy yet.  Let us sit up a
+little longer, and talk.  Well, where have you been to-day, that you are but
+just this minute come home in a coach?  What have you lost?  Pay the coachman,
+Stella.  No, faith, not I, he'll grumble.--What new acquaintance have you got?
+come, let us hear.  I have made Delaval promise to send me some Brazil tobacco
+from Portugal for you, Madam Dingley.  I hope you will have your chocolate and
+spectacles before this comes to you.
+
+3.  Pshaw, I must be writing to these dear saucy brats every night, whether I
+will or no, let me have what business I will, or come home ever so late, or be
+ever so sleepy; but an old saying, and a true one,
+
+     "Be you lords, or be you earls,
+      You must write to naughty girls."
+
+I was to-day at Court, and saw Raymond among the Beefeaters, staying to see
+the Queen:  so I put him in a better station, made two or three dozen of bows,
+and went to church, and then to Court again, to pick up a dinner, as I did
+with Sir John Stanley; and then we went to visit Lord Mountjoy, and just now
+left him; and 'tis near eleven at night, young women; and methinks this letter
+comes pretty near to the bottom, and 'tis but eight days since the date, and
+don't think I'll write on the other side, I thank you for nothing.  Faith, if
+I would use you to letters on sheets as broad as this room, you would always
+expect them from me.  O, faith, I know you well enough; but an old saying,
+etc.,
+
+     "Two sides in a sheet,
+      And one in a street."
+
+I think that's but a silly old saying; and so I'll go to sleep, and do you so
+too.
+
+4.  I dined to-day with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, and then came home, and studied till
+eleven.  No adventure at all to-day.
+
+5.  So I went to the Court of Requests (we have had the Devil and all of rain
+by the bye) to pick up a dinner; and Henley made me go dine with him and one
+Colonel Bragg[22] at a tavern; cost me money, faith.  Congreve was to be
+there, but came not.  I came with Henley to the Coffee-house, where Lord
+Salisbury[23] seemed mighty desirous to talk with me; and, while he was
+wriggling himself into my favour, that dog Henley asked me aloud, whether I
+would go to see Lord Somers as I had promised (which was a lie); and all to
+vex poor Lord Salisbury, who is a high Tory.  He played two or three other
+such tricks; and I was forced to leave my lord, and I came home at seven, and
+have been writing ever since, and will now go to bed.  The other day I saw
+Jack Temple[24] in the Court of Requests:  it was the first time of seeing
+him; so we talked two or three careless words, and parted.  Is it true that
+your Recorder and Mayor, and fanatic aldermen, a month or two ago, at a solemn
+feast, drank Mr. Harley's, Lord Rochester's,[25] and other Tory healths?  Let
+me know; it was confidently said here.--The scoundrels!  It shan't do, Tom.
+
+6.  When is this letter to go, I wonder?  harkee, young women, tell me that.
+Saturday next for certain, and not before:  then it will be just a fortnight;
+time enough for naughty girls, and long enough for two letters, faith.
+Congreve and Delaval have at last prevailed on Sir Godfrey Kneller to entreat
+me to let him draw my picture for nothing; but I know not yet when I shall
+sit.[26]--It is such monstrous rainy weather, that there is no doing with it.
+Secretary St. John sent to me this morning, that my dining with him to-day was
+put off till to-morrow; so I peaceably sat with my neighbour Ford, dined with
+him, and came home at six, and am now in bed as usual; and now it is time to
+have another letter from MD, yet I would not have it till this goes; for that
+would look like two letters for one.  Is it not whimsical that the Dean has
+never once written to me?  And I find the Archbishop very silent to that
+letter I sent him with an account that the business was done.  I believe he
+knows not what to write or say; and I have since written twice to him, both
+times with a vengeance.[27]  Well, go to bed, sirrahs, and so will I.  But
+have you lost to-day?  Three shillings!  O fie, O fie!
+
+7.  No, I won't send this letter to-day, nor till Saturday, faith; and I am so
+afraid of one from MD between this and that; if it comes, I will just say I
+received a letter, and that is all.  I dined to-day with Mr. Secretary St.
+John, where were Lord Anglesea,[28] Sir Thomas Hanmer, Prior, Freind, etc.,
+and then made a debauch after nine at Prior's house, and have eaten cold pie,
+and I hate the thoughts of it, and I am full, and I don't like it, and I will
+go to bed, and it is late, and so good-night.
+
+8.  To-day I dined with Mr. Harley and Prior; but Mr. St. John did not come,
+though he promised:  he chid me for not seeing him oftener.  Here is a damned,
+libellous pamphlet come out against Lord Wharton, giving the character first,
+and then telling some of his actions:  the character is very well, but the
+facts indifferent.[29]  It has been sent by dozens to several gentlemen's
+lodgings, and I had one or two of them; but nobody knows the author or
+printer.  We are terribly afraid of the plague; they say it is at
+Newcastle.[30]  I begged Mr. Harley for the love of God to take some care
+about it, or we are all ruined.  There have been orders for all ships from the
+Baltic to pass their quarantine before they land; but they neglect it.  You
+remember I have been afraid these two years.
+
+9.  O, faith, you are a saucy rogue.  I have had your sixth letter just now,
+before this is gone; but I will not answer a word of it, only that I never was
+giddy since my first fit; but I have had a cold just a fortnight, and cough
+with it still morning and evening; but it will go off.  It is, however, such
+abominable weather that no creature can walk.  They say here three of your
+Commissioners will be turned out, Ogle, South, and St. Quintin;[31] and that
+Dick Stewart[32] and Ludlow will be two of the new ones.  I am a little
+soliciting for another:  it is poor Lord Abercorn,[33] but that is a secret; I
+mean, that I befriend him is a secret; but I believe it is too late, by his
+own fault and ill fortune.  I dined with him to-day.  I am heartily sorry you
+do not go to Clogher, faith, I am; and so God Almighty protect poor, dear,
+dear, dear, dearest MD.  Farewell till to-night.  I'll begin my eleventh to-
+night; so I am always writing to little MD.
+
+
+
+LETTER 11.
+
+LONDON, Dec. 9, 1710.
+
+So, young women, I have just sent my tenth to the post-office, and, as I told
+you, have received your seventh (faith, I am afraid I mistook, and said your
+sixth, and then we shall be all in confusion this month.)  Well, I told you I
+dined with Lord Abercorn to-day; and that is enough till by and bye; for I
+must go write idle things, and twittle twattle.[1]  What's here to do with
+your little MD's?  and so I put this by for a while.  'Tis now late, and I can
+only say MD is a dear, saucy rogue, and what then?  Presto loves them the
+better.
+
+10.  This son of a b---- Patrick is out of the way, and I can do nothing; am
+forced to borrow coals:  'tis now six o'clock, and I am come home after a pure
+walk in the park; delicate weather, begun only to-day.  A terrible storm last
+night:  we hear one of your packet-boats is cast away, and young Beau Swift[2]
+in it, and General Sankey:[3]  I know not the truth; you will before me.
+Raymond talks of leaving the town in a few days, and going in a month to
+Ireland, for fear his wife should be too far gone, and forced to be brought to
+bed here.  I think he is in the right; but perhaps this packet-boat will
+fright him.  He has no relish for London; and I do not wonder at it.  He has
+got some Templars from Ireland that show him the town.  I do not let him see
+me above twice a week, and that only while I am dressing in the morning.--So,
+now the puppy's come in, and I have got my own ink, but a new pen; and so now
+you are rogues and sauceboxes till I go to bed; for I must go study, sirrahs.
+Now I think of it, tell the Bishop of Clogher, he shall not cheat me of one
+inch of my bell metal.  You know it is nothing but to save the town money; and
+Enniskillen can afford it better than Laracor:  he shall have but one thousand
+five hundred weight.  I have been reading, etc., as usual, and am now going to
+bed; and I find this day's article is long enough:  so get you gone till to-
+morrow, and then.  I dined with Sir Matthew Dudley.
+
+11.  I am come home again as yesterday, and the puppy had again locked up my
+ink, notwithstanding all I said to him yesterday; but he came home a little
+after me, so all is well:  they are lighting my fire, and I'll go study.  The
+fair weather is gone again, and it has rained all day.  I do not like this
+open weather, though some say it is healthy.  They say it is a false report
+about the plague at Newcastle.[4]  I have no news to-day:  I dined with Mrs.
+Vanhomrigh, to desire them to buy me a scarf; and Lady Abercorn[5] is to buy
+me another, to see who does best:  mine is all in rags.  I saw the Duke of
+Richmond[6] yesterday at Court again, but would not speak to him:  I believe
+we are fallen out.  I am now in bed; and it has rained all this evening, like
+wildfire:  have you so much rain in your town?  Raymond was in a fright, as I
+expected, upon the news of this shipwreck; but I persuaded him, and he leaves
+this town in a week.  I got him acquainted with Sir Robert Raymond,[7] the
+Solicitor-General, who owns him to be of his family; and I believe it may do
+him a kindness, by being recommended to your new Lord Chancellor.--I had a
+letter from Mrs. Long, that has quite turned my stomach against her:  no less
+than two nasty jests in it, with dashes to suppose them.  She is corrupted in
+that country town[8] with vile conversation.--I will not answer your letter
+till I have leisure:  so let this go on as it will, what care I? what cares
+saucy Presto?
+
+12.  I was to-day at the Secretary's office with Lewis, and in came Lord
+Rivers;[9] who took Lewis out and whispered him; and then came up to me to
+desire my acquaintance, etc., so we bowed and complimented a while, and parted
+and I dined with Phil. Savage[10] and his Irish Club, at their boarding-place;
+and, passing an evening scurvily enough, did not come home till eight.  Mr.
+Addison and I hardly meet once a fortnight; his Parliament and my different
+friendships keep us asunder.  Sir Matthew Dudley turned away his butler
+yesterday morning; and at night the poor fellow died suddenly in the streets:
+was not it an odd event?  But what care you?  But then I knew the butler.--
+Why, it seems your packet-boat is not lost:  psha, how silly that is, when I
+had already gone through the forms, and said it was a sad thing, and that I
+was sorry for it!  But when must I answer this letter of our MD's?  Here it
+is, it lies between this paper on t'other side of the leaf:  one of these odd-
+come-shortly's I'll consider, and so good-night.
+
+13.  Morning.  I am to go trapesing with Lady Kerry[11] and Mrs. Pratt[12] to
+see sights all this day:  they engaged me yesterday morning at tea.  You hear
+the havoc making in the army:  Meredith, Maccartney, and Colonel Honeywood[13]
+are obliged to sell their commands at half-value, and leave the army, for
+drinking destruction to the present Ministry, and dressing up a hat on a
+stick, and calling it Harley; then drinking a glass with one hand, and
+discharging a pistol with the other at the maukin,[14] wishing it were Harley
+himself; and a hundred other such pretty tricks, as inflaming their soldiers,
+and foreign Ministers, against the late changes at Court.  Cadogan[15] has had
+a little paring:  his mother[16] told me yesterday he had lost the place of
+Envoy; but I hope they will go no further with him, for he was not at those
+mutinous meetings.--Well, these saucy jades take up so much of my time with
+writing to them in a morning; but, faith, I am glad to see you whenever I can:
+a little snap and away; and so hold your tongue, for I must rise:  not a word,
+for your life.  How nowww?  So, very well; stay till I come home, and then,
+perhaps, you may hear further from me.  And where will you go to-day, for I
+can't be with you for these ladies?  It is a rainy, ugly day.  I'd have you
+send for Walls, and go to the Dean's; but don't play small games when you
+lose.  You'll be ruined by Manilio, Basto, the queen, and two small trumps, in
+red.[17]  I confess 'tis a good hand against the player:  but then there are
+Spadilio, Punto, the king, strong trumps, against you, which, with one trump
+more, are three tricks ten ace:  for, suppose you play your Manilio--Oh,
+silly, how I prate, and can't get away from this MD in a morning!  Go, get you
+gone, dear naughty girls, and let me rise.  There, Patrick locked up my ink
+again the third time last night:  the rogue gets the better of me; but I will
+rise in spite of you, sirrahs.--At night.  Lady Kerry, Mrs. Pratt, Mrs.
+Cadogan,[18] and I, in one coach; Lady Kerry's son[19] and his governor, and
+two gentlemen, in another; maids, and misses and little master (Lord
+Shelburne's[20] children, in a third, all hackneys, set out at ten o'clock
+this morning from Lord Shelburne's house in Piccadilly to the Tower, and saw
+all the sights, lions,[21] etc.; then to Bedlam;[22] then dined at the chop-
+house behind the Exchange; then to Gresham College[23] (but the keeper was not
+at home); and concluded the night at the Puppet-show,[24] whence we came home
+safe at eight, and I left them.  The ladies were all in mobs[25] (how do you
+call it?), undrest; and it was the rainiest day that ever dripped; and I am
+weary; and it is now past eleven.
+
+14.  Stay, I'll answer some of your letter this morning in bed:  let me see;
+come and appear, little letter.  Here I am, says he:  and what say you to Mrs.
+MD this morning fresh and fasting?  Who dares think MD negligent?  I allow
+them a fortnight; and they give it me.  I could fill a letter in a week; but
+it is longer every day; and so I keep it a fortnight, and then 'tis cheaper by
+one half.  I have never been giddy, dear Stella, since that morning:  I have
+taken a whole box of pills, and kecked[26] at them every night, and drank a
+pint of brandy at mornings.--Oh then, you kept Presto's little birthday:[27]
+would to God I had been with you!  I forgot it, as I told you before.
+REdiculous, madam?  I suppose you mean rIdiculous:  let me have no more of
+that; 'tis the author of the Atalantis's[28] spelling.  I have mended it in
+your letter.  And can Stella read this writing without hurting her dear eyes?
+O, faith, I am afraid not.  Have a care of those eyes, pray, pray, pretty
+Stella.--'Tis well enough what you observe, that, if I writ better, perhaps
+you would not read so well, being used to this manner; 'tis an alphabet you
+are used to:  you know such a pot-hook makes a letter; and you know what
+letter, and so and so.--I'll swear he told me so, and that they were long
+letters too; but I told him it was a gasconnade of yours, etc.  I am talking
+of the Bishop of Clogher, how he forgot.  Turn over.[29]  I had not room on
+t'other side to say that, so I did it on this:  I fancy that's a good Irish
+blunder.  Ah, why do not you go down to Clogher, nautinautinautideargirls; I
+dare not say nauti without dear:  O, faith, you govern me.  But, seriously,
+I'm sorry you don't go, as far as I can judge at this distance.  No, we would
+get you another horse; I will make Parvisol get you one.  I always doubted
+that horse of yours:  prythee sell him, and let it be a present to me.  My
+heart aches when I think you ride him.  Order Parvisol to sell him, and that
+you are to return me the money:  I shall never be easy until he is out of your
+hands.  Faith, I have dreamt five or six times of horses stumbling since I had
+your letter.  If he can't sell him, let him run this winter.  Faith, if I was
+near you, I would whip your ---- to some tune, for your grave, saucy answer
+about the Dean and Johnsonibus; I would, young women.  And did the Dean preach
+for me?[30]  Very well.  Why, would they have me stand here and preach to
+them?  No, the Tatler of the Shilling[31] was not mine, more than the hint,
+and two or three general heads for it.  I have much more important business on
+my hands; and, besides, the Ministry hate to think that I should help him, and
+have made reproaches on it; and I frankly told them I would do it no more.
+This is a secret though, Madam Stella.  You win eight shillings? you win eight
+fiddlesticks.  Faith, you say nothing of what you lose, young women.--I hope
+Manley is in no great danger; for Ned Southwell is his friend, and so is Sir
+Thomas Frankland; and his brother John Manley stands up heartily for him.  On
+t'other side, all the gentlemen of Ireland here are furiously against him.
+Now, Mistress Dingley, an't you an impudent slut, to expect a letter next
+packet from Presto, when you confess yourself that you had so lately two
+letters in four days?  Unreasonable baggage!  No, little Dingley, I am always
+in bed by twelve; I mean my candle is out by twelve, and I take great care of
+myself.  Pray let everybody know, upon occasion, that Mr. Harley got the
+First-Fruits from the Queen for the clergy of Ireland, and that nothing
+remains but the forms, etc.  So you say the Dean and you dined at Stoyte's,
+and Mrs. Stoyte was in raptures that I remembered her.  I must do it but
+seldom, or it will take off her rapture. But what now, you saucy sluts? all
+this written in a morning, and I must rise and go abroad.  Pray stay till
+night:  do not think I will squander mornings upon you, pray, good madam.
+Faith, if I go on longer in this trick of writing in the morning, I shall be
+afraid of leaving it off, and think you expect it, and be in awe.  Good-
+morrow, sirrahs, I will rise.--At night.  I went to-day to the Court of
+Requests (I will not answer the rest of your letter yet, that by the way, in
+hopes to dine with Mr. Harley:  but Lord Dupplin,[32] his son-in-law, told me
+he did not dine at home; so I was at a loss, until I met with Mr. Secretary
+St. John, and went home and dined with him, where he told me of a good
+bite.[33]  Lord Rivers told me two days ago, that he was resolved to come
+Sunday fortnight next to hear me preach before the Queen.  I assured him the
+day was not yet fixed, and I knew nothing of it.  To-day the Secretary told me
+that his father, Sir Harry St. John,[34] and Lord Rivers were to be at St.
+James's Church, to hear me preach there; and were assured I was to preach:  so
+there will be another bite; for I know nothing of the matter, but that Mr.
+Harley and St. John are resolved I must preach before the Queen; and the
+Secretary of State has told me he will give me three weeks' warning; but I
+desired to be excused, which he will not.  St. John, "You shall not be
+excused":  however, I hope they will forget it; for if it should happen, all
+the puppies hereabouts will throng to hear me, and expect something wonderful,
+and be plaguily baulked; for I shall preach plain honest stuff.  I stayed with
+St. John till eight, and then came home; and Patrick desired leave to go
+abroad, and by and by comes up the girl to tell me, a gentleman was below in a
+coach, who had a bill to pay me; so I let him come up, and who should it be
+but Mr. Addison and Sam Dopping, to haul me out to supper, where I stayed till
+twelve.  If Patrick had been at home, I should have 'scaped this; for I have
+taught him to deny me almost as well as Mr. Harley's porter.--Where did I
+leave off in MD's letter? let me see.  So, now I have it.  You are pleased to
+say, Madam Dingley, that those who go for England can never tell when to come
+back.  Do you mean this as a reflection upon Presto, madam?  Sauceboxes, I
+will come back as soon as I can, as hope saved,[35] and I hope with some
+advantage, unless all Ministries be alike, as perhaps they may.  I hope
+Hawkshaw is in Dublin before now, and that you have your things, and like your
+spectacles:  if you do not, you shall have better.  I hope Dingley's tobacco
+did not spoil Stella's chocolate, and that all is safe:  pray let me know.
+Mr. Addison and I are different as black and white, and I believe our
+friendship will go off, by this damned business of party:  he cannot bear
+seeing me fall in so with this Ministry:  but I love him still as well as
+ever, though we seldom meet.--Hussy, Stella, you jest about poor Congreve's
+eyes;[36] you do so, hussy; but I'll bang your bones, faith.--Yes, Steele was
+a little while in prison, or at least in a spunging-house, some time before I
+came, but not since.[37]--Pox on your convocations, and your Lamberts;[38]
+they write with a vengeance!  I suppose you think it a piece of affectation in
+me to wish your Irish folks would not like my "Shower,"; but you are mistaken.
+I should be glad to have the general applause there as I have here (though I
+say it); but I have only that of one or two, and therefore I would have none
+at all, but let you all be in the wrong.  I don't know, this is not what I
+would say; but I am so tosticated with supper and stuff, that I can't express
+myself.--What you say of "Sid Hamet" is well enough; that an enemy should like
+it, and a friend not; and that telling the author would make both change their
+opinions.  Why did you not tell Griffyth[39] that you fancied there was
+something in it of my manner; but first spur up his commendation to the
+height, as we served my poor uncle about the sconce that I mended?  Well, I
+desired you to give what I intended for an answer to Mrs. Fenton,[40] to save
+her postage, and myself trouble; and I hope I have done it, if you han't.
+
+15.  Lord, what a long day's writing was yesterday's answer to your letter,
+sirrahs!  I dined to-day with Lewis and Ford, whom I have brought acquainted.
+Lewis told me a pure thing.  I had been hankering with Mr. Harley to save
+Steele his other employment, and have a little mercy on him; and I had been
+saying the same thing to Lewis, who is Mr. Harley's chief favourite.  Lewis
+tells Mr. Harley how kindly I should take it, if he would be reconciled to
+Steele, etc.  Mr. Harley, on my account, falls in with it, and appoints Steele
+a time to let him attend him, which Steele accepts with great submission, but
+never comes, nor sends any excuse.  Whether it was blundering, sullenness,
+insolence, or rancour of party, I cannot tell; but I shall trouble myself no
+more about him.  I believe Addison hindered him out of mere spite, being
+grated[41] to the soul to think he should ever want my help to save his
+friend; yet now he is soliciting me to make another of his friends Queen's
+Secretary at Geneva; and I'll do it if I can; it is poor Pastoral Philips.[42]
+
+16.  O, why did you leave my picture behind you at t'other lodgings?  Forgot
+it?  Well; but pray remember it now, and don't roll it up, d'ye hear; but hang
+it carefully in some part of your room, where chairs and candles and mop-
+sticks won't spoil it, sirrahs.  No, truly, I will not be godfather to Goody
+Walls this bout, and I hope she will have no more.  There will be no quiet nor
+cards for this child.  I hope it will die the day after the christening.  Mr.
+Harley gave me a paper, with an account of the sentence you speak of against
+the lads that defaced the statue,[43] and that Ingoldsby[44] reprieved that
+part of it of standing before the statue.  I hope it was never executed.  We
+have got your Broderick out;[45] Doyne[46] is to succeed him, and Cox[47]
+Doyne.  And so there's an end of your letter; 'tis all answered; and now I
+must go on upon my own stock.  Go on, did I say?  Why, I have written enough;
+but this is too soon to send it yet, young women; faith, I dare not use you to
+it, you'll always expect it; what remains shall be only short journals of a
+day, and so I'll rise for this morning.--At night.  I dined with my opposite
+neighbour, Darteneuf; and I was soliciting this day to present the Bishop of
+Clogher Vice-Chancellor;[48] but it won't do; they are all set against him,
+and the Duke of Ormond, they say, has resolved to dispose of it somewhere
+else.  Well; little saucy rogues, do not stay out too late to-night, because
+it is Saturday night, and young women should come home soon then.
+
+17.  I went to Court to seek a dinner:  but the Queen was not at church, she
+has got a touch of the gout; so the Court was thin, and I went to the Coffee-
+house; and Sir Thomas Frankland and his eldest son and I went and dined with
+his son William.[49]  I talked a great deal to Sir Thomas about Manley; and
+find he is his good friend, and so has Ned Southwell been, and I hope he will
+be safe, though all the Irish folks here are his mortal enemies.  There was a
+devilish bite to-day.  They had it, I know not how, that I was to preach this
+morning at St. James's Church; an abundance went, among the rest Lord Radnor,
+who never is abroad till three in the afternoon.  I walked all the way home
+from Hatton Garden at six, by moonlight, a delicate night.  Raymond called at
+nine, but I was denied; and now I am in bed between eleven and twelve, just
+going to sleep, and dream of my own dear roguish impudent pretty MD.
+
+18.  You will now have short days' works, just a few lines to tell you where I
+am, and what I am doing; only I will keep room for the last day to tell you
+news, if there be any worth sending.  I have been sometimes like to do it at
+the top of my letter, until I remark it would be old before it reached you.  I
+was hunting to dine with Mr. Harley to-day, but could not find him; and so I
+dined with honest Dr. Cockburn, and came home at six, and was taken out to
+next door by Dopping and Ford, to drink bad claret and oranges; and we let
+Raymond come to us, who talks of leaving the town to-morrow, but I believe
+will stay a day or two longer.  It is now late, and I will say no more, but
+end this line with bidding my own dear saucy MD goodnight, etc.
+
+19.  I am come down proud stomach in one instance, for I went to-day to see
+the Duke of Buckingham,[50] but came too late:  then I visited Mrs.
+Barton,[51] and thought to have dined with some of the Ministry; but it
+rained, and Mrs. Vanhomrigh was nigh, and I took the opportunity of paying her
+for a scarf she bought me, and dined there; at four I went to congratulate
+with Lord Shelburne, for the death of poor Lady Shelburne dowager;[52] he was
+at his country house, and returned while I was there, and had not heard of it,
+and he took it very well.  I am now come home before six, and find a packet
+from the Bishop of Clogher, with one enclosed to the Duke of Ormond, which is
+ten days earlier dated than another I had from Parvisol; however, 'tis no
+matter, for the Duke has already disposed of the Vice-Chancellorship to the
+Archbishop of Tuam,[53] and I could not help it, for it is a thing wholly you
+know in the Duke's power; and I find the Bishop has enemies about the Duke.  I
+write this while Patrick is folding up my scarf, and doing up the fire (for I
+keep a fire, it costs me twelvepence a week); and so be quiet till I am gone
+to bed, and then sit down by me a little, and we will talk a few words more.
+Well; now MD is at my bedside; and now what shall we say?  How does Mrs.
+Stoyte?  What had the Dean for supper?  How much did Mrs. Walls win?  Poor
+Lady Shelburne:  well, go get you to bed, sirrahs.
+
+20.  Morning.  I was up this morning early, and shaved by candlelight, and
+write this by the fireside.  Poor Raymond just came in and took his leave of
+me; he is summoned by high order from his wife, but pretends he has had enough
+of London.  I was a little melancholy to part with him; he goes to Bristol,
+where they are to be with his merchant brother, and now thinks of staying till
+May; so she must be brought to bed in England.  He was so easy and manageable,
+that I almost repent I suffered him to see me so seldom.  But he is gone, and
+will save Patrick some lies in a week:  Patrick is grown admirable at it, and
+will make his fortune.  How now, sirrah, must I write in a morning to your
+impudence?
+
+     Stay till night,
+     And then I'll write,
+     In black and white,
+     By candlelight,
+     Of wax so bright,
+     It helps the sight--
+     A bite, a bite!
+
+Marry come up, Mistress Boldface.--At night.  Dr. Raymond came back, and goes
+to-morrow.  I did not come home till eleven, and found him here to take leave
+of me.  I went to the Court of Requests, thinking to find Mr. Harley and dine
+with him, and refused Henley, and everybody, and at last knew not where to go,
+and met Jemmy Leigh by chance, and he was just in the same way, so I dined at
+his lodgings on a beef-steak, and drank your health; then left him and went to
+the tavern with Ben Tooke and Portlack, the Duke of Ormond's secretary,
+drinking nasty white wine till eleven.  I am sick, and ashamed of it, etc.
+
+21.  I met that beast Ferris, Lord Berkeley's[54] steward formerly; I walked
+with him a turn in the Park, and that scoundrel dog is as happy as an emperor,
+has married a wife with a considerable estate in land and houses about this
+town, and lives at his ease at Hammersmith.  See your confounded sect![55]
+Well; I had the same luck to-day with Mr. Harley; 'twas a lovely day, and went
+by water into the City, and dined with Stratford at a merchant's house, and
+walked home with as great a dunce as Ferris, I mean honest Colonel
+Caulfeild,[56] and came home by eight, and now am in bed, and going to sleep
+for a wager, and will send this letter on Saturday, and so; but first I will
+wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and pray God we may never
+keep them asunder again.
+
+22.  Morning.  I am going now to Mr. Harley's levee on purpose to vex him; I
+will say I had no other way of seeing him, etc.  Patrick says it is a dark
+morning, and that the Duke of Argyle[57] is to be knighted to-day; the booby
+means installed at Windsor.  But I must rise, for this is a shaving-day, and
+Patrick says there is a good fire; I wish MD were by it, or I by MD's.--At
+night.  I forgot to tell you, Madam Dingley, that I paid nine shillings for
+your glass and spectacles, of which three were for the Bishop's case:  I am
+sorry I did not buy you such another case; but if you like it, I will bring
+one over with me; pray tell me:  the glass to read was four shillings, the
+spectacles two.  And have you had your chocolate?  Leigh says he sent the
+petticoat by one Mr. Spencer.  Pray have you no further commissions for me?  I
+paid the glass-man but last night, and he would have made me a present of the
+microscope worth thirty shillings, and would have sent it home along with me;
+I thought the deuce was in the man:  he said I could do him more service than
+that was worth, etc.  I refused his present, but promised him all service I
+could do him; and so now I am obliged in honour to recommend him to
+everybody.--At night.  I went to Mr. Harley's levee; he came and asked me what
+I had to do there, and bid me come and dine with him on a family dinner; which
+I did, and it was the first time I ever saw his lady[58] and daughter;[59] at
+five my Lord Keeper[60] came in:  I told Mr. Harley, he had formerly presented
+me to Sir Simon Harcourt, but now must to my Lord Keeper; so he laughed, etc.
+
+23.  Morning.  This letter goes to-night without fail; I hope there is none
+from you yet at the Coffee-house; I will send and see by and by, and let you
+know, and so and so.  Patrick goes to see for a letter:  what will you lay, is
+there one from MD or no?  No, I say; done for sixpence.  Why has the Dean
+never once written to me?  I won sixpence; I won sixpence; there is not one
+letter to Presto.  Good-morrow, dear sirrahs:  Stratford and I dine to-day
+with Lord Mountjoy.  God Almighty preserve and bless you; farewell, etc.
+
+I have been dining at Lord Mountjoy's; and am come to study; our news from
+Spain this post takes off some of our fears.  The Parliament is prorogued to-
+day, or adjourned rather till after the holidays.  Bank Stock is 105, so I may
+get 12 shillings for my bargain already.  Patrick, the puppy, is abroad, and
+how shall I send this letter?  Good-night, little dears both, and be happy;
+and remember your poor Presto, that wants you sadly, as hope saved.  Let me go
+study, naughty girls, and don't keep me at the bottom of the paper.  O, faith,
+if you knew what lies on my hands constantly, you would wonder to see how I
+could write such long letters; but we'll talk of that some other time.  Good-
+night again, and God bless dear MD with His best blessings, yes, yes, and
+Dingley and Stella and me too, etc.
+
+Ask the Bishop of Clogher about the pun I sent him of Lord Stawel's
+brother;[61] it will be a pure bite.  This letter has 199 lines in it, beside
+all postscripts; I had a curiosity to reckon.
+
+There is a long letter for you.
+
+It is longer than a sermon, faith.
+
+I had another letter from Mrs. Fenton, who says you were with her; I hope you
+did not go on purpose.  I will answer her letter soon; it is about some money
+in Lady Giffard's hands.
+
+They say you have had eight packets due to you; so pray, madams, do not blame
+Presto, but the wind.
+
+My humble service to Mrs. Walls and Mrs. Stoyte; I missed the former a good
+while.
+
+
+
+LETTER 12.
+
+LONDON, Dec. 23, 1710.
+
+I have sent my 11th to-night as usual, and begin the dozenth, and I told you I
+dined with Stratford at Lord Mountjoy's, and I will tell you no more at
+present, guess for why; because I am going to mind things, and mighty affairs,
+not your nasty First-Fruits--I let them alone till Mr. Harley gets the Queen's
+letter--but other things of greater moment, that you shall know one day, when
+the ducks have eaten up all the dirt.  So sit still a while just by me, while
+I am studying, and don't say a word, I charge you, and when I am going to bed,
+I will take you along, and talk with you a little while, so there, sit there.-
+-Come then, let us see what we have to say to these saucy brats, that will not
+let us go sleep at past eleven.  Why, I am a little impatient to know how you
+do; but that I take it for a standing maxim, that when you are silent, all is
+pretty well, because that is the way I will deal with you; and if there was
+anything you ought to know now, I would write by the first post, although I
+had written but the day before.  Remember this, young women; and God Almighty
+preserve you both, and make us happy together; and tell me how accompts stand
+between us, that you may be paid long before it is due, not to want.  I will
+return no more money while I stay, so that you need not be in pain to be paid;
+but let me know at least a month before you can want.  Observe this, d'ye
+hear, little dear sirrahs, and love Presto, as Presto loves MD, etc.
+
+24.  You will have a merrier Christmas Eve than we here.  I went up to Court
+before church; and in one of the rooms, there being but little company, a
+fellow in a red coat without a sword came up to me, and, after words of
+course, asked me how the ladies did?  I asked, "What ladies?"  He said, "Mrs.
+Dingley and Mrs. Johnson."  "Very well," said I, "when I heard from them last:
+and pray when came you from thence, sir?"  He said, "I never was in Ireland";
+and just at that word Lord Winchelsea[1] comes up to me, and the man went off:
+as I went out I saw him again, and recollected him, it was Vedeau[2] with a
+pox:  I then went and made my apologies, that my head was full of something I
+had to say to Lord Winchelsea, etc., and I asked after his wife, and so all
+was well; and he inquired after my lodging, because he had some favour to
+desire of me in Ireland, to recommend somebody to somebody, I know not what it
+is.  When I came from church, I went up to Court again, where Sir Edmond
+Bacon[3] told me the bad news from Spain,[4] which you will hear before this
+reaches you; as we have it now, we are undone there, and it was odd to see the
+whole countenances of the Court changed so in two hours.  Lady Mountjoy[5]
+carried me home to dinner, where I stayed not long after, and came home early,
+and now am got into bed, for you must always write to your MD's in bed, that
+is a maxim.
+
+     Mr. White and Mr. Red,
+     Write to MD when abed;
+     Mr. Black and Mr. Brown,
+     Write to MD when you're down;
+     Mr. Oak and Mr. Willow,
+     Write to MD on your pillow.--
+
+What is this? faith, I smell fire; what can it be? this house has a thousand
+stinks in it.  I think to leave it on Thursday, and lodge over the way.
+Faith, I must rise, and look at my chimney, for the smell grows stronger,
+stay--I have been up, and in my room, and found all safe, only a mouse within
+the fender to warm himself, which I could not catch.  I smelt nothing there,
+but now in my bed-chamber I smell it again; I believe I have singed the
+woollen curtain, and that is all, though I cannot smoke it.  Presto is plaguy
+silly to-night, an't he?  Yes, and so he be.  Ay, but if I should wake and see
+fire.  Well; I will venture; so good-night, etc.
+
+25.  Pray, young women, if I write so much as this every day, how will this
+paper hold a fortnight's work, and answer one of yours into the bargain?  You
+never think of this, but let me go on like a simpleton.  I wish you a merry
+Christmas, and many, many a one with poor Presto at some pretty place.  I was
+at church to-day by eight, and received the Sacrament, and came home by ten;
+then went to Court at two:  it was a Collar-day, that is, when the Knights of
+the Garter wear their collars; but the Queen stayed so late at Sacrament, that
+I came back, and dined with my neighbour Ford, because all people dine at home
+on this day.  This is likewise a Collar-day all over England in every house,
+at least where there is BRAWN:  that's very well.--I tell you a good pun; a
+fellow hard by pretends to cure agues, and has set out a sign, and spells it
+EGOES; a gentleman and I observing it, he said, "How does that fellow pretend
+to cure AGUES?"  I said I did not know; but I was sure it was not by a SPELL.
+That is admirable.  And so you asked the Bishop about that pun of Lord
+Stawel's brother.  Bite!  Have I caught you, young women?  Must you pretend to
+ask after roguish puns, and Latin ones too?  Oh but you smoked me, and did not
+ask the Bishop.  Oh but you are a fool, and you did.  I met Vedeau again at
+Court to-day, and I observed he had a sword on; I fancy he was broke, and has
+got a commission, but I never asked him.  Vedeau I think his name is, yet
+Parvisol's man is Vedel, that is true.  Bank Stock will fall like stock-fish
+by this bad news, and two days ago I could have got twelve pounds by my
+bargain; but I do not intend to sell, and in time it will rise.  It is odd
+that my Lord Peterborow foretold this loss two months ago, one night at Mr.
+Harley's, when I was there; he bid us count upon it, that Stanhope would lose
+Spain before Christmas; that he would venture his head upon it, and gave us
+reasons; and though Mr. Harley argued the contrary, he still held to his
+opinion.  I was telling my Lord Angelsea this at Court this morning; and a
+gentleman by said he had heard my Lord Peterborow affirm the same thing.  I
+have heard wise folks say, "An ill tongue may do much."  And 'tis an odd
+saying,
+
+     "Once I guessed right,
+      And I got credit by't;
+      Thrice I guessed wrong,
+      And I kept my credit on."
+
+No, it is you are sorry, not I.
+
+26.  By the Lord Harry, I shall be undone here with Christmas boxes.  The
+rogues of the Coffee-house have raised their tax, everyone giving a crown; and
+I gave mine for shame, besides a great many half-crowns to great men's
+porters, etc.  I went to-day by water into the city, and dined with no less a
+man than the City Printer.[6]  There is an intimacy between us, built upon
+reasons that you shall know when I see you; but the rain caught me within
+twelvepenny length of home.  I called at Mr. Harley's, who was not within,
+dropped my half-crown with his porter, drove to the Coffee-house, where the
+rain kept me till nine.  I had letters to-day from the Archbishop of Dublin
+and Mr. Bernage;[7] the latter sends me a melancholy account of Lady
+Shelburne's[8] death, and his own disappointments, and would gladly be a
+captain; if I can help him, I will.
+
+27.  Morning.  I bespoke a lodging over the way for tomorrow, and the dog let
+it yesterday to another; I gave him no earnest, so it seems he could do it;
+Patrick would have had me give him earnest to bind him; but I would not.  So I
+must go saunter to-day for a lodging somewhere else.  Did you ever see so open
+a winter in England?  We have not had two frosty days; but it pays it off in
+rain:  we have not had three fair days these six weeks.  O, faith, I dreamt
+mightily of MD last night; but so confused, I cannot tell a word.  I have made
+Ford acquainted with Lewis; and to-day we dined together:  in the evening I
+called at one or two neighbours, hoping to spend a Christmas evening; but none
+were at home, they were all gone to be merry with others.  I have often
+observed this, that in merry times everybody is abroad; where the deuce are
+they?  So I went to the Coffee-house, and talked with Mr. Addison an hour, who
+at last remembered to give me two letters, which I cannot answer to-night, nor
+to-morrow neither, I can assure you, young women, count upon that.  I have
+other things to do than to answer naughty girls, an old saying and true,
+
+     Letters from MD's
+     Must not be answered in ten days:
+
+it is but bad rhyme, etc.
+
+28.  To-day I had a message from Sir Thomas Hanmer, to dine with him; the
+famous Dr. Smalridge[9] was of the company, and we sat till six; and I came
+home to my new lodgings in St. Albans Street,[10] where I pay the same rent
+(eight shillings a week) for an apartment two pair of stairs; but I have the
+use of the parlour to receive persons of quality, and I am got into my new
+bed, etc.
+
+29.  Sir Andrew Fountaine has been very ill this week; and sent to me early
+this morning to have prayers, which you know is the last thing.  I found the
+doctors and all in despair about him.  I read prayers to him, found he had
+settled all things; and, when I came out, the nurse asked me whether I thought
+it possible he could live; for the doctors thought not.  I said, I believed he
+would live; for I found the seeds of life in him, which I observe seldom fail
+(and I found them in poor, dearest Stella, when she was ill many years ago);
+and to-night I was with him again, and he was mightily recovered, and I hope
+he will do well, and the doctor approved my reasons; but, if he should die, I
+should come off scurvily.  The Secretary of State (Mr. St. John) sent to me to
+dine with him; Mr. Harley and Lord Peterborow dined there too; and at night
+came Lord Rivers.  Lord Peterborow goes to Vienna in a day or two:  he has
+promised to make me write to him.  Mr. Harley went away at six; but we stayed
+till seven.  I took the Secretary aside, and complained to him of Mr. Harley,
+that he had got the Queen to grant the First-Fruits, promised to bring me to
+her, and get her letter to the bishops of Ireland; but the last part he had
+not done in six weeks, and I was in danger to lose reputation, etc.  He took
+the matter right, desired me to be with him on Sunday morning, and promises me
+to finish the affair in four days; so I shall know in a little time what I
+have to trust to.--It is nine o'clock, and I must go study, you little rogues;
+and so good-night, etc.
+
+30.  Morning.  The weather grows cold, you sauceboxes.  Sir Andrew Fountaine,
+they bring me word, is better.  I will go rise, for my hands are starving
+while I write in bed.  Night.  Now Sir Andrew Fountaine is recovering, he
+desires to be at ease; for I called in the morning to read prayers, but he had
+given orders not to be disturbed.  I have lost a legacy by his living; for he
+told me he had left me a picture and some books, etc.  I called to see my
+quondam neighbour Ford (do you know what quondam is, though?), and he engaged
+me to dine with him; for he always dines at home on Opera-days.  I came home
+at six, writ to the Archbishop, then studied till past eleven, and stole to
+bed, to write to MD these few lines, to let you know I am in good health at
+the present writing hereof, and hope in God MD is so too.  I wonder I never
+write politics to you:  I could make you the profoundest politician in all the
+lane.--Well, but when shall we answer this letter, No. 8 of MD's?  Not till
+next year, faith.  O Lord--bo--but that will be a Monday next.  Cod's-so, is
+it? and so it is:  never saw the like.--I made a pun t'other day to Ben
+Portlack[11] about a pair of drawers.  Poh, said he, that's mine a--- all
+over.  Pray, pray, Dingley, let me go sleep; pray, pray, Stella, let me go
+slumber; and put out my wax-candle.
+
+31.  Morning.  It is now seven, and I have got a fire, but am writing abed in
+my bed-chamber.  'Tis not shaving-day, so I shall be ready early to go before
+church to Mr. St. John; and to-morrow I will answer our MD's letter.
+
+     Would you answer MD's letter,
+     On New Year's Day you'll do it better;
+     For, when the year with MD 'gins,
+     It without MD never lins.
+
+(These proverbs have always old words in them; lins is leave off.)
+
+     But, if on New Year you write nones,
+     MD then will bang your bones.
+
+But Patrick says I must rise.--Night.  I was early this morning with Secretary
+St. John, and gave him a memorial to get the Queen's letter for the First-
+Fruits, who has promised to do it in a very few days.  He told me he had been
+with the Duke of Marlborough, who was lamenting his former wrong steps in
+joining with the Whigs, and said he was worn out with age, fatigues, and
+misfortunes.  I swear it pitied me; and I really think they will not do well
+in too much mortifying that man, although indeed it is his own fault.  He is
+covetous as hell, and ambitious as the Prince of it:  he would fain have been
+General for life, and has broken all endeavours for peace, to keep his
+greatness and get money.  He told the Queen he was neither covetous nor
+ambitious.  She said if she could have conveniently turned about, she would
+have laughed, and could hardly forbear it in his face.  He fell in with all
+the abominable measures of the late Ministry, because they gratified him for
+their own designs.  Yet he has been a successful General, and I hope he will
+continue his command.  O Lord, smoke the politics to MD!  Well; but, if you
+like them, I will scatter a little now and then, and mine are all fresh from
+the chief hands.  Well, I dined with Mr. Harley, and came away at six:  there
+was much company, and I was not merry at all.  Mr. Harley made me read a paper
+of verses of Prior's.  I read them plain, without any fine manner; and Prior
+swore, I should never read any of his again; but he would be revenged, and
+read some of mine as bad.  I excused myself, and said I was famous for reading
+verses the worst in the world; and that everybody snatched them from me when I
+offered to begin.  So we laughed.--Sir Andrew Fountaine still continues ill.
+He is plagued with some sort of bile.
+
+Jan. 1.  Morning.  I wish my dearest, pretty Dingley and Stella a happy New
+Year, and health, and mirth, and good stomachs, and Fr's company.  Faith, I
+did not know how to write Fr.  I wondered what was the matter; but now I
+remember I always write Pdfr.  Patrick wishes me a happy New Year, and desires
+I would rise, for it is a good fire, and faith 'tis cold.  I was so politic
+last night with MD, never saw the like.  Get the Examiners, and read them; the
+last nine or ten are full of the reasons for the late change, and of the
+abuses of the last Ministry; and the great men assure me they are all true.
+They are written by their encouragement and direction.  I must rise and go see
+Sir Andrew Fountaine; but perhaps to-night I may answer MD's letter:  so good-
+morrow, my mistresses all, good-morrow.
+
+     I wish you both a merry New Year,
+     Roast beef, minced pies, and good strong beer,
+     And me a share of your good cheer,
+     That I was there, or you were here;
+     And you're a little saucy dear.
+
+Good-morrow again, dear sirrahs; one cannot rise for your play.--At night.  I
+went this morning to visit Lady Kerry and Lord Shelburne; and they made me
+dine with them.  Sir Andrew Fountaine is better.  And now let us come and see
+what this saucy, dear letter of MD says.  Come out, letter, come out from
+between the sheets; here it is underneath, and it will not come out.  Come out
+again, I say:  so there.  Here it is.  What says Presto to me, pray? says it.
+Come, and let me answer for you to your ladies.  Hold up your head then, like
+a good letter.  There.  Pray, how have you got up with Presto, Madam Stella?
+You write your eighth when you receive mine:  now I write my twelfth when I
+receive your eighth.  Do not you allow for what are upon the road, simpleton?
+What say you to that?  And so you kept Presto's little birthday, I warrant:
+would to God I had been at the health rather than here, where I have no manner
+of pleasure, nothing but eternal business upon my hands.  I shall grow wise in
+time; but no more of that:  only I say Amen with my heart and vitals, that we
+may never be asunder again ten days together while poor Presto lives. --------
+------------------------------------------------ I can't be merry so near any
+splenetic talk; so I made that long line, and now all's well again.  Yes, you
+are a pretending slut, indeed, with your fourth and fifth in the margin, and
+your journal, and everything.  Wind--we saw no wind here, nothing at all
+extraordinary at any time.  We had it once when you had it not.  But an old
+saying and a true:
+
+     "I hate all wind,
+      Before and behind,
+      From cheeks with eyes,
+      Or from blind.----"
+
+Your chimney fall down!  God preserve you.  I suppose you only mean a brick or
+two:  but that's a d--ned lie of your chimney being carried to the next house
+with the wind.  Don't put such things upon us; those matters will not pass
+here:  keep a little to possibilities.  My Lord Hertford[12] would have been
+ashamed of such a stretch.  You should take care of what company you converse
+with:  when one gets that faculty, 'tis hard to break one's self of it.  Jemmy
+Leigh talks of going over; but quando?  I do not know when he will go.  Oh,
+now you have had my ninth, now you are come up with me; marry come up with
+you, indeed.  I know all that business of Lady S----.[13]  Will nobody cut
+that D--y's throat?  Five hundred pounds do you call poor pay for living three
+months the life of a king?  They say she died with grief, partly, being forced
+to appear as a witness in court about some squabble among their servants.--The
+Bishop of Clogher showed you a pamphlet.[14]  Well, but you must not give your
+mind to believe those things; people will say anything.  The Character is here
+reckoned admirable, but most of the facts are trifles.  It was first printed
+privately here; and then some bold cur ventured to do it publicly, and sold
+two thousand in two days:  who the author is must remain uncertain.  Do you
+pretend to know, impudence?  How durst you think so?  Pox on your Parliaments:
+the Archbishop has told me of it; but we do not vouchsafe to know anything of
+it here.  No, no, no more of your giddiness yet; thank you, Stella, for asking
+after it; thank you; God Almighty bless you for your kindness to poor Presto.
+You write to Lady Giffard and your mother upon what I advise when it is too
+late.  But yet I fancy this bad news will bring down stocks so low, that one
+might buy to great advantage.  I design to venture going to see your mother
+some day when Lady Giffard is abroad.  Well, keep your Rathburn[15] and stuff.
+I thought he was to pay in your money upon his houses to be flung down about
+the what do you call it.--Well, Madam Dingley, I sent your enclosed to
+Bristol, but have not heard from Raymond since he went.  Come, come, young
+women, I keep a good fire; it costs me twelvepence a week, and I fear
+something more; vex me, and I will have one in my bed-chamber too.  No, did
+not I tell you but just now, we have no high winds here?  Have you forgot
+already?--Now you're at it again, silly Stella; why does your mother say my
+candles are scandalous?  They are good sixes in the pound, and she said I was
+extravagant enough to burn them by daylight.  I never burn fewer at a time
+than one.  What would people have?  The D---- burst Hawkshaw.  He told me he
+had not the box; and the next day Sterne told me he had sent it a fortnight
+ago.  Patrick could not find him t'other day, but he shall to-morrow.  Dear
+life and heart, do you tease me? does Stella tease Presto?  That palsy-water
+was in the box; it was too big for a packet, and I was afraid of its breaking.
+Leigh was not in town then; or I would not have trusted it to Sterne, whom yet
+I have befriended enough to do me more kindness than that.  I'll never rest
+till you have it, or till it is in a way for you to have it.  Poor dear rogue,
+naughty to think it teases me; how could I ever forgive myself for neglecting
+anything that related to your health?  Sure I were a Devil if I did. ---------
+--------------------------------------------- See how far I am forced to stand
+from Stella, because I am afraid she thinks poor Presto has not been careful
+about her little things; I am sure I bought them immediately according to
+order, and packed them up with my own hands, and sent them to Sterne, and was
+six times with him about sending them away.  I am glad you are pleased with
+your glasses.  I have got another velvet cap; a new one Lord Herbert[16]
+bought and presented me one morning I was at breakfast with him, where he was
+as merry and easy as ever I saw him, yet had received a challenge half an hour
+before, and half an hour after fought a duel.  It was about ten days ago.  You
+are mistaken in your guesses about Tatlers:  I did neither write that on Noses
+nor Religion,[17] nor do I send him of late any hints at all.--Indeed, Stella,
+when I read your letter, I was not uneasy at all; but when I came to answer
+the particulars, and found that you had not received your box, it grated me to
+the heart, because I thought, through your little words, that you imagined I
+had not taken the care I ought.  But there has been some blunder in this
+matter, which I will know to-morrow, and write to Sterne, for fear he should
+not be within.--And pray, pray, Presto, pray now do.--No, Raymond was not
+above four times with me while he stayed, and then only while I was dressing.
+Mrs. Fenton has written me another letter about some money of hers in Lady
+Giffard's hands, that is entrusted to me by my mother, not to come to her
+husband.  I send my letters constantly every fortnight, and, if you will have
+them oftener, you may, but then they will be the shorter.  Pray, let Parvisol
+sell the horse.  I think I spoke to you of it in a former letter:  I am glad
+you are rid of him, and was in pain while I thought you rode him; but, if he
+would buy you another, or anybody else, and that you could be often able to
+ride, why do not you do it?
+
+2.  I went this morning early to the Secretary of State, Mr. St. John; and he
+told me from Mr. Harley that the warrant was now drawn, in order for a patent
+for the First-Fruits:  it must pass through several offices, and take up some
+time, because in things the Queen gives they are always considerate; but that,
+he assures me, 'tis granted and done, and past all dispute, and desires I will
+not be in any pain at all.  I will write again to the Archbishop to-morrow,
+and tell him this, and I desire you will say it on occasion.  From the
+Secretary I went to Mr. Sterne, who said he would write to you to-night; and
+that the box must be at Chester; and that some friend of his goes very soon,
+and will carry it over.  I dined with Mr. Secretary St. John, and at six went
+to Darteneufs house to drink punch with him, and Mr. Addison, and little
+Harrison,[18] a young poet, whose fortune I am making.  Steele was to have
+been there, but came not, nor never did twice, since I knew him, to any
+appointment.  I stayed till past eleven, and am now in bed.  Steele's last
+Tatler came out to-day.  You will see it before this comes to you, and how he
+takes leave of the world.  He never told so much as Mr. Addison of it, who was
+surprised as much as I; but, to say the truth, it was time, for he grew cruel
+dull and dry.  To my knowledge he had several good hints to go upon; but he
+was so lazy and weary of the work that he would not improve them.  I think I
+will send this after[19] to-morrow:  shall I before 'tis full, Dingley?
+
+3.  Lord Peterborow yesterday called me into a barber's shop, and there we
+talked deep politics:  he desired me to dine with him to-day at the Globe in
+the Strand; he said he would show me so clearly how to get Spain, that I could
+not possibly doubt it.  I went to-day accordingly, and saw him among half a
+dozen lawyers and attorneys and hang-dogs, signing of deeds and stuff before
+his journey; for he goes to-morrow to Vienna.  I sat among that scurvy company
+till after four, but heard nothing of Spain; only I find, by what he told me
+before, that he fears he shall do no good in his present journey.[20]  We are
+to be mighty constant correspondents.  So I took my leave of him, and called
+at Sir Andrew Fountaine's, who mends much.  I came home, an't please you, at
+six, and have been studying till now past eleven.
+
+4.  Morning.  Morrow, little dears.  O, faith, I have been dreaming; I was to
+be put in prison.  I do not know why, and I was so afraid of a black dungeon;
+and then all I had been inquiring yesterday of Sir Andrew Fountaine's sickness
+I thought was of poor Stella.  The worst of dreams is, that one wakes just in
+the humour they leave one.  Shall I send this to-day?  With all my heart:  it
+is two days within the fortnight; but may be MD are in haste to have a round
+dozen:  and then how are you come up to me with your eighth, young women?  But
+you indeed ought to write twice slower than I, because there are two of you; I
+own that.  Well then, I will seal up this letter by my morning candle, and
+carry it into the city with me, where I go to dine, and put it into the post-
+office with my own fair hands.  So, let me see whether I have any news to tell
+MD.  They say they will very soon make some inquiries into the corruptions of
+the late Ministry; and they must do it, to justify their turning them out.
+Atterbury,[21] we think, is to be Dean of Christ Church in Oxford; but the
+College would rather have Smalridge--What's all this to you?  What care you
+for Atterburys and Smalridges?  No, you care for nothing but Presto, faith.
+So I will rise, and bid you farewell; yet I am loth to do so, because there is
+a great bit of paper yet to talk upon; but Dingley will have it so:  "Yes,"
+says she, "make your journals shorter, and send them oftener;" and so I will.
+And I have cheated you another way too; for this is clipped paper, and holds
+at least six lines less than the former ones.  I will tell you a good thing I
+said to my Lord Carteret.[22]  "So," says he, "my Lord came up to me, and
+asked me," etc.  "No," said I, "my Lord never did, nor ever can come up to
+you."  We all pun here sometimes.  Lord Carteret set down Prior t'other day in
+his chariot; and Prior thanked him for his CHARITY; that was fit for
+Dilly.[23]  I do not remember I heard one good one from the Ministry; which is
+really a shame.  Henley is gone to the country for Christmas.  The puppy comes
+here without his wife,[24] and keeps no house, and would have me dine with him
+at eating-houses; but I have only done it once, and will do it no more.  He
+had not seen me for some time in the Coffee-house, and asking after me,
+desired Lord Herbert to tell me I was a beast for ever, after the order of
+Melchisedec.  Did you ever read the Scripture?[25]  It is only changing the
+word priest to beast.--I think I am bewitched, to write so much in a morning
+to you, little MD.  Let me go, will you? and I'll come again to-night in a
+fine clean sheet of paper; but I can nor will stay no longer now; no, I won't,
+for all your wheedling:  no, no, look off, do not smile at me, and say, "Pray,
+pray, Presto, write a little more."  Ah! you are a wheedling slut, you be so.
+Nay, but prithee turn about, and let me go, do; 'tis a good girl, and do.  O,
+faith, my morning candle is just out, and I must go now in spite of my teeth;
+for my bed-chamber is dark with curtains, and I am at the wrong side.  So
+farewell, etc. etc.
+
+I am in the dark almost:  I must have another candle, when I am up, to seal
+this; but I will fold it up in the dark, and make what you can of this, for I
+can only see this paper I am writing upon.  Service to Mrs. Walls and Mrs.
+Stoyte.
+
+God Almighty bless you, etc.  What I am doing I can't see; but I will fold it
+up, and not look on it again.
+
+
+
+LETTER 13.
+
+LONDON, Jan. 4, 1710-11.
+
+I was going into the City (where I dined and put my 12th, with my own fair
+hands, into the post-office as I came back, which was not till nine this
+night.  I dined with people that you never heard of, nor is it worth your
+while to know; an authoress and a printer.[1]  I walked home for exercise, and
+at eleven got to bed; and, all the while I was undressing myself, there was I
+speaking monkey things in air, just as if MD had been by, and did not
+recollect myself till I got into bed.  I writ last night to the Archbishop,
+and told him the warrant was drawn for the First-Fruits; and I told him Lord
+Peterborow was set out for his journey to Vienna; but it seems the Lords have
+addressed to have him stay, to be examined about Spanish affairs, upon this
+defeat there, and to know where the fault lay, etc.  So I writ to the
+Archbishop a lie; but I think it was not a sin.
+
+5.  Mr. Secretary St. John sent for me this morning so early, that I was
+forced to go without shaving, which put me quite out of method.  I called at
+Mr. Ford's, and desired him to lend me a shaving; and so made a shift to get
+into order again.  Lord! here is an impertinence:  Sir Andrew Fountaine's
+mother and sister[2] are come above a hundred miles, from Worcester, to see
+him before he died.  They got here but yesterday; and he must have been past
+hopes, or past fears, before they could reach him.  I fell a scolding when I
+heard they were coming; and the people about him wondered at me, and said what
+a mighty content it would be on both sides to die when they were with him!  I
+knew the mother; she is the greatest Overdo[3] upon earth; and the sister,
+they say, is worse; the poor man will relapse again among them.  Here was the
+scoundrel brother always crying in the outer room till Sir Andrew was in
+danger; and the dog was to have all his estate if he died; and it is an
+ignorant, worthless, scoundrel-rake:  and the nurses were comforting him, and
+desiring he would not take on so.  I dined to-day the first time with Ophy
+Butler[4] and his wife; and you supped with the Dean, and lost two-and-twenty
+pence at cards.  And so Mrs. Walls is brought to bed of a girl, who died two
+days after it was christened; and, betwixt you and me, she is not very sorry:
+she loves her ease and diversions too well to be troubled with children.  I
+will go to bed.
+
+6.  Morning.  I went last night to put some coals on my fire after Patrick was
+gone to bed; and there I saw in a closet a poor linnet he has bought to bring
+over to Dingley:  it cost him sixpence, and is as tame as a dormouse.  I
+believe he does not know he is a bird:  where you put him, there he stands,
+and seems to have neither hope nor fear; I suppose in a week he will die of
+the spleen.  Patrick advised with me before he bought him.  I laid fairly
+before him the greatness of the sum, and the rashness of the attempt; showed
+how impossible it was to carry him safe over the salt sea:  but he would not
+take my counsel; and he will repent it.  'Tis very cold this morning in bed;
+and I hear there is a good fire in the room without (what do you call it?),
+the dining-room.  I hope it will be good weather, and so let me rise, sirrahs,
+do so.--At night.  I was this morning to visit the Dean,[5] or Mr. Prolocutor,
+I think you call him, don't you?  Why should not I go to the Dean's as well as
+you?  A little, black man, of pretty near fifty?  Ay, the same.  A good,
+pleasant man?  Ay, the same.  Cunning enough?  Yes.  One that understands his
+own interests?  As well as anybody.  How comes it MD and I don't meet there
+sometimes?  A very good face, and abundance of wit?  Do you know his lady?  O
+Lord! whom do you mean?[6]  I mean Dr. Atterbury, Dean of Carlisle and
+Prolocutor.  Pshaw, Presto, you are a fool:  I thought you had meant our Dean
+of St. Patrick's.--Silly, silly, silly, you are silly, both are silly, every
+kind of thing is silly.  As I walked into the city I was stopped with clusters
+of boys and wenches buzzing about the cake-shops like flies.[7]  There had the
+fools let out their shops two yards forward into the streets, all spread with
+great cakes frothed with sugar, and stuck with streamers of tinsel.  And then
+I went to Bateman's the bookseller, and laid out eight-and-forty shillings for
+books.  I bought three little volumes of Lucian in French for our Stella, and
+so and so.  Then I went to Garraway's[8] to meet Stratford and dine with him;
+but it was an idle day with the merchants, and he was gone to our end of the
+town:  so I dined with Sir Thomas Frankland at the Post Office, and we drank
+your Manley's health.  It was in a newspaper that he was turned out; but
+Secretary St. John told me it was false:  only that newswriter is a plaguy
+Tory.  I have not seen one bit of Christmas merriment.
+
+7.  Morning.  Your new Lord Chancellor[9] sets out to-morrow for Ireland:  I
+never saw him.  He carries over one Trapp[10] a parson as his chaplain, a sort
+of pretender to wit, a second-rate pamphleteer for the cause, whom they pay by
+sending him to Ireland.  I never saw Trapp neither.  I met Tighe[11] and your
+Smyth of Lovet's yesterday by the Exchange.  Tighe and I took no notice of
+each other; but I stopped Smyth, and told him of the box that lies for you at
+Chester, because he says he goes very soon to Ireland, I think this week:  and
+I will send this morning to Sterne, to take measures with Smyth; so good-
+morrow, sirrahs, and let me rise, pray.  I took up this paper when I came in
+at evening, I mean this minute, and then said I, "No, no, indeed, MD, you must
+stay"; and then was laying it aside, but could not for my heart, though I am
+very busy, till I just ask you how you do since morning; by and by we shall
+talk more, so let me leave you:  softly down, little paper, till then; so
+there--now to business; there, I say, get you gone; no, I will not push you
+neither, but hand you on one side--So--Now I am got into bed, I'll talk with
+you.  Mr.  Secretary St. John sent for me this morning in all haste; but I
+would not lose my shaving, for fear of missing church.  I went to Court, which
+is of late always very full; and young Manley and I dined at Sir Matthew
+Dudley's.--I must talk politics.  I protest I am afraid we shall all be
+embroiled with parties.  The Whigs, now they are fallen, are the most
+malicious toads in the world.  We have had now a second misfortune, the loss
+of several Virginia ships.  I fear people will begin to think that nothing
+thrives under this Ministry:  and if the Ministry can once be rendered odious
+to the people, the Parliament may be chosen Whig or Tory as the Queen pleases.
+Then I think our friends press a little too hard on the Duke of Marlborough.
+The country members[12] are violent to have past faults inquired into, and
+they have reason; but I do not observe the Ministry to be very fond of it.  In
+my opinion we have nothing to save us but a Peace; and I am sure we cannot
+have such a one as we hoped; and then the Whigs will bawl what they would have
+done had they continued in power.  I tell the Ministry this as much as I dare;
+and shall venture to say a little more to them, especially about the Duke of
+Marlborough, who, as the Whigs give out, will lay down his command; and I
+question whether ever any wise State laid aside a general who had been
+successful nine years together, whom the enemy so much dread, and his own
+soldiers cannot but believe must always conquer; and you know that in war
+opinion is nine parts in ten.  The Ministry hear me always with appearance of
+regard, and much kindness; but I doubt they let personal quarrels mingle too
+much with their proceedings.  Meantime, they seem to value all this as
+nothing, and are as easy and merry as if they had nothing in their hearts or
+upon their shoulders; like physicians, who endeavour to cure, but feel no
+grief, whatever the patient suffers.--Pshaw, what is all this?   Do you know
+one thing, that I find I can write politics to you much easier than to anybody
+alive?  But I swear my head is full; and I wish I were at Laracor, with dear,
+charming MD, etc.
+
+8.  Morning.  Methinks, young women, I have made a great progress in four
+days, at the bottom of this side already, and no letter yet come from MD (that
+word interlined is morning).  I find I have been writing State affairs to MD.
+How do they relish it?  Why, anything that comes from Presto is welcome;
+though really, to confess the truth, if they had their choice, not to disguise
+the matter, they had rather, etc.  Now, Presto, I must tell you, you grow
+silly, says Stella.  That is but one body's opinion, madam.  I promised to be
+with Mr. Secretary St. John this morning; but I am lazy, and will not go,
+because I had a letter from him yesterday, to desire I would dine there to-
+day.  I shall be chid; but what care I?--Here has been Mrs. South with me,
+just come from Sir Andrew Fountaine, and going to market.  He is still in a
+fever, and may live or die.  His mother and sister are now come up, and in the
+house; so there is a lurry.[13]  I gave Mrs. South half a pistole for a New
+Year's gift.  So good-morrow, dears both, till anon.--At night.  Lord! I have
+been with Mr. Secretary from dinner till eight; and, though I drank wine and
+water, I am so hot!  Lady Stanley[14] came to visit Mrs. St. John,[15] and
+sent up for me to make up a quarrel with Mrs. St. John, whom I never yet saw;
+and do you think that devil of a Secretary would let me go, but kept me by
+main force, though I told him I was in love with his lady, and it was a shame
+to keep back a lover, etc.?  But all would not do; so at last I was forced to
+break away, but never went up, it was then too late; and here I am, and have a
+great deal to do to-night, though it be nine o'clock; but one must say
+something to these naughty MD's, else there will be no quiet.
+
+9.  To-day Ford and I set apart to go into the City to buy books; but we only
+had a scurvy dinner at an alehouse; and he made me go to the tavern and drink
+Florence, four and sixpence a flask; damned wine! so I spent my money, which I
+seldom do, and passed an insipid day, and saw nobody, and it is now ten
+o'clock, and I have nothing to say, but that 'tis a fortnight to-morrow since
+I had a letter from MD; but if I have it time enough to answer here, 'tis well
+enough, otherwise woe betide you, faith.  I will go to the toyman's, here just
+in Pall Mall, and he sells great hugeous battoons;[16] yes, faith, and so he
+does.  Does not he, Dingley?  Yes, faith.  Don't lose your money this
+Christmas.
+
+10.  I must go this morning to Mr. Secretary St. John.  I promised yesterday,
+but failed, so can't write any more till night to poor, dear MD.--At night.
+O, faith, Dingley.  I had company in the morning, and could not go where I
+designed; and I had a basket from Raymond at Bristol, with six bottles of wine
+and a pound of chocolate, and some tobacco to snuff; and he writ under, the
+carriage was paid; but he lied, or I am cheated, or there is a mistake; and he
+has written to me so confusedly about some things, that Lucifer could not
+understand him.  This wine is to be drunk with Harley's brother[17] and Sir
+Robert Raymond, Solicitor-General, in order to recommend the Doctor to your
+new Lord Chancellor, who left this place on Monday; and Raymond says he is
+hasting to Chester, to go with him.--I suppose he leaves his wife behind; for
+when he left London he had no thoughts of stirring till summer.  So I suppose
+he will be with you before this.  Ford came and desired I would dine with him,
+because it was Opera-day; which I did, and sent excuses to Lord Shelburne, who
+had invited me.
+
+11.  I am setting up a new Tatler, little Harrison,[18] whom I have mentioned
+to you.  Others have put him on it, and I encourage him; and he was with me
+this morning and evening, showing me his first, which comes out on Saturday.
+I doubt he will not succeed, for I do not much approve his manner; but the
+scheme is Mr. Secretary St. John's and mine, and would have done well enough
+in good hands.  I recommended him to a printer,[19] whom I sent for, and
+settled the matter between them this evening.  Harrison has just left me, and
+I am tired with correcting his trash.
+
+12.  I was this morning upon some business with Mr. Secretary St. John, and he
+made me promise to dine with him; which otherwise I would have done with Mr.
+Harley, whom I have not been with these ten days.  I cannot but think they
+have mighty difficulties upon them; yet I always find them as easy and
+disengaged as schoolboys on a holiday.  Harley has the procuring of five or
+six millions on his shoulders, and the Whigs will not lend a groat;[20] which
+is the only reason of the fall of stocks:  for they are like Quakers and
+fanatics, that will only deal among themselves, while all others deal
+indifferently with them.  Lady Marlborough offers, if they will let her keep
+her employments, never to come into the Queen's presence.  The Whigs say the
+Duke of Marlborough will serve no more; but I hope and think otherwise.  I
+would to Heaven I were this minute with MD at Dublin; for I am weary of
+politics, that give me such melancholy prospects.
+
+13.  O, faith, I had an ugly giddy fit last night in my chamber, and I have
+got a new box of pills to take, and hope I shall have no more this good while.
+I would not tell you before, because it would vex you, little rogues; but now
+it is over.  I dined to-day with Lord Shelburne; and to-day little Harrison's
+new Tatler came out:  there is not much in it, but I hope he will mend.  You
+must understand that, upon Steele's leaving off, there were two or three scrub
+Tatlers[21] came out, and one of them holds on still, and to-day it advertised
+against Harrison's; and so there must be disputes which are genuine, like the
+strops for razors.[22]  I am afraid the little toad has not the true vein for
+it.  I will tell you a copy of verses.  When Mr. St. John was turned out from
+being Secretary at War, three years ago, he retired to the country:  there he
+was talking of something he would have written over his summer-house, and a
+gentleman gave him these verses--
+
+     From business and the noisy world retired,
+     Nor vexed by love, nor by ambition fired;
+     Gently I wait the call of Charon's boat,
+     Still drinking like a fish, and ------- like a stoat.
+
+He swore to me he could hardly bear the jest; for he pretended to retire like
+a philosopher, though he was but twenty-eight years old:  and I believe the
+thing was true:  for he had been a thorough rake.  I think the three grave
+lines do introduce the last well enough.  Od so, but I will go sleep; I sleep
+early now.
+
+14.  O, faith, young women, I want a letter from MD; 'tis now nineteen days
+since I had the last:  and where have I room to answer it, pray?  I hope I
+shall send this away without any answer at all; for I'll hasten it, and away
+it goes on Tuesday, by which time this side will be full.  I will send it two
+days sooner on purpose out of spite; and the very next day after, you must
+know, your letter will come, and then 'tis too late, and I will so laugh,
+never saw the like!  'Tis spring with us already.  I ate asparagus t'other
+day.  Did you ever see such a frostless winter?  Sir Andrew Fountaine lies
+still extremely ill; it costs him ten guineas a day to doctors, surgeons, and
+apothecaries, and has done so these three weeks.  I dined to-day with Mr.
+Ford; he sometimes chooses to dine at home, and I am content to dine with him;
+and at night I called at the Coffee-house, where I had not been in a week, and
+talked coldly a while with Mr. Addison.  All our friendship and dearness are
+off:  we are civil acquaintance, talk words of course, of when we shall meet,
+and that is all.  I have not been at any house with him these six weeks:
+t'other day we were to have dined together at the Comptroller's;[23] but I
+sent my excuses, being engaged to the Secretary of State.  Is not it odd?
+But I think he has used me ill; and I have used him too well, at least his
+friend Steele.
+
+15.  It has cost me three guineas to-day for a periwig.[24]  I am undone!  It
+was made by a Leicester lad, who married Mr. Worrall's daughter, where my
+mother lodged;[25] so I thought it would be cheap, and especially since he
+lives in the city.  Well, London lickpenny:[26]  I find it true.  I have given
+Harrison hints for another Tatler to-morrow.  The jackanapes wants a right
+taste:  I doubt he won't do.  I dined with my friend Lewis of the Secretary's
+office, and am got home early, because I have much business to do; but before
+I begin, I must needs say something to MD, faith--No, faith, I lie, it is but
+nineteen days to-day since my last from MD.  I have got Mr. Harley to promise
+that whatever changes are made in the Council, the Bishop of Clogher shall not
+be removed, and he has got a memorial accordingly.  I will let the Bishop know
+so much in a post or two.  This is a secret; but I know he has enemies, and
+they shall not be gratified, if they designed any such thing, which perhaps
+they might; for some changes there will be made.  So drink up your claret, and
+be quiet, and do not lose your money.
+
+16.  Morning.  Faith, I will send this letter to-day to shame you, if I han't
+one from MD before night, that's certain.  Won't you grumble for want of the
+third side, pray now?  Yes, I warrant you; yes, yes, you shall have the third,
+you shall so, when you can catch it, some other time; when you be writing
+girls.--O, faith, I think I won't stay till night, but seal up this just now,
+and carry it in my pocket, and whip it into the post-office as I come home at
+evening.  I am going out early this morning.--Patrick's bills for coals and
+candles, etc., come sometimes to three shillings a week; I keep very good
+fires, though the weather be warm.  Ireland will never be happy till you get
+small coal[27] likewise; nothing so easy, so convenient, so cheap, so pretty,
+for lighting a fire.  My service to Mrs. Stoyte and Walls; has she a boy or a
+girl?  A girl, hum; and died in a week, humm; and was poor Stella forced to
+stand for godmother?--Let me know how accompts stand, that you may have your
+money betimes.  There's four months for my lodging, that must be thought on
+too:  and so go dine with Manley, and lose your money, do, extravagant
+sluttikin, but don't fret.--It will be just three weeks when I have the next
+letter, that's to-morrow.  Farewell, dearest beloved MD; and love poor, poor
+Presto, who has not had one happy day since he left you, as hope saved.--It is
+the last sally I will ever make, but I hope it will turn to some account.  I
+have done more for these,[28] and I think they are more honest than the last;
+however, I will not be disappointed.  I would make MD and me easy; and I never
+desired more.--Farewell, etc.  etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 14.
+
+LONDON, Jan. 16, 171O-11.
+
+O faith, young women, I have sent my letter N.13 without one crumb of an
+answer to any of MD's, there's for you now; and yet Presto ben't angry, faith,
+not a bit, only he will begin to be in pain next Irish post, except he sees
+MD's little handwriting in the glass-frame at the bar of St. James's Coffee-
+house, where Presto would never go but for that purpose.  Presto is at home,
+God help him, every night from six till bed-time, and has as little enjoyment
+or pleasure in life at present as anybody in the world, although in full
+favour with all the Ministry.  As hope saved, nothing gives Presto any sort of
+dream of happiness but a letter now and then from his own dearest MD.  I love
+the expectation of it; and when it does not come, I comfort myself that I have
+it yet to be happy with.  Yes, faith, and when I write to MD, I am happy too;
+it is just as if methinks you were here, and I prating to you, and telling you
+where I have been:  "Well," says you, "Presto, come, where have you been to-
+day? come, let's hear now."  And so then I answer:  "Ford and I were visiting
+Mr. Lewis and Mr. Prior; and Prior has given me a fine Plautus; and then Ford
+would have had me dine at his lodgings, and so I would not; and so I dined
+with him at an eating-house, which I have not done five times since I came
+here; and so I came home, after visiting Sir Andrew Fountaine's mother and
+sister, and Sir Andrew Fountaine is mending, though slowly."
+
+17.  I was making, this morning, some general visits, and at twelve I called
+at the Coffee-house for a letter from MD; so the man said he had given it to
+Patrick.  Then I went to the Court of Requests and Treasury, to find Mr.
+Harley, and, after some time spent in mutual reproaches, I promised to dine
+with him.  I stayed there till seven, then called at Sterne's and Leigh's to
+talk about your box, and to have it sent by Smyth.  Sterne says he has been
+making inquiries, and will set things right as soon as possible.  I suppose it
+lies at Chester, at least I hope so, and only wants a lift over to you.  Here
+has little Harrison been to complain that the printer I recommended to him for
+his Tatler is a coxcomb; and yet to see how things will happen; for this very
+printer is my cousin, his name is Dryden Leach;[1] did you never hear of
+Dryden Leach, he that prints the Postman?  He acted Oroonoko;[2] he's in love
+with Miss Cross.[3]--Well, so I came home to read my letter from Stella, but
+the dog Patrick was abroad; at last he came, and I got my letter.  I found
+another hand had superscribed it; when I opened it, I found it written all in
+French, and subscribed Bernage:[4]  faith, I was ready to fling it at
+Patrick's head.  Bernage tells me he had been to desire your recommendation to
+me, to make him a captain; and your cautious answer, that he had as much power
+with me as you, was a notable one; if you were here, I would present you to
+the Ministry as a person of ability.  Bernage should let me know where to
+write to him; this is the second letter I have had without any direction;
+however, I beg I may not have a third, but that you will ask him, and send me
+how I shall direct to him.  In the meantime, tell him that if regiments are to
+be raised here, as he says, I will speak to George Granville,[5] Secretary at
+War, to make him a captain; and use what other interest I conveniently can.  I
+think that is enough, and so tell him, and do not trouble me with his letters,
+when I expect them from MD; do you hear, young women? write to Presto.
+
+18.  I was this morning with Mr. Secretary St. John, and we were to dine at
+Mr. Harley's alone, about some business of importance; but there were two or
+three gentlemen there.  Mr. Secretary and I went together from his office to
+Mr. Harley's, and thought to have been very wise; but the deuce a bit, the
+company stayed, and more came, and Harley went away at seven, and the
+Secretary and I stayed with the rest of the company till eleven; I would then
+have had him come away; but he was in for't; and though he swore he would come
+away at that flask, there I left him.  I wonder at the civility of these
+people; when he saw I would drink no more, he would always pass the bottle by
+me, and yet I could not keep the toad from drinking himself, nor he would not
+let me go neither, nor Masham,[6] who was with us.  When I got home, I found a
+parcel directed to me; and opening it, I found a pamphlet written entirely
+against myself, not by name, but against something I writ:[7] it is pretty
+civil, and affects to be so, and I think I will take no notice of it; 'tis
+against something written very lately; and indeed I know not what to say, nor
+do I care.  And so you are a saucy rogue for losing your money to-day at
+Stoyte's; to let that bungler beat you, fie, Stella, an't you ashamed?  Well,
+I forgive you this once, never do so again; no, noooo.  Kiss and be friends,
+sirrah.--Come, let me go sleep, I go earlier to bed than formerly; and have
+not been out so late these two months; but the Secretary was in a drinking
+humour.  So good-night, myownlittledearsaucyinsolentrogues.
+
+19.  Then you read that long word in the last line; no,[8] faith, han't you.
+Well, when will this letter come from our MD? to-morrow or next day without
+fail; yes, faith, and so it is coming.  This was an insipid snowy day, no
+walking day, and I dined gravely with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, and came home, and am
+now got to bed a little after ten; I remember old Culpepper's maxim:
+
+     "Would you have a settled head,
+      You must early go to bed:
+      I tell you, and I tell't again,
+      You must be in bed at ten."
+
+2O.  And so I went to-day with my new wig, o hoao, to visit Lady Worsley,[9]
+whom I had not seen before, although she was near a month in town.  Then I
+walked in the Park to find Mr. Ford, whom I had promised to meet; and coming
+down the Mall, who should come towards me but Patrick, and gives me five
+letters out of his pocket.  I read the superscription of the first, "Pshoh,"
+said I; of the second, "Pshoh" again; of the third, "Pshah, pshah, pshah"; of
+the fourth, "A gad, a gad, a gad, I'm in a rage"; of the fifth and last, "O
+hoooa; ay marry this is something, this is our MD"; so truly we opened it, I
+think immediately, and it began the most impudently in the world, thus:  "Dear
+Presto, We are even thus far."  "Now we are even," quoth Stephen, when he gave
+his wife six blows for one.  I received your ninth four days after I had sent
+my thirteenth.  But I'll reckon with you anon about that, young women.  Why
+did not you recant at the end of your letter, when you got my eleventh, tell
+me that, huzzies base? were we even then, were we, sirrah?  But I won't answer
+your letter now, I'll keep it for another time.  We had a great deal of snow
+to-day, and 'tis terrible cold.  I dined with Ford, because it was his Opera-
+day and snowed, so I did not care to stir farther.  I will send tomorrow to
+Smyth.
+
+21.  Morning.  It has snowed terribly all night, and is vengeance cold.  I am
+not yet up, but cannot write long; my hands will freeze.  "Is there a good
+fire, Patrick?"  "Yes, sir."  "Then I will rise; come, take away the candle."
+You must know I write on the dark side of my bed-chamber, and am forced to
+have a candle till I rise, for the bed stands between me and the window, and I
+keep the curtains shut this cold weather.  So pray let me rise; and Patrick,
+here, take away the candle.--At night.  We are now here in high frost and
+snow, the largest fire can hardly keep us warm.  It is very ugly walking; a
+baker's boy broke his thigh yesterday.  I walk slow, make short steps, and
+never tread on my heel.  'Tis a good proverb the Devonshire people have:
+
+     "Walk fast in snow,
+      In frost walk slow;
+      And still as you go,
+      Tread on your toe.
+   When frost and snow are both together,
+   Sit by the fire, and spare shoe-leather."
+
+I dined to-day with Dr. Cockburn,[10] but will not do so again in haste, he
+has generally such a parcel of Scots with him.
+
+22.  Morning.  Starving, starving, uth, uth, uth, uth, uth.--Don't you
+remember I used to come into your chamber, and turn Stella out of her chair,
+and rake up the fire in a cold morning, and cry Uth, uth, uth? etc.  O, faith,
+I must rise, my hand is so cold I can write no more.  So good-morrow,
+sirrahs.--At night.  I went this morning to Lady Giffard's house, and saw your
+mother, and made her give me a pint bottle of palsy-water,[11] which I brought
+home in my pocket; and sealed and tied up in a paper, and sent it to Mr.
+Smyth, who goes to-morrow for Ireland, and sent a letter to him to desire his
+care of it, and that he would inquire at Chester about the box.  He was not
+within:  so the bottle and letter were left for him at his lodgings, with
+strict orders to give them to him; and I will send Patrick in a day or two, to
+know whether it was given, etc.  Dr. Stratford[12] and I dined to-day with Mr.
+Stratford[13] in the City, by appointment; but I chose to walk there, for
+exercise in the frost.  But the weather had given a little, as you women call
+it, so it was something slobbery.  I did not get home till nine.
+
+     And now I'm in bed,
+     To break your head.
+
+23.  Morning.  They tell me it freezes again, but it is not so cold as
+yesterday:  so now I will answer a bit of your letter.--At night.  O, faith, I
+was just going to answer some of our MD's letter this morning, when a printer
+came in about some business, and stayed an hour; so I rose, and then came in
+Ben Tooke, and then I shaved and scribbled; and it was such a terrible day, I
+could not stir out till one, and then I called at Mrs. Barton's, and we went
+to Lady Worsley's, where we were to dine by appointment.  The Earl of
+Berkeley[14] is going to be married to Lady Louisa Lennox, the Duke of
+Richmond's daughter.  I writ this night to Dean Sterne, and bid him tell you
+all about the bottle of palsy-water by Smyth; and to-morrow morning I will say
+something to your letter.
+
+24.  Morning.  Come now to your letter.  As for your being even with me, I
+have spoken to that already.  So now, my dearly beloved, let us proceed to the
+next.  You are always grumbling that you han't letters fast enough; "surely we
+shall have your tenth;" and yet, before you end your letter, you own you have
+my eleventh.--And why did not MD go into the country with the Bishop of
+Clogher? faith, such a journey would have done you good; Stella should have
+rode, and Dingley gone in the coach.  The Bishop of Kilmore[15] I know nothing
+of; he is old, and may die; he lives in some obscure corner, for I never heard
+of him.  As for my old friends, if you mean the Whigs, I never see them, as
+you may find by my journals, except Lord Halifax, and him very seldom; Lord
+Somers never since the first visit, for he has been a false, deceitful
+rascal.[16]  My new friends are very kind, and I have promises enough, but I
+do not count upon them, and besides my pretences are very young to them.
+However, we will see what may be done; and if nothing at all, I shall not be
+disappointed; although perhaps poor MD may, and then I shall be sorrier for
+their sakes than my own.--Talk of a merry Christmas (why do you write it so
+then, young women? sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander), I have wished
+you all that two or three letters ago.  Good lack; and your news, that Mr. St.
+John is going to Holland; he has no such thoughts, to quit the great station
+he is in; nor, if he had, could I be spared to go with him.  So, faith,
+politic Madam Stella, you come with your two eggs a penny, etc.  Well, Madam
+Dingley, and so Mrs. Stoyte invites you, and so you stay at Donnybrook, and so
+you could not write.  You are plaguy exact in your journals, from Dec. 25 to
+Jan. 4.  Well, Smyth and the palsy-water I have handled already, and he does
+not lodge (or rather did not, for, poor man, now he is gone) at Mr. Jesse's,
+and all that stuff; but we found his lodging, and I went to Stella's mother on
+my own head, for I never remembered it was in the letter to desire another
+bottle; but I was so fretted, so tosticated, and so impatient that Stella
+should have her water (I mean decently, do not be rogues), and so vexed with
+Sterne's carelessness.--Pray God, Stella's illness may not return!  If they
+come seldom, they begin to be weary; I judge by myself; for when I seldom
+visit, I grow weary of my acquaintance.--Leave a good deal of my tenth
+unanswered!  Impudent slut, when did you ever answer my tenth, or ninth, or
+any other number? or who desires you to answer, provided you write?  I defy
+the D---- to answer my letters:  sometimes there may be one or two things I
+should be glad you would answer; but I forget them, and you never think of
+them.  I shall never love answering letters again, if you talk of answering.
+Answering, quotha! pretty answerers truly.--As for the pamphlet you speak of,
+and call it scandalous, and that one Mr. Presto is said to write it, hear my
+answer.  Fie, child, you must not mind what every idle body tells you--I
+believe you lie, and that the dogs were not crying it when you said so; come,
+tell truth.  I am sorry you go to St. Mary's[17] so soon, you will be as poor
+as rats; that place will drain you with a vengeance:  besides, I would have
+you think of being in the country in summer.  Indeed, Stella, pippins produced
+plentifully; Parvisol could not send from Laracor:  there were about half a
+score, I would be glad to know whether they were good for anything.--Mrs.
+Walls at Donnybrook with you; why is not she brought to bed?  Well, well,
+well, Dingley, pray be satisfied; you talk as if you were angry about the
+Bishop's not offering you conveniences for the journey; and so he should.--
+What sort of Christmas?  Why, I have had no Christmas at all; and has it
+really been Christmas of late?  I never once thought of it.  My service to
+Mrs. Stoyte, and Catherine; and let Catherine get the coffee ready against I
+come, and not have so much care on her countenance; for all will go well.--Mr.
+Bernage, Mr. Bernage, Mr. Fiddlenage, I have had three letters from him now
+successively; he sends no directions, and how the D---- shall I write to him?
+I would have burnt his last, if I had not seen Stella's hand at the bottom:
+his request is all nonsense.  How can I assist him in buying? and if he be
+ordered to go to Spain, go he must, or else sell, and I believe one can hardly
+sell in such a juncture.  If he had stayed, and new regiments raised, I would
+have used my endeavour to have had him removed; although I have no credit that
+way, or very little:  but, if the regiment goes, he ought to go too; he has
+had great indulgence, and opportunities of saving; and I have urged him to it
+a hundred times.  What can I do? whenever it lies in my power to do him a good
+office, I will do it.  Pray draw up this into a handsome speech, and represent
+it to him from me, and that I would write, if I knew where to direct to him;
+and so I have told you, and desired you would tell him, fifty times.  Yes,
+Madam Stella, I think I can read your long concluding word, but you can't read
+mine after bidding you good-night.  And yet methinks, I mend extremely in my
+writing; but when Stella's eyes are well, I hope to write as bad as ever.--So
+now I have answered your letter, and mine is an answer; for I lay yours before
+me, and I look and write, and write and look, and look and write again.--So
+good-morrow, madams both, and I will go rise, for I must rise; for I take
+pills at night, and so I must rise early, I don't know why.
+
+25.  Morning.  I did not tell you how I passed my time yesterday, nor bid you
+good-night, and there was good reason.  I went in the morning to Secretary St.
+John about some business; he had got a great Whig with him; a creature of the
+Duke of Marlborough, who is a go-between to make peace between the Duke and
+the Ministry:  so he came out of his closet, and, after a few words, desired I
+would dine with him at three; but Mr. Lewis stayed till six before he came;
+and there we sat talking, and the time slipped so, that at last, when I was
+positive to go, it was past two o'clock; so I came home, and went straight to
+bed.  He would never let me look at his watch, and I could not imagine it
+above twelve when we went away.  So I bid you good-night for last night, and
+now I bid you good-morrow, and I am still in bed, though it be near ten, but I
+must rise.
+
+26, 27, 28, 29, 3O.  I have been so lazy and negligent these last four days
+that I could not write to MD.  My head is not in order, and yet is not
+absolutely ill, but giddyish, and makes me listless; I walk every day, and
+take drops of Dr. Cockburn, and I have just done a box of pills; and to-day
+Lady Kerry sent me some of her bitter drink, which I design to take twice a
+day, and hope I shall grow better.  I wish I were with MD; I long for spring
+and good weather, and then I will come over.  My riding in Ireland keeps me
+well.  I am very temperate, and eat of the easiest meats as I am directed, and
+hope the malignity will go off; but one fit shakes me a long time.  I dined
+to-day with Lord Mountjoy, yesterday at Mr. Stone's, in the City, on Sunday at
+Vanhomrigh's, Saturday with Ford, and Friday I think at Vanhomrigh's; and that
+is all the journal I can send MD, for I was so lazy while I was well, that I
+could not write.  I thought to have sent this to-night, but 'tis ten, and I'll
+go to bed, and write on t'other side to Parvisol to-morrow, and send it on
+Thursday; and so good-night, my dears; and love Presto, and be healthy, and
+Presto will be so too, etc.
+
+Cut off these notes handsomely, d'ye hear, sirrahs, and give Mrs. Brent hers,
+and keep yours till you see Parvisol, and then make up the letter to him, and
+send it him by the first opportunity; and so God Almighty bless you both, here
+and ever, and poor Presto.
+
+What, I warrant you thought at first that these last lines were another
+letter.
+
+Dingley, Pray pay Stella six fishes, and place them to the account of your
+humble servant, Presto.
+
+Stella, Pray pay Dingley six fishes, and place them to the account of your
+humble servant, Presto.
+
+There are bills of exchange for you.
+
+
+
+LETTER 15.
+
+LONDON, Jan. 31, 1710-11.
+
+I am to send you my fourteenth to-morrow; but my head, having some little
+disorders, confounds all my journals.  I was early this morning with Mr.
+Secretary St. John about some business, so I could not scribble my morning
+lines to MD.  They are here intending to tax all little printed penny papers a
+halfpenny every half-sheet, which will utterly ruin Grub Street, and I am
+endeavouring to prevent it.[1]  Besides, I was forwarding an impeachment
+against a certain great person; that was two of my businesses with the
+Secretary, were they not worthy ones?  It was Ford's birthday, and I refused
+the Secretary, and dined with Ford.  We are here in as smart a frost for the
+time as I have seen; delicate walking weather, and the Canal and Rosamond's
+Pond[2] full of the rabble sliding and with skates, if you know what those
+are.  Patrick's bird's water freezes in the gallipot, and my hands in bed.
+
+Feb. 1.  I was this morning with poor Lady Kerry, who is much worse in her
+head than I.  She sends me bottles of her bitter; and we are so fond of one
+another, because our ailments are the same; don't you know that, Madam Stella?
+Han't I seen you conning ailments with Joe's wife,[3] and some others, sirrah?
+I walked into the City to dine, because of the walk, for we must take care of
+Presto's health, you know, because of poor little MD.  But I walked plaguy
+carefully, for fear of sliding against my will; but I am very busy.
+
+2.  This morning Mr. Ford came to me to walk into the City, where he had
+business, and then to buy books at Bateman's; and I laid out one pound five
+shillings for a Strabo and Aristophanes, and I have now got books enough to
+make me another shelf, and I will have more, or it shall cost me a fall; and
+so as we came back, we drank a flask of right French wine at Ben Tooke's
+chamber; and when I got home, Mrs. Vanhomrigh sent me word her eldest
+daughter[4] was taken suddenly very ill, and desired I would come and see her.
+I went, and found it was a silly trick of Mrs. Armstrong,[5] Lady Lucy's
+sister, who, with Moll Stanhope, was visiting there:  however, I rattled off
+the daughter.
+
+3.  To-day I went and dined at Lady Lucy's, where you know I have not been
+this long time.  They are plaguy Whigs, especially the sister Armstrong, the
+most insupportable of all women, pretending to wit, without any taste.  She
+was running down the last Examiner,[6] the prettiest I had read, with a
+character of the present Ministry.--I left them at five, and came home.  But I
+forgot to tell you, that this morning my cousin Dryden Leach, the printer,
+came to me with a heavy complaint, that Harrison the new Tatler had turned him
+off, and taken the last Tatler's printers again.  He vowed revenge; I answered
+gravely, and so he left me, and I have ordered Patrick to deny me to him from
+henceforth:  and at night comes a letter from Harrison, telling me the same
+thing, and excused his doing it without my notice, because he would bear all
+the blame; and in his Tatler of this day[7] he tells you the story, how he has
+taken his old officers, and there is a most humble letter from Morphew and
+Lillie to beg his pardon, etc.[8]  And lastly, this morning Ford sent me two
+letters from the Coffee-house (where I hardly ever go), one from the
+Archbishop of Dublin, and t'other from--Who do you think t'other was from?--
+I'll tell you, because you are friends; why, then it was, faith, it was from
+my own dear little MD, N.10.  Oh, but will not answer it now, no, noooooh,
+I'll keep it between the two sheets; here it is, just under; oh, I lifted up
+the sheet and saw it there:  lie still, you shan't be answered yet, little
+letter; for I must go to bed, and take care of my head.
+
+4.  I avoid going to church yet, for fear of my head, though it has been much
+better these last five or six days, since I have taken Lady Kerry's bitter.
+Our frost holds like a dragon.  I went to Mr. Addison's, and dined with him at
+his lodgings; I had not seen him these three weeks, we are grown common
+acquaintance; yet what have not I done for his friend Steele?  Mr. Harley
+reproached me the last time I saw him, that to please me he would be
+reconciled to Steele, and had promised and appointed to see him, and that
+Steele never came.  Harrison, whom Mr. Addison recommended to me, I have
+introduced to the Secretary of State, who has promised me to take care of him;
+and I have represented Addison himself so to the Ministry, that they think and
+talk in his favour, though they hated him before.--Well, he is now in my debt,
+and there's an end; and I never had the least obligation to him, and there's
+another end.  This evening I had a message from Mr. Harley, desiring to know
+whether I was alive, and that I would dine with him to-morrow.  They dine so
+late, that since my head has been wrong I have avoided being with them.--
+Patrick has been out of favour these ten days; I talk dry and cross to him,
+and have called him "friend" three or four times.  But, sirrahs, get you gone.
+
+5.  Morning.  I am going this morning to see Prior, who dines with me at Mr.
+Harley's; so I can't stay fiddling and talking with dear little brats in a
+morning, and 'tis still terribly cold.--I wish my cold hand was in the warmest
+place about you, young women, I'd give ten guineas upon that account with all
+my heart, faith; oh, it starves my thigh; so I'll rise and bid you good-
+morrow, my ladies both, good-morrow.  Come, stand away, let me rise:  Patrick,
+take away the candle.  Is there a good fire?--So--up-a-dazy.--At night.  Mr.
+Harley did not sit down till six, and I stayed till eleven; henceforth I will
+choose to visit him in the evenings, and dine with him no more if I can help
+it.  It breaks all my measures, and hurts my health; my head is disorderly,
+but not ill, and I hope it will mend.
+
+6.  Here has been such a hurry with the Queen's Birthday, so much fine
+clothes, and the Court so crowded that I did not go there.  All the frost is
+gone.  It thawed on Sunday, and so continues, yet ice is still on the Canal (I
+did not mean that of Laracor, but St. James's Park) and boys sliding on it.
+Mr. Ford pressed me to dine with him in his chamber.--Did not I tell you
+Patrick has got a bird, a linnet, to carry over to Dingley?  It was very tame
+at first, and 'tis now the wildest I ever saw.  He keeps it in a closet, where
+it makes a terrible litter; but I say nothing:  I am as tame as a clout.  When
+must we answer our MD's letter?  One of these odd-come-shortlies.  This is a
+week old, you see, and no farther yet.  Mr. Harley desired I would dine with
+him again to-day; but I refused him, for I fell out with him yesterday,[9] and
+will not see him again till he makes me amends:  and so I go to bed.
+
+7.  I was this morning early with Mr. Lewis of the Secretary's office, and saw
+a letter Mr. Harley had sent to him, desiring to be reconciled; but I was deaf
+to all entreaties, and have desired Lewis to go to him, and let him know I
+expect further satisfaction.  If we let these great Ministers pretend too
+much, there will be no governing them.  He promises to make me easy, if I will
+but come and see him; but I won't, and he shall do it by message, or I will
+cast him off.  I'll tell you the cause of our quarrel when I see you, and
+refer it to yourselves.  In that he did something, which he intended for a
+favour; and I have taken it quite otherwise, disliking both the thing and the
+manner, and it has heartily vexed me, and all I have said is truth, though it
+looks like jest; and I absolutely refused to submit to his intended favour,
+and expect further satisfaction.  Mr. Ford and I dined with Mr. Lewis.  We
+have a monstrous deal of snow, and it has cost me two shillings to-day in
+chair and coach, and walked till I was dirty besides.  I know not what it is
+now to read or write after I am in bed.  The last thing I do up is to write
+something to our MD, and then get into bed, and put out my candle, and so go
+sleep as fast as ever I can.  But in the mornings I do write sometimes in bed,
+as you know.
+
+8.  Morning.  I HAVE DESIRED APRONIA TO BE ALWAYS CAREFUL, ESPECIALLY ABOUT
+THE LEGS.  Pray, do you see any such great wit in that sentence?  I must
+freely own that I do not.  But party carries everything nowadays, and what a
+splutter have I heard about the wit of that saying, repeated with admiration
+above a hundred times in half an hour!  Pray read it over again this moment,
+and consider it.  I think the word is ADVISED, and not DESIRED.  I should not
+have remembered it if I had not heard it so often.  Why--ay--You must know I
+dreamed it just now, and waked with it in my mouth.  Are you bit, or are you
+not, sirrahs?  I met Mr. Harley in the Court of Requests, and he asked me how
+long I had learnt the trick of writing to myself?  He had seen your letter
+through the glass case at the Coffee-house, and would swear it was my hand;
+and Mr. Ford, who took and sent it me, was of the same mind.  I remember
+others have formerly said so too.  I think I was little MD's writing-
+master.[10]--But come, what is here to do, writing to young women in a
+morning?  I have other fish to fry; so good-morrow, my ladies all, good-
+morrow.  Perhaps I'll answer your letter to-night, perhaps I won't; that's as
+saucy little Presto takes the humour.--At night.  I walked in the Park to-day
+in spite of the weather, as I do always when it does not actually rain.  Do
+you know what it has gone and done?  We had a thaw for three days, then a
+monstrous dirt and snow, and now it freezes, like a pot-lid, upon our snow.  I
+dined with Lady Betty Germaine, the first time since I came for England; and
+there did I sit, like a booby, till eight, looking over her and another lady
+at piquet, when I had other business enough to do.  It was the coldest day I
+felt this year.
+
+9.  Morning.  After I had been abed an hour last night, I was forced to rise
+and call to the landlady and maid to have the fire removed in a chimney below
+stairs, which made my bed-chamber smoke, though I had no fire in it.  I have
+been twice served so.  I never lay so miserable an hour in my life.  Is it not
+plaguy vexatious?--It has snowed all night, and rains this morning.--Come,
+where's MD's letter?  Come, Mrs. Letter, make your appearance.  Here am I,
+says she, answer me to my face.--O, faith, I am sorry you had my twelfth so
+soon; I doubt you will stay longer for the rest.  I'm so 'fraid you have got
+my fourteenth while I am writing this; and I would always have one letter from
+Presto reading, one travelling, and one writing.  As for the box, I now
+believe it lost.  It is directed for Mr. Curry, at his house in Capel Street,
+etc.  I had a letter yesterday from Dr. Raymond in Chester, who says he sent
+his man everywhere, and cannot find it; and  God knows whether Mr. Smyth will
+have better success.  Sterne spoke to him, and I writ to him with the bottle
+of palsy-water; that bottle, I hope, will not miscarry:  I long to hear you
+have it.  O, faith, you have too good an opinion of Presto's care.  I am
+negligent enough of everything but MD, and I should not have trusted Sterne.--
+But it shall not go so:  I will have one more tug for it.--As to what you say
+of Goodman Peasly and Isaac,[11] I answer as I did before.  Fie, child, you
+must not give yourself the way to believe any such thing:  and afterwards,
+only for curiosity, you may tell me how these things are approved, and how you
+like them; and whether they instruct you in the present course of affairs, and
+whether they are printed in your town, or only sent from hence.--Sir Andrew
+Fountaine is recovered; so take your sorrow again, but don't keep it, fling it
+to the dogs.  And does little MD walk indeed?--I'm glad of it at heart.--Yes,
+we have done with the plague here:  it was very saucy in you to pretend to
+have it before your betters.  Your intelligence that the story is false about
+the officers forced to sell,[12] is admirable.  You may see them all three
+here every day, no more in the army than you.  Twelve shillings for mending
+the strong box; that is, for putting a farthing's worth of iron on a hinge,
+and gilding it; give him six shillings, and I'll pay it, and never employ him
+or his again.--No indeed, I put off preaching as much as I can.  I am upon
+another foot:  nobody doubts here whether I can preach, and you are fools.--
+The account you give of that weekly paper[13] agrees with us here.  Mr. Prior
+was like to be insulted in the street for being supposed the author of it; but
+one of the last papers cleared him.  Nobody knows who it is, but those few in
+the secret, I suppose the Ministry and the printer.--Poor Stella's eyes!  God
+bless them, and send them better.  Pray spare them, and write not above two
+lines a day in broad daylight.  How does Stella look, Madam Dingley?  Pretty
+well, a handsome young woman still.  Will she pass in a crowd?  Will she make
+a figure in a country church?--Stay a little, fair ladies.  I this minute sent
+Patrick to Sterne:  he brings back word that your box is very safe with one
+Mr. Earl's sister in Chester, and that Colonel Edgworth's widow[14] goes for
+Ireland on Monday next, and will receive the box at Chester, and deliver it
+you safe:  so there are some hopes now.--Well, let us go on to your letter.--
+The warrant is passed for the First-Fruits.  The Queen does not send a letter;
+but a patent will be drawn here, and that will take up time.  Mr. Harley of
+late has said nothing of presenting me to the Queen:  I was overseen[15] when
+I mentioned it to you.  He has such a weight of affairs on him, that he cannot
+mind all; but he talked of it three or four times to me, long before I dropped
+it to you.  What, is not Mrs. Walls' business over yet?  I had hopes she was
+up and well, and the child dead before this time.--You did right, at last, to
+send me your accompts; but I did not stay for them, I thank you.  I hope you
+have your bill sent in my last, and there will be eight pounds' interest soon
+due from Hawkshaw:  pray look at his bond.  I hope you are good managers; and
+that, when I say so, Stella won't think I intend she should grudge herself
+wine.  But going to those expensive lodgings requires some fund.  I wish you
+had stayed till I came over, for some reasons.  That Frenchwoman[16] will be
+grumbling again in a little time:  and if you are invited anywhere to the
+country, it will vex you to pay in absence; and the country may be necessary
+for poor Stella's health:  but do as you like, and do not blame Presto.--Oh,
+but you are telling your reasons.--Well, I have read them; do as you please.--
+Yes, Raymond says he must stay longer than he thought, because he cannot
+settle his affairs.  M---- is in the country at some friend's, comes to town
+in spring, and then goes to settle in Herefordshire.  Her husband is a surly,
+ill-natured brute, and cares not she should see anybody.  O Lord, see how I
+blundered, and left two lines short; it was that ugly score in the paper[17]
+that made me mistake.--I believe you lie about the story of the fire, only to
+make it more odd.  Bernage must go to Spain; and I will see to recommend him
+to the Duke of Argyle, his General, when I see the Duke next:  but the
+officers tell me it would be dishonourable in the last degree for him to sell
+now, and he would never be preferred in the army; so that, unless he designs
+to leave it for good and all, he must go.  Tell him so, and that I would write
+if I knew where to direct to him; which I have said fourscore times already.
+I had rather anything almost than that you should strain yourselves to send a
+letter when it is inconvenient; we have settled that matter already.  I'll
+write when I can, and so shall MD; and upon occasions extraordinary I will
+write, though it be a line; and when we have not letters soon, we agree that
+all things are well; and so that's settled for ever, and so hold your tongue.-
+-Well, you shall have your pins; but for candles' ends, I cannot promise,
+because I burn them to the stumps; besides, I remember what Stella told
+Dingley about them many years ago, and she may think the same thing of me.--
+And Dingley shall have her hinged spectacles.--Poor dear Stella, how durst you
+write those two lines by candlelight? bang your bones!  Faith, this letter
+shall go to-morrow, I think, and that will be in ten days from the last, young
+women; that's too soon of all conscience:  but answering yours has filled it
+up so quick, and I do not design to use you to three pages in folio, no,
+nooooh.  All this is one morning's work in bed;--and so good-morrow, little
+sirrahs; that's for the rhyme.[18]  You want politics:  faith, I can't think
+of any; but may be at night I may tell you a passage.  Come, sit off the bed,
+and let me rise, will you?--At night.  I dined to-day with my neighbour
+Vanhomrigh; it was such dismal weather I could not stir further.  I have had
+some threatenings with my head, but no fits.  I still drink Dr.
+Radcliffe's[19] bitter, and will continue it.
+
+10.  I was this morning to see the Secretary of State, and have engaged him to
+give a memorial from me to the Duke of Argyle in behalf of Bernage.  The Duke
+is a man that distinguishes people of merit, and I will speak to him myself;
+but the Secretary backing it will be very effectual, and I will take care to
+have it done to purpose.  Pray tell Bernage so, and that I think nothing can
+be luckier for him, and that I would have him go by all means.  I will order
+it that the Duke shall send for him when they are in Spain; or, if he fails,
+that he shall receive him kindly when he goes to wait on him.  Can I do more?
+Is not this a great deal?--I now send away this letter, that you may not
+stay.--I dined with Ford upon his Opera-day, and am now come home, and am
+going to study; do not you presume to guess, sirrahs, impudent saucy dear
+boxes.  Towards the end of a letter I could not say saucy boxes without
+putting dear between.  An't that right now?  Farewell.  THIS should BE longer,
+BUT that _I_ send IT to-night.[20]
+
+O silly, silly loggerhead!
+
+I send a letter this post to one Mr. Staunton, and I direct it to Mr. Acton's
+in St. Michael's Lane.  He formerly lodged there, but he has not told me where
+to direct.  Pray send to that Acton, whether[21] the letter is come there, and
+whether he has sent it to Staunton.
+
+If Bernage designs to sell his commission and stay at home, pray let him tell
+me so, that my recommendation to the Duke of Argyle may not be in vain.
+
+
+
+LETTER 16.
+
+LONDON, Feb. 10, 1710-11.
+
+I have just despatched my fifteenth to the post; I tell you how things will
+be, after I have got a letter from MD.  I am in furious haste to finish mine,
+for fear of having two of MD's to answer in one of Presto's, which would be
+such a disgrace, never saw the like; but, before you write to me, I write at
+my leisure, like a gentleman, a little every day, just to let you know how
+matters go, and so and so; and I hope before this comes to you, you'll have
+got your box and chocolate, and Presto will take more care another time.
+
+11.  Morning.  I must rise and go see my Lord Keeper,[1] which will cost me
+two shillings in coach-hire.  Don't you call them two thirteens?[2]--At night.
+It has rained all day, and there was no walking.  I read prayers to Sir Andrew
+Fountaine in the forenoon, and I dined with three Irishmen, at one Mr.
+Cope's[3] lodgings; the other two were one Morris an archdeacon,[4] and Mr.
+Ford.  When I came home this evening, I expected that little jackanapes
+Harrison would have come to get help about his Tatler for Tuesday:  I have
+fixed two evenings in the week which I allow him to come.  The toad never
+came, and I expecting him fell a reading, and left off other business.--Come,
+what are you doing?  How do you pass your time this ugly weather?  Gaming and
+drinking, I suppose:  fine diversions for young ladies, truly!  I wish you had
+some of our Seville oranges, and we some of your wine.  We have the finest
+oranges for twopence apiece, and the basest wine for six shillings a bottle.
+They tell me wine grows cheap with you.  I am resolved to have half a hogshead
+when I get to Ireland, if it be good and cheap, as it used to be; and I will
+treat MD at my table in an evening, oh hoa, and laugh at great Ministers of
+State.
+
+12.  The days are grown fine and long, ----- be thanked.  O, faith, you forget
+all our little sayings, and I am angry.  I dined to-day with Mr. Secretary St.
+John:  I went to the Court of Requests at noon, and sent Mr. Harley into the
+House to call the Secretary, to let him know I would not dine with him if he
+dined late.  By good luck the Duke of Argyle was at the lobby of the House
+too, and I kept him in talk till the Secretary came out; then told them I was
+glad to meet them together, and that I had a request to the Duke, which the
+Secretary must second, and his Grace must grant.  The Duke said he was sure it
+was something insignificant, and wished it was ten times greater.  At the
+Secretary's house I writ a memorial, and gave it to the Secretary to give the
+Duke, and shall see that he does it.  It is, that his Grace will please to
+take Mr. Bernage into his protection; and if he finds Bernage answers my
+character, to give him all encouragement.  Colonel Masham[5] and Colonel
+Hill[6] (Mrs. Masham's[7] brother tell me my request is reasonable, and they
+will second it heartily to the Duke too:  so I reckon Bernage is on a very
+good foot when he goes to Spain.  Pray tell him this, though perhaps I will
+write to him before he goes; yet where shall I direct? for I suppose he has
+left Connolly's.[8]
+
+13.  I have left off Lady Kerry's bitter, and got another box of pills.  I
+have no fits of giddiness, but only some little disorders towards it; and I
+walk as much as I can.  Lady Kerry is just as I am, only a great deal worse:
+I dined to-day at Lord Shelburne's, where she is, and we con ailments, which
+makes us very fond of each other.  I have taken Mr. Harley into favour again,
+and called to see him, but he was not within; I will use to visit him after
+dinner, for he dines too late for my head:  then I went to visit poor
+Congreve, who is just getting out of a severe fit of the gout; and I sat with
+him till near nine o'clock.  He gave me a Tatler[9] he had written out, as
+blind as he is, for little Harrison.  It is about a scoundrel that was grown
+rich, and went and bought a coat of arms at the Herald's, and a set of
+ancestors at Fleet Ditch; 'tis well enough, and shall be printed in two or
+three days, and if you read those kind of things, this will divert you.  It is
+now between ten and eleven, and I am going to bed.
+
+14.  This was Mrs. Vanhomrigh's daughter's[10] birthday, and Mr. Ford and I
+were invited to dinner to keep it, and we spent the evening there, drinking
+punch.  That was our way of beginning Lent; and in the morning Lord Shelburne,
+Lady Kerry, Mrs. Pratt, and I, went to Hyde Park, instead of going to church;
+for, till my head is a little settled, I think it better not to go; it would
+be so silly and troublesome to go out sick.  Dr. Duke[11] died suddenly two or
+three nights ago; he was one of the wits when we were children, but turned
+parson, and left it, and never writ farther than a prologue or recommendatory
+copy of verses.  He had a fine living given him by the Bishop of
+Winchester[12] about three months ago; he got his living suddenly, and he got
+his dying so too.
+
+15.  I walked purely to-day about the Park, the rain being just over, of which
+we have had a great deal, mixed with little short frosts.  I went to the Court
+of Requests, thinking, if Mr. Harley dined early, to go with him.  But meeting
+Leigh and Sterne, they invited me to dine with them, and away we went.  When
+we got into his room, one H----, a worthless Irish fellow, was there, ready to
+dine with us; so I stepped out, and whispered them, that I would not dine with
+that fellow:  they made excuses, and begged me to stay; but away I went to Mr.
+Harley's, and he did not dine at home; and at last I dined at Sir John
+Germaine's,[13] and found Lady Betty but just recovered of a miscarriage.  I
+am writing an inscription for Lord Berkeley's[14] tomb; you know the young
+rake his son, the new Earl, is married to the Duke of Richmond's daughter,[15]
+at the Duke's country house, and are now coming to town.  She will be fluxed
+in two months, and they'll be parted in a year.  You ladies are brave, bold,
+venturesome folks; and the chit is but seventeen, and is ill-natured,
+covetous, vicious, and proud in extremes.  And so get you gone to Stoyte to-
+morrow.
+
+16.  Faith, this letter goes on but slow; 'tis a week old, and the first side
+not written.  I went to-day into the City for a walk, but the person I
+designed to dine with was not at home; so I came back, and called at
+Congreve's, and dined with him and Estcourt,[16] and laughed till six; then
+went to Mr. Harley's, who was not gone to dinner; there I stayed till nine,
+and we made up our quarrel, and he has invited me to dinner to-morrow, which
+is the day of the week (Saturday) that Lord Keeper and Secretary St. John dine
+with him privately, and at last they have consented to let me among them on
+that day.  Atterbury and Prior went to bury poor Dr. Duke.  Congreve's nasty
+white wine has given me the heart-burn.
+
+17.  I took some good walks in the Park to-day, and then went to Mr. Harley.
+Lord Rivers was got there before me, and I chid him for presuming to come on a
+day when only Lord Keeper and the Secretary and I were to be there; but he
+regarded me not; so we all dined together, and sat down at four; and the
+Secretary has invited me to dine with him to-morrow.  I told them I had no
+hopes they could ever keep in, but that I saw they loved one another so well,
+as indeed they seem to do.  They call me nothing but Jonathan; and I said I
+believed they would leave me Jonathan as they found me; and that I never knew
+a Ministry do anything for those whom they make companions of their pleasures;
+and I believe you will find it so; but I care not.  I am upon a project of
+getting five hundred pounds,[17] without being obliged to anybody; but that is
+a secret, till I see my dearest MD; and so hold your tongue, and do not talk,
+sirrahs, for I am now about it.
+
+18.  My head has no fits, but a little disordered before dinner; yet I walk
+stoutly, and take pills, and hope to mend.  Secretary St. John would needs
+have me dine with him to-day; and there I found three persons I never saw, two
+I had no acquaintance with, and one I did not care for:  so I left them early
+and came home, it being no day to walk, but scurvy rain and wind.  The
+Secretary tells me he has put a cheat on me; for Lord Peterborow sent him
+twelve dozen flasks of burgundy, on condition that I should have my share; but
+he never was quiet till they were all gone, so I reckon he owes me thirty-six
+pounds.  Lord Peterborow is now got to Vienna, and I must write to him to-
+morrow.  I begin now to be towards looking for a letter from some certain
+ladies of Presto's acquaintance, that live at St. Mary's,[18] and are called
+in a certain language, our little MD.  No, stay, I don't expect one these six
+days, that will be just three weeks; an't I a reasonable creature?  We are
+plagued here with an October Club, that is, a set of above a hundred
+Parliament men of the country, who drink October beer at home, and meet every
+evening at a tavern near the Parliament to consult affairs, and drive things
+on to extremes against the Whigs, to call the old Ministry to account, and get
+off five or six heads.[19]  The Ministry seem not to regard them; yet one of
+them in confidence told me that there must be something thought on, to settle
+things better.  I'll tell you one great State secret:  the Queen, sensible how
+much she was governed by the late Ministry, runs a little into t'other
+extreme, and is jealous in that point, even of those who got her out of the
+others' hands.  The Ministry is for gentler measures, and the other Tories for
+more violent.  Lord Rivers, talking to me the other day, cursed the paper
+called the Examiner, for speaking civilly of the Duke of Marlborough; this I
+happened to talk of to the Secretary, who blamed the warmth of that lord and
+some others, and swore that if their advice were followed they would be blown
+up in twenty-four hours.  And I have reason to think that they will endeavour
+to prevail on the Queen to put her affairs more in the hands of a Ministry
+than she does at present; and there are, I believe, two men thought on, one of
+them you have often met the name of in my letters.  But so much for politics.
+
+19.  This proved a terrible rainy day, which prevented my walk into the City,
+and I was only able to run and dine with my neighbour Vanhomrigh, where Sir
+Andrew Fountaine dined too, who has just began to sally out, and has shipped
+his mother and sister, who were his nurses, back to the country.  This evening
+was fair, and I walked a little in the Park, till Prior made me go with him to
+the Smyrna Coffee-house, where I sat a while, and saw four or five Irish
+persons, who are very handsome, genteel fellows; but I know not their names.
+I came away at seven, and got home.  Two days ago I writ to Bernage, and told
+him what I had done, and directed the letter to Mr. Curry's, to be left with
+Dingley.  Brigadiers Hill and Masham, brother and husband to Mrs. Masham, the
+Queen's favourite, Colonel Disney,[20] and I, have recommended Bernage to the
+Duke of Argyle; and Secretary St. John has given the Duke my memorial; and,
+besides, Hill tells me, that Bernage's colonel, Fielding,[21] designs to make
+him his captain-lieutenant:  but I believe I said this to you before, and in
+this letter; but I will not look.
+
+20.  Morning.  It snows terribly again; and 'tis mistaken, for I now want a
+little good weather.  I bid you good-morrow; and, if it clear up, get you gone
+to poor Mrs. Walls, who has had a hard time of it, but is now pretty well
+again.  I am sorry it is a girl:  the poor Archdeacon too, see how simply he
+looked when they told him:  what did it cost Stella to be gossip?  I'll rise;
+so, d'ye hear, let me see you at night; and do not stay late out, and catch
+cold, sirrahs.--At night.  It grew good weather, and I got a good walk, and
+dined with Ford upon his Opera-day; but, now all his wine is gone, I shall
+dine with him no more.  I hope to send this letter before I hear from MD,
+methinks there is--something great in doing so, only I can't express where it
+lies; and, faith, this shall go by Saturday, as sure as you're a rogue.  Mrs.
+Edgworth was to set out but last Monday; so you won't have your box so soon
+perhaps as this letter; but Sterne told me since that it is safe at Chester,
+and that she will take care of it.  I'd give a guinea you had it.
+
+21.  Morning.  Faith, I hope it will be fair for me to walk into the City; for
+I take all occasions of walking.--I should be plaguy busy at Laracor if I were
+there now, cutting down willows, planting others, scouring my canal, and every
+kind of thing.  If Raymond goes over this summer, you must submit, and make
+them a visit, that we may have another eel and trout fishing; and that Stella
+may ride by, and see Presto in his morning-gown in the garden, and so go up
+with Joe to the Hill of Bree, and round by Scurlock's Town.  O Lord, how I
+remember names! faith, it gives me short sighs; therefore no more of that, if
+you love me.  Good-morrow, I will go rise like a gentleman; my pills say I
+must.--At night.  Lady Kerry sent to desire me to engage some lords about an
+affair she has in their house here:  I called to see her, but found she had
+already engaged every lord I knew, and that there was no great difficulty in
+the matter; and it rained like a dog; so I took coach, for want of better
+exercise, and dined privately with a hang-dog in the City, and walked back in
+the evening.  The days are now long enough to walk in the Park after dinner;
+and so I do whenever it is fair.  This walking is a strange remedy:  Mr. Prior
+walks, to make himself fat, and I to bring myself down; he has generally a
+cough, which he only calls a cold; we often walk round the Park together.  So
+I'll go sleep.
+
+22.  It snowed all this morning prodigiously, and was some inches thick in
+three or four hours.  I dined with Mr. Lewis of the Secretary's office at his
+lodgings:  the chairmen that carried me squeezed a great fellow against a
+wall, who wisely turned his back, and broke one of the side-glasses in a
+thousand pieces.  I fell a scolding, pretended I was like to be cut to pieces,
+and made them set down the chair in the Park, while they picked out the bits
+of glasses; and, when I paid them, I quarrelled still; so they dared not
+grumble, and I came off for my fare; but I was plaguily afraid they would have
+said, "God bless your honour, won't you give us something for our glass?"
+Lewis and I were forming a project how I might get three or four hundred
+pounds,[22] which I suppose may come to nothing.  I hope Smyth has brought you
+your palsy-drops.  How does Stella do?  I begin more and more to desire to
+know.  The three weeks since I had your last is over within two days, and I
+will allow three for accidents.
+
+23.  The snow is gone every bit, except the remainder of some great balls made
+by the boys.  Mr. Sterne was with me this morning about an affair he has
+before the Treasury.  That drab Mrs. Edgworth is not yet set out, but will
+infallibly next Monday:  and this is the third infallible Monday, and pox take
+her!  So you will have this letter first; and this shall go to-morrow; and, if
+I have one from MD in that time, I will not answer it till my next; only I
+will say, "Madam, I received your letter, and so, and so."  I dined to-day
+with my Mistress Butler,[23] who grows very disagreeable.
+
+24.  Morning.  This letter certainly goes this evening, sure as you're alive,
+young women, and then you will be so shamed that I have had none from you;
+and, if I was to reckon like you, I would say, I were six letters before you,
+for this is N.16, and I have had your N.10.  But I reckon you have received
+but fourteen, and have sent eleven.  I think to go to-day a Minister-of-State-
+hunting in the Court of Requests; for I have something to say to Mr. Harley.
+And it is fine, cold, sunshiny weather; I wish dear MD would walk this morning
+in your Stephen's Green; 'tis as good as our Park, but not so large.[24]
+Faith, this summer we'll take a coach for sixpence[25] to the Green Well, the
+two walks, and thence all the way to Stoyte's.[26]  My hearty service to Goody
+Stoyte and Catherine; and I hope Mrs. Walls had a good time.  How inconstant I
+am! I can't imagine I was ever in love with her.  Well, I'm going; what have
+you to say?  I DO NOT CARE HOW I WRITE NOW.[27]  I don't design to write on
+this side; these few lines are but so much more than your due; so I will write
+LARGE or small as I please.  O, faith, my hands are starving in bed; I believe
+it is a hard frost.  I must rise, and bid you good-bye, for I'll seal this
+letter immediately, and carry it in my pocket, and put it into the post-office
+with my own fair hands.  Farewell.
+
+This letter is just a fortnight's journal to-day.  Yes, and so it is, I'm
+sure, says you, with your two eggs a penny.
+
+Lele, lele, lele.[28]
+
+O Lord, I am saying lele, lele, to myself, in all our little keys:  and, now
+you talk of keys, that dog Patrick broke the key-general of the chest of
+drawers with six locks, and I have been so plagued to get a new one, besides
+my good two shillings!
+
+
+
+LETTER 17.
+
+LONDON, Feb. 24, 1710-11.
+
+Now, young women, I gave in my sixteenth this evening.  I dined with Ford (it
+was his Opera-day) as usual; it is very convenient to me to do so, for coming
+home early after a walk in the Park, which now the days will allow.  I called
+on the Secretary at his office, and he had forgot to give the memorial about
+Bernage to the Duke of Argyle; but, two days ago, I met the Duke, who desired
+I would give it him myself, which should have more power with him than all the
+Ministry together, as he protested solemnly, repeated it two or three times,
+and bid me count upon it.  So that I verily believe Bernage will be in a very
+good way to establish himself.  I think I can do no more for him at present,
+and there's an end of that; and so get you gone to bed, for it is late.
+
+25.  The three weeks are out yesterday since I had your last, and so now I
+will be expecting every day a pretty dear letter from my own MD, and hope to
+hear that Stella has been much better in her head and eyes:  my head continues
+as it was, no fits, but a little disorder every day, which I can easily bear,
+if it will not grow worse.  I dined to-day with Mr. Secretary St. John, on
+condition I might choose my company, which were Lord Rivers, Lord Carteret,
+Sir Thomas Mansel,[1] and Mr. Lewis; I invited Masham, Hill, Sir John Stanley,
+and George Granville, but they were engaged; and I did it in revenge of his
+having such bad company when I dined with him before; so we laughed, etc.  And
+I ventured to go to church to-day, which I have not done this month before.
+Can you send me such a good account of Stella's health, pray now?  Yes, I
+hope, and better too.  We dined (says you) at the Dean's, and played at cards
+till twelve, and there came in Mr. French, and Dr. Travors, and Dr.
+Whittingham, and Mr. (I forget his name, that I always tell Mrs. Walls of) the
+banker's son, a pox on him.  And we were so merry; I vow they are pure good
+company.  But I lost a crown; for you must know I had always hands tempting me
+to go out, but never took in anything, and often two black aces without a
+manilio; was not that hard, Presto?  Hold your tongue, etc.
+
+26.  I was this morning with Mr. Secretary about some business, and he tells
+me that Colonel Fielding is now going to make Bernage his captain-lieutenant,
+that is, a captain by commission, and the perquisites of the company; but not
+captain's pay, only the first step to it.  I suppose he will like it; and the
+recommendation to the Duke of Argyle goes on.  And so trouble me no more about
+your Bernage; the jackanapes understands what fair solicitors he has got, I
+warrant you.  Sir Andrew Fountaine and I dined, by invitation, with Mrs.
+Vanhomrigh.  You say they are of no consequence:  why, they keep as good
+female company as I do male; I see all the drabs of quality at this end of the
+town with them:  I saw two Lady Bettys[2] there this afternoon; the beauty of
+one, the good-breeding and nature of t'other, and the wit of neither, would
+have made a fine woman.  Rare walking in the Park now:  why don't you walk in
+the Green of St. Stephen?  The walks there are finer gravelled than the Mall.
+What beasts the Irish women are, never to walk!
+
+27.  Darteneuf and I, and little Harrison the new Tatler, and Jervas the
+painter, dined to-day with James,[3] I know not his other name, but it is one
+of Darteneuf's dining-places, who is a true epicure.  James is clerk of the
+kitchen to the Queen, and has a little snug house at St. James's; and we had
+the Queen's wine, and such very fine victuals that I could not eat it.  Three
+weeks and three days since my last letter from MD; rare doings! why, truly we
+were so busy with poor Mrs. Walls, that indeed, Presto, we could not write, we
+were afraid the poor woman would have died; and it pitied us to see the
+Archdeacon, how concerned he was.  The Dean never came to see her but once;
+but now she is up again, and we go and sit with her in the evenings.  The
+child died the next day after it was born; and I believe, between friends, she
+is not very sorry for it.--Indeed, Presto, you are plaguy silly tonight, and
+han't guessed one word right; for she and the child are both well, and it is a
+fine girl, likely to live; and the Dean was godfather, and Mrs. Catherine and
+I were godmothers; I was going to say Stoyte, but I think I have heard they
+don't put maids and married women together; though I know not why I think so,
+nor I don't care; what care I? but I must prate, etc.
+
+28.  I walked to-day into the City for my health, and there dined; which I
+always do when the weather is fair, and business permits, that I may be under
+a necessity of taking a good walk, which is the best thing I can do at present
+for my health.  Some bookseller has raked up everything I writ, and published
+it t'other day in one volume; but I know nothing of it, 'twas without my
+knowledge or consent:  it makes a four-shilling book, and is called
+Miscellanies in Prose and Verse.[4]  Tooke pretends he knows nothing of it;
+but I doubt he is at the bottom.  One must have patience with these things;
+the best of it is, I shall be plagued no more.  However, I will bring a couple
+of them over with me for MD; perhaps you may desire to see them.  I hear they
+sell mightily.
+
+March 1.  Morning.  I have been calling to Patrick to look in his almanac for
+the day of the month; I did not know but it might be leap-year.  The almanac
+says 'tis the third after leap-year; and I always thought till now, that every
+third year was leap-year.  I am glad they come so seldom; but I'm sure 'twas
+otherwise when I was a young man; I see times are mightily changed since
+then.--Write to me, sirrahs; be sure do by the time this side is done, and
+I'll keep t'other side for the answer:  so I'll go write to the Bishop of
+Clogher; good-morrow, sirrahs.--Night.  I dined to-day at Mrs. Vanhomrigh's,
+being a rainy day; and Lady Betty Butler, knowing it, sent to let me know she
+expected my company in the evening, where the Vans (so we call them) were to
+be.  The Duchess[5] and they do not go over this summer with the Duke; so I go
+to bed.
+
+2.  This rainy weather undoes me in coaches and chairs.  I was traipsing to-
+day with your Mr. Sterne, to go along with them to Moore,[6] and recommend his
+business to the Treasury.  Sterne tells me his dependence is wholly on me; but
+I have absolutely refused to recommend it to Mr. Harley, because I have
+troubled him lately so much with other folks' affairs; and besides, to tell
+the truth, Mr. Harley told me he did not like Sterne's business:  however, I
+will serve him, because I suppose MD would have me.  But, in saying his
+dependence lies wholly on me, he lies, and is a fool.  I dined with Lord
+Abercorn, whose son Peasley[7] will be married at Easter to ten thousand
+pounds.
+
+3.  I forgot to tell you that yesterday morning I was at Mr. Harley's levee:
+he swore I came in spite, to see him among a parcel of fools.  My business was
+to desire I might let the Duke of Ormond know how the affair stood of the
+First-Fruits.  He promised to let him know it, and engaged me to dine with him
+to-day.  Every Saturday, Lord Keeper, Secretary St. John, and I dine with him,
+and sometimes Lord Rivers; and they let in none else.  Patrick brought me some
+letters into the Park; among which one was from Walls; and t'other, yes,
+faith, t'other was from our little MD, N.11.  I read the rest in the Park, and
+MD's in a chair as I went from St. James's to Mr. Harley; and glad enough I
+was, faith, to read it, and see all right.  Oh, but I won't answer it these
+three or four days at least, or may be sooner.  An't I silly? faith, your
+letters would make a dog silly, if I had a dog to be silly, but it must be a
+little dog.--I stayed with Mr. Harley till past nine, where we had much
+discourse together after the rest were gone; and I gave him very truly my
+opinion where he desired it.  He complained he was not very well, and has
+engaged me to dine with him again on Monday.  So I came home afoot, like a
+fine gentleman, to tell you all this.
+
+4.  I dined to-day with Mr. Secretary St. John; and after dinner he had a note
+from Mr. Harley, that he was much out of order.[8]  Pray God preserve his
+health! everything depends upon it.  The Parliament at present cannot go a
+step without him, nor the Queen neither.  I long to be in Ireland; but the
+Ministry beg me to stay:  however, when this Parliament lurry[9] is over, I
+will endeavour to steal away; by which time I hope the First-Fruit business
+will be done.  This kingdom is certainly ruined as much as was ever any
+bankrupt merchant.  We must have peace, let it be a bad or a good one, though
+nobody dares talk of it.  The nearer I look upon things, the worse I like
+them.  I believe the confederacy will soon break to pieces, and our factions
+at home increase.  The Ministry is upon a very narrow bottom, and stand like
+an isthmus, between the Whigs on one side, and violent Tories on the other.
+They are able seamen; but the tempest is too great, the ship too rotten, and
+the crew all against them.  Lord Somers has been twice in the Queen's closet,
+once very lately; and your Duchess of Somerset,[10] who now has the key, is a
+most insinuating woman; and I believe they will endeavour to play the same
+game that has been played against them.--I have told them of all this, which
+they know already, but they cannot help it.  They have cautioned the Queen so
+much against being governed, that she observes it too much.  I could talk till
+to-morrow upon these things, but they make me melancholy.  I could not but
+observe that lately, after much conversation with Mr. Harley, though he is the
+most fearless man alive, and the least apt to despond, he confessed to me that
+uttering his mind to me gave him ease.
+
+5.  Mr. Harley continues out of order, yet his affairs force him abroad:  he
+is subject to a sore throat, and was cupped last night:  I sent and called two
+or three times.  I hear he is better this evening.  I dined to-day in the City
+with Dr. Freind at a third body's house, where I was to pass for somebody
+else; and there was a plaguy silly jest carried on, that made me sick of it.
+Our weather grows fine, and I will walk like camomile.  And pray walk you to
+your Dean's, or your Stoyte's, or your Manley's, or your Walls'.  But your new
+lodgings make you so proud, you will walk less than ever.  Come, let me go to
+bed, sirrahs.
+
+6.  Mr. Harley's going out yesterday has put him a little backwards.  I called
+twice, and sent, for I am in pain for him.  Ford caught me, and made me dine
+with him on his Opera-day; so I brought Mr. Lewis with me, and sat with him
+till six.  I have not seen Mr. Addison these three weeks; all our friendship
+is over.  I go to no Coffee-house.  I presented a parson of the Bishop of
+Clogher's, one Richardson,[11] to the Duke of Ormond to-day:  he is
+translating prayers and sermons into Irish, and has a project about
+instructing the Irish in the Protestant religion.
+
+7.  Morning.  Faith, a little would make me, I could find in my heart, if it
+were not for one thing, I have a good mind, if I had not something else to do,
+I would answer your dear saucy letter.  O, Lord, I am going awry with writing
+in bed.  O, faith, but I must answer it, or I shan't have room, for it must go
+on Saturday; and don't think I will fill the third side, I an't come to that
+yet, young women.  Well then, as for your Bernage, I have said enough:  I writ
+to him last week.--Turn over that leaf.  Now, what says MD to the world to
+come?  I tell you, Madam Stella, my head is a great deal better, and I hope
+will keep so.  How came yours to be fifteen days coming, and you had my
+fifteenth in seven?  Answer me that, rogues.  Your being with Goody Walls is
+excuse enough:  I find I was mistaken in the sex, 'tis a boy.[12]  Yes, I
+understand your cypher, and Stella guesses right, as she always does.  He[13]
+gave me al bsadnuk lboinlpl dfaonr ufainf btoy dpionufnad,[14] which I sent
+him again by Mr. Lewis, to whom I writ a very complaining letter that was
+showed him; and so the matter ended.  He told me he had a quarrel with me; I
+said I had another with him, and we returned to our friendship, and I should
+think he loves me as well as a great Minister can love a man in so short a
+time.  Did not I do right?  I am glad at heart you have got your palsy-
+water;[15] pray God Almighty it may do my dearest little Stella good!  I
+suppose Mrs. Edgworth set out last Monday se'ennight.  Yes, I do read the
+Examiners, and they are written very finely, as you judge.  I do not think
+they are too severe on the Duke;[16] they only tax him of avarice, and his
+avarice has ruined us.  You may count upon all things in them to be true.  The
+author has said it is not Prior, but perhaps it may be Atterbury.--Now, Madam
+Dingley, says she, 'tis fine weather, says she; yes, says she, and we have got
+to our new lodgings.  I compute you ought to save eight pounds by being in the
+others five months; and you have no more done it than eight thousand.  I am
+glad you are rid of that squinting, blinking Frenchman.  I will give you a
+bill on Parvisol for five pounds for the half-year.  And must I go on at four
+shillings a week, and neither eat nor drink for it?  Who the Devil said
+Atterbury and your Dean were alike?  I never saw your Chancellor, nor his
+chaplain.  The latter has a good deal of learning, and is a well-wisher to be
+an author:  your Chancellor is an excellent man.  As for Patrick's bird, he
+bought him for his tameness, and is grown the wildest I ever saw.  His wings
+have been quilled thrice, and are now up again:  he will be able to fly after
+us to Ireland, if he be willing.--Yes, Mrs. Stella, Dingley writes more like
+Presto than you; for all you superscribed the letter, as who should say, Why
+should not I write like our Presto as well as Dingley?  You with your awkward
+SS;[17] cannot you write them thus, SS?  No, but always SSS.  Spiteful sluts,
+to affront Presto's writing; as that when you shut your eyes you write most
+like Presto.  I know the time when I did not write to you half so plain as I
+do now; but I take pity on you both.  I am very much concerned for Mrs.
+Walls's eyes.  Walls says nothing of it to me in his letter dated after yours.
+You say, "If she recovers, she may lose her sight."  I hope she is in no
+danger of her life.  Yes, Ford is as sober as I please:  I use him to walk
+with me as an easy companion, always ready for what I please, when I am weary
+of business and Ministers.  I don't go to a Coffee-house twice a month.  I am
+very regular in going to sleep before eleven.--And so you say that Stella is a
+pretty girl; and so she be, and methinks I see her just now as handsome as the
+day is long.  Do you know what? when I am writing in our language, I make up
+my mouth just as if I was speaking it.  I caught myself at it just now.  And I
+suppose Dingley is so fair and so fresh as a lass in May, and has her health,
+and no spleen.--In your account you sent do you reckon as usual from the 1st
+of November[18] was twelvemonth?  Poor Stella, will not Dingley leave her a
+little daylight to write to Presto?  Well, well, we'll have daylight shortly,
+spite of her teeth; and zoo[19] must cly Lele and Hele, and Hele aden.  Must
+loo mimitate Pdfr, pay?  Iss, and so la shall.  And so lele's fol ee rettle.
+Dood-mollow.--At night.  Mrs. Barton sent this morning to invite me to dinner;
+and there I dined, just in that genteel manner that MD used when they would
+treat some better sort of body than usual.
+
+8.  O dear MD, my heart is almost broken.  You will hear the thing before this
+comes to you.  I writ a full account of it this night to the Archbishop of
+Dublin; and the Dean may tell you the particulars from the Archbishop.  I was
+in a sorry way to write, but thought it might be proper to send a true account
+of the fact; for you will hear a thousand lying circumstances.  It is of Mr.
+Harley's being stabbed this afternoon, at three o'clock, at a Committee of the
+Council.  I was playing Lady Catharine Morris's[20] cards, where I dined, when
+young Arundel[21] came in with the story.  I ran away immediately to the
+Secretary, which was in my way:  no one was at home.  I met Mrs. St. John in
+her chair; she had heard it imperfectly.  I took a chair to Mr. Harley, who
+was asleep, and they hope in no danger; but he has been out of order, and was
+so when he came abroad to-day, and it may put him in a fever:  I am in mortal
+pain for him.  That desperate French villain, Marquis de Guiscard,[22] stabbed
+Mr. Harley.  Guiscard was taken up by Mr. Secretary St. John's warrant for
+high treason, and brought before the Lords to be examined; there he stabbed
+Mr. Harley.  I have told all the particulars already to the Archbishop.  I
+have now, at nine, sent again, and they tell me he is in a fair way.  Pray
+pardon my distraction; I now think of all his kindness to me.--The poor
+creature now lies stabbed in his bed by a desperate French Popish villain.
+Good-night, and God preserve you both, and pity me; I want it.
+
+9.  Morning; seven, in bed.  Patrick is just come from Mr. Harley's.  He slept
+well till four; the surgeon sat[23] up with him:  he is asleep again:  he felt
+a pain in his wound when he waked:  they apprehend him in no danger.  This
+account the surgeon left with the porter, to tell people that send.  Pray God
+preserve him.  I am rising, and going to Mr. Secretary St. John.  They say
+Guiscard will die with the wounds Mr. St. John and the rest gave him.  I shall
+tell you more at night.--Night.  Mr. Harley still continues on the mending
+hand; but he rested ill last night, and felt pain.  I was early with the
+Secretary this morning, and I dined with him, and he told me several
+particularities of this accident, too long to relate now.  Mr. Harley is still
+mending this evening, but not at all out of danger; and till then I can have
+no peace.  Good-night, etc., and pity Presto.
+
+10.  Mr. Harley was restless last night; but he has no fever, and the hopes of
+his mending increase.  I had a letter from Mr. Walls, and one from Mr.
+Bernage.  I will answer them here, not having time to write.  Mr.  Walls
+writes about three things.  First, about a hundred pounds from Dr. Raymond, of
+which I hear nothing, and it is now too late.  Secondly, about Mr.
+Clements:[24]  I can do nothing in it, because I am not to mention Mr. Pratt;
+and I cannot recommend without knowing Mr. Pratt's objections, whose relation
+Clements is, and who brought him into the place.  The third is about my being
+godfather to the child:[25]  that is in my power, and (since there is no
+remedy) will submit.  I wish you could hinder it; but if it can't be helped,
+pay what you think proper, and get the Provost to stand for me, and let his
+Christian name be Harley, in honour of my friend, now lying stabbed and
+doubtful of his life.  As for Bernage, he writes me word that his colonel has
+offered to make him captain-lieutenant for a hundred pounds.  He was such a
+fool to offer him money without writing to me till it was done, though I have
+had a dozen letters from him; and then he desires I would say nothing of this,
+for fear his colonel should be angry.  People are mad.  What can I do?  I
+engaged Colonel Disney, who was one of his solicitors to the Secretary, and
+then told him the story.  He assured me that Fielding (Bernage's colonel) said
+he might have got that sum; but, on account of those great recommendations he
+had, would give it him for nothing:  and I would have Bernage write him a
+letter of thanks, as of a thing given him for nothing, upon recommendations,
+etc.  Disney tells me he will again speak to Fielding, and clear up this
+matter; then I will write to Bernage.  A pox on him for promising money till I
+had it promised to me; and then making it such a ticklish point, that one
+cannot expostulate with the colonel upon it:  but let him do as I say, and
+there is an end.  I engaged the Secretary of State in it; and am sure it was
+meant a kindness to me, and that no money should be given, and a hundred
+pounds is too much in a Smithfield bargain,[26] as a major-general told me,
+whose opinion I asked.  I am now hurried, and can say no more.  Farewell, etc.
+etc.
+
+How shall I superscribe to your new lodgings, pray, madams?  Tell me but that,
+impudence and saucy-face.
+
+Are not you sauceboxes to write "lele"[27] like Presto?  O poor Presto!
+
+Mr. Harley is better to-night, that makes me so pert, you saucy Gog and Magog.
+
+
+
+LETTER 18.
+
+LONDON, March 10, 1710-11.
+
+Pretty little MD must expect little from me till Mr. Harley is out of danger.
+We hope he is so now; but I am subject to fear for my friends.  He has a head
+full of the whole business of the nation, was out of order when the villain
+stabbed him, and had a cruel contusion by the second blow.  But all goes on
+well yet.  Mr. Ford and I dined with Mr. Lewis, and we hope the best.
+
+11.  This morning Mr. Secretary and I met at Court, where he went to the
+Queen, who is out of order, and aguish:  I doubt the worse for this accident
+to Mr. Harley.  We went together to his house, and his wound looks well, and
+he is not feverish at all, and I think it is foolish in me to be so much in
+pain as I am.  I had the penknife in my hand, which is broken within a quarter
+of an inch of the handle.  I have a mind to write and publish an account of
+all the particularities of this fact:[1]  it will be very curious, and I would
+do it when Mr. Harley is past danger.
+
+12.  We have been in terrible pain to-day about Mr. Harley, who never slept
+last night, and has been very feverish.  But this evening I called there; and
+young Mr. Harley (his only son) tells me he is now much better, and was then
+asleep.  They let nobody see him, and that is perfectly right.  The Parliament
+cannot go on till he is well, and are forced to adjourn their money
+businesses, which none but he can help them in.  Pray God preserve him.
+
+13.  Mr. Harley is better to-day, slept well all night, and we are a little
+out of our fears.  I send and call three or four times every day.  I went into
+the City for a walk, and dined there with a private man; and coming home this
+evening, broke my shin in the Strand over a tub of sand left just in the way.
+I got home dirty enough, and went straight to bed, where I have been cooking
+it with gold-beater's skin, and have been peevish enough with Patrick, who was
+near an hour bringing a rag from next door.  It is my right shin, where never
+any humour fell when t'other used to swell; so I apprehend it less:  however,
+I shall not stir till 'tis well, which I reckon will be in a week.  I am very
+careful in these sort of things; but I wish I had Mrs. J----'s water:[2] she
+is out of town, and I must make a shift with alum.  I will dine with Mrs.
+Vanhomrigh till I am well, who lives but five doors off; and that I may
+venture.
+
+14.  My journals are like to be very diverting, now I cannot stir abroad,
+between accounts of Mr. Harley's mending, and of my broken shin.  I just
+walked to my neighbour Vanhomrigh at two, and came away at six, when little
+Harrison the Tatler came to me, and begged me to dictate a paper to him, which
+I was forced in charity to do.  Mr. Harley still mends; and I hope in a day or
+two to trouble you no more with him, nor with my shin.  Go to bed and sleep,
+sirrahs, that you may rise to-morrow and walk to Donnybrook, and lose your
+money with Stoyte and the Dean; do so, dear little rogues, and drink Presto's
+health.  O pray, don't you drink Presto's health sometimes with your deans,
+and your Stoytes, and your Walls, and your Manleys, and your everybodies, pray
+now?  I drink MD's to myself a hundred thousand times.
+
+15.  I was this morning at Mr. Secretary St. John's for all my shin; and he
+has given me for young Harrison the Tatler the prettiest employment in Europe;
+secretary to my Lord Raby,[3] who is to be Ambassador Extraordinary at the
+Hague, where all the great affairs will be concerted; so we shall lose the
+Tatlers in a fortnight.  I will send Harrison to-morrow morning to thank the
+Secretary.  Poor Biddy Floyd[4] has got the smallpox.  I called this morning
+to see Lady Betty Germaine, and when she told me so, I fairly took my leave.
+I have the luck of it;[5] for about ten days ago I was to see Lord
+Carteret;[6] and my lady was entertaining me with telling of a young lady, a
+cousin, who was then ill in the house of the smallpox, and is since dead:  it
+was near Lady Betty's, and I fancy Biddy took the fright by it.  I dined with
+Mr. Secretary; and a physician came in just from Guiscard, who tells us he is
+dying of his wounds, and can hardly live till to-morrow.  A poor wench that
+Guiscard kept, sent him a bottle of sack; but the keeper would not let him
+touch it, for fear it was poison.  He had two quarts of old clotted blood come
+out of his side to-day, and is delirious.  I am sorry he is dying; for they
+had found out a way to hang him.  He certainly had an intention to murder the
+Queen.
+
+16.  I have made but little progress in this letter for so many days, thanks
+to Guiscard and Mr. Harley; and it would be endless to tell you all the
+particulars of that odious fact.  I do not yet hear that Guiscard is dead, but
+they say 'tis impossible he should recover.  I walked too much yesterday for a
+man with a broken shin; to-day I rested, and went no farther than Mrs.
+Vanhomrigh's, where I dined; and Lady Betty Butler coming in about six, I was
+forced in good manners to sit with her till nine; then I came home, and Mr.
+Ford came in to visit my shin, and sat with me till eleven:  so I have been
+very idle and naughty.  It vexes me to the pluck[7] that I should lose walking
+this delicious day.  Have you seen the Spectator[8] yet, a paper that comes
+out every day?  'Tis written by Mr. Steele, who seems to have gathered new
+life, and have a new fund of wit; it is in the same nature as his Tatlers, and
+they have all of them had something pretty.  I believe Addison and he club.  I
+never see them; and I plainly told Mr. Harley and Mr. St. John, ten days ago,
+before my Lord Keeper and Lord Rivers, that I had been foolish enough to spend
+my credit with them in favour of Addison and Steele; but that I would engage
+and promise never to say one word in their behalf, having been used so ill for
+what I had already done.--So, now I am got into the way of prating again,
+there will be no quiet for me.
+
+     When Presto begins to prate,
+     Give him a rap upon the pate.
+
+O Lord, how I blot! it is time to leave off, etc.
+
+17.  Guiscard died this morning at two; and the coroner's inquest have found
+that he was killed by bruises received from a messenger, so to clear the
+Cabinet Councillors from whom he received his wounds.  I had a letter from
+Raymond, who cannot hear of your box; but I hope you have it before this comes
+to your hands.  I dined to-day with Mr. Lewis of the Secretary's office.  Mr.
+Harley has abundance of extravasated blood comes from his breast out of his
+wound, and will not be well so soon as we expected.  I had something to say,
+but cannot call it to mind.  (What was it?)
+
+18.  I was to-day at Court to look for the Duke of Argyle, and gave him the
+memorial about Bernage.  The Duke goes with the first fair wind.  I could not
+find him, but I have given the memorial to another to give him; and, however,
+it shall be sent after him.  Bernage has made a blunder in offering money to
+his colonel without my advice; however, he is made captain-lieutenant, only he
+must recruit the company, which will cost him forty pounds, and that is
+cheaper than an hundred.  I dined to-day with Mr. Secretary St. John, and
+stayed till seven, but would not drink his champagne and burgundy, for fear of
+the gout.  My shin mends, but is not well.  I hope it will by the time I send
+this letter, next Saturday.
+
+19.  I went to-day into the City, but in a coach, and sossed[9] up my leg on
+the seat; and as I came home, I went to see poor Charles Barnard's[10] books,
+which are to be sold by auction, and I itch to lay out nine or ten pounds for
+some fine editions of fine authors.  But 'tis too far, and I shall let it
+slip, as I usually do all such opportunities.  I dined in a coffee-house with
+Stratford upon chops and some of his wine.  Where did MD dine?  Why, poor MD
+dined at home to-day, because of the Archbishop, and they could not go abroad,
+and had a breast of mutton and a pint of wine.  I hope Mrs. Walls mends; and
+pray give me an account what sort of godfather I made, and whether I behaved
+myself handsomely.  The Duke of Argyle is gone; and whether he has my
+memorial, I know not, till I see Dr. Arbuthnot,[11] to whom I gave it.  That
+hard name belongs to a Scotch doctor, an acquaintance of the Duke's and me;
+Stella can't pronounce it.  Oh that we were at Laracor this fine day! the
+willows begin to peep, and the quicks to bud.  My dream is out:  I was a-
+dreamed last night that I ate ripe cherries.--And now they begin to catch the
+pikes, and will shortly the trouts (pox on these Ministers!)--and I would fain
+know whether the floods were ever so high as to get over the holly bank or the
+river walk; if so, then all my pikes are gone; but I hope not.  Why don't you
+ask Parvisol these things, sirrahs?  And then my canal, and trouts, and
+whether the bottom be fine and clear?  But harkee, ought not Parvisol to pay
+in my last year's rents and arrears out of his hands?  I am thinking, if
+either of you have heads to take his accounts, it should be paid in to you;
+otherwise to Mr. Walls.  I will write an order on t'other side; and do as you
+will.  Here's a world of business; but I must go sleep, I'm drowsy; and so
+goodnight, etc.
+
+20.  This sore shin ruins me in coach-hire; no less than two shillings to-day
+going and coming from the City, where I dined with one you never heard of, and
+passed an insipid day.  I writ this post to Bernage, with the account I told
+you above.  I hope he will like it; 'tis his own fault, or it would have been
+better.  I reckon your next letter will be full of Mr. Harley's stabbing.  He
+still mends, but abundance of extravasated blood has come out of the wound:
+he keeps his bed, and sees nobody.  The Speaker's eldest son[12] is just dead
+of the smallpox, and the House is adjourned a week, to give him time to wipe
+off his tears.  I think it very handsomely done; but I believe one reason is,
+that they want Mr. Harley so much.  Biddy Floyd is like to do well:  and so go
+to your Dean's, and roast his oranges, and lose your money, do so, you saucy
+sluts.  Stella, you lost three shillings and fourpence t'other night at
+Stoyte's, yes, you did, and Presto stood in a corner, and saw you all the
+while, and then stole away.  I dream very often I am in Ireland, and that I
+have left my clothes and things behind me, and have not taken leave of
+anybody; and that the Ministry expect me tomorrow, and such nonsense.
+
+21.  I would not for a guinea have a letter from you till this goes; and go it
+shall on Saturday, faith.  I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, to save my shin, and
+then went on some business to the Secretary, and he was not at home.
+
+22.  Yesterday was a short day's journal:  but what care I? what cares saucy
+Presto?  Darteneuf[13] invited me to dinner to-day.  Do not you know
+Darteneuf?  That's the man that knows everything, and that everybody knows;
+and that knows where a knot of rabble are going on a holiday, and when they
+were there last:  and then I went to the Coffee-house.  My shin mends, but is
+not quite healed:  I ought to keep it up, but I don't; I e'en let it go as it
+comes.  Pox take Parvisol and his watch!  If I do not receive the ten-pound
+bill I am to get towards it, I will neither receive watch nor chain; so let
+Parvisol know.
+
+23.  I this day appointed the Duke of Ormond to meet him at Ned Southwell's,
+about an affair of printing Irish Prayer-Books, etc.,[14] but the Duke never
+came.  There Southwell had letters that two packets are taken; so if MD writ
+then, the letters are gone; for they are packets coming hither.  Mr. Harley is
+not yet well, but his extravasated blood continues, and I doubt he will not be
+quite well in a good while:  I find you have heard of the fact by Southwell's
+letters from Ireland:  what do you think of it?  I dined with Sir John
+Perceval,[15] and saw his lady sitting in the bed, in the forms of a lying-in
+woman; and coming home my sore shin itched, and I forgot what it was, and
+rubbed off the scab, and blood came; but I am now got into bed, and have put
+on alum curd, and it is almost well.  Lord Rivers told me yesterday a piece of
+bad news, as a secret, that the Pretender is going to be married to the Duke
+of Savoy's daughter.[16]  'Tis very bad if it be true.  We were walking in the
+Mall with some Scotch lords, and he could not tell it until they were gone,
+and he bade me tell it to none but the Secretary of State and MD.  This goes
+tomorrow, and I have no room but to bid my dearest little MD good-night.
+24.  I will now seal up this letter, and send it; for I reckon to have none
+from you ('tis morning now) between this and night; and I will put it in the
+post with my own hands.  I am going out in great haste; so farewell, etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 19.
+
+LONDON, March 24, 1710-11.
+
+It was a little cross in Presto not to send to-day to the Coffee-house to see
+whether there was a letter from MD before I sent away mine; but, faith, I did
+it on purpose, because I would scorn to answer two letters of yours
+successively.  This way of journal is the worst in the world for writing of
+news, unless one does it the last day; and so I will observe henceforward, if
+there be any politics or stuff worth sending.  My shin mends in spite of the
+scratching last night.  I dined to-day at Ned Southwell's with the Bishop of
+Ossory[1] and a parcel of Irish gentlemen.  Have you yet seen any of the
+Spectators?  Just three weeks to-day since I had your last, N.11.  I am afraid
+I have lost one by the packet that was taken; that will vex me, considering
+the pains MD take to write, especially poor pretty Stella, and her weak eyes.
+God bless them and the owner, and send them well, and little me together, I
+hope ere long.  This illness of Mr. Harley puts everything backwards, and he
+is still down, and like to be so, by that extravasated blood which comes from
+his breast to the wound:  it was by the second blow Guiscard gave him after
+the penknife was broken.  I am shocked at that villainy whenever I think of
+it.  Biddy Floyd is past danger, but will lose all her beauty:  she had them
+mighty thick, especially about her nose.
+
+25.  Morning.  I wish you a merry New Year; this is the first day of the year,
+you know, with us, and 'tis Lady-day.  I must rise and go to my Lord Keeper:
+it is not shaving-day to-day, so I shall be early.  I am to dine with Mr.
+Secretary St. John.  Good-morrow, my mistresses both, good-morrow.  Stella
+will be peeping out of her room at Mrs. De Caudres'[2] down upon the folks as
+they come from church; and there comes Mrs. Proby,[3] and that is my Lady
+Southwell,[4] and there is Lady Betty Rochfort.[5]  I long to hear how you are
+settled in your new lodgings.  I wish I were rid of my old ones, and that Mrs.
+Brent could contrive to put up my books in boxes, and lodge them in some safe
+place, and you keep my papers of importance.  But I must rise, I tell you.--At
+night.  So I visited and dined as I told you, and what of that?  We have let
+Guiscard be buried at last, after showing him pickled in a trough this
+fortnight for twopence apiece:  and the fellow that showed would point to his
+body, and, "See, gentlemen, this is the wound that was given him by his Grace
+the Duke of Ormond; and this is the wound," etc., and then the show was over,
+and another set of rabble came in.  'Tis hard our laws would not suffer us to
+hang his body in chains, because he was not tried; and in the eye of our law
+every man is innocent till then.--Mr. Harley is still very weak, and never out
+of bed.
+
+26.  This was a most delicious day; and my shin being past danger, I walked
+like lightning above two hours in the Park.  We have generally one fair day,
+and then a great deal of rain for three or four days together.  All things are
+at a stop in Parliament for want of Mr. Harley; they cannot stir an inch
+without him in their most material affairs:  and we fear, by the caprice of
+Radcliffe, who will admit none but his own surgeon,[6] he has not been well
+looked after.  I dined at an alehouse with Mr. Lewis, but had his wine.  Don't
+you begin to see the flowers and blossoms of the field?  How busy should I be
+now at Laracor!  No news of your box?  I hope you have it, and are this minute
+drinking the chocolate, and that the smell of the Brazil tobacco has not
+affected it.  I would be glad to know whether you like it, because I would
+send you more by people that are now every day thinking of going to Ireland;
+therefore pray tell me, and tell me soon: and I will have the strong box.
+
+27.  A rainy, wretched, scurvy day from morning till night:  and my neighbour
+Vanhomrigh invited me to dine with them and this evening I passed at Mr.
+Prior's with Dr. Freind; and 'tis now past twelve, so I must go sleep.
+
+28.  Morning.  O, faith, you're an impudent saucy couple of sluttikins for
+presuming to write so soon, said I to myself this morning; who knows but there
+may be a letter from MD at the Coffee-house?  Well, you must know, and so, I
+just now sent Patrick, and he brought me three letters, but not one from MD,
+no indeed, for I read all the superscriptions; and not one from MD.  One I
+opened, it was from the Archbishop;[7] t'other I opened, it was from
+Staunton;[8] the third I took, and looked at the hand.  Whose hand is this?
+says I; yes, says I, whose hand is this?  Then there was wax between the
+folds; then I began to suspect; then I peeped; faith, it was Walls's hand
+after all:  then I opened it in a rage, and then it was little MD's hand,
+dear, little, pretty, charming MD's sweet hand again.  O Lord, an't here a
+clutter and a stir, and a bustle? never saw the like.  Faith, I believe yours
+lay some days at the post-office, and that it came before my eighteenth went,
+but that I did not expect it, and I hardly ever go there.  Well, and so you
+think I'll answer this letter now; no, faith, and so I won't.  I'll make you
+wait, young women; but I'll inquire immediately about poor Dingley's exchequer
+trangum.[9]  What, is that Vedel again a soldier? was he broke?  I'll put it
+in Ben Tooke's hand.  I hope Vedel could not sell it.--At night.  Vedel,
+Vedel, poh, pox, I think it is Vedeau;[10] ay, Vedeau, now I have it; let me
+see, do you name him in yours?  Yes, Mr. John Vedeau is the brother; but where
+does this brother live?  I'll inquire.  This was a fast-day for the public; so
+I dined late with Sir Matthew Dudley, whom I have not been with a great while.
+He is one of those that must lose his employment whenever the great shake
+comes; and I can't contribute to keep him in, though I have dropped words in
+his favour to the Ministry; but he is too violent a Whig, and friend to the
+Lord Treasurer,[11] to stay in.  'Tis odd to think how long they let those
+people keep their places; but the reason is, they have not enough to satisfy
+all expecters, and so they keep them all in hopes, that they may be good boys
+in the meantime; and thus the old ones hold in still.  The Comptroller[12]
+told me that there are eight people expect his staff.  I walked after dinner
+to-day round the Park.  What, do I write politics to little young women?  Hold
+your tongue, and go to your Dean's.
+
+29.  Morning.  If this be a fine day, I will walk into the City, and see
+Charles Barnard's library.  What care I for your letter, saucy N.12?  I will
+say nothing to it yet:  faith, I believe this will be full before its time,
+and then go it must.  I will always write once a fortnight; and if it goes
+sooner by filling sooner, why, then there is so much clear gain.  Morrow,
+morrow, rogues and lasses both, I can't lie scribbling here in bed for your
+play; I must rise, and so morrow again.--At night.  Your friend Montgomery and
+his sister are here, as I am told by Patrick.  I have seen him often, but take
+no notice of him:  he is grown very ugly and pimpled.  They tell me he is a
+gamester, and wins money.--How could I help it, pray?  Patrick snuffed the
+candle too short, and the grease ran down upon the paper.[13]  It an't my
+fault, 'tis Patrick's fault; pray now don't blame Presto.  I walked today in
+the City, and dined at a private house, and went to see the auction of poor
+Charles Barnard's books; they were in the middle of the physic books, so I
+bought none; and they are so dear, I believe I shall buy none, and there is an
+end; and go to Stoyte's, and I'll go sleep.
+
+30.  Morning.  This is Good Friday, you must know; and I must rise and go to
+Mr. Secretary about some business, and Mrs. Vanhomrigh desires me to breakfast
+with her, because she is to intercede for Patrick, who is so often drunk and
+quarrelsome in the house, that I was resolved to send him over; but he knows
+all the places where I send, and is so used to my ways, that it would be
+inconvenient to me; but when I come to Ireland, I will discharge him.[14]  Sir
+Thomas Mansel,[15] one of the Lords of the Treasury, setting me down at my
+door to-day, saw Patrick, and swore he was a Teague-lander.[16]  I am so used
+to his face, I never observed it, but thought him a pretty fellow.  Sir Andrew
+Fountaine and I supped this fast-day with Mrs. Vanhomrigh.  We were afraid Mr.
+Harley's wound would turn to a fistula; but we think the danger is now past.
+He rises every day, and walks about his room, and we hope he will be out in a
+fortnight.  Prior showed me a handsome paper of verses he has writ on Mr.
+Harley's accident:[17]  they are not out; I will send them to you, if he will
+give me a copy.
+
+31.  Morning.  What shall we do to make April fools this year, now it happens
+on Sunday?  Patrick brings word that Mr. Harley still mends, and is up every
+day.  I design to see him in a few days:  and he brings me word too that he
+has found out Vedeau's brother's shop:  I shall call there in a day or two.
+It seems the wife lodges next door to the brother.  I doubt the scoundrel was
+broke, and got a commission, or perhaps is a volunteer gentleman, and expects
+to get one by his valour.  Morrow, sirrahs, let me rise.--At night.  I dined
+to-day with Sir Thomas Mansel.  We were walking in the Park, and Mr. Lewis
+came to us.  Mansel asked where we dined.  We said, "Together."  He said, we
+should dine with him, only his wife[18] desired him to bring nobody, because
+she had only a leg of mutton.  I said I would dine with him to choose; but he
+would send a servant to order a plate or two:  yet this man has ten thousand
+pounds a year in land, and is a Lord of the Treasury, and is not covetous
+neither, but runs out merely by slattering[19] and negligence.  The worst
+dinner I ever saw at the Dean's was better:  but so it is with abundance of
+people here.  I called at night at Mr. Harley's, who begins to walk in his
+room with a stick, but is mighty weak.--See how much I have lost with that
+ugly grease.[20]  'Tis your fault, pray; and I'll go to bed.
+
+April 1.  The Duke of Buckingham's house fell down last night with an
+earthquake, and is half swallowed up; won't you go and see it?--An April fool,
+an April fool, oh ho, young women.  Well, don't be angry.  I will make you an
+April fool no more till the next time; we had no sport here, because it is
+Sunday, and Easter Sunday.  I dined with the Secretary, who seemed terribly
+down and melancholy, which Mr. Prior and Lewis observed as well as I:  perhaps
+something is gone wrong; perhaps there is nothing in it.  God bless my own
+dearest MD, and all is well.
+
+2.  We have such windy weather, 'tis troublesome walking, yet all the rabble
+have got into our Park these Easter holidays.  I am plagued with one
+Richardson, an Irish parson, and his project of printing Irish Bibles, etc.,
+to make you Christians in that country:  I befriend him what I can, on account
+of the Archbishop and Bishop of Clogher.--But what business have I to meddle,
+etc.  Do not you remember that, sirrah Stella? what was that about, when you
+thought I was meddling with something that was not my business?  O, faith, you
+are an impudent slut, I remember your doings, I'll never forget you as long as
+I live.  Lewis and I dined together at his lodgings.  But where's the answer
+to this letter of MD's?  O, faith, Presto, you must think of that.  Time
+enough, says saucy Presto.
+
+3.  I was this morning to see Mrs. Barton:  I love her better than anybody
+here, and see her seldomer.  Why, really now, so it often happens in the
+world, that where one loves a body best--pshah, pshah, you are so silly with
+your moral observations.  Well, but she told me a very good story.  An old
+gentlewoman died here two months ago, and left in her will, to have eight men
+and eight maids bearers, who should have two guineas apiece, ten guineas to
+the parson for a sermon, and two guineas to the clerk.  But bearers, parson,
+and clerk must be all true virgins; and not to be admitted till they took
+their oaths of virginity:  so the poor woman still lies unburied, and so must
+do till the general resurrection.--I called at Mr. Secretary's, to see what
+the D---- ailed him on Sunday.  I made him a very proper speech; told him I
+observed he was much out of temper; that I did not expect he would tell me the
+cause, but would be glad to see he was in better; and one thing I warned him
+of, never to appear cold to me, for I would not be treated like a schoolboy;
+that I had felt too much of that in my life already (meaning from Sir William
+Temple); that I expected every great Minister who honoured me with his
+acquaintance, if he heard or saw anything to my disadvantage, would let me
+know it in plain words, and not put me in pain to guess by the change or
+coldness of his countenance or behaviour; for it was what I would hardly bear
+from a crowned head, and I thought no subject's favour was worth it; and that
+I designed to let my Lord Keeper[21] and Mr. Harley know the same thing, that
+they might use me accordingly.  He took all right; said I had reason; vowed
+nothing ailed him but sitting up whole nights at business, and one night at
+drinking; would have had me dine with him and Mrs. Masham's brother, to make
+up matters; but I would not.  I don't know, but I would not.  But indeed I was
+engaged with my old friend Rollinson;[22] you never heard of him before.
+
+4.  I sometimes look a line or two back, and see plaguy mistakes of the pen;
+how do you get over them?  You are puzzled sometimes.  Why, I think what I
+said to Mr. Secretary was right.  Don't you remember how I used to be in pain
+when Sir William Temple would look cold and out of humour for three or four
+days, and I used to suspect a hundred reasons?  I have plucked up my spirit
+since then, faith; he spoilt a fine gentleman.  I dined with my neighbour
+Vanhomrigh, and MD, poor MD, at home on a loin of mutton and half a pint of
+wine, and the mutton was raw, poor Stella could not eat, poor dear rogue, and
+Dingley was so vexed; but we will dine at Stoyte's to-morrow.  Mr. Harley
+promised to see me in a day or two, so I called this evening; but his son and
+others were abroad, and he asleep, so I came away, and found out Mrs. Vedeau.
+She drew out a letter from Dingley, and said she would get a friend to receive
+the money.  I told her I would employ Mr. Tooke in it henceforward.  Her
+husband bought a lieutenancy of foot, and is gone to Portugal.  He sold his
+share of the shop to his brother, and put out the money to maintain her, all
+but what bought the commission.  She lodges within two doors of her brother.
+She told me it made her very melancholy to change her manner of life thus, but
+trade was dead, etc.  She says she will write to you soon.  I design to engage
+Ben Tooke, and then receive the parchment from her.--I gave Mr. Dopping a copy
+of Prior's verses on Mr. Harley; he sent them yesterday to Ireland, so go look
+for them, for I won't be at the trouble to transcribe them here.  They will be
+printed in a day or two.  Give my hearty service to Stoyte and Catherine:
+upon my word I love them dearly, and desire you will tell them so:  pray
+desire Goody Stoyte not to let Mrs. Walls and Mrs. Johnson cheat her of her
+money at ombre, but assure her from me that she is a bungler.  Dine with her
+to-day, and tell her so, and drink my health, and good voyage, and speedy
+return, and so you're a rogue.
+
+5.  Morning.  Now let us proceed to examine a saucy letter from one Madam MD.-
+-God Almighty bless poor dear Stella, and send her a great many birthdays, all
+happy, and healthy, and wealthy, and with me ever together, and never asunder
+again, unless by chance.  When I find you are happy or merry there, it makes
+me so here, and I can hardly imagine you absent when I am reading your letter,
+or writing to you.  No, faith, you are just here upon this little paper, and
+therefore I see and talk with you every evening constantly, and sometimes in
+the morning, but not always in the morning, because that is not so modest to
+young ladies.--What, you would fain palm a letter on me more than you sent:
+and I, like a fool, must look over all yours, to see whether this was really
+N.12, or more. [Patrick has this moment brought me letters from the Bishop of
+Clogher and Parvisol; my heart was at my mouth for fear of one from MD; what a
+disgrace would it be to have two of yours to answer together!  But, faith,
+this shall go to-night, for fear; and then come when it will, I defy it.]  No,
+you are not naughty at all, write when you are disposed.  And so the Dean told
+you the story of Mr. Harley from the Archbishop; I warrant it never spoiled
+your supper, or broke off your game.  Nor yet, have not you the box?  I wish
+Mrs. Edgworth had the -----.  But you have it now, I suppose; and is the
+chocolate good, or has the tobacco spoilt it?  Leigh stays till Sterne has
+done his business, no longer; and when that will be, God knows:  I befriend
+him as much as I can, but Harley's accident stops that as well as all things
+else.  You guess, Madam Dingley, that I shall stay a round twelvemonth; as
+hope saved, I would come over, if I could, this minute; but we will talk of
+that by and by. Your affair of Vedeau I have told you of already; now to the
+next, turn over the leaf.  Mrs. Dobbins lies, I have no more provision here or
+in Ireland than I had.  I am pleased that Stella the conjurer approves what I
+did with Mr. Harley;[23] but your generosity makes me mad; I know you repine
+inwardly at Presto's absence; you think he has broken his word of coming in
+three months, and that this is always his trick; and now Stella says she does
+not see possibly how I can come away in haste, and that MD is satisfied, etc.
+An't you a rogue to overpower me thus?  I did not expect to find such friends
+as I have done.  They may indeed deceive me too.  But there are important
+reasons[Pox on this grease, this candle tallow!] why they should not.[24]  I
+have been used barbarously by the late Ministry; I am a little piqued in
+honour to let people see I am not to be despised.  The assurances they give
+me, without any scruple or provocation, are such as are usually believed in
+the world; they may come to nothing, but the first opportunity that offers,
+and is neglected, I shall depend no more, but come away.  I could say a
+thousand things on this head, if I were with you.  I am thinking why Stella
+should not go to the Bath, if she be told it will do her good.  I will make
+Parvisol get up fifty pounds, and pay it you; and you may be good housewives,
+and live cheap there some months, and return in autumn, or visit London, as
+you please:  pray think of it.  I writ to Bernage, directed to Curry's; I wish
+he had the letter.  I will send the bohea tea, if I can.  The Bishop of
+Kilmore,[25] I don't keep such company; an old dying fool whom I never was
+with in my life.  So I am no godfather;[26] all the better.  Pray, Stella,
+explain those two words of yours to me, what you mean by VILLIAN and
+DAINGER;[27] and you, Madam Dingley, what is CHRISTIANING?--Lay your letter
+THIS WAY, THIS WAY, and the devil a bit of difference between this way and the
+other way.  No; I will show you, lay them THIS WAY, THIS WAY, and not THAT
+WAY, THAT WAY.[28]--You shall have your aprons; and I will put all your
+commissions as they come, in a paper together, and do not think I will forget
+MD's orders, because they are friends; I will be as careful as if they were
+strangers.  I knew not what to do about this Clements.[29]  Walls will not let
+me say anything as if Mr. Pratt was against him; and now the Bishop of Clogher
+has written to me in his behalf.  This thing does not rightly fall in my way,
+and that people never consider:  I always give my good offices where they are
+proper, and that I am judge of; however, I will do what I can.  But, if he has
+the name of a Whig, it will be hard, considering my Lord Anglesea and Hyde[30]
+are very much otherwise, and you know they have the employment of Deputy
+Treasurer.  If the frolic should take you of going to the Bath, I here send
+you a note on Parvisol; if not, you may tear it, and there's an end.
+Farewell.
+
+If you have an imagination that the Bath will do you good, I say again, I
+would have you go; if not, or it be inconvenient, burn this note.  Or, if you
+would go, and not take so much money, take thirty pounds, and I will return
+you twenty from hence.  Do as you please, sirrahs.  I suppose it will not be
+too late for the first season; if it be, I would have you resolve however to
+go the second season, if the doctors say it will do you good, and you fancy
+so.
+
+
+
+LETTER 20.
+
+LONDON, April 5, 1711.
+
+I put my nineteenth in the post-office just now myself, as I came out of the
+City, where I dined.  This rain ruins me in coach-hire; I walked away
+sixpennyworth, and came within a shilling length, and then took a coach,[1]
+and got a lift back for nothing; and am now busy.
+
+6.  Mr. Secretary desired I would see him this morning; said he had several
+things to say to me, and said not one; and the Duke of Ormond sent to desire I
+would meet him at Mr. Southwell's by ten this morning too, which I did,
+thinking it was some particular matter.  All the Irish in town were there, to
+consult upon preventing a Bill for laying a duty on Irish yarn; so we talked a
+while, and then all went to the lobby of the House of Commons, to solicit our
+friends, and the Duke came among the rest; and Lord Anglesea solicited
+admirably, and I did wonders.  But, after all, the matter was put off till
+Monday, and then we are to be at it again.  I dined with Lord Mountjoy, and
+looked over him at chess, which put me in mind of Stella and Griffyth.[2]  I
+came home, and that dog Patrick was not within; so I fretted, and fretted, and
+what good did that do me?
+
+     And so get you gone to your deans,
+     You couple of queans.
+
+I cannot find rhyme to Walls and Stoyte.--Yes, yes,
+
+     You expect Mrs. Walls,
+     Be dressed when she calls,
+     To carry you to Stoyte,
+     Or else HONI SOIT.
+
+Henley told me that the Tories were insup-port-able people, because they are
+for bringing in French claret, and will not SUP-PORT.  Mr. Harley will hardly
+get abroad this week or ten days yet.  I reckon, when I send away this letter,
+he will be just got into the House of Commons.  My last letter went in twelve
+days, and so perhaps may this.  No it won't, for those letters that go under a
+fortnight are answers to one of yours, otherwise you must take the days as
+they happen, some dry, some wet, some barren, some fruitful, some merry, some
+insipid; some, etc.--I will write you word exactly the first day I see young
+gooseberries, and pray observe how much later you are.  We have not had five
+fine days this five weeks, but rain or wind.  'Tis a late spring they say
+here.--Go to bed, you two dear saucy brats, and don't keep me up all night.
+
+7.  Ford has been at Epsom, to avoid Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  He forced
+me to-day to dine with him; and tells me there are letters from Ireland,
+giving an account of a great indiscretion in the Archbishop of Dublin, who
+applied a story out of Tacitus very reflectingly on Mr. Harley, and that
+twenty people have written of it; I do not believe it yet.[3]  I called this
+evening to see Mr. Secretary, who has been very ill with the gravel and pain
+in his back, by burgundy and champagne, added to the sitting up all night at
+business; I found him drinking tea while the rest were at champagne, and was
+very glad of it.  I have chid him so severely that I hardly knew whether he
+would take it well:  then I went and sat an hour with Mrs. St. John, who is
+growing a great favourite of mine; she goes to the Bath on Wednesday, for she
+is much out of health, and has begged me to take care of the Secretary.
+
+8.  I dined to-day with Mr. Secretary St. John; he gave me a letter to read,
+which was from the publisher of the newspaper called the Postboy;[4] in it
+there was a long copy of a letter from Dublin, giving an account of what the
+Whigs said upon Mr. Harley's being stabbed, and how much they abuse him and
+Mr. Secretary St. John; and at the end there were half a dozen lines, telling
+the story of the Archbishop of Dublin, and abusing him horribly; this was to
+be printed on Tuesday.  I told the Secretary I would not suffer that about the
+Archbishop to be printed, and so I crossed it out; and afterwards, to prevent
+all danger, I made him give me the letter, and, upon further thought, would
+let none of it be published:  and I sent for the printer, and told him so, and
+ordered him, in the Secretary's name, to print nothing reflecting on anybody
+in Ireland till he had showed it me.  Thus I have prevented a terrible scandal
+to the Archbishop, by a piece of perfect good fortune.  I will let him know it
+by next post; and pray, if you pick it out, let me know, and whether he is
+thankful for it; but say nothing.
+
+9.  I was to-day at the House of Commons again about their yarn, at Lord
+Anglesea's desire; but the business is again put off till Monday.  I dined
+with Sir John Stanley, by an assignation I had made with Mr. St. John, and
+George Granville, the Secretary at War; but they let in other company, some
+ladies, and so we were not so easy as I intended.  My head is pretty
+tolerable, but every day I feel some little disorders; I have left off snuff
+since Sunday, finding myself much worse after taking a good deal at the
+Secretary's.  I would not let him drink one drop of champagne or burgundy
+without water, and in compliment I did so myself.  He is much better; but when
+he is well, he is like Stella, and will not be governed.  So go to your
+Stoyte's, and I'll go sleep.
+
+10.  I have been visiting Lady Worsley and Mrs. Barton today, and dined
+soberly with my friend Lewis.  The Dauphin is dead of an apoplexy; I wish he
+had lived till the finishing of this letter, that it might be news to you.
+Duncombe,[5] the rich alderman, died to-day, and I hear has left the Duke of
+Argyle, who married his niece, two hundred thousand pounds; I hope it is true,
+for I love that Duke mightily.  I writ this evening to the Archbishop of
+Dublin, about what I told you; and then went to take leave of poor Mrs. St.
+John, who gave me strict charge to take care of the Secretary in her absence;
+said she had none to trust but me; and the poor creature's tears came fresh in
+her eyes.  Before we took leave, I was drawn in by the other ladies and Sir
+John Stanley to raffle for a fan, with a pox; it was four guineas, and we put
+in seven shillings apiece, several raffling for absent people; but I lost, and
+so missed an opportunity of showing my gallantry to Mrs. St. John, whom I
+designed to have presented it to if I had won.  Is Dilly[6] gone to the Bath?
+His face will whizz in the water; I suppose he will write to us from thence,
+and will take London in his way back.--The rabble will say, "There goes a
+drunken parson"; and, which is worse, they will say true.  Oh, but you must
+know I carried Ford to dine with Mr. St. John last Sunday, that he may brag,
+when he goes back, of dining with a Secretary of State.  The Secretary and I
+went away early, and left him drinking with the rest, and he told me that two
+or three of them were drunk.  They talk of great promotions to be made; that
+Mr. Harley is to be Lord Treasurer, and Lord Poulett[7] Master of the Horse,
+etc., but they are only conjecture.  The Speaker is to make Mr. Harley a
+compliment the first time he comes into the House, which I hope will be in a
+week.  He has had an ill surgeon, by the caprice of that puppy Dr. Radcliffe,
+which has kept him back so long; and yesterday he got a cold, but is better
+to-day.--What! I think I am stark mad, to write so much in one day to little
+saucy MD; here is a deal of stuff, indeed! can't you bid those little dear
+rogues good-night, and let them go sleep, Mr. Presto?  When your tongue runs
+there's no ho with you, pray.
+
+11.  Again at the lobby (like a lobcock)[8] of the House of Commons, about
+your Irish yarn, and again put off till Friday; and I and Patrick went into
+the City by water, where I dined, and then I went to the auction of Charles
+Barnard's books; but the good ones were so monstrous dear, I could not reach
+them, so I laid out one pound seven shillings but very indifferently, and came
+away, and will go there no more.  Henley would fain engage me to go with
+Steele and Rowe, etc., to an invitation at Sir William Read's.[9]  Surely you
+have heard of him.  He has been a mountebank, and is the Queen's oculist; he
+makes admirable punch, and treats you in gold vessels.  But I am engaged, and
+will not go, neither indeed am I fond of the jaunt.  So good-night, and go
+sleep.
+
+12.  I went about noon to the Secretary, who is very ill with a cold, and
+sometimes of the gravel, with his champagne, etc.  I scolded him like a dog,
+and he promises faithfully more care for the future.  To-day my Lord Anglesea,
+and Sir Thomas Hammer, and Prior, and I dined, by appointment, with
+Lieutenant-General Webb.[10]  My lord and I stayed till ten o'clock; but we
+drank soberly, and I always with water.  There was with us one Mr.
+Campain,[11] one of the October Club, if you know what that is; a Club of
+country members, who think the Ministers are too backward in punishing and
+turning out the Whigs.  I found my lord and the rest thought I had more credit
+with the Ministry than I pretend to have, and would have engaged me to put
+them upon something that would satisfy their desires, and indeed I think they
+have some reason to complain; however, I will not burn my fingers.  I will
+remember Stella's chiding, "What had you to do with what did not belong to
+you?" etc.  However, you will give me leave to tell the Ministry my thoughts
+when they ask them, and other people's thoughts sometimes when they do not
+ask; so thinks Dingley.
+
+13.  I called this morning at Mrs. Vedeau's again, who has employed a friend
+to get the money; it will be done in a fortnight, and then she will deliver me
+up the parchment.  I went then to see Mr. Harley, who I hope will be out in a
+few days; he was in excellent good humour, only complained to me of the
+neglect of Guiscard's cure, how glad he would have been to have had him live.
+Mr. Secretary came in to us, and we were very merry till Lord Chamberlain
+(Duke of Shrewsbury)[12] came up; then Colonel Masham and I went off, after I
+had been presented to the Duke, and that we made two or three silly
+compliments suitable to the occasion.  Then I attended at the House of Commons
+about your yarn, and it is again put off.  Then Ford drew me to dine at a
+tavern; it happened to be the day and the house where the October Club dine.
+After we had dined, coming down we called to inquire whether our yarn business
+had been over that day, and I sent into the room for Sir George Beaumont.[13]
+But I had like to be drawn into a difficulty; for in two minutes out comes Mr.
+Finch,[14] Lord Guernsey's son, to let me know that my Lord Compton,[15] the
+steward of this feast, desired, in the name of the Club, that I would do them
+the honour to dine with them.  I sent my excuses, adorned with about thirty
+compliments, and got off as fast as I could.  It would have been a most
+improper thing for me to dine there, considering my friendship with the
+Ministry.  The Club is about a hundred and fifty, and near eighty of them were
+then going to dinner at two long tables in a great ground-room.  At evening I
+went to the auction of Barnard's books, and laid out three pounds three
+shillings, but I'll go there no more; and so I said once before, but now I'll
+keep to it.  I forgot to tell that when I dined at Webb's with Lord Anglesea,
+I spoke to him of Clements, as one recommended for a very honest gentleman and
+good officer, and hoped he would keep him.  He said he had not thought
+otherwise, and that he should certainly hold his place while he continued to
+deserve it; and I could not find there had been any intentions from his
+lordship against him.  But I tell you, hunny, the impropriety of this.  A
+great man will do a favour for me, or for my friend; but why should he do it
+for my friend's friend?  Recommendations should stop before they come to that.
+Let any friend of mine recommend one of his to me for a thing in my power, I
+will do it for his sake; but to speak to another for my friend's friend is
+against all reason; and I desire you will understand this, and discourage any
+such troubles given me.--I hope this may do some good to Clements, it can do
+him no hurt; and I find by Mrs. Pratt,[16] that her husband is his friend; and
+the Bishop of Clogher says Clements's danger is not from Pratt, but from some
+other enemies, that think him a Whig.
+
+14.  I was so busy this morning that I did not go out till late.  I writ to-
+day to the Duke of Argyle, but said nothing of Bernage, who, I believe, will
+not see him till Spain is conquered, and that is, not at all.  I was to-day at
+Lord Shelburne's, and spoke to Mrs. Pratt again about Clements; her husband
+himself wants some good offices, and I have done him very good ones lately,
+and told Mrs. Pratt I expected her husband should stand by Clements in return.
+Sir Andrew Fountaine and I dined with neighbour Vanhomrigh; he is mighty ill
+of an asthma, and apprehends himself in much danger; 'tis his own fault, that
+will rake and drink, when he is but just crawled out of his grave.  I will
+send this letter just now, because I think my half-year is out for my lodging;
+and, if you please, I would be glad it were paid off, and some deal boxes made
+for my books, and kept in some safe place.  I would give something for their
+keeping:  but I doubt that lodging will not serve me when I come back; I would
+have a larger place for books, and a stable, if possible.  So pray be so kind
+to pay the lodging, and all accounts about it; and get Mrs. Brent to put up my
+things.  I would have no books put in that trunk where my papers are.  If you
+do not think of going to the Bath, I here send you a bill on Parvisol for
+twenty pounds Irish, out of which you will pay for the lodging, and score the
+rest to me.  Do as you please, and love poor Presto, that loves MD better than
+his life a thousand millions of times.  Farewell, MD, etc. etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 21.
+
+LONDON, April 14, 1711.
+
+Remember, sirrahs, that there are but nine days between the dates of my two
+former letters.  I sent away my twentieth this moment, and now am writing on
+like a fish, as if nothing was done.  But there was a cause for my hasting
+away the last, for fear it should not come time enough before a new quarter
+began.  I told you where I dined to-day; but forgot to tell you what I
+believe, that Mr. Harley will be Lord Treasurer in a short time, and other
+great removes and promotions made.  This is my thought, etc.
+
+15.  I was this morning with Mr. Secretary, and he is grown pretty well.  I
+dined with him to-day, and drank some of that wine which the Duke of Tuscany
+used to send to Sir William Temple:[1]  he always sends some to the chief
+Ministers.  I liked it mightily, but he does not; and he ordered his butler to
+send me a chest of it to-morrow.  Would to God MD had it!  The Queen is well
+again, and was at chapel to-day, etc.
+
+16.  I went with Ford into the City to-day, and dined with Stratford, and
+drank Tokay, and then we went to the auction; but I did not lay out above
+twelve shillings.  My head is a little out of order to-night, though no formal
+fit.  My Lord Keeper has sent to invite me to dinner to-morrow, and you'll
+dine better with the Dean; and God bless you.  I forgot to tell you that
+yesterday was sent me a Narrative printed, with all the circumstances of Mr.
+Harley's stabbing.  I had not time to do it myself; so I sent my hints to the
+author of the Atalantis,[2] and she has cooked it into a sixpenny pamphlet, in
+her own style, only the first page is left as I was beginning it.  But I was
+afraid of disobliging Mr. Harley or Mr. St. John in one critical point about
+it, and so would not do it myself.  It is worth your reading, for the
+circumstances are all true.  My chest of Florence was sent me this morning,
+and cost me seven and sixpence to two servants.  I would give two guineas you
+had it, etc.
+
+17.  I was so out of order with my head this morning, that I was going to send
+my excuses to my Lord Keeper; but however I got up at eleven, and walked there
+after two, and stayed till eight.  There was Sir Thomas Mansel, Prior, George
+Granville, and Mr. Caesar,[3] and we were very merry.  My head is still wrong,
+but I have had no formal fit, only I totter a little.  I have left off snuff
+altogether.  I have a noble roll of tobacco for grating, very good.  Shall I
+send it to MD, if she likes that sort?  My Lord Keeper and our this day's
+company are to dine on Saturday with George Granville, and to-morrow I dine
+with Lord Anglesea.
+
+18.  Did you ever see such a blundering goosecap as Presto?  I saw the number
+21 at top, and so I went on as if it were the day of the month, whereas this
+is but Wednesday the 18th.  How shall I do to blot and alter them?  I have
+made a shift to do it behind, but it is a great botch.  I dined with Lord
+Anglesea to-day, but did not go to the House of Commons about the yarn; my
+head was not well enough.  I know not what is the matter; it has never been
+thus before:  two days together giddy from morning till night, but not with
+any violence or pain; and I totter a little, but can make shift to walk.  I
+doubt I must fall to my pills again:  I think of going into the country a
+little way.  I tell you what you must do henceforward:  you must enclose your
+letter in a fair half-sheet of paper, and direct the outside "To Erasmus
+Lewis, Esquire, at my Lord Dartmouth's office at Whitehall":  for I never go
+to the Coffee-house, and they will grudge to take in my letters.  I forgot to
+tell you that your mother was to see me this morning, and brought me a flask
+of sweet-water for a present, admirable for my head; but I shall not smell to
+it.  She is going to Sheen, with Lady Giffard:  she would fain send your
+papers over to you, or give them to me.  Say what you would have done, and it
+shall be done; because I love Stella, and she is a good daughter, they say,
+and so is Dingley.
+
+19.  This morning General Webb was to give me a visit:  he goes with a crutch
+and stick, yet was forced to come up two pair of stairs.  I promised to dine
+with him, but afterwards sent my excuses, and dined privately in my friend
+Lewis's lodgings at Whitehall, with whom I had much business to talk of,
+relating to the public and myself.  Little Harrison the Tatler goes to-morrow
+to the secretaryship I got him at the Hague, and Mr. St. John has made him a
+present of fifty guineas to bear his charges.  An't I a good friend?  Why are
+not you a young fellow, that I might prefer you?  I had a letter from Bernage
+from Kinsale:  he tells me his commission for captain-lieutenant was ready for
+him at his arrival:  so there are two jackanapeses I have done with.  My head
+is something better this evening, though not well.
+
+20.  I was this morning with Mr. Secretary, whose packets were just come in,
+and among them a letter from Lord Peterborow to me:  he writes so well, I have
+no mind to answer him, and so kind, that I must answer him.  The Emperor's[4]
+death must, I think, cause great alterations in Europe, and, I believe, will
+hasten a peace.  We reckon our King Charles will be chosen Emperor, and the
+Duke of Savoy set up for Spain; but I believe he will make nothing of it.  Dr.
+Freind and I dined in the City at a printer's, and it has cost me two
+shillings in coach-hire, and a great deal more this week and month, which has
+been almost all rain, with now and then sunshine, and is the truest April that
+I have known these many years.  The lime-trees in the Park are all out in
+leaves, though not large leaves yet.  Wise people are going into the country;
+but many think the Parliament can hardly be up these six weeks.  Mr. Harley
+was with the Queen on Tuesday.  I believe certainly he will be Lord Treasurer:
+I have not seen him this week.
+
+21.  Morning.  Lord Keeper, and I, and Prior, and Sir Thomas Mansel, have
+appointed to dine this day with George Granville.  My head, I thank God, is
+better; but to be giddyish three or four days together mortified me.  I take
+no snuff, and I will be very regular in eating little and the gentlest meats.
+How does poor Stella just now, with her deans and her Stoytes?  Do they give
+you health for the money you lose at ombre, sirrah?  What say you to that?
+Poor Dingley frets to see Stella lose that four and elevenpence, the other
+night.  Let us rise.  Morrow, sirrahs.  I will rise, spite of your little
+teeth; good-morrow.--At night.  O, faith, you are little dear saucyboxes.  I
+was just going in the morning to tell you that I began to want a letter from
+MD, and in four minutes after Mr. Ford sends me one that he had picked up at
+St. James's Coffee-house; for I go to no coffee-house at all.  And, faith, I
+was glad at heart to see it, and to see Stella so brisk.  O Lord, what
+pretending?  Well, but I will not answer it yet; I'll keep it for t'other
+side.  Well, we dined to-day according to appointment:  Lord Keeper went away
+at near eight, I at eight, and I believe the rest will be fairly fuddled; for
+young Harcourt,[5] Lord Keeper's son, began to prattle before I came away.  It
+will not do with Prior's lean carcass.  I drink little, miss my glass often,
+put water in my wine, and go away before the rest, which I take to be a good
+receipt for sobriety.  Let us put it into rhyme, and so make a proverb--
+
+     Drink little at a time;
+     Put water with your wine;
+     Miss your glass when you can;
+     And go off the first man.
+
+God be thanked, I am much better than I was, though something of a totterer.
+I ate but little to-day, and of the gentlest meat.  I refused ham and pigeons,
+pease-soup, stewed beef, cold salmon, because they were too strong.  I take no
+snuff at all, but some herb snuff prescribed by Dr. Radcliffe.
+
+     Go to your deans,
+     You couple of queans.
+
+I believe I said that already.  What care I?  what cares Presto?
+
+22.  Morning.  I must rise and go to the Secretary's.  Mr. Harley has been out
+of town this week to refresh himself before he comes into Parliament.  Oh, but
+I must rise, so there is no more to be said; and so morrow, sirrahs both.--
+Night.  I dined to-day with the Secretary, who has engaged me for every
+Sunday; and I was an hour with him this morning deep in politics, where I told
+him the objections of the October Club, and he answered all except one, that
+no inquiries are made into past mismanagement.  But indeed I believe they are
+not yet able to make any:  the late Ministry were too cunning in their
+rogueries, and fenced themselves with an Act of general pardon.  I believe Mr.
+Harley must be Lord Treasurer; yet he makes one difficulty which is hard to
+answer:  he must be made a lord, and his estate is not large enough, and he is
+too generous to make it larger; and if the Ministry should change soon by any
+accident, he will be left in the suds.  Another difficulty is, that if he be
+made a peer, they will want him prodigiously in the House of Commons, of which
+he is the great mover, and after him the Secretary, and hardly any else of
+weight.  Two shillings more to-day for coach and chair.  I shall be ruined.
+
+23.  So you expect an answer to your letter, do you so?  Yes, yes, you shall
+have an answer, you shall, young women.  I made a good pun on Saturday to my
+Lord Keeper.  After dinner we had coarse Doiley napkins,[6] fringed at each
+end, upon the table, to drink with:  my Lord Keeper spread one of them between
+him and Mr. Prior; I told him I was glad to see there was such a fringeship
+[friendship] between Mr. Prior and his lordship.  Prior swore it was the worst
+he ever heard:  I said I thought so too; but at the same time I thought it was
+most like one of Stella's that ever I heard.  I dined to-day with Lord
+Mountjoy, and this evening saw the Venetian Ambassador[7] coming from his
+first public audience.  His coach was the most monstrous, huge, fine, rich
+gilt thing that ever I saw.  I loitered this evening, and came home late.
+
+24.  I was this morning to visit the Duchess of Ormond,[8] who has long
+desired it, or threatened she would not let me visit her daughters.  I sat an
+hour with her, and we were good company, when in came the Countess of
+Bellamont,[9] with a pox.  I went out, and we did not know one another; yet
+hearing me named, she asked, "What, is that Dr. Swift?" said she and I were
+very well acquainted, and fell a railing at me without mercy, as a lady told
+me that was there; yet I never was but once in the company of that drab of a
+Countess.  Sir Andrew Fountaine and I dined with my neighbour Van.  I design
+in two days, if possible, to go lodge at Chelsea for the air, and put myself
+under a necessity of walking to and from London every day.  I writ this post
+to the Bishop of Clogher a long politic letter, to entertain him.  I am to buy
+statues and harnese[10] for them, with a vengeance.  I have packed and sealed
+up MD's twelve letters against I go to Chelsea.  I have put the last
+commissions of MD in my account-book; but if there be any former ones, I have
+forgot them.  I have Dingley's pocket-book down, and Stella's green silk
+apron, and the pound of tea; pray send me word if you have any other, and down
+they shall go.  I will not answer your letter yet, saucy boxes.  You are with
+the Dean just now, Madam Stella, losing your money.  Why do not you name what
+number you have received?  You say you have received my letters, but do not
+tell the number.
+
+25.  I was this day dining in the City with very insignificant, low, and
+scurvy company.  I had a letter from the Archbishop of Dublin, with a long
+denial of the report raised on him,[11] which yet has been since assured to me
+from those who say they have it from the first hand; but I cannot believe
+them.  I will show it to the Secretary to-morrow.  I will not answer yours
+till I get to Chelsea.
+
+26.  Chelsea.  I have sent two boxes of lumber to my friend Darteneuf's house,
+and my chest of Florence and other things to Mrs. Vanhomrigb, where I dined
+to-day.  I was this morning with the Secretary, and showed him the
+Archbishop's letter, and convinced him of his Grace's innocence, and I will do
+the same to Mr. Harley.  I got here in the stage-coach with Patrick and my
+portmanteau for sixpence, and pay six shillings a week for one silly room with
+confounded coarse sheets.[12]  We have had such a horrible deal of rain, that
+there is no walking to London, and I must go as I came until it mends; and
+besides the whelp has taken my lodging as far from London as this town could
+afford, at least half a mile farther than he need; but I must be content.  The
+best is, I lodge just over against Dr. Atterbury's house, and yet perhaps I
+shall not like the place the better for that.  Well, I will stay till to-
+morrow before I answer your letter; and you must suppose me always writing at
+Chelsea from henceforward, till I alter, and say London.  This letter goes on
+Saturday, which will be just a fortnight; so go and cheat Goody Stoyte, etc.
+
+27.  Do you know that I fear my whole chest of Florence is turned sour, at
+least the two first flasks were so, and hardly drinkable.  How plaguy
+unfortunate am I! and the Secretary's own is the best I ever tasted; and I
+must not tell him, but be as thankful as if it were the best in Christendom.
+I went to town in the sixpenny stage to-day; and hearing Mr. Harley was not at
+home, I went to see him, because I knew by the message of his lying porter
+that he was at home.  He was very well, and just going out, but made me
+promise to dine with him; and betwixt that and indeed strolling about, I lost
+four pound seven shillings at play--with a--a--a--bookseller, and got but
+about half a dozen books.[13]  I will buy no more books now, that's certain.
+Well, I dined at Mr. Harley's, came away at six, shifted my gown, cassock, and
+periwig, and walked hither to Chelsea, as I always design to do when it is
+fair.  I am heartily sorry to find my friend the Secretary stand a little
+ticklish with the rest of the Ministry; there have been one or two disobliging
+things that have happened, too long to tell:  and t'other day in Parliament,
+upon a debate of about thirty-five millions that have not been duly accounted
+for, Mr. Secretary, in his warmth of speech, and zeal for his friend Mr.
+Brydges,[14] on whom part of the blame was falling, said he did not know that
+either Mr. Brydges or the late Ministry were at all to blame in this matter;
+which was very desperately spoken, and giving up the whole cause:  for the
+chief quarrel against the late Ministry was the ill management of the
+treasure, and was more than all the rest together.  I had heard of this
+matter:  but Mr. Foley[15] beginning to discourse to-day at table, without
+naming Mr. St. John, I turned to Mr. Harley, and said if the late Ministry
+were not to blame in that article, he (Mr. Harley) ought to lose his head for
+putting the Queen upon changing them.  He made it a jest; but by some words
+dropped, I easily saw that they take things ill of Mr. St. John; and by some
+hints given me from another hand that I deal with, I am afraid the Secretary
+will not stand long.  This is the fate of Courts.  I will, if I meet Mr. St.
+John alone on Sunday, tell him my opinion, and beg him to set himself right,
+else the consequences may be very bad; for I see not how they can well want
+him neither, and he would make a troublesome enemy.  But enough of politics.
+
+28.  Morning.  I forgot to tell you that Mr. Harley asked me yesterday how he
+came to disoblige the Archbishop of Dublin.  Upon which (having not his letter
+about me) I told him what the Bishop had written to me on that subject,[16]
+and desired I might read him the letter some other time.  But after all, from
+what I have heard from other hands, I am afraid the Archbishop is a little
+guilty.  Here is one Brent Spencer, a brother of Mr. Proby's,[17] who affirms
+it, and says he has leave to do so from Charles Dering,[18] who heard the
+words; and that Ingoldsby,[19] abused the Archbishop, etc.  Well, but now for
+your saucy letter:  I have no room to answer it; O yes, enough on t'other
+side.  Are you no sicker?  Stella jeers Presto for not coming over by
+Christmas; but indeed Stella does not jeer, but reproach, poor poor Presto.
+And how can I come away and the First-Fruits not finished?  I am of opinion
+the Duke of Ormond will do nothing in them before he goes, which will be in a
+fortnight, they say; and then they must fall to me to be done in his absence.
+No, indeed, I have nothing to print:  you know they have printed the
+Miscellanies[20] already.  Are they on your side yet?  If you have my snuff
+box, I will have your strong box.  Hi, does Stella take snuff again? or is it
+only because it is a fine box?  Not the Meddle, but the Medley,[21] you fool.
+Yes, yes, a wretched thing, because it is against you Tories:  now I think it
+very fine, and the Examiner a wretched thing.--Twist your mouth, sirrah.
+Guiscard, and what you will read in the Narrative,[22] I ordered to be
+written, and nothing else.  The Spectator is written by Steele, with Addison's
+help:  it is often very pretty.  Yesterday it was made of a noble hint I gave
+him long ago for his Tatlers, about an Indian supposed to write his Travels
+into England.[23]  I repent he ever had it.  I intended to have written a book
+on that subject.  I believe he has spent it all in one paper, and all the
+under-hints there are mine too; but I never see him or Addison.  The Queen is
+well, but I fear will be no long liver; for I am told she has sometimes the
+gout in her bowels (I hate the word bowels).  My ears have been, these three
+months past, much better than any time these two years; but now they begin to
+be a little out of order again.  My head is better, though not right; but I
+trust to air and walking.  You have got my letter, but what number?  I suppose
+18.  Well, my shin has been well this month.  No, Mrs. Westley[24] came away
+without her husband's knowledge, while she was in the country:  she has
+written to me for some tea.  They lie; Mr. Harley's wound was very terrible:
+he had convulsions, and very narrowly escaped.  The bruise was nine times
+worse than the wound:  he is weak still.  Well, Brooks married; I know all
+that.  I am sorry for Mrs. Walls's eye:  I hope 'tis better.  O yes, you are
+great walkers:  but I have heard them say, "Much talkers, little walkers":
+and I believe I may apply the old proverb to you--
+
+     If you talked no more than you walked,
+     Those that think you wits would be baulked.
+
+Yes, Stella shall have a large printed Bible:  I have put it down among my
+commissions for MD.  I am glad to hear you have taken the fancy of intending
+to read the Bible.  Pox take the box; is not it come yet?  This is trusting to
+your young fellows, young women; 'tis your fault:  I thought you had such
+power with Sterne that he would fly over Mount Atlas to serve you.  You say
+you are not splenetic; but if you be, faith, you will break poor Presto's--I
+will not say the rest; but I vow to God, if I could decently come over now, I
+would, and leave all schemes of politics and ambition for ever.  I have not
+the opportunities here of preserving my health by riding, etc., that I have in
+Ireland; and the want of health is a great cooler of making one's court.  You
+guess right about my being bit with a direction from Walls, and the letter
+from MD:  I believe I described it in one of my last.  This goes to-night; and
+I must now rise and walk to town, and walk back in the evening.  God Almighty
+bless and preserve poor MD.  Farewell.
+
+O, faith, don't think, saucy noses, that I'll fill this third side:  I can't
+stay a letter above a fortnight:  it must go then; and you would rather see a
+short one like this, than want it a week longer.
+
+My humble service to the Dean, and Mrs. Walls, and good, kind, hearty Mrs.
+Stoyte, and honest Catherine.
+
+
+LETTER 22.
+
+CHELSEA, April 28, 1711.
+
+At night.  I say at night, because I finished my twenty-first this morning
+here, and put it into the post-office my own self, like a good boy.  I think I
+am a little before you now, young women:  I am writing my twenty-second, and
+have received your thirteenth.  I got to town between twelve and one, and put
+on my new gown and periwig, and dined with Lord Abercorn, where I had not been
+since the marriage of his son Lord Peasley,[1] who has got ten thousand pounds
+with a wife.  I am now a country gentleman.  I walked home as I went, and am a
+little weary, and am got into bed:  I hope in God the air and exercise will do
+me a little good.  I have been inquiring about statues for Mrs. Ashe:  I made
+Lady Abercorn[2] go with me; and will send them word next post to Clogher.  I
+hate to buy for her:  I am sure she will maunder.  I am going to study.
+
+29.  I had a charming walk to and from town to-day:  I washed, shaved and all,
+and changed gown and periwig, by half an hour after nine, and went to the
+Secretary, who told me how he had differed with his friends in Parliament:  I
+apprehended this division, and told him a great deal of it.  I went to Court,
+and there several mentioned it to me as what they much disliked.  I dined with
+the Secretary; and we proposed doing some business of importance in the
+afternoon, which he broke to me first, and said how he and Mr. Harley were
+convinced of the necessity of it; yet he suffered one of his under-secretaries
+to come upon us after dinner, who stayed till six, and so nothing was done:
+and what care I? he shall send to me the next time, and ask twice.  To-morrow
+I go to the election at Westminster School, where lads are chosen for the
+University:  they say it is a sight, and a great trial of wits.  Our
+Expedition Fleet is but just sailed:  I believe it will come to nothing.  Mr.
+Secretary frets at their tediousness, but hopes great things from it, though
+he owns four or five princes are in the secret; and, for that reason, I fear
+it is no secret to France.  There are eight regiments; and the Admiral[3] is
+your Walker's brother the midwife.
+
+30.  Morn.  I am here in a pretty pickle:  it rains hard; and the cunning
+natives of Chelsea have outwitted me, and taken up all the three stage
+coaches.  What shall I do?  I must go to town:  this is your fault.  I cannot
+walk:  I will borrow a coat.  This is the blind side of my lodging out of
+town; I must expect such inconveniences as these.  Faith, I'll walk in the
+rain.  Morrow.--At night.  I got a gentleman's chaise by chance, and so went
+to town for a shilling, and lie this night in town.  I was at the election of
+lads at Westminster to-day, and a very silly thing it is; but they say there
+will be fine doings to-morrow.  I dined with Dr. Freind,[4] the second master
+of the school, with a dozen parsons and others:  Prior would make me stay.
+Mr. Harley is to hear the election to-morrow; and we are all to dine with
+tickets, and hear fine speeches.  'Tis terrible rainy weather again:  I lie at
+a friend's in the City.
+
+May 1.  I wish you a merry May Day, and a thousand more.  I was baulked at
+Westminster; I came too late:  I heard no speeches nor verses.  They would not
+let me in to their dining-place for want of a ticket; and I would not send in
+for one, because Mr. Harley excused his coming, and Atterbury was not there;
+and I cared not for the rest:  and so my friend Lewis and I dined with Kitt
+Musgrave,[5] if you know such a man:  and, the weather mending, I walked
+gravely home this evening; and so I design to walk and walk till I am well:  I
+fancy myself a little better already.  How does poor Stella?  Dingley is well
+enough.  Go, get you gone, naughty girl, you are well enough.  O dear MD,
+contrive to have some share of the country this spring:  go to Finglas, or
+Donnybrook, or Clogher, or Killala, or Lowth.  Have you got your box yet?
+Yes, yes.  Do not write to me again till this letter goes:  I must make haste,
+that I may write two for one.  Go to the Bath:  I hope you are now at the
+Bath, if you had a mind to go; or go to Wexford:  do something for your
+living.  Have you given up my lodging, according to order?  I have had just
+now a compliment from Dean Atterbury's lady,[6] to command the garden and
+library, and whatever the house affords.  I lodge just over against them; but
+the Dean is in town with his Convocation:  so I have my Dean and Prolocutor as
+well as you, young women, though he has not so good wine, nor so much meat.
+
+2.  A fine day, but begins to grow a little warm; and that makes your little
+fat Presto sweat in the forehead.  Pray, are not the fine buns sold here in
+our town; was it not Rrrrrrrrrare Chelsea buns?[7]  I bought one to-day in my
+walk; it cost me a penny; it was stale, and I did not like it, as the man
+said, etc.  Sir Andrew Fountaine and I dined at Mrs. Vanhomrigh's, and had a
+flask of my Florence, which lies in their cellar; and so I came home gravely,
+and saw nobody of consequence to-day.  I am very easy here, nobody plaguing me
+in a morning; and Patrick saves many a score lies.  I sent over to Mrs
+Atterbury to know whether I might wait on her; but she is gone a visiting:  we
+have exchanged some compliments, but I have not seen her yet.  We have no news
+in our town.
+
+3.  I did not go to town to-day, it was so terrible rainy; nor have I stirred
+out of my room till eight this evening, when I crossed the way to see Mrs.
+Atterbury, and thank her for her civilities.  She would needs send me some
+veal, and small beer, and ale, to-day at dinner; and I have lived a scurvy,
+dull, splenetic day, for want of MD:  I often thought how happy I could have
+been, had it rained eight thousand times more, if MD had been with a body.  My
+Lord Rochester[8] is dead this morning; they say at one o'clock; and I hear he
+died suddenly.  To-morrow I shall know more.  He is a great loss to us:  I
+cannot think who will succeed him as Lord President.  I have been writing a
+long letter to Lord Peterborow, and am dull.
+
+4.  I dined to-day at Lord Shelburne's, where Lady Kerry[9] made me a present
+of four India handkerchiefs, which I have a mind to keep for little MD, only
+that I had rather, etc.  I have been a mighty handkerchief-monger, and have
+bought abundance of snuff ones since I have left off taking snuff.  And I am
+resolved, when I come over, MD shall be acquainted with Lady Kerry:  we have
+struck up a mighty friendship; and she has much better sense than any other
+lady of your country.  We are almost in love with one another:  but she is
+most egregiously ugly; but perfectly well-bred, and governable as I please.  I
+am resolved, when I come, to keep no company but MD:  you know I kept my
+resolution last time; and, except Mr. Addison, conversed with none but you and
+your club of deans and Stoytes.  'Tis three weeks, young women, since I had a
+letter from you; and yet, methinks, I would not have another for five pounds
+till this is gone; and yet I send every day to the Coffee-house, and I would
+fain have a letter, and not have a letter:  and I do not know what, nor I do
+not know how, and this goes on very slow; it is a week to-morrow since I began
+it.  I am a poor country gentleman, and do not know how the world passes.  Do
+you know that every syllable I write I hold my lips just for all the world as
+if I were talking in our own little language to MD?  Faith, I am very silly;
+but I cannot help it for my life.  I got home early to-night.  My solicitors,
+that used to ply me every morning, knew not where to find me; and I am so
+happy not to hear "Patrick, Patrick," called a hundred times every morning.
+But I looked backward, and find I have said this before.  What care I?  Go to
+the Dean, and roast the oranges.
+
+5.  I dined to-day with my friend Lewis, and we were deep in politics how to
+save the present Ministry; for I am afraid of Mr. Secretary, as I believe I
+told you.  I went in the evening to see Mr. Harley; and, upon my word, I was
+in perfect joy.  Mr. Secretary was just going out of the door; but I made him
+come back, and there was the old Saturday Club, Lord Keeper, Lord Rivers, Mr.
+Secretary, Mr. Harley, and I; the first time since his stabbing.  Mr.
+Secretary went away; but I stayed till nine, and made Mr. Harley show me his
+breast, and tell all the story; and I showed him the Archbishop of Dublin's
+letter, and defended him effectually.  We were all in mighty good humour.
+Lord Keeper and I left them together, and I walked here after nine two miles,
+and I found a parson drunk fighting with a seaman, and Patrick and I were so
+wise to part them, but the seaman followed him to Chelsea, cursing at him, and
+the parson slipped into a house, and I know no more.  It mortified me to see a
+man in my coat so overtaken.  A pretty scene for one that just came from
+sitting with the Prime Ministers!  I had no money in my pocket, and so could
+not be robbed.  However, nothing but Mr. Harley shall make me take such a
+journey again.  We don't yet know who will be President in Lord Rochester's
+room.  I measured, and found that the penknife would have killed Mr. Harley if
+it had gone but half the breadth of my thumb-nail lower, so near was he to
+death.  I was so curious as to ask him what were his thoughts while they were
+carrying him home in the chair.  He said he concluded himself a dead man.  He
+will not allow that Guiscard gave him the second stab; though my Lord Keeper,
+who is blind, and I that was not there, are positive in it.  He wears a
+plaster still as broad as half a crown.  Smoke how wide the lines are, but,
+faith, I don't do it on purpose:  but I have changed my side in this new
+Chelsea bed, and I do not know how, methinks, but it is so unfit, and so
+awkward, never saw the like.
+
+6.  You must remember to enclose your letters in a fair paper, and direct the
+outside thus:  "To Erasmus Lewis, Esq.; at my Lord Dartmouth's office at
+Whitehall."  I said so before, but it may miscarry, you know, yet I think none
+of my letters did ever miscarry; faith, I think never one; among all the
+privateers and the storms.  O, faith, my letters are too good to be lost.
+MD's letters may tarry, but never miscarry, as the old woman used to say.  And
+indeed, how should they miscarry, when they never come before their time?  It
+was a terrible rainy day; yet I made a shift to steal fair weather overhead
+enough to go and come in.  I was early with the Secretary, and dined with him
+afterwards.  In the morning I began to chide him, and tell him my fears of his
+proceedings.  But Arthur Moore[10] came up and relieved him.  But I forgot,
+for you never heard of Arthur Moore.  But when I get Mr. Harley alone, I will
+know the bottom.  You will have Dr. Raymond over before this letter, and what
+care you?
+
+7.  I hope and believe my walks every day do me good.  I was busy at home, and
+set out late this morning, and dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, at whose lodgings I
+always change my gown and periwig.  I visited this afternoon, and among
+others, poor Biddy Floyd,[11] who is very red, but I believe won't be much
+marked.  As I was coming home, I met Sir George Beaumont[12] in the Pall Mall,
+who would needs walk with me as far as Buckingham House.  I was telling him of
+my head; he said he had been ill of the same disorder, and by all means forbid
+me bohea tea, which, he said, always gave it him; and that Dr. Radcliffe said
+it was very bad.  Now I had observed the same thing, and have left it off this
+month, having found myself ill after it several times; and I mention it that
+Stella may consider it for her own poor little head:  a pound lies ready
+packed up and directed for Mrs. Walls, to be sent by the first convenience.
+Mr. Secretary told me yesterday that Mr. Harley would this week be Lord
+Treasurer and a peer; so I expect it every day; yet perhaps it may not be till
+Parliament is up, which will be in a fortnight.
+
+8.  I was to-day with the Duke of Ormond, and recommended to him the care of
+poor Joe Beaumont, who promises me to do him all justice and favour, and give
+him encouragement; and desired I would give a memorial to Ned Southwell about
+it, which I will, and so tell Joe when you see him, though he knows it already
+by a letter I writ to Mr. Warburton.[13]  It was bloody hot walking to-day.  I
+dined in the City, and went and came by water; and it rained so this evening
+again, that I thought I should hardly be able to get a dry hour to walk home
+in.  I will send to-morrow to the Coffee-house for a letter from MD; but I
+would not have one methinks till this is gone, as it shall on Saturday.  I
+visited the Duchess of Ormond this morning; she does not go over with the
+Duke.  I spoke to her to get a lad touched for the evil,[14] the son of a
+grocer in Capel Street, one Bell; the ladies have bought sugar and plums of
+him.  Mrs. Mary used to go there often.  This is Patrick's account; and the
+poor fellow has been here some months with his boy.  But the Queen has not
+been able to touch, and it now grows so warm, I fear she will not at all.  Go,
+go, go to the Dean's, and let him carry you to Donnybrook, and cut asparagus.
+Has Parvisol sent you any this year?  I cannot sleep in the beginnings of the
+nights, the heat or something hinders me, and I am drowsy in the mornings.
+
+9.  Dr. Freind came this morning to visit Atterbury's lady and children as
+physician, and persuaded me to go with him to town in his chariot.  He told me
+he had been an hour before with Sir Cholmley Dering, Charles Dering's nephew,
+and head of that family in Kent, for which he is Knight of the shire.  He said
+he left him dying of a pistol-shot quite through the body, by one Mr.
+Thornhill.[15]  They fought at sword and pistol this morning in Tuttle
+Fields,[16] their pistols so near that the muzzles touched.  Thornhill
+discharged first; and Dering, having received the shot, discharged his pistol
+as he was falling, so it went into the air.  The story of this quarrel is
+long.  Thornhill had lost seven teeth by a kick in the mouth from Dering, who
+had first knocked him down; this was above a fortnight ago.  Dering was next
+week to be married to a fine young lady.  This makes a noise here, but you
+will not value it.  Well, Mr. Harley, Lord Keeper, and one or two more, are to
+be made lords immediately; their patents are now passing, and I read the
+preamble to Mr. Harley's, full of his praises.  Lewis and I dined with Ford:
+I found the wine; two flasks of my Florence, and two bottles of six that Dr.
+Raymond sent me of French wine; he sent it to me to drink with Sir Robert
+Raymond and Mr. Harley's brother,[17] whom I had introduced him to; but they
+never could find time to come; and now I have left the town, and it is too
+late.  Raymond will think it a cheat.  What care I, sirrah?
+
+10.  Pshaw, pshaw.  Patrick brought me four letters to-day:  from Dilly at
+Bath; Joe; Parvisol; and what was the fourth, who can tell?  Stand away,
+who'll guess?  Who can it be?  You old man with a stick, can you tell who the
+fourth is from?  Iss, an please your honour, it is from one Madam MD, Number
+Fourteen.  Well; but I can't send this away now, because it was here, and I
+was in town; but it shall go on Saturday, and this is Thursday night, and it
+will be time enough for Wexford.  Take my method:  I write here to Parvisol to
+lend Stella twenty pounds, and to take her note promissory to pay it in half a
+year, etc.  You shall see, and if you want more, let me know afterwards; and
+be sure my money shall be always paid constantly too.  Have you been good or
+ill housewives, pray?
+
+11.  Joe has written me to get him a collector's place, nothing less; he says
+all the world knows of my great intimacy with Mr. Harley, and that the
+smallest word to him will do.  This is the constant cant of puppies who are at
+a distance, and strangers to Courts and Ministers.  My answer is this, which
+pray send:  that I am ready to serve Joe as far as I can; that I have spoken
+to the Duke of Ormond about his money, as I writ to Warburton; that for the
+particular he mentions, it is a work of time, which I cannot think of at
+present; but, if accidents and opportunities should happen hereafter, I would
+not be wanting; that I know best how far my credit goes; that he is at a
+distance, and cannot judge; that I would be glad to do him good, and if
+fortune throws an opportunity in my way I shall not be wanting.  This is my
+answer, which you may send or read to him.  Pray contrive that Parvisol may
+not run away with my two hundred pounds; but get Burton's[18] note, and let
+the money be returned me by bill.  Don't laugh, for I will be suspicious.
+Teach Parvisol to enclose, and direct the outside to Mr. Lewis.  I will answer
+your letter in my next, only what I take notice of here excepted.  I forgot to
+tell you that at the Court of Requests to-day I could not find a dinner I
+liked, and it grew late, and I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, etc.
+
+12.  Morning.  I will finish this letter before I go to town, because I shall
+be busy, and have neither time nor place there.  Farewell, etc. etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 23.
+
+CHELSEA, May 12, 1711.
+
+I sent you my twenty-second this afternoon in town.  I dined with Mr. Harley
+and the old Club, Lord Rivers, Lord Keeper, and Mr. Secretary.  They rallied
+me last week, and said I must have Mr. St. John's leave; so I writ to him
+yesterday, that foreseeing I should never dine again with Sir Simon Harcourt,
+Knight, and Robert Harley, Esq., I was resolved to do it to-day.  The jest is,
+that before Saturday[1] next we expect they will be lords; for Mr. Harley's
+patent is drawing, to be Earl of Oxford.  Mr. Secretary and I came away at
+seven, and he brought me to our town's end in his coach; so I lost my walk.
+St. John read my letter to the company, which was all raillery, and passed
+purely.
+
+13.  It rained all last night and this morning as heavy as lead; but I just
+got fair weather to walk to town before church.  The roads are all over in
+deep puddle.  The hay of our town is almost fit to be mowed.  I went to Court
+after church (as I always do on Sundays, and then dined with Mr. Secretary,
+who has engaged me for every Sunday; and poor MD dined at home upon a bit of
+veal and a pint of wine.  Is it not plaguy insipid to tell you every day where
+I dine? yet now I have got into the way of it, I cannot forbear it neither.
+Indeed, Mr. Presto, you had better go answer MD's letter, N.14.  I will answer
+it when I please, Mr. Doctor.  What is that you say?  The Court was very full
+this morning, expecting Mr. Harley would be declared Earl of Oxford and have
+the Treasurer's staff.  Mr. Harley never comes to Court at all; somebody there
+asked me the reason.  "Why," said I, "the Lord of Oxford knows."  He always
+goes to the Queen by the back stairs.  I was told for certain, you jackanapes,
+Lord Santry[2] was dead, Captain Cammock[3] assured me so; and now he's alive
+again, they say; but that shan't do:  he shall be dead to me as long as he
+lives.  Dick Tighe[4] and I meet, and never stir our hats.  I am resolved to
+mistake him for Witherington, the little nasty lawyer that came up to me so
+sternly at the Castle the day I left Ireland.  I'll ask the gentleman I saw
+walking with him how long Witherington has been in town.
+
+14.  I went to town to-day by water.  The hail quite discouraged me from
+walking, and there is no shade in the greatest part of the way.  I took the
+first boat, and had a footman my companion; then I went again by water, and
+dined in the City with a printer, to whom I carried a pamphlet in manuscript,
+that Mr. Secretary gave me.  The printer sent it to the Secretary for his
+approbation, and he desired me to look it over, which I did, and found it a
+very scurvy piece.  The reason I tell you so, is because it was done by your
+parson Slap, Scrap, Flap (what d'ye call him), Trapp,[5] your Chancellor's
+chaplain.  'Tis called A Character of the Present Set of Whigs, and is going
+to be printed, and no doubt the author will take care to produce it in
+Ireland.  Dr. Freind was with me, and pulled out a twopenny pamphlet just
+published, called The State of Wit,[6] giving a character of all the papers
+that have come out of late.  The author seems to be a Whig, yet he speaks very
+highly of a paper called the Examiner, and says the supposed author of it is
+Dr. Swift.  But above all things he praises the Tatlers and Spectators; and I
+believe Steele and Addison were privy to the printing of it.  Thus is one
+treated by these impudent dogs.  And that villain Curll[7] has scraped up some
+trash, and calls it Dr. Swift's Miscellanies, with the name at large:  and I
+can get no satisfaction of him.  Nay, Mr. Harley told me he had read it, and
+only laughed at me before Lord Keeper and the rest.  Since I came home, I have
+been sitting with the Prolocutor, Dean Atterbury, who is my neighbour over the
+way, but generally keeps in town with his Convocation.  'Tis late, etc.
+
+15.  My walk to town to-day was after ten, and prodigiously hot.  I dined with
+Lord Shelburne, and have desired Mrs. Pratt, who lodges there, to carry over
+Mrs. Walls's tea; I hope she will do it, and they talk of going in a
+fortnight.  My way is this:  I leave my best gown and periwig at Mrs.
+Vanhomrigh's, then walk up the Pall Mall, through the Park, out at Buckingham
+House, and so to Chelsea a little beyond the church:  I set out about sunset,
+and get here in something less than an hour; it is two good miles, and just
+five thousand seven hundred and forty-eight steps; so there is four miles a
+day walking, without reckoning what I walk while I stay in town.  When I pass
+the Mall in the evening, it is prodigious to see the number of ladies walking
+there; and I always cry shame at the ladies of Ireland, who never walk at all,
+as if their legs were of no use, but to be laid aside.  I have been now almost
+three weeks here, and I thank God, am much better in my head, if it does but
+continue.  I tell you what, if I was with you, when we went to Stoyte at
+Donnybrook, we would only take a coach to the hither end of Stephen's Green,
+and from thence go every step on foot, yes, faith, every step; it would do
+DD[8] good as well as Presto.[9]  Everybody tells me I look better already;
+for, faith, I looked sadly, that is certain.  My breakfast is milk porridge:
+I do not love it; faith, I hate it, but it is cheap and wholesome; and I hate
+to be obliged to either of those qualities for anything.[10]
+
+16.  I wonder why Presto will be so tedious in answering MD's letters; because
+he would keep the best to the last, I suppose.  Well, Presto must be humoured,
+it must be as he will have it, or there will be an old to do.[11]  Dead with
+heat; are not you very hot?  My walks make my forehead sweat rarely; sometimes
+my morning journey is by water, as it was to-day with one Parson
+Richardson,[12] who came to see me, on his going to Ireland; and with him I
+send Mrs. Walls's tea, and three books[13] I got from the Lords of the
+Treasury for the College.  I dined with Lord Shelburne to-day; Lady Kerry and
+Mrs. Pratt are going likewise for Ireland.--Lord! I forgot, I dined with Mr.
+Prior to-day, at his house, with Dean Atterbury and others; and came home
+pretty late, and I think I'm in a fuzz, and don't know what I say, never saw
+the like.
+
+17.  Sterne came here by water to see me this morning, and I went back with
+him to his boat.  He tells me that Mrs. Edgworth[14] married a fellow in her
+journey to Chester; so I believe she little thought of anybody's box but her
+own.  I desired Sterne to give me directions where to get the box in Chester,
+which he says he will to-morrow; and I will write to Richardson to get it up
+there as he goes by, and whip it over.  It is directed to Mrs. Curry:  you
+must caution her of it, and desire her to send it you when it comes.  Sterne
+says Jemmy Leigh loves London mightily; that makes him stay so long, I
+believe, and not Sterne's business, which Mr. Harley's accident has put much
+backward.  We expect now every day that he will be Earl of Oxford and Lord
+Treasurer.  His patent is passing; but, they say, Lord Keeper's not yet; at
+least his son, young Harcourt, told me so t'other day.  I dined to-day
+privately with my friend Lewis at his lodgings at Whitehall.  T'other day at
+Whitehall I met a lady of my acquaintance, whom I had not seen before since I
+came to England; we were mighty glad to see each other, and she has engaged me
+to visit her, as I design to do.  It is one Mrs. Colledge:  she has lodgings
+at Whitehall, having been seamstress to King William, worth three hundred a
+year.  Her father was a fanatic joiner,[15] hanged for treason in
+Shaftesbury's plot.  This noble person and I were brought acquainted, some
+years ago, by Lady Berkeley.[16]  I love good creditable acquaintance:  I love
+to be the worst of the company:  I am not of those that say, "For want of
+company, welcome trumpery."  I was this evening with Lady Kerry and Mrs. Pratt
+at Vauxhall, to hear the nightingales; but they are almost past singing.
+
+18.  I was hunting the Secretary to-day in vain about some business, and dined
+with Colonel Crowe, late Governor of Barbados,[17] and your friend Sterne was
+the third:  he is very kind to Sterne, and helps him in his business, which
+lies asleep till Mr. Harley is Lord Treasurer, because nothing of moment is
+now done in the Treasury, the change being expected every day.  I sat with
+Dean Atterbury till one o'clock after I came home; so 'tis late, etc.
+
+19.  Do you know that about our town we are mowing already and making hay, and
+it smells so sweet as we walk through the flowery meads; but the hay-making
+nymphs are perfect drabs, nothing so clean and pretty as farther in the
+country.  There is a mighty increase of dirty wenches in straw hats since I
+knew London.  I stayed at home till five o'clock, and dined with Dean
+Atterbury; then went by water to Mr. Harley's, where the Saturday Club was
+met, with the addition of the Duke of Shrewsbury.  I whispered Lord Rivers
+that I did not like to see a stranger among us; and the rogue told it aloud:
+but Mr. Secretary said the Duke writ to have leave; so I appeared satisfied,
+and so we laughed.  Mr. Secretary told me the Duke of Buckingham[18] had been
+talking to him much about me, and desired my acquaintance.  I answered it
+could not be, for he had not made sufficient advances.  Then the Duke of
+Shrewsbury said he thought that Duke was not used to make advances.  I said I
+could not help that; for I always expected advances in proportion to men's
+quality, and more from a duke than any other man.  The Duke replied that he
+did not mean anything of his quality; which was handsomely said enough; for he
+meant his pride:  and I have invented a notion to believe that nobody is
+proud.  At ten all the company went away; and from ten to twelve Mr. Harley
+and I sat together, where we talked through a great deal of matters I had a
+mind to settle with him; and then walked in a fine moonshine night to Chelsea,
+where I got by one.  Lord Rivers conjured me not to walk so late; but I would,
+because I had no other way; but I had no money to lose.
+
+20.  By what the Lord Keeper told me last night, I find he will not be made a
+peer so soon; but Mr. Harley's patent for Earl of Oxford is now drawing, and
+will be done in three days.  We made him own it, which he did scurvily, and
+then talked of it like the rest.  Mr. Secretary had too much company with him
+to-day; so I came away soon after dinner.  I give no man liberty to swear or
+talk b---dy, and I found some of them were in constraint, so I left them to
+themselves.  I wish you a merry Whitsuntide, and pray tell me how you pass
+away your time; but, faith, you are going to Wexford, and I fear this letter
+is too late; it shall go on Thursday, and sooner it cannot, I have so much
+business to hinder me answering yours.  Where must I direct in your absence?
+Do you quit your lodgings?
+
+21.  Going to town this morning, I met in the Pall Mall a clergyman of
+Ireland, whom I love very well and was glad to see, and with him a little
+jackanapes, of Ireland too, who married Nanny Swift, Uncle Adam's[19]
+daughter, one Perry; perhaps you may have heard of him.  His wife has sent him
+here, to get a place from Lowndes;[20] because my uncle and Lowndes married
+two sisters, and Lowndes is a great man here in the Treasury; but by good luck
+I have no acquaintance with him:  however, he expected I should be his friend
+to Lowndes, and one word of mine, etc., the old cant.  But I will not go two
+yards to help him.  I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, where I keep my best gown
+and periwig, to put on when I come to town and be a spark.
+
+22.  I dined to-day in the City, and coming home this evening, I met Sir
+Thomas Mansel and Mr. Lewis in the Park.  Lewis whispered me that Mr. Harley's
+patent for the Earl of Oxford was passed in Mr. Secretary St. John's office;
+so to-morrow or next day, I suppose, he will be declared Earl of Oxford, and
+have the staff.[21]  This man has grown by persecutions, turnings out, and
+stabbing.  What waiting, and crowding, and bowing will be at his levee! yet,
+if human nature be capable of so much constancy, I should believe he will be
+the same man still, bating the necessary forms of grandeur he must keep up.
+'Tis late, sirrahs, and I'll go sleep.
+
+23.  Morning.  I sat up late last night, and waked late to-day; but will now
+answer your letter in bed before I go to town, and I will send it to-morrow;
+for perhaps you mayn't go so soon to Wexford.--No, you are not out in your
+number; the last was Number 14, and so I told you twice or thrice; will you
+never be satisfied?  What shall we do for poor Stella?  Go to Wexford, for
+God's sake:  I wish you were to walk there by three miles a day, with a good
+lodging at every mile's end.  Walking has done me so much good, that I cannot
+but prescribe it often to poor Stella.  Parvisol has sent me a bill for fifty
+pounds, which I am sorry for, having not written to him for it, only mentioned
+it two months ago; but I hope he will be able to pay you what I have drawn
+upon him for:  he never sent me any sum before, but one bill of twenty pounds
+half a year ago.  You are welcome as my blood to every farthing I have in the
+world; and all that grieves me is, I am not richer, for MD's sake, as hope
+saved.[22]  I suppose you give up your lodgings when you go to Wexford; yet
+that will be inconvenient too:  yet I wish again you were under a necessity of
+rambling the country until Michaelmas, faith.  No, let them keep the shelves,
+with a pox; yet they are exacting people about those four weeks; or Mrs. Brent
+may have the shelves, if she please.  I am obliged to your Dean for his kind
+offer of lending me money.  Will that be enough to say?  A hundred people
+would lend me money, or to any man who has not the reputation of a squanderer.
+O, faith, I should be glad to be in the same kingdom with MD, however,
+although you are at Wexford.  But I am kept here by a most capricious fate,
+which I would break through, if I could do it with decency or honour.--To
+return without some mark of distinction would look extremely little; and I
+would likewise gladly be somewhat richer than I am.  I will say no more, but
+beg you to be easy till Fortune take her course, and to believe that MD's
+felicity is the great end I aim at in all my pursuits.  And so let us talk no
+more on this subject, which makes me melancholy, and that I would fain divert.
+Believe me, no man breathing at present has less share of happiness in life
+than I:  I do not say I am unhappy at all, but that everything here is
+tasteless to me for want of being as I would be.  And so, a short sigh, and no
+more of this.  Well, come and let's see what's next, young women.  Pox take
+Mrs. Edgworth and Sterne!  I will take some methods about that box.  What
+orders would you have me give about the picture?  Can't you do with it as if
+it were your own?  No, I hope Manley will keep his place; for I hear nothing
+of Sir Thomas Frankland's losing his.  Send nothing under cover to Mr.
+Addison, but "To Erasmus Lewis, Esq.; at my Lord Dartmouth's office at
+Whitehall."  Direct your outside so.--Poor dear Stella, don't write in the
+dark, nor in the light neither, but dictate to Dingley; she is a naughty,
+healthy girl, and may drudge for both.  Are you good company together? and
+don't you quarrel too often?  Pray love one another, and kiss one another just
+now, as Dingley is reading this; for you quarrelled this morning just after
+Mrs. Marget[23] had poured water on Stella's head:  I heard the little bird
+say so.  Well, I have answered everything in your letter that required it, and
+yet the second side is not full.  I'll come home at night, and say more; and
+to-morrow this goes for certain.  Go, get you gone to your own chambers, and
+let Presto rise like a modest gentleman, and walk to town.  I fancy I begin to
+sweat less in the forehead by constant walking than I used to do; but then I
+shall be so sunburnt, the ladies will not like me.  Come, let me rise,
+sirrahs.  Morrow.--At night.  I dined with Ford to-day at his lodgings, and I
+found wine out of my own cellar, some of my own chest of the great Duke's
+wine:  it begins to turn.  They say wine with you in Ireland is half a crown a
+bottle.  'Tis as Stella says; nothing that once grows dear in Ireland ever
+grows cheap again, except corn, with a pox, to ruin the parson.  I had a
+letter to-day from the Archbishop of Dublin, giving me further thanks about
+vindicating him to Mr. Harley and Mr. St. John, and telling me a long story
+about your Mayor's election,[24] wherein I find he has had a finger, and given
+way to further talk about him; but we know nothing of it here yet.  This
+walking to and fro, and dressing myself, takes up so much of my time that I
+cannot go among company so much as formerly; yet what must a body do?  I thank
+God I yet continue much better since I left the town; I know not how long it
+may last.  I am sure it has done me some good for the present.  I do not
+totter as I did, but walk firm as a cock, only once or twice for a minute, I
+do not know how; but it went off, and I never followed it.  Does Dingley read
+my hand as well as ever? do you, sirrah?  Poor Stella must not read Presto's
+ugly small hand.
+
+     Preserve your eyes,
+     If you be wise.
+
+Your friend Walls's tea will go in a day or two towards Chester by one Parson
+Richardson.  My humble service to her, and to good Mrs. Stoyte, and Catherine;
+and pray walk while you continue in Dublin.  I expect your next but one will
+be from Wexford.  God bless dearest MD.
+
+24.  Morning.  Mr. Secretary has sent his groom hither, to invite me to dinner
+to-day, etc.  God Almighty for ever bless and preserve you both, and give you
+health, etc.  Amen.  Farewell, etc.
+
+Do not I often say the same thing two or three times in the same letter,
+sirrah?
+
+Great wits, they say, have but short memories; that's good vile conversation.
+
+
+
+LETTER 24.
+
+CHELSEA, May 24, 1711.
+
+Morning.  Once in my life the number of my letters and of the day of the month
+is the same; that's lucky, boys; that's a sign that things will meet, and that
+we shall make a figure together.  What, will you still have the impudence to
+say London, England, because I say Dublin, Ireland?  Is there no difference
+between London and Dublin, saucyboxes?  I have sealed up my letter, and am
+going to town.  Morrow, sirrahs.--At night.  I dined with the Secretary to-
+day; we sat down between five and six.  Mr. Harley's patent passed this
+morning:  he is now Earl of Oxford, Earl Mortimer, and Lord Harley of Wigmore
+Castle.  My letter was sealed, or I would have told you this yesterday; but
+the public news may tell it you.  The Queen, for all her favour, has kept a
+rod[1] for him in her closet this week; I suppose he will take it from her,
+though, in a day or two.  At eight o'clock this evening it rained
+prodigiously, as it did from five; however, I set out, and in half-way the
+rain lessened, and I got home, but tolerably wet; and this is the first wet
+walk I have had in a month's time that I am here but, however, I got to bed,
+after a short visit to Atterbury.
+
+25.  It rained this morning, and I went to town by water; and Ford and I dined
+with Mr. Lewis by appointment.  I ordered Patrick to bring my gown and periwig
+to Mr. Lewis, because I designed to go to see Lord Oxford, and so I told the
+dog; but he never came, though I stayed an hour longer than I appointed; so I
+went in my old gown, and sat with him two hours, but could not talk over some
+business I had with him; so he has desired me to dine with him on Sunday, and
+I must disappoint the Secretary.  My lord set me down at a coffee-house, where
+I waited for the Dean of Carlisle's chariot to bring me to Chelsea; for it has
+rained prodigiously all this afternoon.  The Dean did not come himself, but
+sent me his chariot, which has cost me two shillings to the coachman; and so I
+am got home, and Lord knows what is become of Patrick.  I think I must send
+him over to you; for he is an intolerable rascal.  If I had come without a
+gown, he would have served me so, though my life and preferment should have
+lain upon it:  and I am making a livery for him will cost me four pounds; but
+I will order the tailor to-morrow to stop till further orders.  My Lord Oxford
+can't yet abide to be called "my lord"; and when I called him "my lord," he
+called me "Dr. Thomas Swift,"[2] which he always does when he has a mind to
+tease me.  By a second hand, he proposed my being his chaplain, which I by a
+second hand excused; but we had no talk of it to-day:  but I will be no man's
+chaplain alive.  But I must go and be busy.
+
+26.  I never saw Patrick till this morning, and that only once, for I dressed
+myself without him; and when I went to town he was out of the way.  I
+immediately sent for the tailor, and ordered him to stop his hand in Patrick's
+clothes till further orders.  Oh, if it were in Ireland, I should have turned
+him off ten times ago; and it is no regard to him, but myself, that has made
+me keep him so long.  Now I am afraid to give the rogue his clothes.  What
+shall I do?  I wish MD were here to entreat for him, just here at the bed's
+side.  Lady Ashburnham[3] has been engaging me this long time to dine with
+her, and I set to-day apart for it; and whatever was the mistake, she sent me
+word she was at dinner and undressed, but would be glad to see me in the
+afternoon:  so I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, and would not go to see her at
+all, in a huff.  My fine Florence is turning sour with a vengeance, and I have
+not drunk half of it.  As I was coming home to-night, Sir Thomas Mansel and
+Tom Harley[4] met me in the Park, and made me walk with them till nine, like
+unreasonable whelps; so I got not here till ten:  but it was a fine evening,
+and the foot-path clean enough already after this hard rain.
+
+27.  Going this morning to town, I saw two old lame fellows, walking to a
+brandy-shop, and when they got to the door, stood a long time complimenting
+who should go in first.  Though this be no jest to tell, it was an admirable
+one to see.  I dined to-day with my Lord Oxford and the ladies, the new
+Countess, and Lady Betty,[5] who has been these three days a lady born.  My
+lord left us at seven, and I had no time to speak to him about some affairs;
+but he promises in a day or two we shall dine alone; which is mighty likely,
+considering we expect every moment that the Queen will give him the staff, and
+then he will be so crowded he will be good for nothing:  for aught I know he
+may have it to-night at Council.
+
+28.  I had a petition sent me t'other day from one Stephen Gernon, setting
+forth that he formerly lived with Harry Tenison,[6] who gave him an employment
+of gauger, and that he was turned out after Harry's death, and came for
+England, and is now starving, or, as he expresses it, THAT THE STAFF OF LIFE
+HAS BEEN OF LATE A STRANGER TO HIS APPETITE.  Today the poor fellow called,
+and I knew him very well, a young slender fellow with freckles in his face:
+you must remember him; he waited at table as a better sort of servant.  I gave
+him a crown, and promised to do what I could to help him to a service, which I
+did for Harry Tenison's memory.  It was bloody hot walking to-day, and I was
+so lazy I dined where my new gown was, at Mrs. Vanhomrigh's, and came back
+like a fool, and the Dean of Carlisle has sat with me till eleven.  Lord
+Oxford has not the staff yet.
+
+29.  I was this morning in town by ten, though it was shaving-day, and went to
+the Secretary about some affairs, then visited the Duke and Duchess of Ormond;
+but the latter was dressing to go out, and I could not see her.  My Lord
+Oxford had the staff given him this morning; so now I must call him Lord
+Oxford no more, but Lord Treasurer:  I hope he will stick there:  this is
+twice he has changed his name this week; and I heard to-day in the City (where
+I dined) that he will very soon have the Garter.--Pr'ythee, do not you observe
+how strangely I have changed my company and manner of living?  I never go to a
+coffee-house; you hear no more of Addison, Steele, Henley, Lady Lucy, Mrs.
+Finch,[7] Lord Somers, Lord Halifax, etc.  I think I have altered for the
+better.  Did I tell you the Archbishop of Dublin has writ me a long letter of
+a squabble in your town about choosing a Mayor, and that he apprehended some
+censure for the share he had in it?[8]  I have not heard anything of it here;
+but I shall not be always able to defend him.  We hear your Bishop Hickman is
+dead;[9] but nobody here will do anything for me in Ireland; so they may die
+as fast or slow as they please.--Well, you are constant to your deans, and
+your Stoyte, and your Walls.  Walls will have her tea soon; Parson Richardson
+is either going or gone to Ireland, and has it with him.  I hear Mr. Lewis has
+two letters for me:  I could not call for them to-day, but will to-morrow; and
+perhaps one of them may be from our little MD, who knows, man? who can tell?
+Many a more unlikely thing has happened.--Pshaw, I write so plaguy little, I
+can hardly see it myself.  WRITE BIGGER, SIRRAH[10] Presto.  No, but I won't.
+Oh, you are a saucy rogue, Mr. Presto, you are so impudent.  Come, dear
+rogues, let Presto go to sleep; I have been with the Dean, and 'tis near
+twelve.
+
+30.  I am so hot and lazy after my morning's walk, that I loitered at Mrs.
+Vanhomrigh's, where my best gown and periwig are, and out of mere listlessness
+dine there very often; so I did to-day; but I got little MD's letter, N.15
+(you see, sirrahs, I remember to tell the number), from Mr. Lewis, and I read
+it in a closet they lend me at Mrs. Van's; and I find Stella is a saucy rogue
+and a great writer, and can write finely still when her hand is in, and her
+pen good.  When I came here to-night, I had a mighty mind to go swim after I
+was cool, for my lodging is just by the river; and I went down with only my
+nightgown and slippers on at eleven, but came up again; however, one of these
+nights I will venture.
+
+31.  I was so hot this morning with my walk, that I resolve to do so no more
+during this violent burning weather.  It is comical that now we happen to have
+such heat to ripen the fruit there has been the greatest blast that was ever
+known, and almost all the fruit is despaired of.  I dined with Lord Shelburne:
+Lady Kerry and Mrs. Pratt are going to Ireland.  I went this evening to Lord
+Treasurer, and sat about two hours with him in mixed company; he left us, and
+went to Court, and carried two staves with him, so I suppose we shall have a
+new Lord Steward or Comptroller to-morrow; I smoked that State secret out by
+that accident.  I will not answer your letter yet, sirrahs; no I won't, madam.
+
+June 1.  I wish you a merry month of June.  I dined again with the Vans and
+Sir Andrew Fountaine.  I always give them a flask of my Florence, which now
+begins to spoil, but it is near an end.  I went this afternoon to Mrs.
+Vedeau's, and brought away Madam Dingley's parchment and letter of attorney.
+Mrs. Vedeau tells me she has sent the bill a fortnight ago.  I will give the
+parchment to Ben Tooke, and you shall send him a letter of attorney at your
+leisure, enclosed to Mr. Presto.  Yes, I now think your mackerel is full as
+good as ours, which I did not think formerly.  I was bit about two staves, for
+there is no new officer made to-day.  This letter will find you still in
+Dublin, I suppose, or at Donnybrook, or losing your money at Walls' (how does
+she do?).
+
+2.  I missed this day by a blunder and dining in the City.[11]
+
+3.  No boats on Sunday, never:  so I was forced to walk, and so hot by the
+time I got to Ford's lodging that I was quite spent; I think the weather is
+mad.  I could not go to church.  I dined with the Secretary as usual, and old
+Colonel Graham[12] that lived at Bagshot Heath, and they said it was Colonel
+Graham's house.  Pshaw, I remember it very well, when I used to go for a walk
+to London from Moor Park.  What, I warrant you do not remember the Golden
+Farmer[13] neither, figgarkick soley?[14]
+
+4.  When must we answer this letter, this N.15 of our little MD?  Heat and
+laziness, and Sir Andrew Fountaine, made me dine to-day again at Mrs. Van's;
+and, in short, this weather is unsupportable:  how is it with you?  Lady Betty
+Butler and Lady Ashburnham sat with me two or three hours this evening in my
+closet at Mrs. Van's.  They are very good girls; and if Lady Betty went to
+Ireland, you should let her be acquainted with you.  How does Dingley do this
+hot weather?  Stella, I think, never complains of it; she loves hot weather.
+There has not been a drop of rain since Friday se'ennight.  Yes, you do love
+hot weather, naughty Stella, you do so; and Presto can't abide it.  Be a good
+girl then, and I will love you; and love one another, and don't be quarrelling
+girls.
+
+5.  I dined in the City to-day, and went from hence early to town, and visited
+the Duke of Ormond and Mr. Secretary.  They say my Lord Treasurer has a dead
+warrant in his pocket; they mean a list of those who are to be turned out of
+employment; and we every day now expect those changes.  I passed by the
+Treasury to-day, and saw vast crowds waiting to give Lord Treasurer petitions
+as he passes by.  He is now at the top of power and favour:  he keeps no
+levees yet.  I am cruel thirsty this hot weather.--I am just this minute going
+to swim.  I take Patrick down with me, to hold my nightgown, shirt, and
+slippers, and borrow a napkin of my landlady for a cap.  So farewell till I
+come up; but there is no danger, don't be frighted.--I have been swimming this
+half-hour and more; and when I was coming out I dived, to make my head and all
+through wet, like a cold bath; but, as I dived, the napkin fell off and is
+lost, and I have that to pay for.  O, faith, the great stones were so sharp, I
+could hardly set my feet on them as I came out.  It was pure and warm.  I got
+to bed, and will now go sleep.
+
+6.  Morning.  This letter shall go to-morrow; so I will answer yours when I
+come home to-night.  I feel no hurt from last night's swimming.  I lie with
+nothing but the sheet over me, and my feet quite bare.  I must rise and go to
+town before the tide is against me.  Morrow, sirrahs; dear sirrahs, morrow.--
+At night.  I never felt so hot a day as this since I was born.  I dined with
+Lady Betty Germaine, and there was the young Earl of Berkeley[15] and his fine
+lady.  I never saw her before, nor think her near so handsome as she passes
+for.--After dinner, Mr. Bertue[16] would not let me put ice in my wine, but
+said my Lord Dorchester[17] got the bloody flux with it, and that it was the
+worst thing in the world.  Thus are we plagued, thus are we plagued; yet I
+have done it five or six times this summer, and was but the drier and the
+hotter for it.  Nothing makes me so excessively peevish as hot weather.  Lady
+Berkeley after dinner clapped my hat on another lady's head, and she in
+roguery put it upon the rails.  I minded them not; but in two minutes they
+called me to the window, and Lady Carteret[18] showed me my hat out of her
+window five doors off, where I was forced to walk to it, and pay her and old
+Lady Weymouth[19] a visit, with some more beldames.  Then I went and drank
+coffee, and made one or two puns, with Lord Pembroke,[20] and designed to go
+to Lord Treasurer; but it was too late, and beside I was half broiled, and
+broiled without butter; for I never sweat after dinner, if I drink any wine.
+Then I sat an hour with Lady Betty Butler at tea, and everything made me
+hotter and drier.  Then I walked home, and was here by ten, so miserably hot,
+that I was in as perfect a passion as ever I was in my life at the greatest
+affront or provocation.  Then I sat an hour, till I was quite dry and cool
+enough to go swim; which I did, but with so much vexation that I think I have
+given it over:  for I was every moment disturbed by boats, rot them; and that
+puppy Patrick, standing ashore, would let them come within a yard or two, and
+then call sneakingly to them.  The only comfort I proposed here in hot weather
+is gone; for there is no jesting with those boats after it is dark:  I had
+none last night.  I dived to dip my head, and held my cap on with both my
+hands, for fear of losing it.  Pox take the boats!  Amen.  'Tis near twelve,
+and so I'll answer your letter (it strikes twelve now) to-morrow morning.
+
+7.  Morning.  Well, now let us answer MD's letter, N.15, 15, 15, 15.  Now have
+I told you the number?  15, 15; there, impudence, to call names in the
+beginning of your letter, before you say, How do you do, Mr. Presto?  There is
+your breeding!  Where is your manners, sirrah, to a gentleman?  Get you gone,
+you couple of jades.--No, I never sit up late now; but this abominable hot
+weather will force me to eat or drink something that will do me hurt.  I do
+venture to eat a few strawberries.--Why then, do you know in Ireland that Mr.
+St. John talked so in Parliament?[21]  Your Whigs are plaguily bit; for he is
+entirely for their being all out.--And are you as vicious in snuff as ever?  I
+believe, as you say, it does neither hurt nor good; but I have left it off,
+and when anybody offers me their box, I take about a tenth part of what I used
+to do, and then just smell to it, and privately fling the rest away.  I keep
+to my tobacco still,[22] as you say; but even much less of that than formerly,
+only mornings and evenings, and very seldom in the day.--As for Joe,[23] I
+have recommended his case heartily to my Lord Lieutenant; and, by his
+direction, given a memorial of it to Mr. Southwell, to whom I have recommended
+it likewise.  I can do no more, if he were my brother.  His business will be
+to apply himself to Southwell.  And you must desire Raymond, if Price of
+Galway comes to town, to desire him to wait on Mr. Southwell, as recommended
+by me for one of the Duke's chaplains, which was all I could do for him; and
+he must be presented to the Duke, and make his court, and ply about, and find
+out some vacancy, and solicit early for it.  The bustle about your Mayor I had
+before, as I told you, from the Archbishop of Dublin.  Was Raymond not come
+till May 18?  So he says fine things of me?  Certainly he lies.  I am sure I
+used him indifferently enough; and we never once dined together, or walked, or
+were in any third place; only he came sometimes to my lodgings, and even there
+was oftener denied than admitted.--What an odd bill is that you sent of
+Raymond's!  A bill upon one Murry in Chester, which depends entirely not only
+upon Raymond's honesty, but his discretion; and in money matters he is the
+last man I would depend on.  Why should Sir Alexander Cairnes[24] in London
+pay me a bill, drawn by God knows who, upon Murry in Chester?  I was at
+Cairnes's, and they can do no such thing.  I went among some friends, who are
+merchants, and I find the bill must be sent to Murry, accepted by him, and
+then returned back, and then Cairnes may accept or refuse it as he pleases.
+Accordingly I gave Sir Thomas Frankland the bill, who has sent it to Chester,
+and ordered the postmaster there to get it accepted, and then send it back,
+and in a day or two I shall have an answer; and therefore this letter must
+stay a day or two longer than I intended, and see what answer I get.  Raymond
+should have written to Murry at the same time, to desire Sir Alexander Cairnes
+to have answered such a bill, if it come.  But Cairnes's clerks (himself was
+not at home) said they had received no notice of it, and could do nothing; and
+advised me to send to Murry.--I have been six weeks to-day at Chelsea, and you
+know it but just now.  And so Dean ------ thinks I write the Medley.  Pox of
+his judgment!  It is equal to his honesty.  Then you han't seen the Miscellany
+yet?[25]  Why, 'tis a four-shilling book:  has nobody carried it over?--No, I
+believe Manley[26] will not lose his place; for his friend[27] in England is
+so far from being out that he has taken a new patent since the Post Office
+Act; and his brother Jack Manley[28] here takes his part firmly; and I have
+often spoken to Southwell in his behalf, and he seems very well inclined to
+him.  But the Irish folks here in general are horribly violent against him.
+Besides, he must consider he could not send Stella wine if he were put out.
+And so he is very kind, and sends you a dozen bottles of wine AT A TIME, and
+you win eight shillings AT A TIME; and how much do you lose?  No, no, never
+one syllable about that, I warrant you.--Why, this same Stella is so
+unmerciful a writer, she has hardly left any room for Dingley.  If you have
+such summer there as here, sure the Wexford waters are good by this time.  I
+forgot what weather we had May 6th; go look in my journal.  We had terrible
+rain the 24th and 25th, and never a drop since.  Yes, yes, I remember
+Berested's bridge; the coach sosses up and down as one goes that way, just as
+at Hockley-in-the-Hole.[29]  I never impute any illness or health I have to
+good or ill weather, but to want of exercise, or ill air, or something I have
+eaten, or hard study, or sitting up; and so I fence against those as well as I
+can:  but who a deuce can help the weather?  Will Seymour,[30] the General,
+was excessively hot with the sun shining full upon him; so he turns to the
+sun, and says, "Harkee, friend, you had better go and ripen cucumbers than
+plague me at this rate," etc.  Another time, fretting at the heat, a gentleman
+by said it was such weather as pleased God:  Seymour said, "Perhaps it may;
+but I am sure it pleases nobody else."  Why, Madam Dingley, the First-Fruits
+are done.  Southwell told me they went to inquire about them, and Lord
+Treasurer said they were done, and had been done long ago.  And I'll tell you
+a secret you must not mention, that the Duke of Ormond is ordered to take
+notice of them in his speech in your Parliament:  and I desire you will take
+care to say on occasion that my Lord Treasurer Harley did it many months ago,
+before the Duke was Lord Lieutenant.  And yet I cannot possibly come over yet:
+so get you gone to Wexford, and make Stella well. Yes, yes, I take care not to
+walk late; I never did but once, and there are five hundred people on the way
+as I walk. Tisdall is a puppy, and I will excuse him the half-hour he would
+talk with me.  As for the Examiner, I have heard a whisper that after that of
+this day,[31] which tells us what this Parliament has done, you will hardly
+find them so good.  I prophesy they will be trash for the future; and methinks
+in this day's Examiner the author talks doubtfully, as if he would write no
+more.[32]  Observe whether the change be discovered in Dublin, only for your
+own curiosity, that's all.  Make a mouth there.  Mrs. Vedeau's business I have
+answered, and I hope the bill is not lost.  Morrow.  'Tis stewing hot, but I
+must rise and go to town between fire and water.  Morrow, sirrahs both,
+morrow.--At night.  I dined to-day with Colonel Crowe, Governor of Jamaica,
+and your friend Sterne.  I presented Sterne to my Lord Treasurer's
+brother,[33] and gave him his case, and engaged him in his favour.  At dinner
+there fell the swingingest long shower, and the most grateful to me, that ever
+I saw:  it thundered fifty times at least, and the air is so cool that a body
+is able to live; and I walked home to-night with comfort, and without dirt.  I
+went this evening to Lord Treasurer, and sat with him two hours, and we were
+in very good humour, and he abused me, and called me Dr. Thomas Swift fifty
+times:  I have told you he does that when he has mind to make me mad.[34]  Sir
+Thomas Frankland gave me to-day a letter from Murry, accepting my bill; so all
+is well:  only, by a letter from Parvisol, I find there are some
+perplexities.--Joe has likewise written to me, to thank me for what I have
+done for him; and desires I would write to the Bishop of Clogher, that Tom
+Ashe[35] may not hinder his father[36] from being portreve.  I have written
+and sent to Joe several times, that I will not trouble myself at all about
+Trim.  I wish them their liberty, but they do not deserve it:  so tell Joe,
+and send to him.  I am mighty happy with this rain:  I was at the end of my
+patience, but now I live again.  This cannot go till Saturday; and perhaps I
+may go out of town with Lord Shelburne and Lady Kerry to-morrow for two or
+three days.  Lady Kerry has written to desire it; but tomorrow I shall know
+farther.--O this dear rain, I cannot forbear praising it:  I never felt myself
+to be revived so in my life.  It lasted from three till five, hard as a horn,
+and mixed with hail.
+
+8.  Morning.  I am going to town, and will just finish this there, if I go
+into the country with Lady Kerry and Lord Shelburne:  so morrow, till an hour
+or two hence.--In town.  I met Cairnes, who, I suppose, will pay me the money;
+though he says I must send him the bill first, and I will get it done in
+absence.  Farewell, etc.  etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 25.
+
+CHELSEA, June 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
+
+I have been all this time at Wycombe, between Oxford and London, with Lord
+Shelburne, who has the squire's house at the town's end, and an estate there
+in a delicious country.  Lady Kerry and Mrs. Pratt were with us, and we passed
+our time well enough; and there I wholly disengaged myself from all public
+thoughts, and everything but MD, who had the impudence to send me a letter
+there; but I'll be revenged:  I will answer it.  This day, the 20th, I came
+from Wycombe with Lady Kerry after dinner, lighted at Hyde Park Corner, and
+walked:  it was twenty-seven miles, and we came it in about five hours.
+
+21.  I went at noon to see Mr. Secretary at his office, and there was Lord
+Treasurer:  so I killed two birds, etc., and we were glad to see one another,
+and so forth.  And the Secretary and I dined at Sir William Wyndham's,[1] who
+married Lady Catharine Seymour, your acquaintance, I suppose.  There were ten
+of us at dinner.  It seems, in my absence, they had erected a Club,[2] and
+made me one; and we made some laws to-day, which I am to digest and add to,
+against next meeting.  Our meetings are to be every Thursday.  We are yet but
+twelve:  Lord Keeper and Lord Treasurer were proposed; but I was against them,
+and so was Mr. Secretary, though their sons are of it, and so they are
+excluded; but we design to admit the Duke of Shrewsbury.  The end of our Club
+is, to advance conversation and friendship, and to reward deserving persons
+with our interest and recommendation.  We take in none but men of wit or men
+of interest; and if we go on as we begin, no other Club in this town will be
+worth talking of.  The Solicitor-General, Sir Robert Raymond, is one of our
+Club; and I ordered him immediately to write to your Lord Chancellor in favour
+of Dr. Raymond:  so tell Raymond, if you see him; but I believe this will find
+you at Wexford.  This letter will come three weeks after the last, so there is
+a week lost; but that is owing to my being out of town; yet I think it is
+right, because it goes enclosed to Mr. Reading:[3]  and why should he know how
+often Presto writes to MD, pray?--I sat this evening with Lady Betty Butler
+and Lady Ashburnham, and then came home by eleven, and had a good cool walk;
+for we have had no extreme hot weather this fortnight, but a great deal of
+rain at times, and a body can live and breathe.  I hope it will hold so.  We
+had peaches to-day.
+
+22.  I went late to-day to town, and dined with my friend Lewis.  I saw Will
+Congreve attending at the Treasury, by order, with his brethren, the
+Commissioners of the Wine Licences.  I had often mentioned him with kindness
+to Lord Treasurer; and Congreve told me that, after they had answered to what
+they were sent for, my lord called him privately, and spoke to him with great
+kindness, promising his protection, etc.  The poor man said he had been used
+so ill of late years that he was quite astonished at my lord's goodness, etc.,
+and desired me to tell my lord so; which I did this evening, and recommended
+him heartily.  My lord assured me he esteemed him very much, and would be
+always kind to him; that what he said was to make Congreve easy, because he
+knew people talked as if his lordship designed to turn everybody out, and
+particularly Congreve:  which indeed was true, for the poor man told me he
+apprehended it.  As I left my Lord Treasurer, I called on Congreve (knowing
+where he dined), and told him what had passed between my lord and me; so I
+have made a worthy man easy, and that is a good day's work.[4]  I am proposing
+to my lord to erect a society or academy for correcting and settling our
+language, that we may not perpetually be changing as we do.  He enters
+mightily into it, so does the Dean of Carlisle;[5] and I design to write a
+letter to Lord Treasurer with the proposals of it, and publish it;[6] and so I
+told my lord, and he approves it.  Yesterday's[7] was a sad Examiner, and last
+week was very indifferent, though some little scraps of the old spirit, as if
+he had given some hints; but yesterday's is all trash.  It is plain the hand
+is changed.
+
+23.  I have not been in London to-day:  for Dr. Gastrell[8] and I dined, by
+invitation, with the Dean of Carlisle, my neighbour; so I know not what they
+are doing in the world, a mere country gentleman.  And are not you ashamed
+both to go into the country just when I did, and stay ten days, just as I did,
+saucy monkeys?  But I never rode; I had no horses, and our coach was out of
+order, and we went and came in a hired one.  Do you keep your lodgings when
+you go to Wexford?  I suppose you do; for you will hardly stay above two
+months.  I have been walking about our town to-night, and it is a very scurvy
+place for walking.  I am thinking to leave it, and return to town, now the
+Irish folks are gone.  Ford goes in three days.  How does Dingley divert
+herself while Stella is riding? work, or read, or walk?  Does Dingley ever
+read to you?  Had you ever a book with you in the country?  Is all that left
+off?  Confess.  Well, I'll go sleep; 'tis past eleven, and I go early to
+sleep:  I write nothing at night but to MD.
+
+24.  Stratford and I, and Pastoral Philips (just come from Denmark) dined at
+Ford's to-day, who paid his way, and goes for Ireland on Tuesday.  The Earl of
+Peterborow is returned from Vienna without one servant:  he left them
+scattered in several towns of Germany.  I had a letter from him, four days
+ago, from Hanover, where he desires I would immediately send him an answer to
+his house at Parson's Green,[9] about five miles off.  I wondered what he
+meant, till I heard he was come.  He sent expresses, and got here before them.
+He is above fifty, and as active as one of five-and-twenty.  I have not seen
+him yet, nor know when I shall, or where to find him.
+
+25.  Poor Duke of Shrewsbury has been very ill of a fever:  we were all in a
+fright about him:  I thank God, he is better.  I dined to-day at Lord
+Ashburnham's, with his lady, for he was not at home:  she is a very good girl,
+and always a great favourite of mine.  Sterne tells me he has desired a friend
+to receive your box in Chester, and carry it over.  I fear he will miscarry in
+his business, which was sent to the Treasury before he was recommended; for I
+was positive only to second his recommendations, and all his other friends
+failed him.  However, on your account I will do what I can for him to-morrow
+with the secretary of the Treasury.
+
+26.  We had much company to-day at dinner at Lord Treasurer's.  Prior never
+fails:  he is a much better courtier than I; and we expect every day that he
+will be a Commissioner of the Customs, and that in a short time a great many
+more will be turned out.  They blame Lord Treasurer for his slowness in
+turning people out; but I suppose he has his reasons.  They still keep my
+neighbour Atterbury in suspense about the deanery of Christ Church,[10] which
+has been above six months vacant, and he is heartily angry.  I reckon you are
+now preparing for your Wexford expedition; and poor Dingley is full of carking
+and caring, scolding.  How long will you stay?  Shall I be in Dublin before
+you return?  Don't fall and hurt yourselves, nor overturn the coach.  Love one
+another, and be good girls; and drink Presto's health in water, Madam Stella;
+and in good ale, Madam Dingley.
+
+27.  The Secretary appointed me to dine with him to-day, and we were to do a
+world of business:  he came at four, and brought Prior with him, and had
+forgot the appointment, and no business was done.  I left him at eight, and
+went to change my gown at Mrs. Vanhomrigh's; and there was Sir Andrew
+Fountaine at ombre with Lady Ashburnham and Lady Frederic Schomberg, and Lady
+Mary Schomberg,[11] and Lady Betty Butler, and others, talking; and it put me
+in mind of the Dean and Stoyte, and Walls, and Stella at play, and Dingley and
+I looking on.  I stayed with them till ten, like a fool.  Lady Ashburnham is
+something like Stella; so I helped her, and wished her good cards.  It is
+late, etc.
+
+28.  Well, but I must answer this letter of our MD's.  Saturday approaches,
+and I han't written down this side.  O, faith, Presto has been a sort of a
+lazy fellow:  but Presto will remove to town this day se'ennight; the
+Secretary has commanded me to do so; and I believe he and I shall go for some
+days to Windsor, where he will have leisure to mind some business we have
+together.  To-day, our Society (it must not be called a Club) dined at Mr.
+Secretary's:  we were but eight; the rest sent excuses, or were out of town.
+We sat till eight, and made some laws and settlements; and then I went to take
+leave of Lady Ashburnham, who goes out of town to-morrow, as a great many of
+my acquaintance are already, and left the town very thin.  I shall make but
+short journeys this summer, and not be long out of London.  The days are grown
+sensibly short already, all our fruit blasted.  Your Duke of Ormond is still
+at Chester; and perhaps this letter will be with you as soon as he.  Sterne's
+business is quite blown up:  they stand to it to send him back to the
+Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland for a reference, and all my credit
+could not alter it, though I almost fell out with the secretary of the
+Treasury,[12] who is my Lord Treasurer's cousin-germain, and my very good
+friend.  It seems every step he has hitherto taken hath been wrong; at least
+they say so, and that is the same thing.  I am heartily sorry for it; and I
+really think they are in the wrong, and use him hardly; but I can do no more.
+
+29.  Steele has had the assurance to write to me that I would engage my Lord
+Treasurer to keep a friend of his in an employment:  I believe I told you how
+he and Addison served me for my good offices in Steele's behalf; and I
+promised Lord Treasurer never to speak for either of them again.  Sir Andrew
+Fountaine and I dined to-day at Mrs. Vanhomrigh's.  Dilly Ashe has been in
+town this fortnight:  I saw him twice; he was four days at Lord Pembroke's in
+the country, punning with him; his face is very well.  I was this evening two
+or three hours at Lord Treasurer's, who called me Dr. Thomas Swift twenty
+times; that's his way of teasing.  I left him at nine, and got home here by
+ten, like a gentleman; and to-morrow morning I'll answer your little letter,
+sirrahs.
+
+30.  Morning.  I am terribly sleepy always in a morning; I believe it is my
+walk over-night that disposes me to sleep:  faith, 'tis now striking eight,
+and I am but just awake.  Patrick comes early, and wakes me five or six times;
+but I have excuses, though I am three parts asleep.  I tell him I sat up late,
+or slept ill in the night, and often it is a lie.  I have now got little MD's
+letter before me, N.16, no more, nor no less, no mistake.  Dingley says, "This
+letter won't be above six lines"; and I was afraid it was true, though I saw
+it filled on both sides.  The Bishop of Clogher writ me word you were in the
+country, and that he heard you were well:  I am glad at heart MD rides, and
+rides, and rides.  Our hot weather ended in May, and all this month has been
+moderate:  it was then so hot I was not able to endure it; I was miserable
+every moment, and found myself disposed to be peevish and quarrelsome:  I
+believe a very hot country would make me stark mad.--Yes, my head continues
+pretty tolerable, and I impute it all to walking.  Does Stella eat fruit?  I
+eat a little; but I always repent, and resolve against it.  No, in very hot
+weather I always go to town by water; but I constantly walk back, for then the
+sun is down.  And so Mrs. Proby[13] goes with you to Wexford:  she's admirable
+company; you'll grow plaguy wise with those you frequent.  Mrs. Taylor and
+Mrs. Proby! take care of infection.  I believe my two hundred pounds will be
+paid, but that Sir Alexander Cairnes is a scrupulous puppy:  I left the bill
+with Mr. Stratford, who is to have the money.  Now, Madam Stella, what say
+you? you ride every day; I know that already, sirrah; and, if you rid every
+day for a twelvemonth, you would be still better and better.  No, I hope
+Parvisol will not have the impudence to make you stay an hour for the money;
+if he does, I'll UN-PARVISOL him; pray let me know.  O Lord, how hasty we are!
+Stella can't stay writing and writing; she must write and go a cock-horse,
+pray now.  Well, but the horses are not come to the door; the fellow can't
+find the bridle; your stirrup is broken; where did you put the whips, Dingley?
+Marget, where have you laid Mrs. Johnson's ribbon to tie about her? reach me
+my mask:  sup up this before you go.  So, so, a gallop, a gallop:  sit fast,
+sirrah, and don't ride hard upon the stones.--Well, now Stella is gone, tell
+me, Dingley, is she a good girl? and what news is that you are to tell me?--
+No, I believe the box is not lost:  Sterne says it is not.--No, faith, you
+must go to Wexford without seeing your Duke of Ormond, unless you stay on
+purpose; perhaps you may be so wise.--I tell you this is your sixteenth
+letter; will you never be satisfied?  No, no, I will walk late no more; I
+ought less to venture it than other people, and so I was told:  but I will
+return to lodge in town next Thursday.  When you come from Wexford, I would
+have you send a letter of attorney to Mr. Benjamin Tooke, bookseller, in
+London, directed to me; and he shall manage your affair.  I have your
+parchment safely locked up in London.--O, Madam Stella, welcome home; was it
+pleasant riding? did your horse stumble? how often did the man light to settle
+your stirrup? ride nine miles! faith, you have galloped indeed.  Well, but
+where is the fine thing you promised me?  I have been a good boy, ask Dingley
+else.  I believe you did not meet the fine-thing-man:  faith, you are a cheat.
+So you will see Raymond and his wife in town.  Faith, that riding to Laracor
+gives me short sighs, as well as you.  All the days I have passed here have
+been dirt to those.  I have been gaining enemies by the scores, and friends by
+the couples; which is against the rules of wisdom, because they say one enemy
+can do more hurt than ten friends can do good.  But I have had my revenge at
+least, if I get nothing else.  And so let Fate govern.--Now I think your
+letter is answered; and mine will be shorter than ordinary, because it must go
+to-day.  We have had a great deal of scattering rain for some days past, yet
+it hardly keeps down the dust.--We have plays acted in our town; and Patrick
+was at one of them, oh oh.  He was damnably mauled one day when he was drunk;
+he was at cuffs with a brother-footman, who dragged him along the floor upon
+his face, which looked for a week after as if he had the leprosy; and I was
+glad enough to see it.  I have been ten times sending him over to you; yet now
+he has new clothes, and a laced hat, which the hatter brought by his orders,
+and he offered to pay for the lace out of his wages.--I am to dine to-day with
+Dilly at Sir Andrew Fountaine's, who has bought a new house, and will be weary
+of it in half a year.  I must rise and shave, and walk to town, unless I go
+with the Dean in his chariot at twelve, which is too late:  and I have not
+seen that Lord Peterborow yet.  The Duke of Shrewsbury is almost well again,
+and will be abroad in a day or two:  what care you?  There it is now:  you do
+not care for my friends.  Farewell, my dearest lives and delights; I love you
+better than ever, if possible, as hope saved, I do, and ever will.  God
+Almighty bless you ever, and make us happy together!  I pray for this twice
+every day; and I hope God will hear my poor hearty prayers.--Remember, if I am
+used ill and ungratefully, as I have formerly been, 'tis what I am prepared
+for, and shall not wonder at it.  Yet I am now envied, and thought in high
+favour, and have every day numbers of considerable men teasing me to solicit
+for them.  And the Ministry all use me perfectly well; and all that know them
+say they love me.  Yet I can count upon nothing, nor will, but upon MD's love
+and kindness.--They think me useful; they pretended they were afraid of none
+but me, and that they resolved to have me; they have often confessed this:
+yet all makes little impression on me.--Pox of these speculations! they give
+me the spleen; and that is a disease I was not born to.  Let me alone,
+sirrahs, and be satisfied:  I am, as long as MD and Presto are well.
+
+     Little wealth,
+     And much health,
+     And a life by stealth:
+
+that is all we want; and so farewell, dearest MD; Stella, Dingley, Presto, all
+together, now and for ever all together.  Farewell again and again.
+
+
+
+LETTER 26.
+
+CHELSEA, June 30, 1711.
+
+See what large paper I am forced to take, to write to MD; Patrick has brought
+me none clipped; but, faith, the next shall be smaller.  I dined to-day, as I
+told you, with Dilly at Sir Andrew Fountaine's:  there were we wretchedly
+punning, and writing together to Lord Pembroke.  Dilly is just such a puppy as
+ever; and it is so uncouth, after so long an intermission.  My twenty-fifth is
+gone this evening to the post.  I think I will direct my next (which is this)
+to Mr. Curry's, and let them send it to Wexford; and then the next enclosed to
+Reading.  Instruct me how I shall do.  I long to hear from you from Wexford,
+and what sort of place it is.  The town grows very empty and dull.  This
+evening I have had a letter from Mr. Philips, the pastoral poet, to get him a
+certain employment from Lord Treasurer.  I have now had almost all the Whig
+poets my solicitors; and I have been useful to Congreve, Steele, and Harrison:
+but I will do nothing for Philips; I find he is more a puppy than ever, so
+don't solicit for him.  Besides, I will not trouble Lord Treasurer, unless
+upon some very extraordinary occasion.
+
+July 1.  Dilly lies conveniently for me when I come to town from Chelsea of a
+Sunday, and go to the Secretary's; so I called at his lodgings this morning,
+and sent for my gown, and dressed myself there.  He had a letter from the
+Bishop, with an account that you were set out for Wexford the morning he writ,
+which was June 26, and he had the letter the 30th; that was very quick:  the
+Bishop says you design to stay there two months or more.  Dilly had also a
+letter from Tom Ashe, full of Irish news; that your Lady Lyndon[1] is dead,
+and I know not what besides of Dr. Coghill[2] losing his drab, etc.  The
+Secretary was gone to Windsor, and I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh.  Lord
+Treasurer is at Windsor too; they will be going and coming all summer, while
+the Queen is there, and the town is empty, and I fear I shall be sometimes
+forced to stoop beneath my dignity, and send to the ale-house for a dinner.
+Well, sirrahs, had you a good journey to Wexford? did you drink ale by the
+way? were you never overturned? how many things did you forget? do you lie on
+straw in your new town where you are?  Cudshoe,[3] the next letter to Presto
+will be dated from Wexford.  What fine company have you there? what new
+acquaintance have you got?  You are to write constantly to Mrs. Walls and Mrs.
+Stoyte:  and the Dean said, "Shall we never hear from you?"  "Yes, Mr. Dean,
+we'll make bold to trouble you with a letter."  Then at Wexford; when you meet
+a lady, "Did your waters pass well this morning, madam?"  Will Dingley drink
+them too?  Yes, I warrant; to get her a stomach.  I suppose you are all
+gamesters at Wexford.  Do not lose your money, sirrah, far from home.  I
+believe I shall go to Windsor in a few days; at least, the Secretary tells me
+so.  He has a small house there, with just room enough for him and me; and I
+would be satisfied to pass a few days there sometimes.  Sirrahs, let me go to
+sleep, it is past twelve in our town.
+
+2.  Sterne came to me this morning, and tells me he has yet some hopes of
+compassing his business:  he was with Tom Harley, the secretary of the
+Treasury, and made him doubt a little he was in the wrong; the poor man tells
+me it will almost undo him if he fails.  I called this morning to see Will
+Congreve, who lives much by himself, is forced to read for amusement, and
+cannot do it without a magnifying-glass.  I have set him very well with the
+Ministry, and I hope he is in no danger of losing his place.  I dined in the
+City with Dr. Freind, not among my merchants, but with a scrub instrument of
+mischief of mine, whom I never mentioned to you, nor am like to do.  You two
+little saucy Wexfordians, you are now drinking waters.  You drink waters! you
+go fiddlestick.  Pray God send them to do you good; if not, faith, next summer
+you shall come to the Bath.
+
+3.  Lord Peterborow desired to see me this morning at nine; I had not seen him
+before since he came home.  I met Mrs. Manley[4] there, who was soliciting him
+to get some pension or reward for her service in the cause, by writing her
+Atalantis, and prosecution, etc., upon it.  I seconded her, and hope they will
+do something for the poor woman.  My lord kept me two hours upon politics:  he
+comes home very sanguine; he has certainly done great things at Savoy and
+Vienna, by his negotiations:  he is violent against a peace, and finds true
+what I writ to him, that the Ministry seems for it.  He reasons well; yet I am
+for a peace.  I took leave of Lady Kerry, who goes to-morrow for Ireland; she
+picks up Lord Shelburne and Mrs. Pratt at Lord Shelburne's house.  I was this
+evening with Lord Treasurer:  Tom Harley was there, and whispered me that he
+began to doubt about Sterne's business; I told him he would find he was in the
+wrong.  I sat two or three hours at Lord Treasurer's; he rallied me
+sufficiently upon my refusing to take him into our Club, and told a judge who
+was with us that my name was Thomas Swift.  I had a mind to prevent Sir H.
+Belasyse[5] going to Spain, who is a most covetous cur, and I fell a railing
+against avarice, and turned it so that he smoked me, and named Belasyse.  I
+went on, and said it was a shame to send him; to which he agreed, but desired
+I would name some who understood business, and do not love money, for he could
+not find them.  I said there was something in a Treasurer different from other
+men; that we ought not to make a man a Bishop who does not love divinity, or a
+General who does not love war; and I wondered why the Queen would make a man
+Lord Treasurer who does not love money.  He was mightily pleased with what I
+said.  He was talking of the First-Fruits of England, and I took occasion to
+tell him that I would not for a thousand pounds anybody but he had got them
+for Ireland, who got them for England too.  He bid me consider what a thousand
+pounds was; I said I would have him to know I valued a thousand pounds as
+little as he valued a million.--Is it not silly to write all this? but it
+gives you an idea what our conversation is with mixed company.  I have taken a
+lodging in Suffolk Street, and go to it on Thursday; and design to walk the
+Park and the town, to supply my walking here:  yet I will walk here sometimes
+too, in a visit now and then to the Dean.[6]  When I was almost at home,
+Patrick told me he had two letters for me, and gave them to me in the dark,
+yet I could see one of them was from saucy MD.  I went to visit the Dean for
+half an hour; and then came home, and first read the other letter, which was
+from the Bishop of Clogher, who tells me the Archbishop of Dublin mentioned in
+a full assembly of the clergy the Queen's granting the First-Fruits, said it
+was done by the Lord Treasurer, and talked much of my merit in it:  but
+reading yours I find nothing of that:  perhaps the Bishop lies, out of a
+desire to please me.  I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh.  Well, sirrahs, you are
+gone to Wexford; but I'll follow you.
+
+4.  Sterne came to me again this morning, to advise about reasons and
+memorials he is drawing up; and we went to town by water together; and having
+nothing to do, I stole into the City to an instrument of mine, and then went
+to see poor Patty Rolt,[7] who has been in town these two months with a cousin
+of hers.  Her life passes with boarding in some country town as cheap as she
+can, and, when she runs out, shifting to some cheaper place, or coming to town
+for a month.  If I were rich, I would ease her, which a little thing would do.
+Some months ago I sent her a guinea, and it patched up twenty circumstances.
+She is now going to Berkhamstead in Hertfordshire.  It has rained and hailed
+prodigiously to-day, with some thunder.  This is the last night I lie at
+Chelsea; and I got home early, and sat two hours with the Dean, and ate
+victuals, having had a very scurvy dinner.  I'll answer your letter when I
+come to live in town.  You shall have a fine London answer:  but first I will
+go sleep, and dream of MD.
+
+London, July 5.  This day I left Chelsea for good (that's a genteel phrase),
+and am got into Suffolk Street.  I dined to-day at our Society, and we are
+adjourned for a month, because most of us go into the country:  we dined at
+Lord Keeper's with young Harcourt, and Lord Keeper was forced to sneak off,
+and dine with Lord Treasurer, who had invited the Secretary and me to dine
+with him; but we scorned to leave our company, as George Granville did, whom
+we have threatened to expel:  however, in the evening I went to Lord
+Treasurer, and, among other company, found a couple of judges with him; one of
+them, Judge Powell,[8] an old fellow with grey hairs, was the merriest old
+gentleman I ever saw, spoke pleasant things, and laughed and chuckled till he
+cried again.  I stayed till eleven, because I was not now to walk to Chelsea.
+
+6.  An ugly rainy day.  I was to visit Mrs. Barton, then called at Mrs.
+Vanhomrigh's, where Sir Andrew Fountaine and the rain kept me to dinner; and
+there did I loiter all the afternoon, like a fool, out of perfect laziness,
+and the weather not permitting me to walk:  but I'll do so no more.  Are your
+waters at Wexford good in this rain?  I long to hear how you are established
+there, how and whom you visit, what is your lodging, what are your
+entertainments.  You are got far southwards; but I think you must eat no fruit
+while you drink the waters.  I ate some Kentish cherries t'other day, and I
+repent it already; I have felt my head a little disordered.  We had not a hot
+day all June, or since, which I reckon a mighty happiness.  Have you left a
+direction with Reading for Wexford?  I will, as I said, direct this to
+Curry's, and the next to Reading; or suppose I send this at a venture straight
+to Wexford?  It would vex me to have it miscarry.  I had a letter to-night
+from Parvisol, that White has paid me most of my remaining money; and another
+from Joe, that they have had their election at Trim, but not a word of who is
+chosen portreeve.[9]  Poor Joe is full of complaints, says he has enemies, and
+fears he will never get his two hundred pounds; and I fear so too, although I
+have done what I could.--I'll answer your letter when I think fit, when saucy
+Presto thinks fit, sirrahs.  I am not at leisure yet; when I have nothing to
+do, perhaps I may vouchsafe.--O Lord, the two Wexford ladies; I'll go dream of
+you both.
+
+7.  It was the dismallest rainy day I ever saw:  I went to the Secretary in
+the morning, and he was gone to Windsor.  Then it began raining, and I struck
+in to Mrs. Vanhomrigh's, and dined, and stayed till night very dull and
+insipid.  I hate this town in summer; I'll leave it for a while, if I can have
+time.
+
+8.  I have a fellow of your town, one Tisdall,[10] lodges in the same house
+with me.  Patrick told me Squire Tisdall and his lady lodged here.  I
+pretended I never heard of him; but I knew his ugly face, and saw him at
+church in the next pew to me, and he often looked for a bow, but it would not
+do.  I think he lives in Capel Street, and has an ugly fine wife in a fine
+coach.  Dr. Freind and I dined in the City by invitation, and I drank punch,
+very good, but it makes me hot.  People here are troubled with agues by this
+continuance of wet, cold weather; but I am glad to find the season so
+temperate.  I was this evening to see Will Congreve, who is a very agreeable
+companion.
+
+9.  I was to-day in the City, and dined with Mr. Stratford, who tells me Sir
+Alexander Cairnes makes difficulties about paying my bill; so that I cannot
+give order yet to Parvisol to deliver up the bond to Dr. Raymond.  To-morrow I
+shall have a positive answer:  that Cairnes is a shuffling scoundrel; and
+several merchants have told me so:  what can one expect from a Scot and a
+fanatic?  I was at Bateman's the bookseller's, to see a fine old library he
+has bought; and my fingers itched, as yours would do at a china-shop; but I
+resisted, and found everything too dear, and I have fooled away too much money
+that way already.  So go and drink your waters, saucy rogue, and make yourself
+well; and pray walk while you are there:  I have a notion there is never a
+good walk in Ireland.[11]  Do you find all places without trees?  Pray observe
+the inhabitants about Wexford; they are old English; see what they have
+particular in their manners, names, and language:  magpies have been always
+there, and nowhere else in Ireland, till of late years.  They say the cocks
+and dogs go to sleep at noon, and so do the people.  Write your travels, and
+bring home good eyes and health.
+
+10.  I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer:  we did not sit down till four.  I
+despatched three businesses with him, and forgot a fourth.  I think I have got
+a friend an employment; and besides I made him consent to let me bring
+Congreve to dine with him.  You must understand I have a mind to do a small
+thing, only turn out all the Queen's physicians; for in my conscience they
+will soon kill her among them.  And I must talk over that matter with some
+people.  My Lord Treasurer told me the Queen and he between them have lost the
+paper about the First-Fruits, but desires I will let the bishops know it shall
+be done with the first opportunity.
+
+11.  I dined to-day with neighbour Van, and walked pretty well in the Park
+this evening.  Stella, hussy, don't you remember, sirrah, you used to reproach
+me about meddling in other folk's affairs?  I have enough of it now:  two
+people came to me to-night in the Park to engage to speak to Lord Treasurer in
+their behalf, and I believe they make up fifty who have asked me the same
+favour.  I am hardened, and resolve to trouble him, or any other Minister,
+less than ever.  And I observe those who have ten times more credit than I
+will not speak a word for anybody.  I met yesterday the poor lad I told you
+of, who lived with Mr. Tenison,[12] who has been ill of an ague ever since I
+saw him.  He looked wretchedly, and was exceeding thankful for half a crown I
+gave him.  He had a crown from me before.
+
+12.  I dined to-day with young Manley[13] in the City, who is to get me out a
+box of books and a hamper of wine from Hamburg.  I inquired of Mr. Stratford,
+who tells me that Cairnes has not yet paid my two hundred pounds, but shams
+and delays from day to day.  Young Manley's wife is a very indifferent person
+of a young woman, goggle-eyed, and looks like a fool:  yet he is a handsome
+fellow, and married her for love after long courtship, and she refused him
+until he got his last employment.--I believe I shall not be so good a boy for
+writing as I was during your stay at Wexford, unless I may send my letters
+every second time to Curry's; pray let me know.  This, I think, shall go
+there:  or why not to Wexford itself?  That is right, and so it shall this
+next Tuesday, although it costs you tenpence.  What care I?
+
+13.  This toad of a Secretary is come from Windsor, and I cannot find him; and
+he goes back on Sunday, and I can't see him to-morrow.  I dined scurvily to-
+day with Mr. Lewis and a parson; and then went to see Lord Treasurer, and met
+him coming from his house in his coach:  he smiled, and I shrugged, and we
+smoked each other; and so my visit is paid.  I now confine myself to see him
+only twice a week:  he has invited me to Windsor, and betwixt two stools, etc.
+I will go live at Windsor, if possible, that's pozzz.  I have always the luck
+to pass my summer in London.  I called this evening to see poor Sir Matthew
+Dudley, a Commissioner of the Customs; I know he is to be out for certain:  he
+is in hopes of continuing:  I would not tell him bad news, but advised him to
+prepare for the worst.  Dilly was with me this morning, to invite me to dine
+at Kensington on Sunday with Lord Mountjoy, who goes soon for Ireland.  Your
+late Chief-Justice Broderick[14] is here, and they say violent as a tiger.
+How is party among you at Wexford?  Are the majority of ladies for the late or
+present Ministry?  Write me Wexford news, and love Presto, because he is a
+good boy.
+
+14.  Although it was shaving-day, I walked to Chelsea, and was there by nine
+this morning; and the Dean of Carlisle and I crossed the water to Battersea,
+and went in his chariot to Greenwich, where we dined at Dr. Gastrell's, and
+passed the afternoon at Lewisham, at the Dean of Canterbury's;[15] and there I
+saw Moll Stanhope,[16] who is grown monstrously tall, but not so handsome as
+formerly.  It is the first little rambling journey I have had this summer
+about London, and they are the agreeablest pastimes one can have, in a
+friend's coach, and to good company.  Bank Stock is fallen three or four per
+cent. by the whispers about the town of the Queen's being ill, who is however
+very well.
+
+15.  How many books have you carried with you to Wexford?  What, not one
+single book?  Oh, but your time will be so taken up; and you can borrow of the
+parson.  I dined to-day with Sir Andrew Fountaine and Dilly at Kensington with
+Lord Mountjoy; and in the afternoon Stratford came there, and told me my two
+hundred pounds were paid at last; so that business is over, and I am at ease
+about it; and I wish all your money was in the Bank too.  I will have my other
+hundred pounds there, that is in Hawkshaw's hands.  Have you had the interest
+of it paid yet?  I ordered Parvisol to do it.  What makes Presto write so
+crooked?  I will answer your letter to-morrow, and send it on Tuesday.  Here's
+hot weather come again, yesterday and to-day:  fine drinking waters now.  We
+had a sad pert dull parson at Kensington to-day.  I almost repent my coming to
+town; I want the walks I had.
+
+16.  I dined in the City to-day with a hedge[17] acquaintance, and the day
+passed without any consequence.  I will answer your letter to-morrow.
+
+17.  Morning.  I have put your letter before me, and am going to answer it.
+Hold your tongue:  stand by.  Your weather and ours were not alike; we had not
+a bit of hot weather in June, yet you complain of it on the 19th day.  What,
+you used to love hot weather then?  I could never endure it:  I detest and
+abominate it.  I would not live in a hot country, to be king of it.  What a
+splutter you keep about my bonds with Raymond, and all to affront Presto!
+Presto will be suspicious of everything but MD, in spite of your little nose.
+Soft and fair, Madam Stella, how you gallop away, in your spleen and your
+rage, about repenting my journey, and preferment here, and sixpence a dozen,
+and nasty England, and Laracor all my life.  Hey-dazy, will you never have
+done?  I had no offers of any living.  Lord Keeper told me some months ago he
+would give me one when I pleased; but I told him I would not take any from
+him; and the Secretary told me t'other day he had refused a very good one for
+me, but it was in a place he did not like; and I know nothing of getting
+anything here, and, if they would give me leave, I would come over just now.
+Addison, I hear, has changed his mind about going over; but I have not seen
+him these four months.--Oh ay, that's true, Dingley; that's like herself:
+millions of businesses to do before she goes.  Yes, my head has been pretty
+well, but threatening within these two or three days, which I impute to some
+fruit I ate; but I will eat no more:  not a bit of any sort.  I suppose you
+had a journey without dust, and that was happy.  I long for a Wexford letter,
+but must not think of it yet:  your last was finished but three weeks ago.  It
+is d----d news you tell me of Mrs. F----; it makes me love England less a
+great deal.  I know nothing of the trunk being left or taken; so 'tis odd
+enough, if the things in it were mine; and I think I was told that there are
+some things for me that my mother left particularly to me.  I am really sorry
+for -----; that scoundrel ----- will have his estate after his mother's death.
+Let me know if Mrs. Walls has got her tea:  I hope Richardson[18] stayed in
+Dublin till it came.  Mrs. Walls needed not have that blemish in her eye; for
+I am not in love with her at all.  No, I do not like anything in the Examiner
+after the 45th, except the first part of the 46th;[19] all the rest is trash;
+and if you like them, especially the 47th, your judgment is spoiled by ill
+company and want of reading, which I am more sorry for than you think:  and I
+have spent fourteen years in improving you to little purpose.  (Mr. Tooke is
+come here, and I must stop.)--At night.  I dined with Lord Treasurer to-day,
+and he kept me till nine; so I cannot send this to-night, as I intended, nor
+write some other letters.  Green,[20] his surgeon, was there, and dressed his
+breast; that is, put on a plaster, which is still requisite:  and I took an
+opportunity to speak to him of the Queen; but he cut me short with this
+saying, "Laissez faire a Don Antoine," which is a French proverb, expressing,
+"Leave that to me."  I find he is against her taking much physic; and I doubt
+he cannot persuade her to take Dr. Radcliffe.  However, she is very well now,
+and all the story of her illness, except the first day or two, was a lie.  We
+had some business, that company hindered us from doing, though he is earnest
+for it, yet would not appoint me a certain day, but bids me come at all times
+till we can have leisure.  This takes up a great deal of my time, and I can do
+nothing I would do for them.  I was with the Secretary this morning, and we
+both think to go to Windsor for some days, to despatch an affair, if we can
+have leisure.  Sterne met me just now in the street by his lodgings, and I
+went in for an hour to Jemmy Leigh, who loves London dearly:  he asked after
+you with great respect and friendship.--To return to your letter.  Your Bishop
+Mills[21] hates me mortally:  I wonder he should speak well of me, having
+abused me in all places where he went.  So you pay your way.  Cudsho:  you had
+a fine supper, I warrant; two pullets, and a bottle of wine, and some
+currants.--It is just three weeks to-day since you set out to Wexford; you
+were three days going, and I do not expect a letter these ten days yet, or
+rather this fortnight.  I got a grant of the Gazette[22] for Ben Tooke this
+morning from Mr. Secretary:  it will be worth to him a hundred pounds a year.
+
+18.  To-day I took leave of Mrs. Barton, who is going into the country; and I
+dined with Sir John Stanley,[23] where I have not been this great while.
+There dined with us Lord Rochester, and his fine daughter, Lady Jane,[24] just
+growing a top-toast.  I have been endeavouring to save Sir Matthew Dudley,[25]
+but fear I cannot.  I walked the Mall six times to-night for exercise, and
+would have done more; but, as empty as the town is, a fool got hold of me, and
+so I came home, to tell you this shall go to-morrow, without fail, and follow
+you to Wexford, like a dog.
+
+19.  Dean Atterbury sent to me to dine with him at Chelsea.  I refused his
+coach, and walked, and am come back by seven, because I would finish this
+letter, and some others I am writing.  Patrick tells me the maid says one Mr.
+Walls, a clergyman, a tall man, was here to visit me.  Is it your Irish
+Archdeacon?  I shall be sorry for it; but I shall make shift to see him seldom
+enough, as I do Dilly.  What can he do here? or is it somebody else?  The Duke
+of Newcastle[26] is dead by the fall he had from his horse.  God send poor
+Stella her health, and keep MD happy!  Farewell, and love Presto, who loves MD
+above all things ten million of times.  God bless the dear Wexford girls.
+Farewell again, etc. etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 27.
+
+LONDON, July 19, 1711.
+
+I have just sent my 26th, and have nothing to say, because I have other
+letters to write (pshaw, I began too high); but I must lay the beginning like
+a nest-egg:  to-morrow I will say more, and fetch up this line to be straight.
+This is enough at present for two dear saucy naughty girls.
+
+20.  Have I told you that Walls has been with me, and leaves the town in three
+days?  He has brought no gown with him.  Dilly carried him to a play.  He has
+come upon a foolish errand, and goes back as he comes.  I was this day with
+Lord Peterborow, who is going another ramble:  I believe I told you so.  I
+dined with Lord Treasurer, but cannot get him to do his own business with me;
+he has put me off till to-morrow.
+
+21, 22.  I dined yesterday with Lord Treasurer, who would needs take me along
+with him to Windsor, although I refused him several times, having no linen,
+etc.  I had just time to desire Lord Forbes[1] to call at my lodging and order
+my man to send my things to-day to Windsor by his servant.  I lay last night
+at the Secretary's lodgings at Windsor, and borrowed one of his shirts to go
+to Court in.  The Queen is very well.  I dined with Mr. Masham; and not
+hearing anything of my things, I got Lord Winchelsea to bring me to town.
+Here I found that Patrick had broke open the closet to get my linen and
+nightgown, and sent them to Windsor, and there they are; and he, not thinking
+I would return so soon, is gone upon his rambles:  so here I am left
+destitute, and forced to borrow a nightgown of my landlady, and have not a rag
+to put on to-morrow:  faith, it gives me the spleen.
+
+23.  Morning.  It is a terrible rainy day, and rained prodigiously on Saturday
+night.  Patrick lay out last night, and is not yet returned:  faith, poor
+Presto is a desolate creature; neither servant, nor linen, nor anything.--
+Night.  Lord Forbes's man has brought back my portmantua, and Patrick is come;
+so I am in Christian circumstances:  I shall hardly commit such a frolic
+again.  I just crept out to Mrs. Van's, and dined, and stayed there the
+afternoon:  it has rained all this day.  Windsor is a delicious place:  I
+never saw it before, except for an hour about seventeen years ago.  Walls has
+been here in my absence, I suppose, to take his leave; for he designed not to
+stay above five days in London.  He says he and his wife will come here for
+some months next year; and, in short, he dares not stay now for fear of her.
+
+24.  I dined to-day with a hedge[2] friend in the City; and Walls overtook me
+in the street, and told me he was just getting on horseback for Chester.  He
+has as much curiosity as a cow:  he lodged with his horse in Aldersgate
+Street:  he has bought his wife a silk gown, and himself a hat.  And what are
+you doing? what is poor MD doing now? how do you pass your time at Wexford?
+how do the waters agree with you?  Let Presto know soon; for Presto longs to
+know, and must know.  Is not Madam Proby curious company?  I am afraid this
+rainy weather will spoil your waters.  We have had a great deal of wet these
+three days.  Tell me all the particulars of Wexford:  the place, the company,
+the diversions, the victuals, the wants, the vexations.  Poor Dingley never
+saw such a place in her life; sent all over the town for a little parsley to a
+boiled chicken, and it was not to be had; the butter is stark naught, except
+an old English woman's; and it is such a favour to get a pound from her now
+and then!  I am glad you carried down your sheets with you, else you must have
+lain in sackcloth.  O Lord!
+
+25.  I was this forenoon with Mr. Secretary at his office, and helped to
+hinder a man of his pardon, who is condemned for a rape.  The Under Secretary
+was willing to save him, upon an old notion that a woman cannot be ravished;
+but I told the Secretary he could not pardon him without a favourable report
+from the judge; besides, he was a fiddler, and consequently a rogue, and
+deserved hanging for some thing else; and so he shall swing.  What, I must
+stand up for the honour of the fair sex!  'Tis true the fellow had lain with
+her a hundred times before, but what care I for that!  What, must a woman be
+ravished because she is a whore?--The Secretary and I go on Saturday to
+Windsor for a week.  I dined with Lord Treasurer, and stayed with him till
+past ten.  I was to-day at his levee, where I went against my custom, because
+I had a mind to do a good office for a gentleman:  so I talked with him before
+my lord, that he might see me, and then found occasion to recommend him this
+afternoon.  I was forced to excuse my coming to the levee, that I did it to
+see the sight; for he was going to chide me away:  I had never been there but
+once, and that was long before he was Treasurer.  The rooms were all full, and
+as many Whigs as Tories.  He whispered me a jest or two, and bid me come to
+dinner.  I left him but just now; and 'tis late.
+
+26.  Mr. Addison and I have at last met again.  I dined with him and Steele
+to-day at young Jacob Tonson's.  The two Jacobs[3] think it is I who have made
+the Secretary take from them the printing of the Gazette, which they are going
+to lose, and Ben Tooke and another[4] are to have it.  Jacob came to me the
+other day, to make his court; but I told him it was too late, and that it was
+not my doing.  I reckon they will lose it in a week or two.  Mr. Addison and I
+talked as usual, and as if we had seen one another yesterday; and Steele and I
+were very easy, though I writ him lately a biting letter, in answer to one of
+his, where he desired me to recommend a friend of his to Lord Treasurer.  Go,
+get you gone to your waters, sirrah.  Do they give you a stomach?  Do you eat
+heartily?--We have had much rain to-day and yesterday.
+
+27.  I dined to-day in the City, and saw poor Patty Rolt, and gave her a
+pistole to help her a little forward against she goes to board in the country.
+She has but eighteen pounds a year to live on, and is forced to seek out for
+cheap places.  Sometimes they raise their price, and sometimes they starve
+her, and then she is forced to shift.  Patrick the puppy put too much ink in
+my standish,[5] and, carrying too many things together, I spilled it on my
+paper and floor.  The town is dull, wet, and empty; Wexford is worth two of
+it; I hope so at least, and that poor little MD finds it so.  I reckon upon
+going to Windsor to-morrow with Mr. Secretary, unless he changes his mind, or
+some other business prevents him.  I shall stay there a week, I hope.
+
+28.  Morning.  Mr. Secretary sent me word he will call at my lodgings by two
+this afternoon, to take me to Windsor; so I must dine nowhere; and I promised
+Lord Treasurer to dine with him to-day; but I suppose we shall dine at Windsor
+at five, for we make but three hours there.[6]  I am going abroad, but have
+left Patrick to put up my things, and to be sure to be at home half an hour
+before two.--Windsor, at night.  We did not leave London till three, and dined
+here between six and seven; at nine I left the company, and went to see Lord
+Treasurer, who is just come.  I chid him for coming so late; he chid me for
+not dining with him; said he stayed an hour for me.  Then I went and sat with
+Mr. Lewis till just now, and it is past eleven.  I lie in the same house with
+the Secretary, one of the Prebendary's houses.  The Secretary is not come from
+his apartment in the Castle.  Do you think that abominable dog Patrick was out
+after two to-day, and I in a fright every moment, for fear the chariot should
+come; and when he came in, he had not put up one rag of my things!  I never
+was in a greater passion, and would certainly have cropped one of his ears, if
+I had not looked every moment for the Secretary, who sent his equipage to my
+lodging before, and came in a chair from Whitehall to me, and happened to stay
+half an hour later than he intended.  One of Lord Treasurer's servants gave me
+a letter to-night:  I found it was from ----, with an offer of fifty pounds,
+to be paid me in what manner I pleased; because, he said, he desired to be
+well with me.  I was in a rage;[7] but my friend Lewis cooled me, and said it
+is what the best men sometimes meet with; and I have been not seldom served in
+the like manner, although not so grossly.  In these cases I never demur a
+moment, nor ever found the least inclination to take anything.  Well, I will
+go try to sleep in my new bed, and to dream of poor Wexford MD, and Stella
+that drinks water, and Dingley that drinks ale.
+
+29.  I was at Court and church to-day, as I was this day se'ennight:  I
+generally am acquainted with about thirty in the drawing-room, and I am so
+proud I make all the lords come up to me:  one passes half an hour pleasant
+enough.  We had a dunce to preach before the Queen to-day, which often
+happens.  Windsor is a delicious situation, but the town is scoundrel.  I have
+this morning got the Gazette for Ben Tooke and one Barber a printer; it will
+be about three hundred pounds a year between them.  The other fellow was
+printer of the Examiner, which is now laid down.[8]  I dined with the
+Secretary:  we were a dozen in all, three Scotch lords, and Lord Peterborow.
+The Duke of Hamilton[9] would needs be witty, and hold up my train as I walked
+upstairs.  It is an ill circumstance that on Sundays much company always meet
+at the great tables.  Lord Treasurer told at Court what I said to Mr.
+Secretary on this occasion.  The Secretary showed me his bill of fare, to
+encourage me to dine with him.  "Poh," said I, "show me a bill of company, for
+I value not your dinner."  See how this is all blotted,[10] I can write no
+more here, but to tell you I love MD dearly, and God bless them.
+
+30.  In my conscience, I fear I shall have the gout.  I sometimes feel pains
+about my feet and toes:  I never drank till within these two years, and I did
+it to cure my head.  I often sit evenings with some of these people, and drink
+in my turn; but I am now resolved to drink ten times less than before; but
+they advise me to let what I drink be all wine, and not to put water to it.
+Tooke and the printer stayed to-day to finish their affair, and treated me and
+two of the Under Secretaries upon their getting the Gazette.  Then I went to
+see Lord Treasurer, and chid him for not taking notice of me at Windsor.  He
+said he kept a place for me yesterday at dinner, and expected me there; but I
+was glad I did not go, because the Duke of Buckingham was there, and that
+would have made us acquainted; which I have no mind to.  However, we appointed
+to sup at Mr. Masham's, and there stayed till past one o'clock; and that is
+late, sirrahs:  and I have much business.
+
+31.  I have sent a noble haunch of venison this afternoon to Mrs. Vanhomrigh:
+I wish you had it, sirrahs.  I dined gravely with my landlord the Secretary.
+The Queen was abroad to-day in order to hunt; but, finding it disposed to
+rain, she kept in her coach; she hunts in a chaise with one horse, which she
+drives herself, and drives furiously, like Jehu, and is a mighty hunter, like
+Nimrod.  Dingley has heard of Nimrod, but not Stella, for it is in the Bible.
+I was to-day at Eton, which is but just cross the bridge, to see my Lord
+Kerry's son,[11] who is at school there.  Mr. Secretary has given me a warrant
+for a buck; I can't send it to MD.  It is a sad thing, faith, considering how
+Presto loves MD, and how MD would love Presto's venison for Presto's sake.
+God bless the two dear Wexford girls!
+
+Aug. 1.  We had for dinner the fellow of that haunch of venison I sent to
+London; 'twas mighty fat and good, and eight people at dinner; that was bad.
+The Queen and I were going to take the air this afternoon, but not together;
+and were both hindered by a sudden rain.  Her coaches and chaises all went
+back, and the guards too; and I scoured into the market-place for shelter.  I
+intended to have walked up the finest avenue I ever saw, two miles long, with
+two rows of elms on each side.  I walked in the evening a little upon the
+terrace, and came home at eight:  Mr. Secretary came soon after, and we were
+engaging in deep discourse, and I was endeavouring to settle some points of
+the greatest consequence, and had wormed myself pretty well into him, when his
+Under Secretary came in (who lodges in the same house with us) and interrupted
+all my scheme.  I have just left him:  it is late, etc.
+
+2.  I have been now five days at Windsor, and Patrick has been drunk three
+times that I have seen, and oftener I believe.  He has lately had clothes that
+have cost me five pounds, and the dog thinks he has the whip-hand of me:  he
+begins to master me; so now I am resolved to part with him, and will use him
+without the least pity.  The Secretary and I have been walking three or four
+hours to-day.  The Duchess of Shrewsbury[12] asked him, was not that Dr.--Dr.-
+-and she could not say my name in English, but said Dr. Presto, which is
+Italian for Swift.  Whimsical enough, as Billy Swift[13] says.  I go to-morrow
+with the Secretary to his house at Bucklebury, twenty-five miles from hence,
+and return early on Sunday morning.  I will leave this letter behind me locked
+up, and give you an account of my journey when I return.  I had a letter
+yesterday from the Bishop of Clogher, who is coming up to his Parliament.
+Have you any correspondence with him to Wexford?  Methinks, I now long for a
+letter from you, dated Wexford, July 24, etc.  O Lord, that would be so
+pretending;[14] and then, says you, Stella can't write much, because it is bad
+to write when one drinks the waters; and I think, says you, I find myself
+better already, but I cannot tell yet whether it be the journey or the waters.
+Presto is so silly to-night; yes he be; but Presto loves MD dearly, as hope
+saved.
+
+3.  Morning.  I am to go this day at noon, as I told you, to Bucklebury:  we
+dine at twelve, and expect to be there in four hours.  I cannot bid you good-
+night now, because I shall be twenty-five miles from this paper to-night, and
+so my journal must have a break; so good-morrow, etc.
+
+4, 5.  I dined yesterday at Bucklebury, where we lay two nights, and set out
+this morning at eight, and were here at twelve; in four hours we went twenty-
+six miles.  Mr. Secretary was a perfect country gentleman at Bucklebury:  he
+smoked tobacco with one or two neighbours; he inquired after the wheat in such
+a field; he went to visit his hounds, and knew all their names; he and his
+lady saw me to my chamber just in the country fashion.  His house is in the
+midst of near three thousand pounds a year he had by his lady,[15] who is
+descended from Jack Newbury, of whom books and ballads are written; and there
+is an old picture of him in the house.  She is a great favourite of mine.  I
+lost church to-day; but I dressed and shaved, and went to Court, and would not
+dine with the Secretary, but engaged myself to a private dinner with Mr.
+Lewis, and one friend more.  We go to London to-morrow; for Lord Dartmouth,
+the other Secretary, is come, and they are here their weeks by turns.
+
+6.  Lord Treasurer comes every Saturday to Windsor, and goes away on Monday or
+Tuesday.  I was with him this morning at his levee, for one cannot see him
+otherwise here, he is so hurried:  we had some talk; and I told him I would
+stay this week at Windsor by myself, where I can have more leisure to do some
+business that concerns them.  Lord Treasurer and the Secretary thought to
+mortify me; for they told me they had been talking a great deal of me to-day
+to the Queen, and she said she had never heard of me.  I told them that was
+their fault, and not hers, etc., and so we laughed.  I dined with the
+Secretary, and let him go to London at five without me; and here am I alone in
+the Prebendary's house, which Mr. Secretary has taken; only Mr. Lewis is in my
+neighbourhood, and we shall be good company.  The Vice-Chamberlain,[16] and
+Mr. Masham, and the Green Cloth,[17] have promised me dinners.  I shall want
+but four till Mr. Secretary returns.  We have a music-meeting in our town to-
+night.  I went to the rehearsal of it, and there was Margarita,[18] and her
+sister, and another drab, and a parcel of fiddlers:  I was weary, and would
+not go to the meeting, which I am sorry for, because I heard it was a great
+assembly.  Mr. Lewis came from it, and sat with me till just now; and 'tis
+late.
+
+7.  I can do no business, I fear, because Mr. Lewis, who has nothing or little
+to do here, sticks close to me.  I dined today with the gentlemen ushers,
+among scurvy company; but the Queen was hunting the stag till four this
+afternoon, and she drove in her chaise above forty miles, and it was five
+before we went to dinner.  Here are fine walks about this town.  I sometimes
+walk up the avenue.
+
+8.  There was a Drawing-room to-day at Court; but so few company, that the
+Queen sent for us into her bed-chamber, where we made our bows, and stood
+about twenty of us round the room, while she looked at us round with her fan
+in her mouth, and once a minute said about three words to some that were
+nearest her, and then she was told dinner was ready, and went out.  I dined at
+the Green Cloth, by Mr. Scarborow's[19] invitation, who is in waiting.  It is
+much the best table in England, and costs the Queen a thousand pounds a month
+while she is at Windsor or Hampton Court, and is the only mark of magnificence
+or hospitality I can see in the Queen's family:  it is designed to entertain
+foreign Ministers, and people of quality, who come to see the Queen, and have
+no place to dine at.
+
+9.  Mr. Coke, the Vice-Chamberlain, made me a long visit this morning, and
+invited me to dinner; but the toast, his lady,[20] was unfortunately engaged
+to Lady Sunderland.[21]  Lord Treasurer stole here last night, but did not lie
+at his lodgings in the Castle; and, after seeing the Queen, went back again.
+I just drank a dish of chocolate with him.  I fancy I shall have reason to be
+angry with him very soon; but what care I?  I believe I shall die with
+Ministries in my debt.--This night I received a certain letter from a place
+called Wexford, from two dear naughty girls of my acquaintance; but, faith, I
+will not answer it here, no in troth.  I will send this to Mr. Reading,
+supposing it will find you returned; and I hope better for the waters.
+
+10.  Mr. Vice-Chamberlain lent me his horses to ride about and see the country
+this morning.  Dr. Arbuthnot, the Queen's physician and favourite, went out
+with me to show me the places:  we went a little after the Queen, and overtook
+Miss Forester,[22] a maid of honour, on her palfrey, taking the air; we made
+her go along with us.  We saw a place they have made for a famous horse-race
+to-morrow, where the Queen will come.  We met the Queen coming back, and Miss
+Forester stood, like us, with her hat off while the Queen went by.  The Doctor
+and I left the lady where we found her, but under other conductors; and we
+dined at a little place he has taken, about a mile off.--When I came back I
+found Mr. Scarborow had sent all about to invite me to the Green Cloth, and
+lessened his company on purpose to make me easy.  It is very obliging, and
+will cost me thanks.  Much company is come to town this evening, to see to-
+morrow's race.  I was tired with riding a trotting mettlesome horse a dozen
+miles, having not been on horseback this twelvemonth.  And Miss Forester did
+not make it easier; she is a silly true maid of honour, and I did not like
+her, although she be a toast, and was dressed like a man.[23]
+
+11.  I will send this letter to-day.  I expect the Secretary by noon.  I will
+not go to the race unless I can get room in some coach.  It is now morning.  I
+must rise, and fold up and seal my letter.  Farewell, and God preserve dearest
+MD.
+
+I believe I shall leave this town on Monday.
+
+
+
+LETTER 28.
+
+WINDSOR, Aug. 11, 1711.
+
+I sent away my twenty-seventh this morning in an express to London, and
+directed to Mr. Reading:  this shall go to your lodgings, where I reckon you
+will be returned before it reaches you.  I intended to go to the race[1] to-
+day, but was hindered by a visit:  I believe I told you so in my last.  I
+dined to-day at the Green Cloth, where everybody had been at the race but
+myself, and we were twenty in all, and very noisy company; but I made the
+Vice-Chamberlain and two friends more sit at a side table, to be a little
+quiet.  At six I went to see the Secretary, who is returned; but Lord Keeper
+sent to desire I would sup with him, where I stayed till just now:  Lord
+Treasurer and Secretary were to come to us, but both failed.  'Tis late, etc.
+
+12.  I was this morning to visit Lord Keeper, who made me reproaches that I
+had never visited him at Windsor.  He had a present sent him of delicious
+peaches, and he was champing and champing, but I durst not eat one; I wished
+Dingley had some of them, for poor Stella can no more eat fruit than Presto.
+Dilly Ashe is come to Windsor; and after church I carried him up to the
+drawing-room, and talked to the Keeper and Treasurer, on purpose to show them
+to him; and he saw the Queen and several great lords, and the Duchess of
+Montagu;[2] he was mighty happy, and resolves to fill a letter to the
+Bishop.[3]  My friend Lewis and I dined soberly with Dr. Adams,[4] the only
+neighbour prebendary.  One of the prebendaries here is lately a peer, by the
+death of his father.  He is now Lord Willoughby of Broke,[5] and will sit in
+the House of Lords with his gown.  I supped to-night at Masham's with Lord
+Treasurer, Mr. Secretary, and Prior.  The Treasurer made us stay till twelve,
+before he came from the Queen, and 'tis now past two.
+
+13.  I reckoned upon going to London to-day; but by an accident the Cabinet
+Council did not sit last night, and sat to-day, so we go to-morrow at six in
+the morning.  I missed the race to-day by coming out too late, when
+everybody's coach was gone, and ride I would not:  I felt my last riding three
+days after.  We had a dinner to-day at the Secretary's lodgings without him:
+Mr. Hare,[6] his Under Secretary, Mr. Lewis, Brigadier Sutton,[7] and I, dined
+together; and I made the Vice-Chamberlain take a snap with us, rather than
+stay till five for his lady, who was gone to the race.  The reason why the
+Cabinet Council was not held last night was because Mr. Secretary St. John
+would not sit with your Duke of Somerset.[8]  So to-day the Duke was forced to
+go to the race while the Cabinet was held.  We have music-meetings in our
+town, and I was at the rehearsal t'other day; but I did not value it, nor
+would go to the meeting.  Did I tell you this before?
+
+London, 14.  We came to town this day in two hours and forty minutes:  twenty
+miles are nothing here.  I found a letter from the Archbishop of Dublin, sent
+me the Lord knows how.  He says some of the bishops will hardly believe that
+Lord Treasurer got the Queen to remit the First-Fruits before the Duke of
+Ormond was declared Lord Lieutenant, and that the bishops have written a
+letter to Lord Treasurer to thank him.  He has sent me the address of the
+Convocation, ascribing, in good part, that affair to the Duke, who had less
+share in it than MD; for if it had not been for MD, I should not have been so
+good a solicitor.  I dined to-day in the City, about a little bit of mischief,
+with a printer.--I found Mrs. Vanhomrigh all in combustion, squabbling with
+her rogue of a landlord; she has left her house, and gone out of our
+neighbourhood a good way.  Her eldest daughter is come of age, and going to
+Ireland to look after her fortune, and get it in her own hands.[9]
+
+15.  I dined to-day with Mrs. Van, who goes to-night to her new lodgings.  I
+went at six to see Lord Treasurer; but his company was gone, contrary to
+custom, and he was busy, and I was forced to stay some time before I could see
+him.  We were together hardly an hour, and he went away, being in haste.  He
+desired me to dine with him on Friday, because there would be a friend of his
+that I must see:  my Lord Harley told me, when he was gone, that it was Mrs.
+Masham his father meant, who is come to town to lie-in, and whom I never saw,
+though her husband is one of our Society.  God send her a good time! her death
+would be a terrible thing.[10]--Do you know that I have ventured all my credit
+with these great Ministers, to clear some misunderstandings betwixt them; and
+if there be no breach, I ought to have the merit of it.  'Tis a plaguy
+ticklish piece of work, and a man hazards losing both sides.  It is a pity the
+world does not know my virtue.--I thought the clergy in Convocation in Ireland
+would have given me thanks for being their solicitor; but I hear of no such
+thing.  Pray talk occasionally on that subject, and let me know what you hear.
+Do you know the greatness of my spirit, that I value their thanks not a rush,
+but at my return shall freely let all people know that it was my Lord
+Treasurer's action, wherein the Duke of Ormond had no more share than a cat?
+And so they may go whistle, and I'll go sleep.
+
+16.  I was this day in the City, and dined at Pontack's[11] with Stratford,
+and two other merchants.  Pontack told us, although his wine was so good, he
+sold it cheaper than others; he took but seven shillings a flask.  Are not
+these pretty rates?  The books he sent for from Hamburg are come, but not yet
+got out of the custom-house.  My library will be at least double when I come
+back.  I shall go to Windsor again on Saturday, to meet our Society, who are
+to sup at Mr. Secretary's; but I believe I shall return on Monday, and then I
+will answer your letter, that lies here safe underneath;--I see it; lie still:
+I will answer you when the ducks have eaten up the dirt.
+
+17.  I dined to-day at Lord Treasurer's with Mrs. Masham, and she is extremely
+like one Mrs. Malolly, that was once my landlady in Trim.  She was used with
+mighty kindness and respect, like a favourite.  It signifies nothing going to
+this Lord Treasurer about business, although it be his own.  He was in haste,
+and desires I will come again, and dine with him to-morrow.  His famous lying
+porter is fallen sick, and they think he will die:  I wish I had all my half-
+crowns again.  I believe I have told you he is an old Scotch fanatic, and the
+damn'dest liar in his office alive.[12]  I have a mind to recommend Patrick to
+succeed him:  I have trained him up pretty well.  I reckon for certain you are
+now in town.  The weather now begins to alter to rain.
+
+Windsor, 18.  I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer, and he would make me go with
+him to Windsor, although I was engaged to the Secretary, to whom I made my
+excuses:  we had in the coach besides, his son and son-in-law, Lord Harley and
+Lord Dupplin, who are two of our Society, and seven of us met by appointment,
+and supped this night with the Secretary.  It was past nine before we got
+here, but a fine moonshiny night.  I shall go back, I believe, on Monday.
+'Tis very late.
+
+19.  The Queen did not stir out to-day, she is in a little fit of the gout.  I
+dined at Mr. Masham's; we had none but our Society members, six in all, and I
+supped with Lord Treasurer.  The Queen has ordered twenty thousand pounds to
+go on with the building at Blenheim, which has been starved till now, since
+the change of the Ministry.[13]  I suppose it is to reward his last action of
+getting into the French lines.[14]  Lord Treasurer kept me till past twelve.
+
+London, 20.  It rained terribly every step of our journey to-day:  I returned
+with the Secretary after a dinner of cold meat, and went to Mrs. Van's, where
+I sat the evening.  I grow very idle, because I have a great deal of business.
+Tell me how you passed your time at Wexford; and are not you glad at heart you
+have got home safe to your lodgings at St. Mary's, pray?  And so your friends
+come to visit you; and Mrs. Walls is much better of her eye; and the Dean is
+just as he used to be:  and what does Walls say of London? 'tis a reasoning
+coxcomb.  And Goody Stoyte, and Hannah what d'ye call her; no, her name an't
+Hannah, Catherine I mean; they were so glad to see the ladies again! and Mrs.
+Manley wanted a companion at ombre.
+
+21.  I writ to-day to the Archbishop of Dublin, and enclosed a long politic
+paper by itself.  You know the bishops are all angry (smoke the wax-candle
+drop at the bottom of this paper) I have let the world know the First-Fruits
+were got by Lord Treasurer before the Duke of Ormond was Governor.  I told
+Lord Treasurer all this, and he is very angry; but I pacified him again by
+telling him they were fools, and knew nothing of what passed here; but thought
+all was well enough if they complimented the Duke of Ormond.  Lord Treasurer
+gave me t'other day a letter of thanks he received from the bishops of
+Ireland, signed by seventeen; and says he will write them an answer.  The Dean
+of Carlisle sat with me to-day till three; and I went to dine with Lord
+Treasurer, who dined abroad, so did the Secretary, and I was left in the suds.
+'Twas almost four, and I got to Sir Matthew Dudley, who had half dined.
+Thornhill, who killed Sir Cholmley Dering,[15] was murdered by two men, on
+Turnham Green, last Monday night:  as they stabbed him, they bid him remember
+Sir Cholmley Dering.  They had quarrelled at Hampton Court, and followed and
+stabbed him on horseback.  We have only a Grub Street paper of it, but I
+believe it is true.  I went myself through Turnham Green the same night, which
+was yesterday.
+
+22.  We have had terrible rains these two or three days.  I intended to dine
+at Lord Treasurer's, but went to see Lady Abercorn, who is come to town, and
+my lord; and I dined with them, and visited Lord Treasurer this evening.  His
+porter is mending.  I sat with my lord about three hours, and am come home
+early to be busy.  Passing by White's Chocolate-house,[16] my brother Masham
+called me, and told me his wife was brought to bed of a boy, and both very
+well.  (Our Society, you must know, are all brothers.)  Dr. Garth told us that
+Mr. Henley[17] is dead of an apoplexy.  His brother-in-law, Earl Poulett, is
+gone down to the Grange, to take care of his funeral.  The Earl of Danby,[18]
+the Duke of Leeds's eldest grandson, a very hopeful young man of about twenty,
+is dead at Utrecht of the smallpox.--I long to know whether you begin to have
+any good effect by your waters.--Methinks this letter goes on slowly; 'twill
+be a fortnight next Saturday since it was begun, and one side not filled.  O
+fie for shame, Presto!  Faith, I'm so tosticated to and from Windsor, that I
+know not what to say; but, faith, I'll go to Windsor again on Saturday, if
+they ask me, not else.  So lose your money again, now you are come home; do,
+sirrah.
+
+Take your magnifying-glass, Madam Dingley.
+
+You shan't read this, sirrah Stella; don't read it for your life, for fear of
+your dearest eyes.
+
+There's enough for this side; these Ministers hinder me.  Pretty, dear,
+little, naughty, saucy MD.
+
+Silly, impudent, loggerhead Presto.
+
+23.  Dilly and I dined to-day with Lord Abercorn, and had a fine fat haunch of
+venison, that smelt rarely on one side:  and after dinner Dilly won half a
+crown of me at backgammon at his lodgings, to his great content.  It is a
+scurvy empty town this melancholy season of the year; but I think our weather
+begins to mend.  The roads are as deep as in winter.  The grapes are sad
+things; but the peaches are pretty good, and there are some figs.  I sometimes
+venture to eat one, but always repent it.  You say nothing of the box sent
+half a year ago.  I wish you would pay me for Mrs. Walls's tea.  Your mother
+is in the country, I suppose.  Pray send me the account of MD, Madam Dingley,
+as it stands since November,[19] that is to say, for this year (excluding the
+twenty pounds lent Stella for Wexford), for I cannot look in your letters.  I
+think I ordered that Hawkshaw's interest should be paid to you.  When you
+think proper, I will let Parvisol know you have paid that twenty pounds, or
+part of it; and so go play with the Dean, and I will answer your letter to-
+morrow.  Good-night, sirrahs, and love Presto, and be good girls.
+
+24.  I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer, who chid me for not dining with him
+yesterday, for it seems I did not understand his invitation; and their Club of
+the Ministry dined together, and expected me.  Lord Radnor[20] and I were
+walking the Mall this evening; and Mr. Secretary met us, and took a turn or
+two, and then stole away, and we both believed it was to pick up some wench;
+and to-morrow he will be at the Cabinet with the Queen:  so goes the world!
+Prior has been out of town these two months, nobody knows where, and is lately
+returned.  People confidently affirm he has been in France, and I half believe
+it.  It is said he was sent by the Ministry, and for some overtures towards a
+peace.  The Secretary pretends he knows nothing of it.  I believe your
+Parliament will be dissolved.  I have been talking about the quarrel between
+your Lords and Commons with Lord Treasurer, and did, at the request of some
+people, desire that the Queen's answer to the Commons' address might express a
+dislike of some principles, etc.; but was answered dubiously.--And so now to
+your letter, fair ladies.  I know drinking is bad; I mean writing is bad in
+drinking the waters; and was angry to see so much in Stella's hand.  But why
+Dingley drinks them, I cannot imagine; but truly she'll drink waters as well
+as Stella:  why not?  I hope you now find the benefit of them since you are
+returned; pray let me know particularly.  I am glad you are forced upon
+exercise, which, I believe, is as good as the waters for the heart of them.
+'Tis now past the middle of August; so by your reckoning you are in Dublin.
+It would vex me to the dogs that letters should miscarry between Dublin and
+Wexford, after 'scaping the salt seas.  I will write no more to that nasty
+town in haste again, I warrant you.  I have been four Sundays together at
+Windsor, of which a fortnight together; but I believe I shall not go to-
+morrow, for I will not, unless the Secretary asks me.  I know all your news
+about the Mayor:  it makes no noise here at all, but the quarrel of your
+Parliament does; it is so very extraordinary, and the language of the Commons
+so very pretty.  The Examiner has been down this month, and was very silly the
+five or six last papers; but there is a pamphlet come out, in answer to a
+letter to the seven Lords who examined Gregg.[21]  The Answer[22] is by the
+real author of the Examiner, as I believe; for it is very well written.  We
+had Trapp's poem on the Duke of Ormond[23] printed here, and the printer sold
+just eleven of them.  'Tis a dull piece, not half so good as Stella's; and she
+is very modest to compare herself with such a poetaster.  I am heartily sorry
+for poor Mrs. Parnell's[24] death; she seemed to be an excellent good-natured
+young woman, and I believe the poor lad is much afflicted; they appeared to
+live perfectly well together.  Dilly is not tired at all with England, but
+intends to continue here a good while:  he is mighty easy to be at distance
+from his two sisters-in-law.  He finds some sort of scrub acquaintance; goes
+now and then in disguise to a play; smokes his pipe; reads now and then a
+little trash, and what else the Lord knows.  I see him now and then; for he
+calls here, and the town being thin, I am less pestered with company than
+usual.  I have got rid of many of my solicitors, by doing nothing for them:  I
+have not above eight or nine left, and I'll be as kind to them.  Did I tell
+you of a knight who desired me to speak to Lord Treasurer to give him two
+thousand pounds, or five hundred pounds a year, until he could get something
+better?  I honestly delivered my message to the Treasurer, adding, the knight
+was a puppy, whom I would not give a groat to save from the gallows.  Cole
+Reading's father-in-law has been two or three times at me, to recommend his
+lights to the Ministry, assuring me that a word of mine would, etc.  Did not
+that dog use to speak ill of me, and profess to hate me?  He knows not where I
+lodge, for I told him I lived in the country; and I have ordered Patrick to
+deny me constantly to him.--Did the Bishop of London[25] die in Wexford? poor
+gentleman!  Did he drink the waters? were you at his burial? was it a great
+funeral? so far from his friends!  But he was very old:  we shall all follow.
+And yet it was a pity, if God pleased.  He was a good man; not very learned:
+I believe he died but poor.  Did he leave any charity legacies? who held up
+his pall? was there a great sight of clergy? do they design a tomb for him?--
+Are you sure it was the Bishop of London? because there is an elderly
+gentleman here that we give the same title to:  or did you fancy all this in
+your water, as others do strange things in their wine?  They say these waters
+trouble the head, and make people imagine what never came to pass.  Do you
+make no more of killing a Bishop? are these your Whiggish tricks?--Yes, yes, I
+see you are in a fret.  O, faith, says you, saucy Presto, I'll break your
+head; what, can't one report what one hears, without being made a jest and a
+laughing-stock?  Are these your English tricks, with a murrain?  And
+Sacheverell will be the next Bishop?  He would be glad of an addition of two
+hundred pounds a year to what he has, and that is more than they will give
+him, for aught I see.  He hates the new Ministry mortally, and they hate him,
+and pretend to despise him too.  They will not allow him to have been the
+occasion of the late change; at least some of them will not:  but my Lord
+Keeper owned it to me the other day.  No, Mr. Addison does not go to Ireland
+this year:  he pretended he would; but he is gone to Bath with Pastoral
+Philips, for his eyes.--So now I have run over your letter; and I think this
+shall go to-morrow, which will be just a fortnight from the last, and bring
+things to the old form again, after your rambles to Wexford, and mine to
+Windsor.  Are there not many literal faults in my letters?  I never read them
+over, and I fancy there are.  What do you do then? do you guess my meaning, or
+are you acquainted with my manner of mistaking?  I lost my handkerchief in the
+Mall to-night with Lord Radnor; but I made him walk with me to find it, and
+find it I did not.  Tisdall[26] (that lodges with me) and I have had no
+conversation, nor do we pull off our hats in the streets.  There is a cousin
+of his (I suppose,) a young parson, that lodges in the house too; a handsome,
+genteel fellow.  Dick Tighe[27] and his wife lodged over against us; and he
+has been seen, out of our upper windows, beating her two or three times:  they
+are both gone to Ireland, but not together; and he solemnly vows never to live
+with her.  Neighbours do not stick to say that she has a tongue:  in short, I
+am told she is the most urging, provoking devil that ever was born; and he a
+hot, whiffling[28] puppy, very apt to resent.  I'll keep this bottom till to-
+morrow:  I'm sleepy.
+
+25.  I was with the Secretary this morning, who was in a mighty hurry, and
+went to Windsor in a chariot with Lord Keeper; so I was not invited, and am
+forced to stay at home, but not at all against my will; for I could have gone,
+and would not.  I dined in the City with one of my printers, for whom I got
+the Gazette, and am come home early; and have nothing to say to you more, but
+finish this letter, and not send it by the bellman.  Days grow short, and the
+weather grows bad, and the town is splenetic, and things are so oddly
+contrived that I cannot be absent; otherwise I would go for a few days to
+Oxford, as I promised.--They say it is certain that Prior has been in
+France,[29] nobody doubts it:  I had not time to ask the Secretary, he was in
+such haste.  Well, I will take my leave of dearest MD for a while; for I must
+begin my next letter to-night:  consider that, young women; and pray be merry,
+and good girls, and love Presto.  There is now but one business the Ministry
+want me for, and when that is done, I will take my leave of them.  I never got
+a penny from them, nor expect it.  In my opinion, some things stand very
+ticklish; I dare say nothing at this distance.  Farewell, dear sirrahs,
+dearest lives:  there is peace and quiet with MD, and nowhere else.  They have
+not leisure here to think of small things, which may ruin them; and I have
+been forward enough.  Farewell again, dearest rogues; I am never happy but
+when I write or think of MD.  I have enough of Courts and Ministries, and wish
+I were at Laracor; and if I could with honour come away this moment, I would.
+Bernage[30] came to see me to-day; he is just landed from Portugal, and come
+to raise recruits; he looks very well, and seems pleased with his station and
+manner of life.  He never saw London nor England before; he is ravished with
+Kent, which was his first prospect when he landed.  Farewell again, etc. etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 29.
+
+LONDON, Aug. 25, 1711.
+
+I have got a pretty small gilt sheet of paper, to write to MD.  I have this
+moment sent my 28th by Patrick, who tells me he has put it in the post-office;
+'tis directed to your lodgings:  if it wants more particular direction, you
+must set me right.  It is now a solar month and two days since the date of
+your last, N.18; and I reckon you are now quiet at home, and thinking to begin
+your 19th, which will be full of your quarrel between the two Houses, all
+which I know already.  Where shall I dine to-morrow? can you tell?  Mrs.
+Vanhomrigh boards now, and cannot invite one; and there I used to dine when I
+was at a loss:  and all my friends are gone out of town, and your town is now
+at the fullest, with your Parliament and Convocation.  But let me alone,
+sirrahs; for Presto is going to be very busy; not Presto, but the other I.
+
+26.  People have so left the town that I am at a loss for a dinner.  It is a
+long time since I have been at London upon a Sunday; and the Ministers are all
+at Windsor.  It cost me eighteenpence in coach-hire before I could find a
+place to dine in.  I went to Frankland's,[1] and he was abroad, and the drab
+his wife looked out at window, and bowed to me without inviting me up:  so I
+dined with Mr. Coote,[2] my Lord Mountrath's brother; my lord is with you in
+Ireland.  This morning at five my Lord Jersey[3] died of the gout in his
+stomach, or apoplexy, or both:  he was abroad yesterday, and his death was
+sudden.  He was Chamberlain to King William, and a great favourite, turned out
+by the Queen as a Tory, and stood now fair to be Privy Seal; and by his death
+will, I suppose, make that matter easier, which has been a very stubborn
+business at Court, as I have been informed.  I never remember so many people
+of quality to have died in so short a time.
+
+27.  I went to-day into the City, to thank Stratford for my books, and dine
+with him, and settle my affairs of my money in the Bank, and receive a bill
+for Mrs. Wesley for some things I am to buy for her; and the d---- a one of
+all these could I do.  The merchants were all out of town, and I was forced to
+go to a little hedge place for my dinner.  May my enemies live here in summer!
+and yet I am so unlucky that I cannot possibly be out of the way at this
+juncture.  People leave the town so late in summer, and return so late in
+winter, that they have almost inverted the seasons.  It is autumn this good
+while in St. James's Park; the limes have been losing their leaves, and those
+remaining on the trees are all parched:  I hate this season, where everything
+grows worse and worse.  The only good thing of it is the fruit, and that I
+dare not eat.  Had you any fruit at Wexford?  A few cherries, and durst not
+eat them.  I do not hear we have yet got a new Privy Seal.  The Whigs whisper
+that our new Ministry differ among themselves, and they begin to talk out Mr.
+Secretary:  they have some reasons for their whispers, although I thought it
+was a greater secret.  I do not much like the posture of things; I always
+apprehended that any falling out would ruin them, and so I have told them
+several times.  The Whigs are mighty full of hopes at present; and whatever is
+the matter, all kind of stocks fall.  I have not yet talked with the Secretary
+about Prior's journey.  I should be apt to think it may foretell a peace, and
+that is all we have to preserve us.  The Secretary is not come from Windsor,
+but I expect him to-morrow.  Burn all politics!
+
+28.  We begin to have fine weather, and I walked to-day to Chelsea, and dined
+with the Dean of Carlisle, who is laid up with the gout.  It is now fixed that
+he is to be Dean of Christ Church in Oxford.  I was advising him to use his
+interest to prevent any misunderstanding between our Ministers; but he is too
+wise to meddle, though he fears the thing and the consequences as much as I.
+He will get into his own warm, quiet deanery, and leave them to themselves;
+and he is in the right.--When I came home to-night, I found a letter from Mr.
+Lewis, who is now at Windsor; and in it, forsooth, another which looked like
+Presto's hand; and what should it be but a 19th from MD?  O, faith, I 'scaped
+narrowly, for I sent my 28th but on Saturday; and what should I have done if I
+had two letters to answer at once?  I did not expect another from Wexford,
+that is certain.  Well, I must be contented; but you are dear saucy girls, for
+all that, to write so soon again, faith; an't you?
+
+29.  I dined to-day with Lord Abercorn, and took my leave of them:  they set
+out to-morrow for Chester, and, I believe, will now fix in Ireland.  They have
+made a pretty good journey of it:  his eldest son[4] is married to a lady with
+ten thousand pounds; and his second son[5] has, t'other day, got a prize in
+the lottery of four thousand pounds, beside two small ones of two hundred
+pounds each:  nay, the family was so fortunate, that my lord bestowing one
+ticket, which is a hundred pounds, to one of his servants, who had been his
+page, the young fellow got a prize, which has made it another hundred.  I went
+in the evening to Lord Treasurer, who desires I will dine with him to-morrow,
+when he will show me the answer he designs to return to the letter of thanks
+from your bishops in Ireland.  The Archbishop of Dublin desired me to get
+myself mentioned in the answer which my lord would send; but I sent him word I
+would not open my lips to my lord upon it.  He says it would convince the
+bishops of what I have affirmed, that the First-Fruits were granted before the
+Duke of Ormond was declared Governor; and I writ to him that I would not give
+a farthing to convince them.  My Lord Treasurer began a health to my Lord
+Privy Seal:  Prior punned, and said it was so privy, he knew not who it was;
+but I fancy they have fixed it all, and we shall know to-morrow.  But what
+care you who is Privy Seal, saucy sluttikins?
+
+30.  When I went out this morning, I was surprised with the news that the
+Bishop of Bristol is made Lord Privy Seal.  You know his name is Robinson,[6]
+and that he was many years Envoy in Sweden.  All the friends of the present
+Ministry are extremely glad, and the clergy above the rest.  The Whigs will
+fret to death to see a civil employment given to a clergyman.  It was a very
+handsome thing in my Lord Treasurer, and will bind the Church to him for ever.
+I dined with him to-day, but he had not written his letter;[see above, 29th
+Aug.] but told me he would not offer to send it without showing it to me:  he
+thought that would not be just, since I was so deeply concerned in the affair.
+We had much company:  Lord Rivers, Mar,[7] and Kinnoull,[8] Mr. Secretary,
+George Granville, and Masham:  the last has invited me to the christening of
+his son to-morrow se'ennight; and on Saturday I go to Windsor with Mr.
+Secretary.
+
+31.  Dilly and I walked to-day to Kensington to Lady Mountjoy, who invited us
+to dinner.  He returned soon, to go to a play, it being the last that will be
+acted for some time:  he dresses himself like a beau, and no doubt makes a
+fine figure.  I went to visit some people at Kensington:  Ophy Butler's
+wife[9] there lies very ill of an ague, which is a very common disease here,
+and little known in Ireland. I am apt to think we shall soon have a peace, by
+the little words I hear thrown out by the Ministry.  I have just thought of a
+project to bite the town.  I have told you that it is now known that Mr. Prior
+has been lately in France.  I will make a printer of my own sit by me one day,
+and I will dictate to him a formal relation of Prior's journey,[10] with
+several particulars, all pure invention; and I doubt not but it will take.
+
+Sept. 1.  Morning.  I go to-day to Windsor with Mr. Secretary; and Lord
+Treasurer has promised to bring me back.  The weather has been fine for some
+time, and I believe we shall have a great deal of dust.--At night.  Windsor.
+The Secretary and I dined to-day at Parson's Green, at my Lord Peterborow's
+house, who has left it and his gardens to the Secretary during his absence.
+It is the finest garden I have ever seen about this town; and abundance of hot
+walls for grapes, where they are in great plenty, and ripening fast.  I durst
+not eat any fruit but one fig; but I brought a basket full to my friend Lewis
+here at Windsor.  Does Stella never eat any? what, no apricots at Donnybrook!
+nothing but claret and ombre!  I envy people maunching and maunching peaches
+and grapes, and I not daring to eat a bit.  My head is pretty well, only a
+sudden turn any time makes me giddy for a moment, and sometimes it feels very
+stuffed; but if it grows no worse, I can bear it very well.  I take all
+opportunities of walking; and we have a delicious park here just joining to
+the Castle, and an avenue in the great park very wide and two miles long, set
+with a double row of elms on each side.  Were you ever at Windsor?  I was
+once, a great while ago; but had quite forgotten it.
+
+2.  The Queen has the gout, and did not come to chapel, nor stir out from her
+chamber, but received the sacrament there, as she always does the first Sunday
+in the month.  Yet we had a great Court; and, among others, I saw your
+Ingoldsby,[11] who, seeing me talk very familiarly with the Keeper, Treasurer,
+etc., came up and saluted me, and began a very impertinent discourse about the
+siege of Bouchain.  I told him I could not answer his questions, but I would
+bring him one that should; so I went and fetched Sutton (who brought over the
+express about a month ago), and delivered him to the General, and bid him
+answer his questions; and so I left them together.  Sutton after some time
+comes back in a rage, finds me with Lord Rivers and Masham, and there
+complains of the trick I had played him, and swore he had been plagued to
+death with Ingoldsby's talk.  But he told me Ingoldsby asked him what I meant
+by bringing him; so, I suppose, he smoked me a little.  So we laughed, etc.
+My Lord Willoughby,[12] who is one of the chaplains, and Prebendary of
+Windsor, read prayers last night to the family; and the Bishop of Bristol, who
+is Dean of Windsor, officiated last night at the Cathedral.  This they do to
+be popular; and it pleases mightily.  I dined with Mr. Masham, because he lets
+me have a select company:  for the Court here have got by the end a good thing
+I said to the Secretary some weeks ago.  He showed me his bill of fare, to
+tempt me to dine with him.  "Poh," said I, "I value not your bill of fare;
+give me your bill of company."  Lord Treasurer was mightily pleased, and told
+it everybody as a notable thing.  I reckon upon returning to-morrow:  they say
+the Bishop will then have the Privy Seal delivered him at a great Council.
+
+3.  Windsor still.  The Council was held so late to-day that I do not go back
+to town till to-morrow.  The Bishop was sworn Privy Councillor, and had the
+Privy Seal given him:  and now the patents are passed for those who were this
+long time to be made lords or earls.  Lord Raby,[13] who is Earl of Strafford,
+is on Thursday to marry a namesake of Stella's; the daughter of Sir H. Johnson
+in the City; he has three-score thousand pounds with her, ready money; besides
+the rest at the father's death.  I have got my friend Stratford to be one of
+the directors of the South Sea Company, who were named to-day.  My Lord
+Treasurer did it for me a month ago; and one of those whom I got to be printer
+of the Gazette I am recommending to be printer to the same company.  He
+treated Mr. Lewis and me to-day at dinner.  I supped last night and this with
+Lord Treasurer, Keeper, etc., and took occasion to mention the printer.  I
+said it was the same printer whom my Lord Treasurer has appointed to print for
+the South Sea Company.  He denied, and I insisted on it; and I got the laugh
+on my side.
+
+London, 4.  I came as far as Brentford in Lord Rivers's chariot, who had
+business with Lord Treasurer; then I went into Lord Treasurer's.  We stopped
+at Kensington, where Lord Treasurer went to see Mrs. Masham, who is now what
+they call in the straw.  We got to town by three, and I lighted at Lord
+Treasurer's, who commanded me not to stir:  but I was not well; and when he
+went up, I begged the young lord to excuse me, and so went into the City by
+water, where I could be easier, and dined with the printer, and dictated to
+him some part of Prior's Journey to France.  I walked from the City, for I
+take all occasions of exercise.  Our journey was horridly dusty.
+
+5.  When I went out to-day, I found it had rained mightily in the night, and
+the streets were as dirty as winter:  it is very refreshing after ten days
+dry.--I went into the City, and dined with Stratford, thanked him for his
+books, gave him joy of his being director, of which he had the first notice by
+a letter from me.  I ate sturgeon, and it lies on my stomach.  I almost
+finished Prior's Journey at the printer's; and came home pretty late, with
+Patrick at my heels.
+
+7.  Morning.  But what shall we do about this letter of MD's, N.19?  Not a
+word answered yet, and so much paper spent!  I cannot do anything in it,
+sweethearts, till night.--At night.  O Lord, O Lord! the greatest disgrace
+that ever was has happened to Presto.  What do you think? but, when I was
+going out this forenoon a letter came from MD, N.20, dated Dublin.  O dear, O
+dear!  O sad, O sad!--Now I have two letters together to answer:  here they
+are, lying together.  But I will only answer the first; for I came in late.  I
+dined with my friend Lewis at his lodgings, and walked at six to Kensington to
+Mrs. Masham's son's christening.  It was very private; nobody there but my
+Lord Treasurer, his son and son-in-law, that is to say, Lord Harley and Lord
+Dupplin, and Lord Rivers and I.  The Dean of Rochester[14] christened the
+child, but soon went away.  Lord Treasurer and Lord Rivers were godfathers;
+and Mrs. Hill,[15] Mrs. Masham's sister, godmother.  The child roared like a
+bull, and I gave Mrs. Masham joy of it; and she charged me to take care of my
+nephew, because, Mr. Masham being a brother of our Society, his son, you know,
+is consequently a nephew.  Mrs. Masham sat up dressed in bed, but not, as they
+do in Ireland, with all smooth about her, as if she was cut off in the middle;
+for you might see the counterpane (what d'ye call it?) rise about her hips and
+body.  There is another name of the counterpane; and you will laugh now,
+sirrahs.  George Granville came in at supper, and we stayed till eleven; and
+Lord Treasurer set me down at my lodging in Suffolk Street.  Did I ever tell
+you that Lord Treasurer hears ill with the left ear, just as I do?  He always
+turns the right, and his servants whisper him at that only.  I dare not tell
+him that I am so too, for fear he should think I counterfeited, to make my
+court.
+
+6.  You must read this before the other; for I mistook, and forgot to write
+yesterday's journal, it was so insignificant.  I dined with Dr. Cockburn, and
+sat the evening with Lord Treasurer till ten o'clock.  On Thursdays he has
+always a large select company, and expects me.  So good-night for last night,
+etc.
+
+8.  Morning.  I go to Windsor with Lord Treasurer to-day, and will leave this
+behind me, to be sent to the post.  And now let us hear what says the first
+letter, N.19.  You are still at Wexford, as you say, Madam Dingley.  I think
+no letter from me ever yet miscarried.  And so Inish-Corthy,[16] and the river
+Slainy; fine words those in a lady's mouth.  Your hand like Dingley's, you
+scambling,[17] scattering sluttikin!  YES, MIGHTY LIKE INDEED, IS NOT IT?[18]
+Pisshh, do not talk of writing or reading till your eyes are well, and long
+well; only I would have Dingley read sometimes to you, that you may not lose
+the desire of it.  God be thanked, that the ugly numbing is gone!  Pray use
+exercise when you go to town.  What game is that ombra which Dr. Elwood[19]
+and you play at? is it the Spanish game ombre?  Your card-purse? you a card-
+purse! you a fiddlestick.  You have luck indeed; and luck in a bag.  What a
+devil! is that eight-shilling tea-kettle copper, or tin japanned?  It is like
+your Irish politeness, raffling for tea-kettles.  What a splutter you keep, to
+convince me that Walls has no taste!  My head continues pretty well.  Why do
+you write, dear sirrah Stella, when you find your eyes so weak that you cannot
+see? what comfort is there in reading what you write, when one knows that?  So
+Dingley cannot write, because of the clutter of new company come to Wexford!
+I suppose the noise of their hundred horses disturbs you; or do you lie in one
+gallery, as in an hospital?  What! you are afraid of losing in Dublin the
+acquaintance you have got in Wexford, and chiefly the Bishop of Raphoe,[20] an
+old, doting, perverse coxcomb?  Twenty at a time at breakfast.  That is like
+five pounds at a time, when it was never but once.  I doubt, Madam Dingley,
+you are apt to lie in your travels, though not so bad as Stella; she tells
+thumpers, as I shall prove in my next, if I find this receives encouragement.-
+-So Dr. Elwood says there are a world of pretty things in my works.  A pox on
+his praises! an enemy here would say more.  The Duke of Buckingham would say
+as much, though he and I are terribly fallen out; and the great men are
+perpetually inflaming me against him:  they bring me all he says of me, and, I
+believe, make it worse out of roguery.--No, 'tis not your pen is bewitched,
+Madam Stella, but your old SCRAWLING, SPLAY-FOOT POT-HOOKS, S, S,[21] ay
+that's it:  there the s, s, s, there, there, that's exact.  Farewell, etc.
+
+Our fine weather is gone; and I doubt we shall have a rainy journey to-day.
+Faith, 'tis shaving-day, and I have much to do.  When Stella says her pen was
+bewitched, it was only because there was a hair in it.  You know, the fellow
+they call God-help-it had the same thoughts of his wife, and for the same
+reason.  I think this is very well observed, and I unfolded the letter to tell
+you it.
+
+Cut off those two notes above; and see the nine pounds indorsed, and receive
+the other; and send me word how my accounts stand, that they may be adjusted
+by Nov. 1.[22]  Pray be very particular; but the twenty pounds I lend you is
+not to be included:  so make no blunder.  I won't wrong you, nor you shan't
+wrong me; that is the short.  O Lord, how stout Presto is of late!  But he
+loves MD more than his life a thousand times, for all his stoutness; tell them
+that; and that I'll swear it, as hope saved, ten millions of times, etc. etc.
+
+I open my letter once more, to tell Stella that if she does not use exercise
+after her waters, it will lose all the effects of them:  I should not live if
+I did not take all opportunities of walking.  Pray, pray, do this, to oblige
+poor Presto.
+
+
+
+LETTER 30.
+
+WINDSOR, Sept. 8, 1711.
+
+I made the coachman stop, and put in my twenty-ninth at the post-office at two
+o'clock to-day, as I was going to Lord Treasurer, with whom I dined, and came
+here by a quarter-past eight; but the moon shone, and so we were not in much
+danger of overturning; which, however, he values not a straw, and only laughs
+when I chide at him for it.  There was nobody but he and I, and we supped
+together, with Mr. Masham, and Dr. Arbuthnot, the Queen's favourite physician,
+a Scotchman.  I could not keep myself awake after supper, but did all I was
+able to disguise it, and thought I came off clear; but, at parting, he told me
+I had got my nap already.  It is now one o'clock; but he loves sitting up
+late.
+
+9.  The Queen is still in the gout, but recovering:  she saw company in her
+bed-chamber after church; but the crowd was so great, I could not see her.  I
+dined with my brother Sir William Wyndham,[1] and some others of our Society,
+to avoid the great tables on Sunday at Windsor, which I hate.  The usual
+company supped to-night at Lord Treasurer's, which was Lord Keeper, Mr.
+Secretary, George Granville, Masham, Arbuthnot, and I.  But showers have
+hindered me from walking to-day, and that I do not love.--Noble fruit, and I
+dare not eat a bit.  I ate one fig to-day, and sometimes a few mulberries,
+because it is said they are wholesome, and you know a good name does much.  I
+shall return to town to-morrow, though I thought to have stayed a week, to be
+at leisure for something I am doing.  But I have put it off till next; for I
+shall come here again on Saturday, when our Society are to meet at supper at
+Mr. Secretary's.  My life is very regular here:  on Sunday morning I
+constantly visit Lord Keeper, and sup at Lord Treasurer's with the same set of
+company.  I was not sleepy to-night; I resolved I would not; yet it is past
+midnight at this present writing.
+
+London, 10.  Lord Treasurer and Masham and I left Windsor at three this
+afternoon:  we dropped Masham at Kensington with his lady, and got home by
+six.  It was seven before we sat down to dinner, and I stayed till past
+eleven.  Patrick came home with the Secretary:  I am more plagued with Patrick
+and my portmantua than with myself.  I forgot to tell you that when I went to
+Windsor on Saturday I overtook Lady Giffard and Mrs. Fenton[2] in a chariot,
+going, I suppose, to Sheen.  I was then in a chariot too, of Lord Treasurer's
+brother, who had business with the Treasurer; and my lord came after, and
+overtook me at Turnham Green, four miles from London; and then the brother
+went back, and I went in the coach with Lord Treasurer:  so it happened that
+those people saw me, and not with Lord Treasurer.  Mrs. F. was to see me about
+a week ago; and desired I would get her son into the Charter-house.
+
+11.  This morning the printer sent me an account of Prior's Journey;[3] it
+makes a twopenny pamphlet.  I suppose you will see it, for I dare engage it
+will run; 'tis a formal, grave lie, from the beginning to the end.  I writ all
+but about the last page; that I dictated, and the printer writ.  Mr. Secretary
+sent to me to dine where he did; it was at Prior's:  when I came in, Prior
+showed me the pamphlet, seemed to be angry, and said, "Here is our English
+liberty!"  I read some of it, and said I liked it mightily, and envied the
+rogue the thought; for, had it come into my head, I should have certainly done
+it myself.  We stayed at Prior's till past ten; and then the Secretary
+received a packet with the news of Bouchain being taken, for which the guns
+will go off to-morrow.  Prior owned his having been in France, for it was past
+denying:  it seems he was discovered by a rascal at Dover, who had positive
+orders to let him pass.  I believe we shall have a peace.
+
+12.  It is terrible rainy weather, and has cost me three shillings in coaches
+and chairs to-day, yet I was dirty into the bargain.  I was three hours this
+morning with the Secretary about some business of moment, and then went into
+the City to dine.  The printer tells me he sold yesterday a thousand of
+Prior's Journey, and had printed five hundred more.  It will do rarely, I
+believe, and is a pure bite.  And what is MD doing all this while? got again
+to their cards, their Walls, their deans, their Stoytes, and their claret?
+Pray present my service to Mr. Stoyte and Catherine.  Tell Goody Stoyte she
+owes me a world of dinners, and I will shortly come over and demand them.--Did
+I tell you of the Archbishop of Dublin's last letter?  He had been saying, in
+several of his former, that he would shortly write to me something about
+myself; and it looked as if he intended something for me:  at last out it
+comes, and consists of two parts.  First, he advises me to strike in for some
+preferment now I have friends; and secondly, he advises me, since I have
+parts, and learning, and a happy pen, to think of some new subject in divinity
+not handled by others, which I should manage better than anybody.  A rare
+spark this, with a pox! but I shall answer him as rarely.  Methinks he should
+have invited me over, and given me some hopes or promises.  But hang him! and
+so good-night, etc.
+
+13.  It rained most furiously all this morning till about twelve, and
+sometimes thundered; I trembled for my shillings, but it cleared up, and I
+made a shift to get a walk in the Park, and then went with the Secretary to
+dine with Lord Treasurer.  Upon Thursdays there is always a select company:
+we had the Duke of Shrewsbury, Lord Rivers, the two Secretaries, Mr.
+Granville, and Mr. Prior.  Half of them went to Council at six; but Rivers,
+Granville, Prior, and I, stayed till eight.  Prior was often affecting to be
+angry at the account of his journey to Paris; and indeed the two last pages,
+which the printer got somebody to add,[4] are so romantic, they spoil all the
+rest.  Dilly Ashe pretended to me that he was only going to Oxford and
+Cambridge for a fortnight, and then would come back.  I could not see him as I
+appointed t'other day; but some of his friends tell me he took leave of them
+as going to Ireland; and so they say at his lodging.  I believe the rogue was
+ashamed to tell me so, because I advised him to stay the winter, and he said
+he would.  I find he had got into a good set of scrub acquaintance, and I
+thought passed his time very merrily; but I suppose he languished after
+Balderig, and the claret of Dublin; and, after all, I think he is in the
+right; for he can eat, drink, and converse better there than here.  Bernage
+was with me this morning:  he calls now and then; he is in terrible fear of a
+peace.  He said he never had his health so well as in Portugal.  He is a
+favourite of his Colonel.
+
+14.  I was mortified enough to-day, not knowing where in the world to dine,
+the town is so empty.  I met H. Coote,[5] and thought he would invite me, but
+he did not:  Sir John Stanley did not come into my head; so I took up with
+Mrs. Van, and dined with her and her damned landlady, who, I believe, by her
+eyebrows, is a bawd.  This evening I met Addison and Pastoral Philips in the
+Park, and supped with them at Addison's lodgings:  we were very good company,
+and I yet know no man half so agreeable to me as he is.  I sat with them till
+twelve, so you may think it is late, young women; however, I would have some
+little conversation with MD before your Presto goes to bed, because it makes
+me sleep, and dream, and so forth.  Faith, this letter goes on slowly enough,
+sirrahs; but I cannot write much at a time till you are quite settled after
+your journey, you know, and have gone all your visits, and lost your money at
+ombre.  You never play at chess now, Stella.  That puts me in mind of Dick
+Tighe; I fancy I told you he used to beat his wife here; and she deserved it;
+and he resolves to part with her; and they went to Ireland in different
+coaches.  O Lord, I said all this before, I am sure.  Go to bed, sirrahs.
+
+Windsor, 15.  I made the Secretary stop at Brentford, because we set out at
+two this afternoon, and fasting would not agree with me.  I only designed to
+eat a bit of bread-and-butter; but he would light, and we ate roast beef like
+dragons.  And he made me treat him and two more gentlemen; faith, it cost me a
+guinea.  I do not like such jesting, yet I was mightily pleased with it too.
+To-night our Society met at the Secretary's:  there were nine of us; and we
+have chosen a new member, the Earl of Jersey,[6] whose father died lately.
+'Tis past one, and I have stolen away.
+
+16.  I design to stay here this week by myself, about some business that lies
+on my hands, and will take up a great deal of time.  Dr. Adams,[7] one of the
+canons, invited me to-day to dinner.  The tables are so full here on Sunday
+that it is hard to dine with a few, and Dr. Adams knows I love to do so; which
+is very obliging.  The Queen saw company in her bed-chamber; she looks very
+well, but she sat down.  I supped with Lord Treasurer as usual, and stayed
+till past one as usual, and with our usual company, except Lord Keeper, who
+did not come this time to Windsor.  I hate these suppers mortally, but I
+seldom eat anything.
+
+17.  Lord Treasurer and Mr. Secretary stay here till tomorrow; some business
+keeps them, and I am sorry for it, for they hinder me a day.  Mr. Lewis and I
+were going to dine soberly with a little Court friend at one.  But Lord Harley
+and Lord Dupplin kept me by force, and said we should dine at Lord
+Treasurer's, who intended to go at four to London.  I stayed like a fool, and
+went with the two young lords to Lord Treasurer, who very fairly turned us all
+three out of doors.  They both were invited to the Duke of Somerset, but he
+was gone to a horse-race, and would not come till five; so we were forced to
+go to a tavern, and sent for wine from Lord Treasurer's, who at last, we were
+told, did not go to town till the morrow, and at Lord Treasurer's we supped
+again; and I desired him to let me add four shillings to the bill I gave him.
+We sat up till two, yet I must write to little MD.
+
+18.  They are all gone early this morning, and I am alone to seek my fortune;
+but Dr. Arbuthnot engages me for my dinners; and he yesterday gave me my
+choice of place, person, and victuals for to-day.  So I chose to dine with
+Mrs. Hill, who is one of the dressers, and Mrs. Masham's sister, no company
+but us three, and to have a shoulder of mutton, a small one; which was
+exactly, only there was too much victuals besides; and the Doctor's wife[8]
+was of the company.  And to-morrow Mrs. Hill and I are to dine with the
+Doctor.  I have seen a fellow often about Court whom I thought I knew.  I
+asked who he was, and they told me it was the gentleman porter; then I called
+him to mind; he was Killy's acquaintance (I won't say yours); I think his name
+is Lovet,[9] or Lovel, or something like it.  I believe he does not know me,
+and in my present posture I shall not be fond of renewing old acquaintance; I
+believe I used to see him with the Bradleys; and, by the way, I have not seen
+Mrs. Bradley since I came to England.  I left your letter in London, like a
+fool; and cannot answer it till I go back, which will not be until Monday
+next; so this will be above a fortnight from my last; but I will fetch it up
+in my next; so go and walk to the Dean's for your health this fine weather.
+
+19.  The Queen designs to have cards and dancing here next week, which makes
+us think she will stay here longer than we believed.  Mrs. Masham is not well
+after her lying-in:  I doubt she got some cold; she is lame in one of her legs
+with a rheumatic pain.  Dr. Arbuthnot and Mrs. Hill go tomorrow to Kensington
+to see her, and return the same night.  Mrs. Hill and I dined with the Doctor
+to-day.  I rode out this morning with the Doctor to see Cranburn, a house of
+Lord Ranelagh's,[10] and the Duchess of Marlborough's lodge, and the Park; the
+finest places they are, for nature and plantations, that ever I saw; and the
+finest riding upon artificial roads, made on purpose for the Queen.  Arbuthnot
+made me draw up a sham subscription for a book, called A History of the Maids
+of Honour since Harry the Eighth, showing they make the best wives, with a
+list of all the maids of honour since, etc.; to pay a crown in hand, and the
+other crown upon delivery of the book; and all in common forms of those
+things.  We got a gentleman to write it fair, because my hand is known; and we
+sent it to the maids of honour, when they came to supper.  If they bite at it,
+it will be a very good Court jest; and the Queen will certainly have it:  we
+did not tell Mrs. Hill.
+
+20.  To-day I was invited to the Green Cloth by Colonel Godfrey, who married
+the Duke of Marlborough's sister,[11] mother to the Duke of Berwick by King
+James:  I must tell you those things that happened before you were born.  But
+I made my excuses, and young Harcourt (Lord Keeper's son) and I dined with my
+next neighbour, Dr Adams.[12]  Mrs. Masham is better, and will be here in
+three or four days.  She had need; for the Duchess of Somerset is thought to
+gain ground daily.--We have not sent you over all your bills; and I think we
+have altered your money-bill.  The Duke of Ormond is censured here, by those
+in power, for very wrong management in the affair of the mayoralty.[13]  He is
+governed by fools, and has usually much more sense than his advisers, but
+never proceeds by it.  I must know how your health continues after Wexford.
+Walk and use exercise, sirrahs both; and get somebody to play at shuttlecock
+with you, Madam Stella, and walk to the Dean's and Donnybrook.
+
+21.  Colonel Godfrey sent to me again to-day; so I dined at the Green Cloth,
+and we had but eleven at dinner, which is a small number there, the Court
+being always thin of company till Saturday night.--This new ink and pen make a
+strange figure; I MUST WRITE LARGER, YES I MUST, OR STELLA WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
+READ THIS.[14]  S. S. S., there is your S's for you, Stella.  The maids of
+honour are bit, and have all contributed their crowns, and are teasing others
+to subscribe for the book.  I will tell Lord Keeper and Lord Treasurer to-
+morrow; and I believe the Queen will have it.  After a little walk this
+evening, I squandered away the rest of it in sitting at Lewis's lodging, while
+he and Dr. Arbuthnot played at picquet.  I have that foolish pleasure, which I
+believe nobody has beside me, except old Lady Berkeley.[15]  But I fretted
+when I came away:  I will loiter so no more, for I have a plaguy deal of
+business upon my hands, and very little time to do it.  The pamphleteers begin
+to be very busy against the Ministry:  I have begged Mr. Secretary to make
+examples of one or two of them, and he assures me he will.  They are very bold
+and abusive.
+
+22.  This being the day the Ministry come to Windsor, I ate a bit or two at
+Mr. Lewis's lodgings, because I must sup with Lord Treasurer; and at half an
+hour after one, I led Mr. Lewis a walk up the avenue, which is two miles long.
+We walked in all about five miles; but I was so tired with his slow walking,
+that I left him here, and walked two miles towards London, hoping to meet Lord
+Treasurer, and return with him; but it grew darkish, and I was forced to walk
+back, so I walked nine miles in all; and Lord Treasurer did not come till
+after eight; which is very wrong, for there was no moon, and I often tell him
+how ill he does to expose himself so; but he only makes a jest of it.  I
+supped with him, and stayed till now, when it is half an hour after two.  He
+is as merry and careless and disengaged as a young heir at one-and-twenty.
+'Tis late indeed.
+
+23.  The Secretary did not come last night, but at three this afternoon.  I
+have not seen him yet, but I verily think they are contriving a peace as fast
+as they can, without which it will be impossible to subsist.  The Queen was at
+church to-day, but was carried in a chair.  I and Mr. Lewis dined privately
+with Mr. Lowman,[16] Clerk of the Kitchen.  I was to see Lord Keeper this
+morning, and told him the jest of the maids of honour; and Lord Treasurer had
+it last night.  That rogue Arbuthnot puts it all upon me.  The Court was very
+full to-day.  I expected Lord Treasurer would have invited me to supper; but
+he only bowed to me; and we had no discourse in the drawing-room.  It is now
+seven at night, and I am at home; and I hope Lord Treasurer will not send for
+me to supper:  if he does not, I will reproach him; and he will pretend to
+chide me for not coming.--So farewell till I go to bed, for I am going to be
+busy.--It is now past ten, and I went down to ask the servants about Mr.
+Secretary:  they tell me the Queen is yet at Council, and that she went to
+supper, and came out to the Council afterwards.  It is certain they are
+managing a peace.  I will go to bed, and there is an end.--It is now eleven,
+and a messenger is come from Lord Treasurer to sup with them; but I have
+excused myself, and am glad I am in bed; for else I should sit up till two,
+and drink till I was hot.  Now I'll go sleep.
+
+London, 24.  I came to town by six with Lord Treasurer, and have stayed till
+ten.  That of the Queen's going out to sup, and coming in again, is a lie, as
+the Secretary told me this morning; but I find the Ministry are very busy with
+Mr. Prior, and I believe he will go again to France.  I am told so much, that
+we shall certainly have a peace very soon.  I had charming weather all last
+week at Windsor; but we have had a little rain to-day, and yesterday was
+windy.  Prior's Journey sells still; they have sold two thousand, although the
+town is empty.  I found a letter from Mrs. Fenton here, desiring me, in Lady
+Giffard's name, to come and pass a week at Sheen, while she is at Moor Park.
+I will answer it with a vengeance:  and now you talk of answering, there is
+MD's N.20 is yet to be answered:  I had put it up so safe, I could hardly find
+it; but here it is, faith, and I am afraid I cannot send this till Thursday;
+for I must see the Secretary to-morrow morning, and be in some other place in
+the evening.
+
+25.  Stella writes like an emperor, and gives such an account of her journey,
+never saw the like.  Let me see; stand away, let us compute; you stayed four
+days at Inish-Corthy, two nights at Mrs. Proby's mother's, and yet was but six
+days in journey; for your words are, "We left Wexford this day se'ennight, and
+came here last night."  I have heard them say that "travellers may lie by
+authority."  Make up this, if you can.  How far is it from Wexford to Dublin?
+how many miles did you travel in a day?[17]  Let me see--thirty pounds in two
+months is nine score pounds a year; a matter of nothing in Stella's purse!  I
+dreamed Billy Swift was alive, and that I told him you writ me word he was
+dead, and that you had been at his funeral; and I admired at your impudence,
+and was in mighty haste to run and let you know what lying rogues you were.
+Poor lad! he is dead of his mother's former folly and fondness; and yet now I
+believe, as you say, that her grief will soon wear off.--O yes, Madam Dingley,
+mightily tired of the company, no doubt of it, at Wexford!  And your
+description of it is excellent; clean sheets, but bare walls; I suppose then
+you lay upon the walls.--Mrs. Walls has got her tea; but who pays me the
+money?  Come, I shall never get it; so I make a present of it, to stop some
+gaps, etc.  Where's the thanks of the house?  So, that's well; why, it cost
+four-and-thirty shillings English--you must adjust that with Mrs. Walls; I
+think that is so many pence more with you.--No, Leigh and Sterne, I suppose,
+were not at the water-side:  I fear Sterne's business will not be done; I have
+not seen him this good while.  I hate him, for the management of that box; and
+I was the greatest fool in nature for trusting to such a young jackanapes; I
+will speak to him once more about it, when I see him.  Mr. Addison and I met
+once more since, and I supped with him; I believe I told you so somewhere in
+this letter.  The Archbishop chose an admirable messenger in Walls, to send to
+me; yet I think him fitter for a messenger than anything.--The D---- she has!
+I did not observe her looks.  Will she rot out of modesty with Lady Giffard?
+I pity poor Jenny[18]--but her husband is a dunce, and with respect to him she
+loses little by her deafness.  I believe, Madam Stella, in your accounts you
+mistook one liquor for another, and it was an hundred and forty quarts of
+wine, and thirty-two of water.--This is all written in the morning before I go
+to the Secretary, as I am now doing.  I have answered your letter a little
+shorter than ordinary; but I have a mind it should go to-day, and I will give
+you my journal at night in my next; for I'm so afraid of another letter before
+this goes:  I will never have two together again unanswered.--What care I for
+Dr. Tisdall and Dr. Raymond, or how many children they have!  I wish they had
+a hundred apiece.--Lord Treasurer promises me to answer the bishops' letter
+to-morrow, and show it me; and I believe it will confirm all I said, and
+mortify those that threw the merit on the Duke of Ormond; for I have made him
+jealous of it; and t'other day, talking of the matter, he said, "I am your
+witness, you got it for them before the Duke was Lord Lieutenant."  My humble
+service to Mrs. Walls, Mrs. Stoyte, and Catherine.  Farewell, etc.
+
+What do you do when you see any literal mistakes in my letters? how do you set
+them right? for I never read them over to correct them.  Farewell, again.
+
+Pray send this note to Mrs. Brent, to get the money when Parvisol comes to
+town, or she can send to him.
+
+
+
+LETTER 31.
+
+LONDON, Sept. 25, 1711.
+
+I dined in the City to-day, and at my return I put my 30th into the post-
+office; and when I got home I found for me one of the noblest letters I ever
+read:  it was from ----, three sides and a half in folio, on a large sheet of
+paper; the two first pages made up of satire upon London, and crowds and
+hurry, stolen from some of his own schoolboy's exercises:  the side and a half
+remaining is spent in desiring me to recommend Mrs. South, your Commissioner's
+widow,[1] to my Lord Treasurer for a pension.  He is the prettiest,
+discreetest fellow that ever my eyes beheld, or that ever dipped pen into ink.
+I know not what to say to him.  A pox on him, I have too many such customers
+on this side already.  I think I will send him word that I never saw my Lord
+Treasurer in my life:  I am sure I industriously avoided the name of any great
+person when I saw him, for fear of his reporting it in Ireland.  And this
+recommendation must be a secret too, for fear the Duke of Bolton[2] should
+know it, and think it was too mean.  I never read so d----d a letter in my
+life:  a little would make me send it over to you.--I must send you a pattern,
+the first place I cast my eyes on, I will not pick and choose.  IN THIS PLACE
+(meaning the Exchange in London), WHICH IS THE COMPENDIUM OF OLD TROYNOVANT,
+AS THAT IS OF THE WHOLE BUSY WORLD, I GOT SUCH A SURFEIT, THAT I GREW SICK OF
+MANKIND, AND RESOLVED FOR EVER AFTER TO BURY MYSELF IN THE SHADY RETREAT OF --
+---.  You must know that London has been called by some Troynovant, or New
+Troy.  Will you have any more?  Yes, one little bit for Stella, because she'll
+be fond of it.  This wondrous theatre (meaning London) was no more to me than
+a desert, and I should less complain of solitude in a Connaught shipwreck, or
+even the great bog of Allen.  A little scrap for Mrs. Marget,[3] and then I
+have done.  THEIR ROYAL FANUM, WHEREIN THE IDOL PECUNIA IS DAILY WORSHIPPED,
+SEEMED TO ME TO BE JUST LIKE A HIVE OF BEES WORKING AND LABOURING UNDER HUGE
+WEIGHTS OF CARES.  Fanum is a temple, but he means the Exchange; and Pecunia
+is money:  so now Mrs. Marget will understand her part.  One more paragraph,
+and I--  Well, come, don't be in such a rage, you shall have no more.  Pray,
+Stella, be satisfied; 'tis very pretty:  and that I must be acquainted with
+such a dog as this!--Our peace goes on fast.  Prior was with the Secretary two
+hours this morning:  I was there a little after he went away, and was told it.
+I believe he will soon be despatched again to France; and I will put somebody
+to write an account of his second journey:  I hope you have seen the other.
+This latter has taken up my time with storming at it.
+
+26.  Bernage has been with me these two days; yesterday I sent for him to let
+him know that Dr. Arbuthnot is putting in strongly to have his brother made a
+captain over Bernage's[4] head.  Arbuthnot's brother is but an ensign, but the
+Doctor has great power with the Queen:  yet he told me he would not do
+anything hard to a gentleman who is my friend; and I have engaged the
+Secretary and his Colonel[5] for him.  To-day he told me very melancholy, that
+the other had written from Windsor (where he went to solicit) that he has got
+the company; and Bernage is full of the spleen.  I made the Secretary write
+yesterday a letter to the Colonel in Bernage's behalf.  I hope it will do yet;
+and I have written to Dr. Arbuthnot to Windsor, not to insist on doing such a
+hardship.  I dined in the City at Pontack's, with Stratford; it cost me seven
+shillings:  he would have treated, but I did not let him.  I have removed my
+money from the Bank to another fund.  I desire Parvisol may speak to Hawkshaw
+to pay in my money when he can, for I will put it in the funds; and, in the
+meantime, borrow so much of Mr. Secretary, who offers to lend it me.  Go to
+the Dean's, sirrahs.
+
+27.  Bernage was with me again to-day, and is in great fear, and so was I; but
+this afternoon, at Lord Treasurer's, where I dined, my brother, George
+Granville, Secretary at War, after keeping me a while in suspense, told me
+that Dr. Arbuthnot had waived the business, because he would not wrong a
+friend of mine; that his brother is to be a lieutenant, and Bernage is made a
+captain.  I called at his lodging, and the soldier's coffee-house, to put him
+out of pain, but cannot find him; so I have left word, and shall see him to-
+morrow morning, I suppose.  Bernage is now easy; he has ten shillings a day,
+beside lawful cheating.  However, he gives a private sum to his Colonel, but
+it is very cheap:  his Colonel loves him well, but is surprised to see him
+have so many friends.  So he is now quite off my hands.  I left the company
+early to-night, at Lord Treasurer's; but the Secretary followed me, to desire
+I would go with him to W--.  Mr. Lewis's man came in before I could finish
+that word beginning with a W, which ought to be Windsor, and brought me a very
+handsome rallying letter from Dr. Arbuthnot, to tell me he had, in compliance
+to me, given up his brother's pretensions in favour of Bernage, this very
+morning; that the Queen had spoken to Mr. Granville to make the company easy
+in the other's having the captainship.  Whether they have done it to oblige me
+or no, I must own it so.  He says he this very morning begged Her Majesty to
+give Mr. Bernage the company.  I am mighty well pleased to have succeeded so
+well; but you will think me tedious, although you like the man, as I think.
+
+Windsor, 28.  I came here a day sooner than ordinary, at Mr. Secretary's
+desire, and supped with him and Prior, and two private Ministers from France,
+and a French priest.[6]  I know not the two Ministers' names; but they are
+come about the peace.  The names the Secretary called them, I suppose, were
+feigned; they were good rational men.  We have already settled all things with
+France, and very much to the honour and advantage of England; and the Queen is
+in mighty good humour.  All this news is a mighty secret; the people in
+general know that a peace is forwarding.  The Earl of Strafford[7] is to go
+soon to Holland, and let them know what we have been doing:  and then there
+will be the devil and all to pay; but we'll make them swallow it with a pox.
+The French Ministers stayed with us till one, and the Secretary and I sat up
+talking till two; so you will own 'tis late, sirrahs, and time for your little
+saucy Presto to go to bed and sleep adazy; and God bless poor little MD:  I
+hope they are now fast asleep, and dreaming of Presto.
+
+29.  Lord Treasurer came to-night, as usual, at half an hour after eight, as
+dark as pitch.  I am weary of chiding him; so I commended him for observing
+his friend's advice, and coming so early, etc.  I was two hours with Lady
+Oglethorpe[8] to-night, and then supped with Lord Treasurer, after dining at
+the Green Cloth:  I stayed till two; this is the effect of Lord Treasurer's
+being here; I must sup with him; and he keeps cursed hours.  Lord Keeper and
+the Secretary were absent; they cannot sit up with him.  This long sitting up
+makes the periods in my letters so short.  I design to stay here all the next
+week, to be at leisure by myself, to finish something of weight I have upon my
+hands, and which must soon be done.  I shall then think of returning to
+Ireland, if these people will let me; and I know nothing else they have for me
+to do.  I gave Dr. Arbuthnot my thanks for his kindness to Bernage, whose
+commission is now signed.  Methinks I long to know something of Stella's
+health, how it continues after Wexford waters.
+
+30.  The Queen was not at chapel to-day, and all for the better, for we had a
+dunce to preach:  she has a little of the gout.  I dined with my brother
+Masham, and a moderate company, and would not go to Lord Treasurer's till
+after supper at eleven o'clock, and pretended I had mistaken the hour; so I
+ate nothing:  and a little after twelve the company broke up, the Keeper and
+Secretary refusing to stay; so I saved this night's debauch.  Prior went away
+yesterday with his Frenchmen, and a thousand reports are raised in this town.
+Some said they knew one to be the Abbe de Polignac:  others swore it was the
+Abbe du Bois.  The Whigs are in a rage about the peace; but we'll wherret[9]
+them, I warrant, boys.  Go, go, go to the Dean's and don't mind politics,
+young women, they are not good after the waters; they are stark naught:  they
+strike up into the head.  Go, get two black aces, and fish for a manilio.
+
+Oct. 1.  Sir John Walter,[10] an honest drunken fellow, is now in waiting, and
+invited me to the Green Cloth to-day, that he might not be behindhand with
+Colonel Godfrey, who is a Whig.  I was engaged to the Mayor's feast with Mr.
+Masham; but waiting to take leave of Lord Treasurer, I came too late, and so
+returned sneaking to the Green Cloth, and did not see my Lord Treasurer
+neither; but was resolved not to lose two dinners for him.  I took leave to-
+day of my friend and solicitor Lord Rivers, who is commanded by the Queen to
+set out for Hanover on Thursday.  The Secretary does not go to town till to-
+morrow; he and I, and two friends more, drank a sober bottle of wine here at
+home, and parted at twelve; he goes by seven to-morrow morning, so I shall not
+see him.  I have power over his cellar in his absence, and make little use of
+it.  Lord Dartmouth and my friend Lewis stay here this week; but I can never
+work out a dinner from Dartmouth.  Masham has promised to provide for me:  I
+squired his lady out of her chaise to-day, and must visit her in a day or two.
+So you have had a long fit of the finest weather in the world; but I am every
+day in pain that it will go off.  I have done no business to-day; I am very
+idle.
+
+2.  My friend Lewis and I, to avoid over much eating and great tables, dined
+with honest Jemmy Eckershall,[11] Clerk of the Kitchen, now in waiting, and I
+bespoke my dinner:  but the cur had your acquaintance Lovet, the gentleman
+porter, to be our company.  Lovet, towards the end of dinner, after twenty
+wrigglings, said he had the honour to see me formerly at Moor Park, and
+thought he remembered my face.  I said I thought I remembered him, and was
+glad to see him, etc., and I escaped for that much, for he was very pert.  It
+has rained all this day, and I doubt our good weather is gone.  I have been
+very idle this afternoon, playing at twelvepenny picquet with Lewis:  I won
+seven shillings, which is the only money I won this year:  I have not played
+above four times, and I think always at Windsor.  Cards are very dear:  there
+is a duty on them of sixpence a pack, which spoils small gamesters.
+
+3.  Mr. Masham sent this morning to desire I would ride out with him, the
+weather growing again very fine.  I was very busy, and sent my excuses; but
+desired he would provide me a dinner.  I dined with him, his lady, and her
+sister, Mrs. Hill, who invites us to-morrow to dine with her, and we are to
+ride out in the morning.  I sat with Lady Oglethorpe till eight this evening,
+then was going home to write; looked about for the woman that keeps the key of
+the house:  she told me Patrick had it.  I cooled my heels in the cloisters
+till nine, then went in to the music-meeting, where I had been often desired
+to go; but was weary in half an hour of their fine stuff, and stole out so
+privately that everybody saw me; and cooled my heels in the cloisters again
+till after ten:  then came in Patrick.  I went up, shut the chamber door, and
+gave him two or three swinging cuffs on the ear, and I have strained the thumb
+of my left hand with pulling him, which I did not feel until he was gone.  He
+was plaguily afraid and humbled.
+
+4.  It was the finest day in the world, and we got out before eleven, a noble
+caravan of us.  The Duchess of Shrewsbury in her own chaise with one horse,
+and Miss Touchet[12] with her, Mrs. Masham and Mrs. Scarborow, one of the
+dressers, in one of the Queen's chaises; Miss Forester and Miss Scarborow,[13]
+two maids of honour, and Mrs. Hill on horseback.  The Duke of Shrewsbury, Mr.
+Masham, George Fielding,[14] Arbuthnot, and I, on horseback too.  Mrs. Hill's
+horse was hired for Miss Scarborow, but she took it in civility; her own horse
+was galled and could not be rid, but kicked and winced:  the hired horse was
+not worth eighteenpence.  I borrowed coat, boots, and horse, and in short we
+had all the difficulties, and more than we used to have in making a party from
+Trim to Longfield's.[15]  My coat was light camlet, faced with red velvet, and
+silver buttons.  We rode in the great park and the forest about a dozen miles,
+and the Duchess and I had much conversation:  we got home by two, and Mr.
+Masham, his lady, Arbuthnot and I, dined with Mrs. Hill.  Arbuthnot made us
+all melancholy, by some symptoms of bloody u---e:  he expects a cruel fit of
+the stone in twelve hours; he says he is never mistaken, and he appears like a
+man that was to be racked to-morrow.  I cannot but hope it will not be so bad;
+he is a perfectly honest man, and one I have much obligation to.  It rained a
+little this afternoon, and grew fair again.  Lady Oglethorpe sent to speak to
+me, and it was to let me know that Lady Rochester[16] desires she and I may be
+better acquainted.  'Tis a little too late; for I am not now in love with Lady
+Rochester:  they shame me out of her, because she is old.  Arbuthnot says he
+hopes my strained thumb is not the gout; for he has often found people so
+mistaken.  I do not remember the particular thing that gave it me, only I had
+it just after beating Patrick, and now it is better; so I believe he is
+mistaken.
+
+5.  The Duchess of Shrewsbury sent to invite me to dinner; but I was abroad
+last night when her servant came, and this morning I sent my excuses, because
+I was engaged, which I was sorry for.  Mrs. Forester taxed me yesterday about
+the History of the Maids of Honour;[17] but I told her fairly it was no jest
+of mine; for I found they did not relish it altogether well; and I have enough
+already of a quarrel with that brute Sir John Walter, who has been railing at
+me in all companies ever since I dined with him; that I abused the Queen's
+meat and drink, and said nothing at the table was good, and all a d----d lie;
+for after dinner, commending the wine, I said I thought it was something
+small.  You would wonder how all my friends laugh at this quarrel.  It will be
+such a jest for the Keeper, Treasurer, and Secretary.--I dined with honest
+Colonel Godfrey, took a good walk of an hour on the terrace, and then came up
+to study; but it grows bloody cold, and I have no waistcoat here.
+
+6.  I never dined with the chaplains till to-day; but my friend Gastrell and
+the Dean of Rochester[18] had often invited me, and I happened to be
+disengaged:  it is the worst provided table at Court.  We ate on pewter:
+every chaplain, when he is made a dean, gives a piece of plate, and so they
+have got a little, some of it very old.  One who was made Dean of Peterborough
+(a small deanery) said he would give no plate; he was only Dean of
+Pewterborough.  The news of Mr. Hill's miscarriage in his expedition[19] came
+to-day, and I went to visit Mrs. Masham and Mrs. Hill, his two sisters, to
+condole with them.  I advised them by all means to go to the music-meeting to-
+night, to show they were not cast down, etc., and they thought my advice was
+right, and went.  I doubt Mr. Hill and his admiral made wrong steps; however,
+we lay it all to a storm, etc.  I sat with the Secretary at supper; then we
+both went to Lord Treasurer's supper, and sat till twelve.  The Secretary is
+much mortified about Hill, because this expedition was of his contriving, and
+he counted much upon it; but Lord Treasurer was just as merry as usual, and
+old laughing at Sir John Walter and me falling out.  I said nothing grieved me
+but that they would take example, and perhaps presume upon it, and get out of
+my government; but that I thought I was not obliged to govern bears, though I
+governed men.  They promise to be as obedient as ever, and so we laughed; and
+so I go to bed; for it is colder still, and you have a fire now, and are at
+cards at home.
+
+7.  Lord Harley and I dined privately to-day with Mrs. Masham and Mrs. Hill,
+and my brother Masham.  I saw Lord Halifax at Court, and we joined and talked;
+and the Duchess of Shrewsbury came up and reproached me for not dining with
+her.  I said that was not so soon done, for I expected more advances from
+ladies, especially duchesses:  she promised to comply with any demands I
+pleased; and I agreed to dine with her to-morrow, if I did not go to London
+too soon, as I believe I shall before dinner.  Lady Oglethorpe brought me and
+the Duchess of Hamilton[20] together to-day in the drawing-room, and I have
+given her some encouragement, but not much.  Everybody has been teasing
+Walter.  He told Lord Treasurer that he took his company from him that were to
+dine with him:  my lord said, "I will send you Dr. Swift:"  Lord Keeper bid
+him take care what he did; "for," said he, "Dr. Swift is not only all our
+favourite, but our governor."  The old company supped with Lord Treasurer, and
+got away by twelve.
+
+London, 8.  I believe I shall go no more to Windsor, for we expect the Queen
+will come in ten days to Hampton Court.  It was frost last night, and cruel
+cold to-day.  I could not dine with the Duchess, for I left Windsor half an
+hour after one with Lord Treasurer, and we called at Kensington, where Mrs.
+Masham was got to see her children for two days.  I dined, or rather supped,
+with Lord Treasurer, and stayed till after ten.  Tisdall[21] and his family
+are gone from hence, upon some wrangle with the family.  Yesterday I had two
+letters brought me to Mr. Masham's; one from Ford, and t'other from our little
+MD, N.21.  I would not tell you till to-day, because I would not.  I won't
+answer it till the next, because I have slipped two days by being at Windsor,
+which I must recover here.  Well, sirrahs, I must go to sleep.  The roads were
+as dry as at midsummer to-day.  This letter shall go to-morrow.
+
+9.  Morning.  It rains hard this morning.  I suppose our fair weather is now
+at an end.  I think I'll put on my waistcoat to-day:  shall I?  Well, I will
+then, to please MD.  I think of dining at home to-day upon a chop and a pot.
+The town continues yet very thin.  Lord Strafford is gone to Holland, to tell
+them what we have done here toward a peace.  We shall soon hear what the Dutch
+say, and how they take it.  My humble service to Mrs. Walls, Mrs. Stoyte, and
+Catherine.--Morrow, dearest sirrahs, and farewell; and God Almighty bless MD,
+poor little dear MD, for so I mean, and Presto too.  I'll write to you again
+to-night, that is, I'll begin my next letter.  Farewell, etc.
+
+This little bit belongs to MD; we must always write on the margin:[22]  you
+are saucy rogues.
+
+
+
+LETTER 32.
+
+LONDON, Oct. 9, 1711.
+
+I was forced to lie down at twelve to-day, and mend my night's sleep:  I slept
+till after two, and then sent for a bit of mutton and pot of ale from the next
+cook's shop, and had no stomach.  I went out at four, and called to see Biddy
+Floyd, which I had not done these three months:  she is something marked, but
+has recovered her complexion quite, and looks very well.  Then I sat the
+evening with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, and drank coffee, and ate an egg.  I likewise
+took a new lodging to-day, not liking a ground-floor, nor the ill smell, and
+other circumstances.  I lodge, or shall lodge, by Leicester Fields, and pay
+ten shillings a week; that won't hold out long, faith.  I shall lie here but
+one night more.  It rained terribly till one o'clock to-day.  I lie, for I
+shall lie here two nights, till Thursday, and then remove.  Did I tell you
+that my friend Mrs. Barton has a brother[1] drowned, that went on the
+expedition with Jack Hill?  He was a lieutenant-colonel, and a coxcomb; and
+she keeps her chamber in form, and the servants say she receives no messages.-
+-Answer MD's letter, Presto, d'ye hear?  No, says Presto, I won't yet, I'm
+busy; you're a saucy rogue.  Who talks?
+
+10.  It cost me two shillings in coach-hire to dine in the City with a
+printer.  I have sent, and caused to be sent, three pamphlets out in a
+fortnight.  I will ply the rogues warm; and whenever anything of theirs makes
+a noise, it shall have an answer.  I have instructed an under spur-leather to
+write so, that it is taken for mine.  A rogue that writes a newspaper, called
+The Protestant Postboy, has reflected on me in one of his papers; but the
+Secretary has taken him up, and he shall have a squeeze extraordinary.  He
+says that an ambitious tantivy,[2] missing of his towering hopes of preferment
+in Ireland, is come over to vent his spleen on the late Ministry, etc.  I'll
+tantivy him with a vengeance.  I sat the evening at home, and am very busy,
+and can hardly find time to write, unless it were to MD.  I am in furious
+haste.
+
+11.  I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer.  Thursdays are now his days when his
+choice company comes, but we are too much multiplied.  George Granville sent
+his excuses upon being ill; I hear he apprehends the apoplexy, which would
+grieve me much.  Lord Treasurer calls Prior nothing but Monsieur Baudrier,
+which was the feigned name of the Frenchman that writ his Journey to Paris.[3]
+They pretend to suspect me, so I talk freely of it, and put them out of their
+play.  Lord Treasurer calls me now Dr. Martin, because martin[4] is a sort of
+a swallow, and so is a swift.  When he and I came last Monday from Windsor, we
+were reading all the signs on the road.[5]  He is a pure trifler; tell the
+Bishop of Clogher so.  I made him make two lines in verse for the Bell and
+Dragon, and they were rare bad ones.  I suppose Dilly is with you by this
+time:  what could his reason be of leaving London, and not owning it?  'Twas
+plaguy silly.  I believe his natural inconstancy made him weary.  I think he
+is the king of inconstancy.  I stayed with Lord Treasurer till ten; we had
+five lords and three commoners.  Go to ombre, sirrahs.
+
+12.  Mrs. Vanhomrigh has changed her lodging as well as I.  She found she had
+got with a bawd, and removed.  I dined with her to-day; for though she boards,
+her landlady does not dine with her.  I am grown a mighty lover of herrings;
+but they are much smaller here than with you.  In the afternoon I visited an
+old major-general, and ate six oysters; then sat an hour with Mrs.
+Colledge,[6] the joiner's daughter that was hanged; it was the joiner was
+hanged, and not his daughter; with Thompson's wife, a magistrate.  There was
+the famous Mrs. Floyd of Chester, who, I think, is the handsomest woman
+(except MD) that ever I saw.  She told me that twenty people had sent her the
+verses upon Biddy,[7] as meant to her:  and, indeed, in point of handsomeness,
+she deserves them much better.  I will not go to Windsor to-morrow, and so I
+told the Secretary to-day.  I hate the thoughts of Saturday and Sunday suppers
+with Lord Treasurer.  Jack Hill is come home from his unfortunate expedition,
+and is, I think, now at Windsor:  I have not yet seen him.  He is privately
+blamed by his own friends for want of conduct.  He called a council of war,
+and therein it was determined to come back.  But they say a general should not
+do that, because the officers will always give their opinion for returning,
+since the blame will not lie upon them, but the general.  I pity him heartily.
+Bernage received his commission to-day.
+
+13.  I dined to-day with Colonel Crowe,[8] late Governor of Barbadoes; he is a
+great acquaintance of your friend Sterne, to whom I trusted the box.  Lord
+Treasurer has refused Sterne's business, and I doubt he is a rake; Jemmy Leigh
+stays for him, and nobody knows where to find him.  I am so busy now I have
+hardly time to spare to write to our little MD, but in a fortnight I hope it
+will be over.  I am going now to be busy, etc.
+
+14.  I was going to dine with Dr. Cockburn, but Sir Andrew Fountaine met me,
+and carried me to Mrs. Van's, where I drank the last bottle of Raymond's wine,
+admirable good, better than any I get among the Ministry.  I must pick up time
+to answer this letter of MD's; I'll do it in a day or two for certain.--I am
+glad I am not at Windsor, for it is very cold, and I won't have a fire till
+November.  I am contriving how to stop up my grate with bricks.  Patrick was
+drunk last night; but did not come to me, else I should have given him t'other
+cuff.  I sat this evening with Mrs. Barton; it is the first day of her seeing
+company; but I made her merry enough, and we were three hours disputing upon
+Whig and Tory.  She grieved for her brother only for form, and he was a sad
+dog.  Is Stella well enough to go to church, pray? no numbings left? no
+darkness in your eyes? do you walk and exercise?  Your exercise is ombre.--
+People are coming up to town:  the Queen will be at Hampton Court in a week.
+Lady Betty Germaine, I hear, is come; and Lord Pembroke is coming:  his
+wife[9] is as big with child as she can tumble.
+
+15.  I sat at home till four this afternoon to-day writing, and ate a roll and
+butter; then visited Will Congreve an hour or two, and supped with Lord
+Treasurer, who came from Windsor to-day, and brought Prior with him.  The
+Queen has thanked Prior for his good service in France, and promised to make
+him a Commissioner of the Customs.  Several of that Commission are to be out;
+among the rest, my friend Sir Matthew Dudley.  I can do nothing for him, he is
+so hated by the Ministry.  Lord Treasurer kept me till twelve, so I need not
+tell you it is now late.
+
+16.  I dined to-day with Mr. Secretary at Dr. Coatesworth's,[10] where he now
+lodges till his house be got ready in Golden Square.  One Boyer,[11] a French
+dog, has abused me in a pamphlet, and I have got him up in a messenger's
+hands:  the Secretary promises me to swinge him.  Lord Treasurer told me last
+night that he had the honour to be abused with me in a pamphlet.  I must make
+that rogue an example, for warning to others.  I was to see Jack Hill this
+morning, who made that unfortunate expedition; and there is still more
+misfortune; for that ship, which was admiral of his fleet,[12] is blown up in
+the Thames, by an accident and carelessness of some rogue, who was going, as
+they think, to steal some gunpowder:  five hundred men are lost.  We don't yet
+know the particulars.  I am got home by seven, and am going to be busy, and
+you are going to play and supper; you live ten times happier than I; but I
+should live ten times happier than you if I were with MD.  I saw Jemmy Leigh
+to-day in the street, who tells me that Sterne has not lain above once these
+three weeks in his lodgings, and he doubts he takes ill courses; he stays only
+till he can find Sterne to go along with him, and he cannot hear of him.  I
+begged him to inquire about the box when he comes to Chester, which he
+promises.
+
+17.  The Secretary and I dined to-day with Brigadier Britton,[13] a great
+friend of his.  The lady of the house is very gallant, about thirty-five; she
+is said to have a great deal of wit; but I see nothing among any of them that
+equals MD by a bar's length, as hope saved.  My Lord Treasurer is much out of
+order; he has a sore throat, and the gravel, and a pain in his breast where
+the wound was:  pray God preserve him.  The Queen comes to Hampton Court on
+Tuesday next; people are coming fast to town, and I must answer MD's letter,
+which I can hardly find time to do, though I am at home the greatest part of
+the day.  Lady Betty Germaine and I were disputing Whig and Tory to death this
+morning.  She is grown very fat, and looks mighty well.  Biddy Floyd was
+there, and she is, I think, very much spoiled with the smallpox.
+
+18.  Lord Treasurer is still out of order, and that breaks our method of
+dining there to-day.  He is often subject to a sore throat, and some time or
+other it will kill him, unless he takes more care than he is apt to do.  It
+was said about the town that poor Lord Peterborow was dead at Frankfort; but
+he is something better, and the Queen is sending him to Italy, where I hope
+the warm climate will recover him:  he has abundance of excellent qualities,
+and we love one another mightily.  I was this afternoon in the City, ate a bit
+of meat, and settled some things with a printer.  I will answer your letter on
+Saturday, if possible, and then send away this; so to fetch up the odd days I
+lost at Windsor, and keep constant to my fortnight.  Ombre time is now coming
+on, and we shall have nothing but Manley, and Walls, and Stoytes, and the
+Dean.  Have you got no new acquaintance?  Poor girls; nobody knows MD's good
+qualities.--'Tis very cold; but I will not have a fire till November, that's
+pozz.--Well, but coming home to-night, I found on my table a letter from MD;
+faith, I was angry, that is, with myself; and I was afraid too to see MD's
+hand so soon, for fear of something, I don't know what:  at last I opened it,
+and it was over well, and a bill for the two hundred guineas.  However, 'tis a
+sad thing that this letter is not gone, nor your twenty-first answered yet.
+
+19.  I was invited to-day to dine with Mrs. Van, with some company who did not
+come; but I ate nothing but herrings; you must know I hardly ever eat of above
+one thing, and that the plainest ordinary meat at table; I love it best, and
+believe it wholesomest.  You love rarities; yes you do; I wish you had all
+that I ever see where I go.  I was coming home early, and met the Secretary in
+his chair, who persuaded me to go with him to Britton's; for he said he had
+been all day at business, and had eaten nothing.  So I went, and the time
+passed so, that we stayed till two, so you may believe 'tis late enough.
+
+20.  This day has gone all wrong, by sitting up so late last night.  Lord
+Treasurer is not yet well, and can't go to Windsor.  I dined with Sir Matthew
+Dudley, and took occasion to hint to him that he would lose his employment,
+for which I am very sorry.  Lord Pembroke and his family are all come to town.
+I was kept so long at a friend's this evening that I cannot send this to-
+night.  When I knocked at my lodgings, a fellow asked me where lodged Dr.
+Swift?  I told him I was the person:  he gave me a letter he brought from the
+Secretary's office, and I gave him a shilling:  when I came up, I saw
+Dingley's hand:  faith, I was afraid, I do not know what.  At last it was a
+formal letter, from Dingley about her exchequer business.  Well, I'll do it on
+Monday, and settle it with Tooke.  And now, boys, for your letter, I mean the
+first, N.21.  Let's see; come out, little letter.  I never had the letter from
+the Bishop that Raymond mentions; but I have written to Ned Southwell, to
+desire the Duke of Ormond to speak to his reverence, that he may leave off his
+impertinence.  What a pox can they think I am doing for the Archbishop here?
+You have a pretty notion of me in Ireland, to make me an agent for the
+Archbishop of Dublin.--Why! do you think I value your people's ingratitude
+about my part in serving them?  I remit them their first-fruits of
+ingratitude, as freely as I got the other remitted to them.  The Lord
+Treasurer defers writing his letter to them, or else they would be plaguily
+confounded by this time.  For he designs to give the merit of it wholly to the
+Queen and me, and to let them know it was done before the Duke of Ormond was
+Lord Lieutenant.  You visit, you dine abroad, you see friends; you
+pilgarlick;[14] you walk from Finglas, you a cat's foot.  O Lord--Lady
+Gore[15] hung her child by the WAIST; what is that waist?[16]  I don't
+understand that word; he must hang on till you explain or spell it.--I don't
+believe he was pretty, that's a liiii.--Pish! burn your First-Fruits; again at
+it.  Stella has made twenty false spellings in her writing; I'll send them to
+you all back again on the other side of this letter, to mend them; I won't
+miss one.  Why, I think there were seventeen bishops' names to the letter Lord
+Oxford received.--I will send you some pamphlets by Leigh; put me in mind of
+it on Monday, for I shall go then to the printer; yes, and the Miscellany.  I
+am mightily obliged to Walls, but I don't deserve it by any usage of him here,
+having seen him but twice, and once en passant.  Mrs. Manley forsworn ombre!
+What! and no blazing star appear? no monsters born? no whale thrown up? have
+you not found out some evasion for her?  She had no such regard to oaths in
+her younger days.  I got the books for nothing, Madam Dingley; but the wine I
+got not; it was but a promise.--Yes, my head is pretty well in the main, only
+now and then a little threatening or so.--You talk of my reconciling some
+great folks.  I tell you what.  The Secretary told me last night that he had
+found the reason why the Queen was cold to him for some months past; that a
+friend had told it him yesterday; and it was, that they suspected he was at
+the bottom with the Duke of Marlborough.  Then he said he had reflected upon
+all I had spoken to him long ago, but he thought it had only been my
+suspicion, and my zeal and kindness for him.  I said I had reason to take that
+very ill, to imagine I knew so little of the world as to talk at a venture to
+a great Minister; that I had gone between him and Lord Treasurer often, and
+told each of them what I had said to the other, and that I had informed him so
+before.  He said all that you may imagine to excuse himself, and approve my
+conduct.  I told him I knew all along that this proceeding of mine was the
+surest way to send me back to my willows in Ireland, but that I regarded it
+not, provided I could do the kingdom service in keeping them well together.  I
+minded him how often I had told Lord Treasurer, Lord Keeper, and him together,
+that all things depended on their union, and that my comfort was to see them
+love one another; and I had told them all singly that I had not said this by
+chance, etc. He was in a rage to be thus suspected; swears he will be upon a
+better foot, or none at all; and I do not see how they can well want him in
+this juncture.  I hope to find a way of settling this matter.  I act an honest
+part, that will bring me neither honour nor praise.  MD must think the better
+of me for it:  nobody else shall ever know of it.  Here's politics enough for
+once; but Madam DD gave me occasion for it.  I think I told you I have got
+into lodgings that don't smell ill--O Lord! the spectacles:  well, I'll do
+that on Monday too; although it goes against me to be employed for folks that
+neither you nor I care a groat for.  Is the eight pounds from Hawkshaw
+included in the thirty-nine pounds five shillings and twopence?  How do I know
+by this how my account stands?  Can't you write five or six lines to cast it
+up?  Mine is forty-four pounds per annum, and eight pounds from Hawkshaw makes
+fifty-two pounds.  Pray set it right, and let me know; you had best.--And so
+now I have answered N.21, and 'tis late, and I will answer N.22 in my next:
+this cannot go to-night, but shall on Tuesday:  and so go to your play, and
+lose your money, with your two eggs a penny; silly jade; you witty? very
+pretty.
+
+21.  Mrs. Van would have me dine with her again to-day, and so I did, though
+Lady Mountjoy has sent two or three times to have me see and dine with her,
+and she is a little body I love very well.  My head has ached a little in the
+evenings these three or four days, but it is not of the giddy sort, so I do
+not much value it.  I was to see Lord Harley to-day, but Lord Treasurer took
+physic; and I could not see him.  He has voided much gravel, and is better,
+but not well:  he talks of going on Tuesday to see the Queen at Hampton Court;
+I wish he may be able.  I never saw so fine a summer day as this was:  how is
+it with you, pray? and can't you remember, naughty packs?  I han't seen Lord
+Pembroke yet.  He will be sorry to miss Dilly:  I wonder you say nothing of
+Dilly's being got to Ireland; if he be not there soon, I shall have some
+certain odd thoughts:  guess them if you can.
+
+22.  I dined in the City to-day with Dr. Freind, at one of my printers:  I
+inquired for Leigh, but could not find him:  I have forgot what sort of apron
+you want.  I must rout among your letters, a needle in a bottle of hay.  I
+gave Sterne directions, but where to find him Lord knows.  I have bespoken the
+spectacles; got a set of Examiners, and five pamphlets, which I have either
+written or contributed to, except the best, which is the vindication of the
+Duke of Marlborough, and is entirely of the author of the Atalantis.[17]  I
+have settled Dingley's affair with Tooke, who has undertaken it, and
+understands it.  I have bespoken a Miscellany:  what would you have me do
+more?  It cost me a shilling coming home; it rains terribly, and did so in the
+morning.  Lord Treasurer has had an ill day, in much pain.  He writes and does
+business in his chamber now he is ill:  the man is bewitched:  he desires to
+see me, and I'll maul him, but he will not value it a rush.  I am half weary
+of them all.  I often burst out into these thoughts, and will certainly steal
+away as soon as I decently can.  I have many friends, and many enemies; and
+the last are more constant in their nature.  I have no shuddering at all to
+think of retiring to my old circumstances, if you can be easy; but I will
+always live in Ireland as I did the last time; I will not hunt for dinners
+there, nor converse with more than a very few.
+
+23.  Morning.  This goes to-day, and shall be sealed by and by.  Lord
+Treasurer takes physic again to-day:  I believe I shall dine with Lord
+Dupplin.  Mr. Tooke brought me a letter directed for me at Morphew's the
+bookseller.  I suppose, by the postage, it came from Ireland.  It is a woman's
+hand, and seems false spelt on purpose:  it is in such sort of verse as
+Harris's petition;[18] rallies me for writing merry things, and not upon
+divinity; and is like the subject of the Archbishop's last letter, as I told
+you.  Can you guess whom it came from?  It is not ill written; pray find it
+out.  There is a Latin verse at the end of it all rightly spelt; yet the
+English, as I think, affectedly wrong in many places.  My plaguing time is
+coming.  A young fellow brought me a letter from Judge Coote,[19] with
+recommendation to be lieutenant of a man-of-war.  He is the son of one
+Echlin,[20] who was minister of Belfast before Tisdall, and I have got some
+other new customers; but I shall trouble my friends as little as possible.
+Saucy Stella used to jeer me for meddling with other folks' affairs; but now I
+am punished for it.--Patrick has brought the candle, and I have no more room.
+Farewell, etc. etc.
+
+Here is a full and true account of Stella's new spelling:--[21]
+
+Plaguely,   Plaguily.          Dineing, Dining.
+Straingers, Strangers.         Chais,   Chase.
+Waist,      Wast.              Houer,   Hour.
+Immagin,    Imagine.           A bout,  About.
+Intellegence,  Intelligence.   Merrit,  Merit.
+Aboundance, Abundance.         Secreet, Secret.
+Phamphlets, Pamphlets.         Bussiness, Business.
+
+Tell me truly, sirrah, how many of these are mistakes of the pen, and how many
+are you to answer for as real ill spelling?  There are but fourteen; I said
+twenty by guess.  You must not be angry, for I will have you spell right, let
+the world go how it will.  Though, after all, there is but a mistake of one
+letter in any of these words.  I allow you henceforth but six false spellings
+in every letter you send me.
+
+
+
+LETTER 33.
+
+LONDON, Oct. 23, 1711.
+
+I dined with Lord Dupplin as I told you I would, and put my thirty-second into
+the post-office my own self; and I believe there has not been one moment since
+we parted wherein a letter was not upon the road going or coming to or from
+PMD.  If the Queen knew it, she would give us a pension; for it is we bring
+good luck to their post-boys and their packets; else they would break their
+necks and sink.  But, an old saying and a true one:
+
+     Be it snow, or storm, or hail,
+     PMD's letters never fail;
+     Cross winds may sometimes make them tarry,
+     But PMD's letters can't miscarry.
+
+Terrible rain to-day, but it cleared up at night enough to save my twelvepence
+coming home.  Lord Treasurer is much better this evening.  I hate to have him
+ill, he is so confoundedly careless.  I won't answer your letter yet, so be
+satisfied.
+
+24.  I called at Lord Treasurer's to-day at noon:  he was eating some broth in
+his bed-chamber, undressed, with a thousand papers about him.  He has a little
+fever upon him, and his eye terribly bloodshot; yet he dressed himself and
+went out to the Treasury.  He told me he had a letter from a lady with a
+complaint against me; it was from Mrs. Cutts, a sister of Lord Cutts, who writ
+to him that I had abused her brother:[1]  you remember the "Salamander," it is
+printed in the Miscellany.  I told my lord that I would never regard
+complaints, and that I expected, whenever he received any against me, he would
+immediately put them into the fire, and forget them, else I should have no
+quiet.  I had a little turn in my head this morning; which, though it did not
+last above a moment, yet being of the true sort, has made me as weak as a dog
+all this day.  'Tis the first I have had this half-year.  I shall take my
+pills if I hear of it again.  I dined at Lady Mountjoy's with Harry Coote,[2]
+and went to see Lord Pembroke upon his coming to town.--The Whig party are
+furious against a peace, and every day some ballad comes out reflecting on the
+Ministry on that account.  The Secretary St. John has seized on a dozen
+booksellers and publishers into his messengers' hands.[3]  Some of the foreign
+Ministers have published the preliminaries agreed on here between France and
+England; and people rail at them as insufficient to treat a peace upon; but
+the secret is, that the French have agreed to articles much more important,
+which our Ministers have not communicated, and the people, who think they know
+all, are discontented that there is no more.  This was an inconvenience I
+foretold to the Secretary, but we could contrive no way to fence against it.
+So there's politics for you.
+
+25.  The Queen is at Hampton Court:  she went on Tuesday in that terrible
+rain.  I dined with Lewis at his lodgings, to despatch some business we had.
+I sent this morning and evening to Lord Treasurer, and he is much worse by
+going out; I am in pain about evening.  He has sent for Dr. Radcliffe; pray
+God preserve him.  The Chancellor of the Exchequer[4] showed me to-day a
+ballad[5] in manuscript against Lord Treasurer and his South Sea project; it
+is very sharply written:  if it be not printed, I will send it you.  If it be,
+it shall go in your packet of pamphlets.--I found out your letter about
+directions for the apron, and have ordered to be bought a cheap green silk
+work apron; I have it by heart.  I sat this evening with Mrs. Barton, who is
+my near neighbour.  It was a delicious day, and I got my walk, and was
+thinking whether MD was walking too just at that time that Presto was. This
+paper does not cost me a farthing, I have it from the Secretary's office.  I
+long till to-morrow to know how my Lord Treasurer sleeps this night, and to
+hear he mends:  we are all undone without him; so pray for him, sirrahs, and
+don't stay too late at the Dean's.
+
+26.  I dined with Mrs. Van; for the weather is so bad, and I am so busy, that
+I can't dine with great folks:  and besides I dare eat but little, to keep my
+head in order, which is better.  Lord Treasurer is very ill, but I hope in no
+danger.  We have no quiet with the Whigs, they are so violent against a peace;
+but I'll cool them, with a vengeance, very soon.  I have not heard from the
+Bishop of Clogher, whether he has got his statues.[6]  I writ to him six weeks
+ago; he's so busy with his Parliament.  I won't answer your letter yet, say
+what you will, saucy girls.
+
+27.  I forgot to go about some business this morning, which cost me double the
+time; and I was forced to be at the Secretary's office till four, and lose my
+dinner; so I went to Mrs. Van's, and made them get me three herrings, which I
+am very fond of, and they are a light victuals:  besides, I was to have supped
+at Lady Ashburnham's; but the drab did not call for us in her coach, as she
+promised, but sent for us, and so I sent my excuses.  It has been a terrible
+rainy day, but so flattering in the morning, that I would needs go out in my
+new hat.  I met Leigh and Sterne as I was going into the Park.  Leigh says he
+will go to Ireland in ten days, if he can get Sterne to go with him; so I will
+send him the things for MD, and I have desired him to inquire about the box.
+I hate that Sterne for his carelessness about it; but it was my fault.
+
+29.  I was all this terrible rainy day with my friend Lewis upon business of
+importance; and I dined with him, and came home about seven, and thought I
+would amuse myself a little, after the pains I had taken.  I saw a volume of
+Congreve's plays in my room, that Patrick had taken to read; and I looked into
+it, and in mere loitering read in it till twelve, like an owl and a fool:  if
+ever I do so again; never saw the like.  Count Gallas,[7] the Emperor's Envoy,
+you will hear, is in disgrace with us:  the Queen has ordered her Ministers to
+have no more commerce with him; the reason is, the fool writ a rude letter to
+Lord Dartmouth, Secretary of State, complaining of our proceedings about a
+peace; and he is always in close confidence with Lord Wharton and Sunderland,
+and others of the late Ministry.  I believe you begin to think there will be
+no peace; the Whigs here are sure it cannot be, and stocks are fallen again.
+But I am confident there will, unless France plays us tricks; and you may
+venture a wager with any of your Whig acquaintance that we shall not have
+another campaign.  You will get more by it than by ombre, sirrah.--I let slip
+telling you yesterday's journal, which I thought to have done this morning,
+but blundered.  I dined yesterday at Harry Coote's, with Lord Hatton,[8] Mr.
+Finch, a son of Lord Nottingham, and Sir Andrew Fountaine.  I left them soon,
+but hear they stayed till two in the morning, and were all drunk:  and so
+good-night for last night, and good-night for to-night.  You blundering
+goosecap, an't you ashamed to blunder to young ladies?  I shall have a fire in
+three or four days now, oh ho.
+
+30.  I was to-day in the City concerting some things with a printer, and am to
+be to-morrow all day busy with Mr. Secretary about the same.  I won't tell you
+now; but the Ministers reckon it will do abundance of good, and open the eyes
+of the nation, who are half bewitched against a peace.  Few of this generation
+can remember anything but war and taxes, and they think it is as it should be;
+whereas 'tis certain we are the most undone people in Europe, as I am afraid I
+shall make appear beyond all contradiction.  But I forgot; I won't tell you
+what I will do, nor what I will not do:  so let me alone, and go to Stoyte,
+and give Goody Stoyte and Catherine my humble service; I love Goody Stoyte
+better than Goody Walls.  Who'll pay me for this green apron?  I will have the
+money; it cost ten shillings and sixpence.  I think it plaguy dear for a cheap
+thing; but they said that English silk would cockle,[9] and I know not what.
+You have the making into the bargain.  'Tis right Italian:  I have sent it and
+the pamphlets to Leigh, and will send the Miscellanies and spectacles in a day
+or two.  I would send more; but, faith, I'm plaguy poor at present.
+
+31.  The devil's in this Secretary:  when I went this morning he had people
+with him; but says he, "we are to dine with Prior to-day, and then will do all
+our business in the afternoon":  at two, Prior sends word he is otherwise
+engaged; then the Secretary and I go and dine with Brigadier Britton, sit till
+eight, grow merry, no business done; he is in haste to see Lady Jersey;[10] we
+part, and appoint no time to meet again.  This is the fault of all the present
+Ministers, teasing me to death for my assistance, laying the whole weight of
+their affairs upon it, yet slipping opportunities.  Lord Treasurer mends every
+day, though slowly:  I hope he will take care of himself.  Pray, will you send
+to Parvisol to send me a bill of twenty pounds as soon as he can, for I want
+money.  I must have money; I will have money, sirrahs.
+
+Nov. 1.  I went to-day into the City to settle some business with Stratford,
+and to dine with him; but he was engaged, and I was so angry I would not dine
+with any other merchant, but went to my printer, and ate a bit, and did
+business of mischief with him, and I shall have the spectacles and Miscellany
+to-morrow, and leave them with Leigh.  A fine day always makes me go into the
+City, if I can spare time, because it is exercise; and that does me more good
+than anything.  I have heard nothing since of my head, but a little, I don't
+know how, sometimes:  but I am very temperate, especially now the Treasurer is
+ill, and the Ministers often at Hampton Court, and the Secretary not yet fixed
+in his house, and I hate dining with many of my old acquaintance.  Here has
+been a fellow discovered going out of the East India House with sixteen
+thousand pounds in money and bills; he would have escaped, if he had not been
+so uneasy with thirst, that he stole out before his time, and was caught.  But
+what is that to MD?  I wish we had the money, provided the East India Company
+was never the worse; you know we must not covet, etc.  Our weather, for this
+fortnight past, is chequered, a fair and a rainy day:  this was very fine, and
+I have walked four miles; wish MD would do so, lazy sluttikins.
+
+2.  It has rained all day with a continuendo, and I went in a chair to dine
+with Mrs. Van; always there in a very rainy day.  But I made a shift to come
+back afoot.  I live a very retired life, pay very few visits, and keep but
+very little company; I read no newspapers.  I am sorry I sent you the
+Examiner, for the printer is going to print them in a small volume:  it seems
+the author is too proud to have them printed by subscription, though his
+friends offered, they say, to make it worth five hundred pounds to him.  The
+Spectators are likewise printing in a larger and a smaller volume, so I
+believe they are going to leave them off, and indeed people grow weary of
+them, though they are often prettily written.  We have had no news for me to
+send you now towards the end of my letter.  The Queen has the gout a little:
+I hoped the Lord Treasurer would have had it too, but Radcliffe told me
+yesterday it was the rheumatism in his knee and foot; however, he mends, and I
+hope will be abroad in a short time.  I am told they design giving away
+several employments before the Parliament sits, which will be the thirteenth
+instant.  I either do not like, or not understand this policy; and if Lord
+Treasurer does not mend soon, they must give them just before the session.
+But he is the greatest procrastinator in the world.
+
+3.  A fine day this, and I walked a pretty deal.  I stuffed the Secretary's
+pockets with papers, which he must read and settle at Hampton Court, where he
+went to-day, and stays some time.  They have no lodgings for me there, so I
+can't go, for the town is small, chargeable, and inconvenient.  Lord Treasurer
+had a very ill night last night, with much pain in his knee and foot, but is
+easier to-day.--And so I went to visit Prior about some business, and so he
+was not within, and so Sir Andrew Fountaine made me dine to-day again with
+Mrs. Van, and I came home soon, remembering this must go to-night, and that I
+had a letter of MD's to answer.  O Lord, where is it? let me see; so, so, here
+it is.  You grudge writing so soon.  Pox on that bill! the woman would have me
+manage that money for her.  I do not know what to do with it now I have it:  I
+am like the unprofitable steward in the Gospel:  I laid it up in a napkin;
+there thou hast what is thine own, etc.  Well, well, I know of your new Mayor.
+(I'll tell you a pun:  a fishmonger owed a man two crowns; so he sent him a
+piece of bad ling and a tench, and then said he was paid:  how is that now?
+find it out; for I won't tell it you:  which of you finds it out?)  Well, but
+as I was saying, what care I for your Mayor?  I fancy Ford may tell Forbes
+right about my returning to Ireland before Christmas, or soon after.  I'm
+sorry you did not go on with your story about Pray God you be John; I never
+heard it in my life, and wonder what it can be.--Ah, Stella, faith, you leaned
+upon your Bible to think what to say when you writ that.  Yes, that story of
+the Secretary's making me an example is true; "never heard it before;" why,
+how could you hear it? is it possible to tell you the hundredth part of what
+passes in our companies here?  The Secretary is as easy with me as Mr. Addison
+was.  I have often thought what a splutter Sir William Temple makes about
+being Secretary of State:[11]  I think Mr. St. John the greatest young man I
+ever knew; wit, capacity, beauty, quickness of apprehension, good learning,
+and an excellent taste; the best orator in the House of Commons, admirable
+conversation, good nature, and good manners; generous, and a despiser of
+money.  His only fault is talking to his friends in way of complaint of too
+great a load of business, which looks a little like affectation; and he
+endeavours too much to mix the fine gentleman and man of pleasure with the man
+of business.  What truth and sincerity he may have I know not:  he is now but
+thirty-two, and has been Secretary above a year.  Is not all this
+extraordinary? how he stands with the Queen and Lord Treasurer I have told you
+before.  This is his character; and I believe you will be diverted by knowing
+it.  I writ to the Archbishop of Dublin, Bishop of Cloyne[12] and of Clogher
+together, five weeks ago from Windsor:  I hope they had my letters; pray know
+if Clogher had his.--Fig for your physician and his advice, Madam Dingley:  if
+I grow worse, I will; otherwise I will trust to temperance and exercise:  your
+fall of the leaf; what care I when the leaves fall?  I am sorry to see them
+fall with all my heart; but why should I take physic because leaves fall off
+from trees? that won't hinder them from falling.  If a man falls from a horse,
+must I take physic for that?--This arguing makes you mad; but it is true right
+reason, not to be disproved.--I am glad at heart to hear poor Stella is
+better; use exercise and walk, spend pattens and spare potions, wear out clogs
+and waste claret.  Have you found out my pun of the fishmonger? don't read a
+word more till you have got it.  And Stella is handsome again, you say? and is
+she fat?  I have sent to Leigh the set of Examiners:  the first thirteen were
+written by several hands, some good, some bad; the next three-and-thirty were
+all by one hand, that makes forty-six:  then that author,[13] whoever he was,
+laid it down on purpose to confound guessers; and the last six were written by
+a woman.[14]  Then there is an account of Guiscard by the same woman, but the
+facts sent by Presto.  Then an answer to the letter to the Lords about Gregg
+by Presto; Prior's Journey by Presto; Vindication of the Duke of Marlborough,
+entirely by the same woman; Comment on Hare's Sermon by the same woman, only
+hints sent to the printer from Presto to give her.[15]  Then there's the
+Miscellany, an apron for Stella, a pound of chocolate, without sugar, for
+Stella, a fine snuff-rasp of ivory, given me by Mrs. St. John for Dingley, and
+a large roll of tobacco, which she must hide or cut shorter out of modesty,
+and four pair of spectacles for the Lord knows who.  There's the cargo, I hope
+it will come safe.  Oh, Mrs. Masham and I are very well; we write to one
+another, but it is upon business; I believe I told you so before:  pray pardon
+my forgetfulness in these cases; poor Presto can't help it.  MD shall have the
+money as soon as Tooke gets it.  And so I think I have answered all, and the
+paper is out, and now I have fetched up my week, and will send you another
+this day fortnight.--Why, you rogues, two crowns make TENCH-ILL-LING:[16]  you
+are so dull you could never have found it out.  Farewell, etc. etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 34.
+
+LONDON, Nov. 3, 1711.
+
+My thirty-third lies now before me just finished, and I am going to seal and
+send it, so let me know whether you would have me add anything:  I gave you my
+journal of this day; and it is now nine at night, and I am going to be busy
+for an hour or two.
+
+4.  I left a friend's house to-day where I was invited, just when dinner was
+setting on, and pretended I was engaged, because I saw some fellows I did not
+know; and went to Sir Matthew Dudley's, where I had the same inconvenience,
+but he would not let me go; otherwise I would have gone home, and sent for a
+slice of mutton and a pot of ale, rather than dine with persons unknown, as
+bad, for aught I know, as your deans, parsons, and curates.  Bad slabby
+weather to-day.--Now methinks I write at ease, when I have no letter of MD's
+to answer.  But I mistook, and have got the large paper.  The Queen is laid up
+with the gout at Hampton Court:  she is now seldom without it any long time
+together; I fear it will wear her out in a very few years.  I plainly find I
+have less twitchings about my toes since these Ministers are sick and out of
+town, and that I don't dine with them.  I would compound for a light easy gout
+to be perfectly well in my head.--Pray walk when the frost comes, young ladies
+go a frost-biting.  It comes into my head, that, from the very time you first
+went to Ireland, I have been always plying you to walk and read.  The young
+fellows here have begun a kind of fashion to walk, and many of them have got
+swingeing strong shoes on purpose; it has got as far as several young lords;
+if it hold, it would be a very good thing.  Lady Lucy[1] and I are fallen out;
+she rails at me, and I have left visiting her.
+
+5.  MD was very troublesome to me last night in my sleep; I was a dreamed,
+methought, that Stella was here.  I asked her after Dingley, and she said she
+had left her in Ireland, because she designed her stay to be short, and such
+stuff.--Monsieur Pontchartain, the Secretary of State in France, and Monsieur
+Fontenelle, the Secretary of the Royal Academy there (who writ the Dialogues
+des Morts, etc.), have sent letters to Lord Pembroke that the Academy have,
+with the King's consent, chosen him one of their members in the room of one
+who is lately dead.  But the cautious gentleman has given me the letters to
+show my Lord Dartmouth and Mr. St. John, our two Secretaries, and let them see
+there is no treason in them; which I will do on Wednesday, when they come from
+Hampton Court.  The letters are very handsome, and it is a very great mark of
+honour and distinction to Lord Pembroke.  I hear the two French Ministers are
+come over again about the peace; but I have seen nobody of consequence to know
+the truth.  I dined to-day with a lady of my acquaintance, who was sick, in
+her bed-chamber, upon three herrings and a chicken:  the dinner was my
+bespeaking.  We begin now to have chestnuts and Seville oranges; have you the
+latter yet?  'Twas a terrible windy day, and we had processions in carts of
+the Pope and the Devil, and the butchers rang their cleavers.  You know this
+is the Fifth of November, Popery and gunpowder.
+
+6.  Since I am used to this way of writing, I fancy I could hardly make out a
+long letter to MD without it.  I think I ought to allow for every line taken
+up by telling you where I dined; but that will not be above seven lines in
+all, half a line to a dinner.  Your Ingoldsby[2] is going over, and they say
+here he is to be made a lord.--Here was I staying in my room till two this
+afternoon for that puppy Sir Andrew Fountaine, who was to go with me into the
+City, and never came; and if I had not shot a dinner flying, with one Mr.
+Murray, I might have fasted, or gone to an alehouse.--You never said one word
+of Goody Stoyte in your letter; but I suppose these winter nights we shall
+hear more of her.  Does the Provost[3] laugh as much as he used to do?  We
+reckon him here a good-for-nothing fellow.--I design to write to your Dean one
+of these days, but I can never find time, nor what to say.--I will think of
+something:  but if DD[4] were not in Ireland I believe seriously I should not
+think of the place twice a year.  Nothing there ever makes the subject of talk
+in any company where I am.
+
+7.  I went to-day to the City on business; but stopped at a printer's, and
+stayed there:  it was a most delicious day.  I hear the Parliament is to be
+prorogued for a fortnight longer; I suppose, either because the Queen has the
+gout, or that Lord Treasurer is not well, or that they would do something more
+towards a peace.  I called at Lord Treasurer's at noon, and sat a while with
+Lord Harley, but his father was asleep.  A bookseller has reprinted or new-
+titled a sermon of Tom Swift's,[5] printed last year, and publishes an
+advertisement calling it Dr. Swift's Sermon.  Some friend of Lord Galway[6]
+has, by his directions, published a four-shilling book about his conduct in
+Spain, to defend him; I have but just seen it.  But what care you for books,
+except Presto's Miscellanies?  Leigh promised to call and see me, but has not
+yet; I hope he will take care of his cargo, and get your Chester box.  A
+murrain take that box! everything is spoiled that is in it.  How does the
+strong box do?  You say nothing of Raymond:  is his wife brought to bed again;
+or how? has he finished his house; paid his debts; and put out the rest of the
+money to use?  I am glad to hear poor Joe is like to get his two hundred
+pounds.  I suppose Trim is now reduced to slavery again.  I am glad of it; the
+people were as great rascals as the gentlemen.  But I must go to bed, sirrahs:
+the Secretary is still at Hampton Court with my papers, or is come only to-
+night.  They plague me with attending them.
+
+8.  I was with the Secretary this morning, and we dined with Prior, and did
+business this afternoon till about eight; and I must alter and undo, and a
+clutter.  I am glad the Parliament is prorogued.  I stayed with Prior till
+eleven; the Secretary left us at eight.  Prior, I believe, will be one of
+those employed to make the peace, when a Congress is opened.  Lord Ashburnham
+told to-day at the Coffee-house that Lord Harley[7] was yesterday morning
+married to the Duke of Newcastle's daughter, the great heiress, and it got
+about all the town.  But I saw Lord Harley yesterday at noon in his nightgown,
+and he dined in the City with Prior and others; so it is not true; but I hope
+it will be so; for I know it has been privately managing this long time:[8]
+the lady will not have half her father's estate; for the Duke left Lord
+Pelham's son his heir.[9]  The widow Duchess will not stand to the will, and
+she is now at law with Pelham.  However, at worst, the girl will have about
+ten thousand pounds a year to support the honour; for Lord Treasurer will
+never save a groat for himself.  Lord Harley is a very valuable young
+gentleman; and they say the girl is handsome, and has good sense, but red
+hair.
+
+9.  I designed a jaunt into the City to-day to be merry, but was disappointed;
+so one always is in this life; and I could not see Lord Dartmouth to-day, with
+whom I had some business.  Business and pleasure both disappointed.  You can
+go to your Dean, and for want of him, Goody Stoyte, or Walls, or Manley, and
+meet everywhere with cards and claret.  I dined privately with a friend on a
+herring and chicken, and half a flask of bad Florence.  I begin to have fires
+now, when the mornings are cold.  I have got some loose bricks at the back of
+my grate for good husbandry.  Fine weather.  Patrick tells me my caps are
+wearing out.  I know not how to get others.  I want a necessary woman
+strangely.  I am as helpless as an elephant.--I had three packets from the
+Archbishop of Dublin, cost me four shillings, all about Higgins,[10] printed
+stuff, and two long letters.  His people forgot to enclose them to Lewis; and
+they were only directed to Doctor Swift, without naming London or anything
+else.  I wonder how they reached me, unless the postmaster directed them.  I
+have read all the trash, and am weary.
+
+10.  Why, if you must have it out, something is to be published of great
+moment,[11] and three or four great people are to see there are no mistakes in
+point of fact:  and 'tis so troublesome to send it among them, and get their
+corrections, that I am weary as a dog.  I dined to-day with the printer, and
+was there all the afternoon; and it plagues me, and there's an end, and what
+would you have?  Lady Dupplin, Lord Treasurer's daughter,[12] is brought to
+bed of a son.  Lord Treasurer has had an ugly return of his gravel.  'Tis good
+for us to live in gravel pits,[13] but not for gravel pits to live in us; a
+man in this case should leave no stone unturned.  Lord Treasurer's sickness,
+the Queen's gout, the forwarding the peace, occasion putting off the
+Parliament a fortnight longer.  My head has had no ill returns.  I had good
+walking to-day in the City, and take all opportunities of it on purpose for my
+health; but I can't walk in the Park, because that is only for walking's sake,
+and loses time, so I mix it with business.  I wish MD walked half as much as
+Presto.  If I was with you, I'd make you walk; I would walk behind or before
+you, and you should have masks on, and be tucked up like anything; and Stella
+is naturally a stout walker, and carries herself firm; methinks I see her
+strut, and step clever over a kennel; and Dingley would do well enough if her
+petticoats were pinned up; but she is so embroiled, and so fearful, and then
+Stella scolds, and Dingley stumbles, and is so daggled.[14]  Have you got the
+whalebone petticoats among you yet?  I hate them; a woman here may hide a
+moderate gallant under them.  Pshaw, what's all this I'm saying?  Methinks I
+am talking to MD face to face.
+
+11.  Did I tell you that old Frowde,[15] the old fool, is selling his estate
+at Pepperhara, and is skulking about the town nobody knows where? and who do
+you think manages all this for him, but that rogue Child,[16] the double
+squire of Farnham?  I have put Mrs. Masham, the Queen's favourite, upon buying
+it, but that is yet a great secret; and I have employed Lady Oglethorpe to
+inquire about it.  I was with Lady Oglethorpe to-day, who is come to town for
+a week or two, and to-morrow I will see to hunt out the old fool:  he is
+utterly ruined, and at this present in some blind alley with some dirty wench.
+He has two sons that must starve, and he never gives them a farthing.  If Mrs.
+Masham buys the land, I will desire her to get the Queen to give some pension
+to the old fool, to keep him from absolutely starving.  What do you meddle
+with other people's affairs for? says Stella.  Oh, but Mr. Masham and his wife
+are very urgent with me, since I first put them in the head of it.  I dined
+with Sir Matthew Dudley, who, I doubt, will soon lose his employment.
+
+12.  Morning.  I am going to hunt out old Frowde, and to do some business in
+the City.  I have not yet called to Patrick to know whether it be fair.--It
+has been past dropping these two days.  Rainy weather hurts my pate and my
+purse.  He tells me 'tis very windy, and begins to look dark; woe be to my
+shillings! an old saying and a true,
+
+     Few fillings,
+     Many shillings.
+
+If the day be dark, my purse will be light.
+
+     To my enemies be this curse,
+     A dark day and a light purse.
+
+And so I'll rise, and go to my fire, for Patrick tells me I have a fire; yet
+it is not shaving-day, nor is the weather cold; this is too extravagant.  What
+is become of Dilly?  I suppose you have him with you.  Stella is just now
+showing a white leg, and putting it into the slipper.  Present my service to
+her, and tell her I am engaged to the Dean, and desire she will come too:  or,
+Dingley, can't you write a note?  This is Stella's morning dialogue, no,
+morning speech I mean.--Morrow, sirrahs, and let me rise as well as you; but I
+promise you Walls can't dine with the Dean to-day, for she is to be at Mrs.
+Proby's just after dinner, and to go with Gracy Spencer[17] to the shops to
+buy a yard of muslin, and a silver lace for an under petticoat.  Morrow again,
+sirrahs.--At night.  I dined with Stratford in the City, but could not finish
+my affairs with him; but now I am resolved to buy five hundred pounds South
+Sea Stock, which will cost me three hundred and eighty ready money; and I will
+make use of the bill of a hundred pounds you sent me, and transfer Mrs. Walls
+over to Hawkshaw; or if she dislikes it, I will borrow a hundred pounds of the
+Secretary, and repay her.  Three shillings coach-hire to-day.  I have spoken
+to Frowde's brother to get me the lowest price of the estate, to tell Mrs.
+Masham.
+
+13.  I dined privately with a friend to-day in the neighbourhood.  Last
+Saturday night I came home, and the drab had just washed my room, and my bed-
+chamber was all wet, and I was forced to go to bed in my own defence, and no
+fire:  I was sick on Sunday, and now have got a swingeing cold.  I scolded
+like a dog at Patrick, although he was out with me:  I detest washing of
+rooms; can't they wash them in a morning, and make a fire, and leave open the
+windows?  I slept not a wink last night for hawking[18] and spitting:  and now
+everybody has colds.  Here's a clutter:  I'll go to bed and sleep if I can.
+
+14.  Lady Mountjoy sent to me two days ago, so I dined with her to-day, and in
+the evening went to see Lord Treasurer.  I found Patrick had been just there
+with a how d'ye,[19] and my lord had returned answer that he desired to see
+me.  Mrs. Masham was with him when I came, and they are never disturbed:  'tis
+well she is not very handsome; they sit alone together settling the nation.  I
+sat with Lady Oxford, and stopped Mrs. Masham as she came out, and told her
+what progress I had made, etc., and then went to Lord Treasurer:  he is very
+well, only uneasy at rising or sitting, with some rheumatic pain in his thigh,
+and a foot weak.  He showed me a small paper, sent by an unknown hand to one
+Mr. Cook, who sent it to my lord:  it was written in plain large letters thus
+
+     "Though G---d's knife did not succeed,
+      A F---n's yet may do the deed."
+
+And a little below:  "BURN THIS, YOU DOG."  My lord has frequently such
+letters as these:  once he showed me one, which was a vision describing a
+certain man, his dress, his sword, and his countenance, who was to murder my
+lord.  And he told me he saw a fellow in the chapel at Windsor with a dress
+very like it.  They often send him letters signed, "Your humble servant, The
+Devil," and such stuff.  I sat with him till after ten, and have business to
+do.
+
+15.  The Secretary came yesterday to town from Hampton Court, so I went to him
+early this morning; but he went back last night again:  and coming home to-
+night I found a letter from him to tell me that he was just come from Hampton
+Court, and just returning, and will not be here till Saturday night.  A pox
+take him! he stops all my business.  I'll beg leave to come back when I have
+got over this, and hope to see MD in Ireland soon after Christmas.--I'm weary
+of Courts, and want my journeys to Laracor; they did me more good than all the
+Ministries these twenty years.  I dined to-day in the City, but did no
+business as I designed.  Lady Mountjoy tells me that Dilly is got to Ireland,
+and that the Archbishop of Dublin was the cause of his returning so soon.  The
+Parliament was prorogued two days ago for a fortnight, which, with the Queen's
+absence, makes the town very dull and empty.  They tell me the Duke of Ormond
+brings all the world away with him from Ireland.  London has nothing so bad in
+it in winter as your knots of Irish folks; but I go to no coffee-house, and so
+I seldom see them.  This letter shall go on Saturday; and then I am even with
+the world again.  I have lent money, and cannot get it, and am forced to
+borrow for myself.
+
+16.  My man made a blunder this morning, and let up a visitor, when I had
+ordered to see nobody; so I was forced to hurry a hang-dog instrument of mine
+into my bed-chamber, and keep him cooling his heels there above an hour.--I am
+going on fairly in the common forms of a great cold; I believe it will last me
+about ten days in all.--I should have told you, that in those two verses sent
+to Lord Treasurer, G---d stands for Guiscard; that is easy; but we differed
+about F---n; I thought it was for Frenchman, because he hates them, and they
+him:  and so it would be, That although Guiscard's knife missed its design,
+the knife of a Frenchman might yet do it.  My lord thinks it stands for
+Felton, the name of him that stabbed the first Duke of Buckingham. Sir Andrew
+Fountaine and I dined with the Vans to-day, and my cold made me loiter all the
+evening.  Stay, young women, don't you begin to owe me a letter? just a month
+to-day since I had your N.22.  I'll stay a week longer, and then, I'll expect
+like agog; till then you may play at ombre, and so forth, as you please.  The
+Whigs are still crying down our peace, but we will have it, I hope, in spite
+of them:  the Emperor comes now with his two eggs a penny, and promises
+wonders to continue the war; but it is too late; only I hope the fear of it
+will serve to spur on the French to be easy and sincere:   Night, sirrahs;
+I'll go early to bed.
+
+17.  Morning.  This goes to-night; I will put it myself in the post-office.  I
+had just now a long letter from the Archbishop of Dublin, giving me an account
+of the ending your session, how it ended in a storm; which storm, by the time
+it arrives here, will be only half nature.  I can't help it, I won't hide.  I
+often advised the dissolution of that Parliament, although I did not think the
+scoundrels had so much courage; but they have it only in the wrong, like a
+bully that will fight for a whore, and run away in an army.  I believe, by
+several things the Archbishop says, he is not very well either with the
+Government or clergy.--See how luckily my paper ends with a fortnight.--God
+Almighty bless and preserve dearest little MD.--I suppose your Lord Lieutenant
+is now setting out for England.  I wonder the Bishop of Clogher does not write
+to me, or let me know of his statues, and how he likes them:  I will write to
+him again, as soon as I have leisure.  Farewell, dearest MD, and love Presto,
+who loves MD infinitely above all earthly things, and who will.--My service to
+Mrs. Stoyte and Catherine.  I'm sitting in my bed, but will rise to seal this.
+Morrow, dear rogues:  Farewell again, dearest MD, etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 35.
+
+LONDON, NOV. 17, 1711.
+
+I put my last this evening in the post-office.  I dined with Dr. Cockburn.
+This being Queen Elizabeth's birthday, we have the D---- and all to do among
+us.  I just heard of the stir as my letter was sealed this morning, and was so
+cross I would not open it to tell you.  I have been visiting Lady
+Oglethorpe[1] and Lady Worsley;[2] the latter is lately come to town for the
+winter, and with child, and what care you?  This is Queen Elizabeth's
+birthday, usually kept in this town by apprentices, etc.; but the Whigs
+designed a mighty procession by midnight, and had laid out a thousand pounds
+to dress up the Pope, Devil, cardinals, Sacheverell, etc., and carry them with
+torches about, and burn them.  They did it by contribution.  Garth gave five
+guineas; Dr. Garth I mean, if ever you heard of him.  But they were seized
+last night, by order from the Secretary:  you will have an account of it, for
+they bawl it about the streets already.[3]  They had some very foolish and
+mischievous designs; and it was thought they would have put the rabble upon
+assaulting my Lord Treasurer's house and the Secretary's, and other violences.
+The militia was raised to prevent it, and now, I suppose, all will be quiet.
+The figures are now at the Secretary's office at Whitehall.  I design to see
+them if I can.
+
+18.  I was this morning with Mr. Secretary, who just came from Hampton Court.
+He was telling me more particulars about this business of burning the Pope.
+It cost a great deal of money, and had it gone on, would have cost three times
+as much; but the town is full of it, and half a dozen Grub Street papers
+already.  The Secretary and I dined at Brigadier Britton's, but I left them at
+six, upon an appointment with some sober company of men and ladies, to drink
+punch at Sir Andrew Fountaine's.  We were not very merry; and I don't love
+rack punch, I love it better with brandy; are you of my opinion?  Why then,
+twelvepenny weather; sirrahs, why don't you play at shuttlecock?  I have
+thought of it a hundred times; faith, Presto will come over after Christmas,
+and will play with Stella before the cold weather is gone.  Do you read the
+Spectators?  I never do; they never come in my way; I go to no coffee-houses.
+They say abundance of them are very pretty; they are going to be printed in
+small volumes; I'll bring them over with me.  I shall be out of my hurry in a
+week, and if Leigh be not gone over, I will send you by him what I am now
+finishing.  I don't know where Leigh is; I have not seen him this good while,
+though he promised to call:  I shall send to him.  The Queen comes to town on
+Thursday for good and all.
+
+19.  I was this morning at Lord Dartmouth's office, and sent out for him from
+the Committee of Council, about some business.  I was asking him more
+concerning this bustle about the figures in wax-work of the Pope, and Devil,
+etc.  He was not at leisure, or he would have seen them.  I hear the owners
+are so impudent, that they design to replevin them by law.  I am assured that
+the figure of the Devil is made as like Lord Treasurer as they could.  Why, I
+dined with a friend in St. James's Street.  Lord Treasurer, I am told, was
+abroad to-day; I will know to-morrow how he does after it.  The Duke of
+Marlborough is come, and was yesterday at Hampton Court with the Queen; no, it
+was t'other day; no, it was yesterday; for to-day I remember Mr. Secretary was
+going to see him, when I was there, not at the Duke of Marlborough's, but at
+the Secretary's; the Duke is not so fond of me.  What care I?  I won seven
+shillings to-night at picquet:  I play twice a year or so.
+
+20.  I have been so teased with Whiggish discourse by Mrs. Barton and Lady
+Betty Germaine, never saw the like.  They turn all this affair of the Pope-
+burning into ridicule; and, indeed, they have made too great a clutter about
+it, if they had no real reason to apprehend some tumults.  I dined with Lady
+Betty.  I hear Prior's commission is passed to be Ambassador Extraordinary and
+Plenipotentiary for the peace; my Lord Privy Seal, who you know is Bishop of
+Bristol, is the other; and Lord Strafford, already Ambassador at The Hague,
+the third:  I am forced to tell you, ignorant sluts, who is who.  I was
+punning scurvily with Sir Andrew Fountaine and Lord Pembroke this evening:  do
+you ever pun now?  Sometimes with the Dean, or Tom Leigh.[4]  Prior puns very
+well.  Odso, I must go see His Excellency, 'tis a noble advancement:  but they
+could do no less, after sending him to France.  Lord Strafford is as proud as
+Hell, and how he will bear one of Prior's mean birth on an equal character
+with him, I know not.  And so I go to my business, and bid you good-night.
+
+21.  I was this morning busy with my printer:  I gave him the fifth sheet,[5]
+and then I went and dined with him in the City, to correct something, and
+alter, etc., and I walked home in the dusk, and the rain overtook me:  and I
+found a letter here from Mr. Lewis; well, and so I opened it; and he says the
+peace is past danger, etc.  Well, and so there was another letter enclosed in
+his:  well, and so I looked on the outside of this t'other letter.  Well, and
+so who do you think this t'other letter was from?  Well, and so I'll tell you;
+it was from little MD, N.23, 23, 23, 23.  I tell you it is no more, I have
+told you so before:  but I just looked again to satisfy you.  Hie, Stella, you
+write like an emperor, a great deal together; a very good hand, and but four
+false spellings in all.  Shall I send them to you?  I am glad you did not take
+my correction ill.  Well, but I won't answer your letter now, sirrah
+saucyboxes, no, no; not yet; just a month and three days from the last, which
+is just five weeks: you see it comes just when I begin to grumble.
+
+22.  Morning.  Tooke has just brought me Dingley's money.  I will give you a
+note for it at the end of this letter.  There was half a crown for entering
+the letter of attorney; but I swore to stop that.  I'll spend your money
+bravely here.  Morrow, dear sirrahs.--At night.  I dined to-day with Sir
+Thomas Hanmer; his wife, the Duchess of Grafton,[6] dined with us:  she wears
+a great high head-dress, such as was in fashion fifteen years ago, and looks
+like a mad woman in it; yet she has great remains of beauty.  I was this
+evening to see Lord Harley, and thought to have sat with Lord Treasurer, but
+he was taken up with the Dutch Envoy and such folks; and I would not stay.
+One particular in life here, different from what I have in Dublin, is, that
+whenever I come home I expect to find some letter for me, and seldom miss; and
+never any worth a farthing, but often to vex me.  The Queen does not come to
+town till Saturday.  Prior is not yet declared; but these Ministers being at
+Hampton Court, I know nothing; and if I write news from common hands, it is
+always lies.  You will think it affectation; but nothing has vexed me more for
+some months past, than people I never saw pretending to be acquainted with me,
+and yet speak ill of me too; at least some of them.  An old crooked Scotch
+countess, whom I never heard of in my life, told the Duchess of Hamilton[7]
+t'other day that I often visited her.  People of worth never do that; so that
+a man only gets the scandal of having scurvy acquaintance.  Three ladies were
+railing against me some time ago, and said they were very well acquainted with
+me; two of which I had never heard of, and the third I had only seen twice
+where I happened to visit.  A man who has once seen me in a coffee-house will
+ask me how I do, when he sees me talking at Court with a Minister of State;
+who is sure to ask me how I came acquainted with that scoundrel.  But come,
+sirrahs, this is all stuff to you, so I'll say no more on this side the paper,
+but turn over.
+
+23.  My printer invited Mr. Lewis and me to dine at a tavern to-day, which I
+have not done five times since I came to England; I never will call it
+Britain, pray don't call it Britain.  My week is not out, and one side of this
+paper is out, and I have a letter to answer of MD's into the bargain:  must I
+write on the third side? faith, that will give you an ill habit.  I saw Leigh
+last night:  he gives a terrible account of Sterne; he reckons he is seduced
+by some wench; he is over head and ears in debt, and has pawned several
+things.  Leigh says he goes on Monday next for Ireland, but believes Sterne
+will not go with him; Sterne has kept him these three months.  Leigh has got
+the apron and things, and promises to call for the box at Chester; but I
+despair of it.  Good-night, sirrahs; I have been late abroad.
+
+24.  I have finished my pamphlet[8] to-day, which has cost me so much time and
+trouble:  it will be published in three or four days, when the Parliament
+begins sitting.  I suppose the Queen is come to town, but know nothing, having
+been in the City finishing and correcting with the printer.  When I came home,
+I found letters on my table as usual, and one from your mother, to tell me
+that you desire your writings and a picture should be sent to me, to be sent
+over to you.  I have just answered her letter, and promised to take care of
+them if they be sent to me.  She is at Farnham:  it is too late to send them
+by Leigh; besides, I will wait your orders, Madam Stella.  I am going to
+finish a letter to Lord Treasurer about reforming our language;[9] but first I
+must put an end to a ballad; and go you to your cards, sirrahs, this is card
+season.
+
+25.  I was early with the Secretary to-day, but he was gone to his devotions,
+and to receive the sacrament:  several rakes did the same; it was not for
+piety, but employments; according to Act of Parliament.  I dined with Lady
+Mary Dudley;[10] and passed my time since insipidly, only I was at Court at
+noon, and saw fifty acquaintance I had not met this long time:  that is the
+advantage of a Court, and I fancy I am better known than any man that goes
+there.  Sir John Walter's[11] quarrel with me has entertained the town ever
+since; and yet we never had a word, only he railed at me behind my back.  The
+Parliament is again to be prorogued for eight or nine days, for the Whigs are
+too strong in the House of Lords:  other reasons are pretended, but that is
+the truth.  The prorogation is not yet known, but will be to-morrow.
+
+26.  Mr. Lewis and I dined with a friend of his, and unexpectedly there dined
+with us an Irish knight, one Sir John St. Leger,[12] who follows the law here,
+but at a great distance:  he was so pert, I was forced to take him down more
+than once.  I saw to-day the Pope, and Devil, and the other figures of
+cardinals, etc., fifteen in all, which have made such a noise.  I have put an
+under-strapper upon writing a twopenny pamphlet[13] to give an account of the
+whole design.  My large pamphlet[14] will be published to-morrow; copies are
+sent to the great men this night.  Domville[15] is come home from his travels;
+I am vexed at it:  I have not seen him yet; I design to present him to all the
+great men.
+
+27.  Domville came to me this morning, and we dined at Pontack's, and were all
+day together, till six this evening:  he is perfectly as fine a gentleman as I
+know; he set me down at Lord Treasurer's, with whom I stayed about an hour,
+till Monsieur Buys, the Dutch Envoy, came to him about business.  My Lord
+Treasurer is pretty well, but stiff in the hips with the remains of the
+rheumatism.  I am to bring Domville to my Lord Harley in a day or two.  It was
+the dirtiest rainy day that ever I saw.  The pamphlet is published; Lord
+Treasurer had it by him on the table, and was asking me about the mottoes in
+the title-page; he gave me one of them himself.[16]  I must send you the
+pamphlet, if I can.
+
+28.  Mrs. Van sent to me to dine with her to-day, because some ladies of my
+acquaintance were to be there; and there I dined.  I was this morning to
+return Domville his visit, and went to visit Mrs. Masham, who was not within.
+I am turned out of my lodging by my landlady:  it seems her husband and her
+son are coming home; but I have taken another lodging hard by, in Leicester
+Fields.  I presented Mr. Domville to Mr. Lewis and Mr. Prior this morning.
+Prior and I are called the two Sosias,[17] in a Whig newspaper.  Sosias, can
+you read it?  The pamphlet begins to make a noise:  I was asked by several
+whether I had seen it, and they advised me to read it, for it was something
+very extraordinary.  I shall be suspected; and it will have several paltry
+answers.  It must take its fate, as Savage[18] said of his sermon that he
+preached at Farnham on Sir William Temple's death.  Domville saw Savage in
+Italy, and says he is a coxcomb, and half mad:  he goes in red, and with
+yellow waistcoats, and was at ceremony kneeling to the Pope on a Palm Sunday,
+which is much more than kissing his toe; and I believe it will ruin him here
+when 'tis told.  I'll answer your letter in my new lodgings:  I have hardly
+room; I must borrow from the other side.
+
+29.  New lodgings.  My printer came this morning to tell me he must
+immediately print a second edition,[19] and Lord Treasurer made one or two
+small additions:  they must work day and night to have it out on Saturday;
+they sold a thousand in two days.  Our Society met to-day; nine of us were
+present:  we dined at our brother Bathurst's.[20]  We made several
+regulations, and have chosen three new members, Lord Orrery,[21] Jack Hill,
+who is Mrs. Masham's brother, he that lately miscarried in the expedition to
+Quebec, and one Colonel Disney.[22]--We have taken a room in a house near St.
+James's to meet in.  I left them early about correcting the pamphlet, etc.,
+and am now got home, etc.
+
+30.  This morning I carried Domville to see my Lord Harley, and I did some
+business with Lord Treasurer, and have been all this afternoon with the
+printer, adding something to the second edition.  I dined with the printer:
+the pamphlet makes a world of noise, and will do a great deal of good; it
+tells abundance of most important facts which were not at all known.  I'll
+answer your letter to-morrow morning; or suppose I answer it just now, though
+it is pretty late.  Come then.--You say you are busy with Parliaments, etc.;
+that's more than ever I will be when I come back; but you will have none these
+two years.  Lord Santry, etc., yes, I have had enough on't.[23]  I am glad
+Dilly is mended; does not he thank me for showing him the Court and the great
+people's faces?  He had his glass out at the Queen and the rest.  'Tis right
+what Dilly says:  I depend upon nothing from my friends, but to go back as I
+came.  Never fear Laracor, 'twill mend with a peace, or surely they'll give me
+the Dublin parish.  Stella is in the right:  the Bishop of Ossory[24] is the
+silliest, best-natured wretch breathing, of as little consequence as an egg-
+shell.  Well, the spelling I have mentioned before; only the next time say AT
+LEAST, and not AT LEST.  Pox on your Newbury![25] what can I do for him?  I'll
+give his case (I am glad it is not a woman's) to what members I know; that's
+all I can do.  Lord Treasurer's lameness goes off daily.  Pray God preserve
+poor good Mrs. Stoyte; she would be a great loss to us all:  pray give her my
+service, and tell her she has my heartiest prayers.  I pity poor Mrs. Manley;
+but I think the child is happy to die, considering how little provision it
+would have had.--Poh, every pamphlet abuses me, and for things that I never
+writ.  Joe[26] should have written me thanks for his two hundred pounds:  I
+reckon he got it by my means; and I must thank the Duke of Ormond, who I dare
+swear will say he did it on my account.  Are they golden pippins, those seven
+apples?  We have had much rain every day as well as you.  7 pounds, 17
+shillings, 8 pence, old blunderer, not 18 shillings:  I have reckoned it
+eighteen times.  Hawkshaw's eight pounds is not reckoned and if it be secure,
+it may lie where it is, unless they desire to pay it:  so Parvisol may let it
+drop till further orders; for I have put Mrs. Wesley's money into the Bank,
+and will pay her with Hawkshaw's.--I mean that Hawkshaw's money goes for an
+addition to MD, you know; but be good housewives.  Bernage never comes now to
+see me; he has no more to ask; but I hear he has been ill.--A pox on Mrs.
+South's[27] affair; I can do nothing in it, but by way of assisting anybody
+else that solicits it, by dropping a favourable word, if it comes in my way.
+Tell Walls I do no more for anybody with my Lord Treasurer, especially a thing
+of this kind.  Tell him I have spent all my discretion, and have no more to
+use.--And so I have answered your letter fully and plainly.--And so I have got
+to the third side of my paper, which is more than belongs to you, young women.
+
+     It goes to-morrow,
+     To nobody's sorrow.
+
+You are silly, not I; I'm a poet, if I had but, etc.--Who's silly now? rogues
+and lasses, tinderboxes and buzzards.  O Lord, I am in a high vein of
+silliness; methought I was speaking to dearest little MD face to face.  There;
+so, lads, enough for to-night; to cards with the blackguards.  Goodnight, my
+delight, etc.
+
+Dec. 1.  Pish, sirrahs, put a date always at the bottom of your letter, as
+well as the top, that I may know when you send it; your last is of November 3,
+yet I had others at the same time, written a fortnight after.  Whenever you
+would have any money, send me word three weeks before, and in that time you
+will certainly have an answer, with a bill on Parvisol:  pray do this; for my
+head is full, and it will ease my memory.  Why, I think I quoted to you some
+of ----'s letter, so you may imagine how witty the rest was; for it was all of
+a bunch, as Goodman Peesley[28] says.  Pray let us have no more bussiness, but
+busyness:  the deuce take me if I know how to spell it; your wrong spelling,
+Madam Stella, has put me out:  it does not look right; let me see, bussiness,
+busyness, business, bisyness, bisness, bysness; faith, I know not which is
+right, I think the second; I believe I never writ the word in my life before;
+yes, sure I must, though; business, busyness, bisyness.--I have perplexed
+myself, and can't do it.  Prithee ask Walls.  Business, I fancy that's right.
+Yes it is; I looked in my own pamphlet, and found it twice in ten lines, to
+convince you that I never writ it before.  Oh, now I see it as plain as can
+be; so yours is only an _s_ too much.  The Parliament will certainly meet on
+Friday next:  the Whigs will have a great majority in the House of Lords, no
+care is taken to prevent it; there is too much neglect; they are warned of it,
+and that signifies nothing:  it was feared there would be some peevish address
+from the Lords against a peace.  'Tis said about the town that several of the
+Allies begin now to be content that a peace should be treated.  This is all
+the news I have.  The Queen is pretty well:  and so now I bid poor dearest MD
+farewell till to-night; then I will talk with them again.
+
+The fifteen images that I saw were not worth forty pounds, so I stretched a
+little when I said a thousand.  The Grub Street account of that tumult is
+published.  The Devil is not like Lord Treasurer:  they were all in your odd
+antic masks, bought in common shops.[29]  I fear Prior will not be one of the
+plenipotentiaries.
+
+I was looking over this letter, and find I make many mistakes of leaving out
+words; so 'tis impossible to find my meaning, unless you be conjurers.  I will
+take more care for the future, and read over every day just what I have
+written that day, which will take up no time to speak of.
+
+
+
+LETTER 36.
+
+LONDON, Dec. 1, 1711.
+
+My last was put in this evening.  I intended to dine with Mr. Masham to-day,
+and called at White's chocolate house to see if he was there.  Lord Wharton
+saw me at the door, and I saw him, but took no notice, and was going away, but
+he came through the crowd, called after me, and asked me how I did, etc.  This
+was pretty; and I believe he wished every word he spoke was a halter to hang
+me.  Masham did not dine at home, so I ate with a friend in the neighbourhood.
+The printer has not sent me the second edition; I know not the reason, for it
+certainly came out to-day; perhaps they are glutted with it already.  I found
+a letter from Lord Harley on my table, to tell me that his father desires I
+would make two small alterations.  I am going to be busy, etc.
+
+2.  Morning.  See the blunder; I was making it the 37th day of the month, from
+the number above.  Well, but I am staying here for old Frowde, who appointed
+to call this morning:  I am ready dressed to go to church:  I suppose he dare
+not stir out but on Sundays.[1]  The printer called early this morning, told
+me the second edition went off yesterday in five hours, and he must have a
+third ready to-morrow, for they might have sold half another:  his men are all
+at work with it, though it be Sunday.  This old fool will not come, and I
+shall miss church.  Morrow, sirrahs.--At night.  I was at Court to-day:  the
+Queen is well, and walked through part of the rooms.  I dined with the
+Secretary, and despatched some business.  He tells me the Dutch Envoy designs
+to complain of that pamphlet.  The noise it makes is extraordinary.  It is fit
+it should answer the pains I have been at about it.  I suppose it will be
+printed in Ireland.  Some lay it to Prior, others to Mr. Secretary St. John,
+but I am always the first they lay everything to.  I'll go sleep, etc.
+
+3.  I have ordered Patrick not to let any odd fellow come up to me; and a
+fellow would needs speak with me from Sir George Pretyman.[2]  I had never
+heard of him, and would not see the messenger:  but at last it proved that
+this Sir George has sold his estate, and is a beggar.  Smithers, the Farnham
+carrier, brought me this morning a letter from your mother, with three papers
+enclosed of Lady Giffard's writing; one owning some exchequer business of 100
+pounds to be Stella's;[3] another for 100 pounds that she has of yours, which
+I made over to you for Mariston; and a third for 300 pounds; the last is on
+stamped paper.  I think they had better lie in England in some good hand till
+Lady Giffard dies; and I will think of some such hand before I come over.  I
+was asking Smithers about all the people of Farnham.  Mrs. White[4] has left
+off dressing, is troubled with lameness and swelled legs, and seldom stirs
+out; but her old hang-dog husband as hearty as ever.  I was this morning with
+Lord Treasurer, about something he would have altered in the pamphlet;[5] but
+it can't be till the fourth edition, which I believe will be soon; for I dined
+with the printer, and he tells me they have sold off half the third.  Mrs.
+Perceval[6] and her daughter have been in town these three weeks, which I
+never heard till to-day; and Mrs. Wesley[7] is come to town too, to consult
+Dr. Radcliffe.  The Whigs are resolved to bring that pamphlet into the House
+of Lords to have it condemned, so I hear.  But the printer will stand to it,
+and not own the author; he must say he had it from the penny-post.  Some
+people talk as if the House of Lords would do some peevish thing, for the
+Whigs are now a great majority in it; our Ministers are too negligent of such
+things:  I have never slipped giving them warning; some of them are sensible
+of it; but Lord Treasurer stands too much upon his own legs.  I fancy his good
+fortune will bear him out in everything; but in reason I should think this
+Ministry to stand very unsteady; if they can carry a peace, they may hold; I
+believe not else.
+
+4.  Mr. Secretary sent to me to-day to dine with him alone; but we had two
+more with us, which hindered me doing some business.  I was this morning with
+young Harcourt, secretary to our Society, to take a room for our weekly
+meetings; and the fellow asked us five guineas a week only to have leave to
+dine once a week; was not that pretty? so we broke off with him, and are to
+dine next Thursday at Harcourt's (he is Lord Keeper's son).  They have sold
+off above half the third edition, and answers are coming out:  the Dutch Envoy
+refused dining with Dr. Davenant,[8] because he was suspected to write it:  I
+have made some alterations in every edition, and it has cost me more trouble,
+for the time, since the printing, than before.  'Tis sent over to Ireland, and
+I suppose you will have it reprinted.
+
+5.  They are now printing the fourth edition, which is reckoned very
+extraordinary, considering 'tis a dear twelvepenny book, and not bought up in
+numbers by the party to give away, as the Whigs do, but purely upon its own
+strength.  I have got an under spur-leather to write an Examiner again,[9] and
+the Secretary and I will now and then send hints; but we would have it a
+little upon the Grub Street, to be a match for their writers.  I dined with
+Lord Treasurer to-day at five:  he dined by himself after his family, and
+drinks no claret yet, for fear of his rheumatism, of which he is almost well.
+He was very pleasant, as he is always:  yet I fancied he was a little touched
+with the present posture of affairs.  The Elector of Hanover's Minister here
+has given in a violent memorial against the peace, and caused it to be
+printed.  The Whig lords are doing their utmost for a majority against Friday,
+and design, if they can, to address the Queen against the peace.  Lord
+Nottingham,[10] a famous Tory and speech-maker, is gone over to the Whig side:
+they toast him daily, and Lord Wharton says, It is Dismal (so they call him
+from his looks) will save England at last.  Lord Treasurer was hinting as if
+he wished a ballad was made on him, and I will get up one against to-
+morrow.[11]  He gave me a scurrilous printed paper of bad verses on himself,
+under the name of the English Catiline, and made me read them to the company.
+It was his birthday, which he would not tell us, but Lord Harley whispered it
+to me.
+
+6.  I was this morning making the ballad, two degrees above Grub Street:  at
+noon I paid a visit to Mrs. Masham, and then went to dine with our Society.
+Poor Lord Keeper dined below stairs, I suppose, on a bit of mutton.  We chose
+two members:  we were eleven met, the greatest meeting we ever had:  I am next
+week to introduce Lord Orrery.  The printer came before we parted, and brought
+the ballad, which made them laugh very heartily a dozen times.  He is going to
+print the pamphlet[12] in small, a fifth edition, to be taken off by friends,
+and sent into the country.  A sixpenny answer is come out, good for nothing,
+but guessing me, among others, for the author.  To-morrow is the fatal day for
+the Parliament meeting, and we are full of hopes and fears.  We reckon we have
+a majority of ten on our side in the House of Lords; yet I observed Mrs.
+Masham a little uneasy:  she assures me the Queen is stout.  The Duke of
+Marlborough has not seen the Queen for some days past; Mrs. Masham is glad of
+it, because she says he tells a hundred lies to his friends of what she says
+to him:  he is one day humble, and the next day on the high ropes.  The Duke
+of Ormond, they say, will be in town to-night by twelve.
+
+7.  This being the day the Parliament was to meet, and the great question to
+be determined, I went with Dr. Freind to dine in the City, on purpose to be
+out of the way, and we sent our printer to see what was our fate; but he gave
+us a most melancholy account of things.  The Earl of Nottingham began, and
+spoke against a peace, and desired that in their address they might put in a
+clause to advise the Queen not to make a peace without Spain; which was
+debated, and carried by the Whigs by about six voices:  and this has happened
+entirely by my Lord Treasurer's neglect, who did not take timely care to make
+up all his strength, although every one of us gave him caution enough.
+Nottingham has certainly been bribed.  The question is yet only carried in the
+Committee of the whole House, and we hope when it is reported to the House to-
+morrow, we shall have a majority, by some Scotch lords coming to town.
+However, it is a mighty blow and loss of reputation to Lord Treasurer, and may
+end in his ruin.  I hear the thing only as the printer brought it, who was at
+the debate; but how the Ministry take it, or what their hopes and fears are, I
+cannot tell until I see them.  I shall be early with the Secretary to-morrow,
+and then I will tell you more, and shall write a full account to the Bishop of
+Clogher to-morrow, and to the Archbishop of Dublin, if I have time.  I am
+horribly down at present.  I long to know how Lord Treasurer bears this, and
+what remedy he has.  The Duke of Ormond came this day to town, and was there.
+
+8.  I was early this morning with the Secretary, and talked over this matter.
+He hoped that when it was reported this day in the House of Lords, they would
+disagree with their Committee, and so the matter would go off, only with a
+little loss of reputation to the Lord Treasurer.  I dined with Mr. Cockburn,
+and after, a Scotch member came in, and told us that the clause was carried
+against the Court in the House of Lords almost two to one.  I went immediately
+to Mrs. Masham, and meeting Dr. Arbuthnot (the Queen's favourite physician),
+we went together.  She was just come from waiting at the Queen's dinner, and
+going to her own.  She had heard nothing of the thing being gone against us.
+It seems Lord Treasurer had been so negligent that he was with the Queen while
+the question was put in the House:  I immediately told Mrs. Masham that either
+she and Lord Treasurer had joined with the Queen to betray us, or that they
+two were betrayed by the Queen:  she protested solemnly it was not the former,
+and I believed her; but she gave me some lights to suspect the Queen is
+changed.  For yesterday, when the Queen was going from the House, where she
+sat to hear the debate, the Duke of Shrewsbury, Lord Chamberlain, asked her
+whether he or the Great Chamberlain Lindsey[13] ought to lead her out; she
+answered short, "Neither of you," and gave her hand to the Duke of Somerset,
+who was louder than any in the House for the clause against peace.  She gave
+me one or two more instances of this sort, which convince me that the Queen is
+false, or at least very much wavering.  Mr. Masham begged us to stay, because
+Lord Treasurer would call, and we were resolved to fall on him about his
+negligence in securing a majority.  He came, and appeared in good humour as
+usual, but I thought his countenance was much cast down.  I rallied him, and
+desired him to give me his staff, which he did:  I told him, if he would
+secure it me a week, I would set all right:  he asked how; I said I would
+immediately turn Lord Marlborough, his two daughters,[14] the Duke and Duchess
+of Somerset, and Lord Cholmondeley,[15] out of all their employments; and I
+believe he had not a friend but was of my opinion.  Arbuthnot asked how he
+came not to secure a majority.  He could answer nothing but that he could not
+help it, if people would lie and forswear.  A poor answer for a great
+Minister.  There fell from him a Scripture expression, that "the hearts of
+kings are unsearchable."[16]  I told him it was what I feared, and was from
+him the worst news he could tell me.  I begged him to know what he had to
+trust to:  he stuck a little; but at last bid me not fear, for all would be
+well yet.  We would fain have had him eat a bit where he was, but he would go
+home, it was past six:  he made me go home with him.  There we found his
+brother and Mr. Secretary.  He made his son take a list of all in the House of
+Commons who had places, and yet voted against the Court, in such a manner as
+if they should lose their places:  I doubt he is not able to compass it.  Lord
+Keeper came in an hour, and they were going upon business.  So I left him, and
+returned to Mrs. Masham; but she had company with her, and I would not stay.--
+This is a long journal, and of a day that may produce great alterations, and
+hazard the ruin of England.  The Whigs are all in triumph; they foretold how
+all this would be, but we thought it boasting.  Nay, they said the Parliament
+should be dissolved before Christmas, and perhaps it may:  this is all your d-
+---d Duchess of Somerset's doings.  I warned them of it nine months ago, and a
+hundred times since:  the Secretary always dreaded it.  I told Lord Treasurer
+I should have the advantage of him; for he would lose his head, and I should
+only be hanged, and so carry my body entire to the grave.
+
+9.  I was this morning with Mr. Secretary:  we are both of opinion that the
+Queen is false.  I told him what I heard, and he confirmed it by other
+circumstances.  I then went to my friend Lewis, who had sent to see me.  He
+talks of nothing but retiring to his estate in Wales.  He gave me reasons to
+believe the whole matter is settled between the Queen and the Whigs; he hears
+that Lord Somers is to be Treasurer, and believes that, sooner than turn out
+the Duchess of Somerset, she will dissolve the Parliament, and get a Whiggish
+one, which may be done by managing elections.  Things are now in the crisis,
+and a day or two will determine.  I have desired him to engage Lord Treasurer
+that as soon as he finds the change is resolved on, he will send me abroad as
+Queen's Secretary somewhere or other, where I may remain till the new
+Ministers recall me; and then I will be sick for five or six months, till the
+storm has spent itself.  I hope he will grant me this; for I should hardly
+trust myself to the mercy of my enemies while their anger is fresh.  I dined
+to-day with the Secretary, who affects mirth, and seems to hope all will yet
+be well.  I took him aside after dinner, told him how I had served them, and
+had asked no reward, but thought I might ask security; and then desired the
+same thing of him, to send me abroad before a change.  He embraced me, and
+swore he would take the same care of me as himself, etc., but bid me have
+courage, for that in two days my Lord Treasurer's wisdom would appear greater
+than ever; that he suffered all that had happened on purpose, and had taken
+measures to turn it to advantage.  I said, "God send it"; but I do not believe
+a syllable; and, as far as I can judge, the game is lost.  I shall know more
+soon, and my letters will at least be a good history to show you the steps of
+this change.
+
+10.  I was this morning with Lewis, who thinks they will let the Parliament
+sit till they have given the money, and then dissolve them in spring, and
+break the Ministry.  He spoke to Lord Treasurer about what I desired him.  My
+lord desired him with great earnestness to assure me that all would be well,
+and that I should fear nothing.  I dined in the City with a friend.  This day
+the Commons went to the Queen with their address, and all the Lords who were
+for the peace went with them, to show their zeal.  I have now some further
+conviction that the Queen is false, and it begins to be known.
+
+11.  I went between two and three to see Mrs. Masham; while I was there she
+went to her bed-chamber to try a petticoat.  Lord Treasurer came in to see
+her, and seeing me in the outer room, fell a rallying me:  says he, "You had
+better keep company with me, than with such a fellow as Lewis, who has not the
+soul of a chicken, nor the heart of a mite."  Then he went in to Mrs. Masham,
+and as he came back desired her leave to let me go home with him to dinner.
+He asked whether I was not afraid to be seen with him.  I said I never valued
+my Lord Treasurer in my life, and therefore should have always the same esteem
+for Mr. Harley and Lord Oxford.  He seemed to talk confidently, as if he
+reckoned that all this would turn to advantage.  I could not forbear hinting
+that he was not sure of the Queen, and that those scoundrel, starving lords
+would never have dared to vote against the Court, if Somerset had not assured
+them that it would please the Queen.  He said that was true, and Somerset did
+so.  I stayed till six; then De Buys, the Dutch Envoy, came to him, and I left
+him.  Prior was with us a while after dinner.  I see him and all of them cast
+down, though they make the best of it.
+
+12.  Ford is come to town; I saw him last night:  he is in no fear, but
+sanguine, although I have told him the state of things.  This change so
+resembles the last, that I wonder they do not observe it.  The Secretary sent
+for me yesterday to dine with him, but I was abroad; I hope he had something
+to say to me.  This is morning, and I write in bed.  I am going to the Duke of
+Ormond, whom I have not yet seen.  Morrow, sirrahs.--At night.  I was to see
+the Duke of Ormond this morning:  he asked me two or three questions after his
+civil way, and they related to Ireland:  at last I told him that, from the
+time I had seen him, I never once thought of Irish affairs.  He whispered me
+that he hoped I had done some good things here:  I said, if everybody else had
+done half as much, we should not be as we are:  then we went aside, and talked
+over affairs.  I told him how all things stood, and advised him what was to be
+done.  I then went and sat an hour with the Duchess; then as long with Lady
+Oglethorpe,[17] who is so cunning a devil that I believe she could yet find a
+remedy, if they would take her advice.  I dined with a friend at Court.
+
+13.  I was this morning with the Secretary:  he will needs pretend to talk as
+if things would be well:  "Will you believe it," said he, "if you see these
+people turned out?"  I said, yes, if I saw the Duke and Duchess of Somerset
+out:  he swore if they were not, he would give up his place.  Our Society
+dined to-day at Sir William Wyndham's; we were thirteen present.  Lord Orrery
+and two other members were introduced:  I left them at seven.  I forgot to
+tell you that the printer told me yesterday that Morphew, the publisher, was
+sent for by that Lord Chief-Justice, who was a manager against Sacheverell; he
+showed him two or three papers and pamphlets; among the rest mine of the
+Conduct of the Allies, threatened him, asked who was the author, and has bound
+him over to appear next term.  He would not have the impudence to do this, if
+he did not foresee what was coming at Court.
+
+14.  Lord Shelburne was with me this morning, to be informed of the state of
+affairs, and desired I would answer all his objections against a peace, which
+was soon done, for he would not give me room to put in a word.  He is a man of
+good sense enough; but argues so violently, that he will some day or other put
+himself into a consumption.  He desires that he may not be denied when he
+comes to see me, which I promised, but will not perform.  Leigh and Sterne set
+out for Ireland on Monday se'nnight:  I suppose they will be with you long
+before this.--I was to-night drinking very good wine in scurvy company, at
+least some of them; I was drawn in, but will be more cautious for the future;
+'tis late, etc.
+
+15.  Morning.  They say the Occasional Bill[19] is brought to-day into the
+House of Lords; but I know not.  I will now put an end to my letter, and give
+it into the post-house myself.  This will be a memorable letter, and I shall
+sigh to see it some years hence.  Here are the first steps toward the ruin of
+an excellent Ministry; for I look upon them as certainly ruined; and God knows
+what may be the consequences.--I now bid my dearest MD farewell; for company
+is coming, and I must be at Lord Dartmouth's office by noon.  Farewell,
+dearest MD; I wish you a merry Christmas; I believe you will have this about
+that time.  Love Presto, who loves MD above all things a thousand times.
+Farewell again, dearest MD, etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 37.
+
+LONDON, Dec. 15, 1711.
+
+I put in my letter this evening myself.  I was to-day inquiring at the
+Secretary's office of Mr. Lewis how things went:  I there met Prior, who told
+me he gave all for gone, etc., and was of opinion the whole Ministry would
+give up their places next week:  Lewis thinks they will not till spring, when
+the session is over; both of them entirely despair.  I went to see Mrs.
+Masham, who invited me to dinner; but I was engaged to Lewis.  At four I went
+to Masham's.  He came and whispered me that he had it from a very good hand
+that all would be well, and I found them both very cheerful.  The company was
+going to the opera, but desired I would come and sup with them.  I did so at
+ten, and Lord Treasurer was there, and sat with us till past twelve, and was
+more cheerful than I have seen him these ten days.  Mrs. Masham told me he was
+mightily cast down some days ago, and he could not indeed hide it from me.
+Arbuthnot is in good hopes that the Queen has not betrayed us, but only has
+been frightened, and flattered, etc.  But I cannot yet be of his opinion,
+whether my reasons are better, or that my fears are greater.  I do resolve, if
+they give up, or are turned out soon, to retire for some months, and I have
+pitched upon the place already:  but I will take methods for hearing from MD,
+and writing to them.  But I would be out of the way upon the first of the
+ferment; for they lay all things on me, even some I have never read.
+
+16.  I took courage to-day, and went to Court with a very cheerful
+countenance.  It was mightily crowded; both parties coming to observe each
+other's faces.  I have avoided Lord Halifax's bow till he forced it on me; but
+we did not talk together.  I could not make less than fourscore bows, of which
+about twenty might be to Whigs.  The Duke of Somerset is gone to Petworth,
+and, I hear, the Duchess too, of which I shall be very glad.  Prince
+Eugene,[1] who was expected here some days ago, we are now told, will not come
+at all.  The Whigs designed to have met him with forty thousand horse.  Lord
+Treasurer told me some days ago of his discourse with the Emperor's Resident,
+that puppy Hoffman, about Prince Eugene's coming; by which I found my lord
+would hinder it, if he could; and we shall be all glad if he does not come,
+and think it a good point gained.  Sir Andrew Fountaine, Ford, and I dined to-
+day with Mrs. Van, by invitation.
+
+17.  I have mistaken the day of the month, and been forced to mend it thrice.
+I dined to-day with Mr. Masham and his lady, by invitation.  Lord Treasurer
+was to be there, but came not.  It was to entertain Buys, the Dutch Envoy, who
+speaks English well enough:  he was plaguily politic, telling a thousand lies,
+of which none passed upon any of us.  We are still in the condition of
+suspense, and I think have little hopes.  The Duchess of Somerset is not gone
+to Petworth; only the Duke, and that is a poor sacrifice.  I believe the Queen
+certainly designs to change the Ministry, but perhaps may put it off till the
+session is over:  and I think they had better give up now, if she will not
+deal openly; and then they need not answer for the consequences of a peace,
+when it is in other hands, and may yet be broken.  They say my Lord Privy Seal
+sets out for Holland this week:  so the peace goes on.
+
+18.  It has rained hard from morning till night, and cost me three shillings
+in coach-hire.  We have had abundance of wet weather.  I dined in the City,
+and was with the printer, who has now a fifth edition of the Conduct, etc.:
+it is in small, and sold for sixpence; they have printed as many as three
+editions, because they are to be sent in numbers into the country by great
+men, etc., who subscribe for hundreds.  It has been sent a fortnight ago to
+Ireland:  I suppose you will print it there.  The Tory Lords and Commons in
+Parliament argue all from it; and all agree that never anything of that kind
+was of so great consequence, or made so many converts.  By the time I have
+sent this letter, I expect to hear from little MD:  it will be a month, two
+days hence, since I had your last, and I will allow ten days for accidents.  I
+cannot get rid of the leavings of a cold I got a month ago, or else it is a
+new one.  I have been writing letters all this evening till I am weary, and I
+am sending out another little thing, which I hope to finish this week, and
+design to send to the printer in an unknown hand.  There was printed a Grub
+Street speech of Lord Nottingham;[2] and he was such an owl to complain of it
+in the House of Lords, who have taken up the printer for it.  I heard at Court
+that Walpole[3] (a great Whig member) said that I and my whimsical Club writ
+it at one of our meetings, and that I should pay for it.  He will find he
+lies:  and I shall let him know by a third hand my thoughts of him.  He is to
+be Secretary of State, if the Ministry changes; but he has lately had a bribe
+proved against him in Parliament, while he was Secretary at War.  He is one of
+the Whigs' chief speakers.
+
+19.  Sad dismal weather.  I went to the Secretary's office, and Lewis made me
+dine with him.  I intended to have dined with Lord Treasurer.  I have not seen
+the Secretary this week.  Things do not mend at all.  Lord Dartmouth despairs,
+and is for giving up; Lewis is of the same mind; but Lord Treasurer only says,
+"Poh, poh, all will be well."  I am come home early to finish something I am
+doing; but I find I want heart and humour, and would read any idle book that
+came in my way.  I have just sent away a penny paper to make a little
+mischief.  Patrick is gone to the burial of an Irish footman, who was Dr.
+King's[4] servant; he died of a consumption, a fit death for a poor starving
+wit's footman.  The Irish servants always club to bury a countryman.
+
+20.  I was with the Secretary this morning, and, for aught I can see, we shall
+have a languishing death:  I can know nothing, nor themselves neither.  I
+dined, you know, with our Society, and that odious Secretary would make me
+President next week; so I must entertain them this day se'nnight at the
+Thatched House Tavern,[5] where we dined to-day:  it will cost me five or six
+pounds; yet the Secretary says he will give me wine.  I found a letter when I
+came home from the Bishop of Clogher.
+
+21.  This is the first time I ever got a new cold before the old one was
+going:  it came yesterday, and appeared in all due forms, eyes and nose
+running, etc., and is now very bad; and I cannot tell how I got it.  Sir
+Andrew Fountaine and I were invited to dine with Mrs. Van.  I was this morning
+with the Duke of Ormond; and neither he nor I can think of anything to comfort
+us in present affairs.  We must certainly fall, if the Duchess of Somerset be
+not turned out; and nobody believes the Queen will ever part with her.  The
+Duke and I were settling when Mr. Secretary and I should dine with him, and he
+fixes upon Tuesday; and when I came away I remembered it was Christmas Day.  I
+was to see Lady ----, who is just up after lying-in; and the ugliest sight I
+have seen, pale, dead, old and yellow, for want of her paint.  She has turned
+my stomach.  But she will soon be painted, and a beauty again.
+
+22.  I find myself disordered with a pain all round the small of my back,
+which I imputed to champagne I had drunk; but find it to have been only my new
+cold.  It was a fine frosty day, and I resolved to walk into the City.  I
+called at Lord Treasurer's at eleven, and stayed some time with him.--He
+showed me a letter from a great Presbyterian parson[6] to him, complaining how
+their friends had betrayed them by passing this Conformity Bill; and he showed
+me the answer he had written, which his friends would not let him send; but
+was a very good one.  He is very cheerful; but gives one no hopes, nor has any
+to give.  I went into the City, and there I dined.
+
+23.  Morning.  As I was dressing to go to church, a friend that was to see me
+advised me not to stir out; so I shall keep at home to-day, and only eat some
+broth, if I can get it.  It is a terrible cold frost, and snow fell yesterday,
+which still remains:  look there, you may see it from the penthouses.  The
+Lords made yesterday two or three votes about peace, and Hanover, of a very
+angry kind to vex the Ministry, and they will meet sooner by a fortnight than
+the Commons; and they say, are preparing some knocking addresses.  Morrow,
+sirrahs.  I'll sit at home, and when I go to bed I will tell you how I am.--I
+have sat at home all day, and eaten only a mess of broth and a roll.  I have
+written a Prophecy,[7] which I design to print; I did it to-day, and some
+other verses.
+
+24.  I went into the City to-day in a coach, and dined there.  My cold is
+going.  It is now bitter hard frost, and has been so these three or four days.
+My Prophecy is printed, and will be published after Christmas Day; I like it
+mightily:  I don't know how it will pass.  You will never understand it at
+your distance, without help.  I believe everybody will guess it to be mine,
+because it is somewhat in the same manner with that of "Merlin"[8] in the
+Miscellanies.  My Lord Privy Seal set out this day for Holland:  he'll have a
+cold journey.  I gave Patrick half a crown for his Christmas box, on condition
+he would be good, and he came home drunk at midnight.  I have taken a
+memorandum of it, because I never design to give him a groat more.  'Tis cruel
+cold.
+
+25.  I wish MD a merry Christmas, and many a one; but mine is melancholy:  I
+durst not go to church to-day, finding myself a little out of order, and it
+snowing prodigiously, and freezing.  At noon I went to Mrs. Van, who had this
+week engaged me to dine there to-day:  and there I received the news that poor
+Mrs. Long[9] died at Lynn in Norfolk on Saturday last, at four in the morning:
+she was sick but four hours.  We suppose it was the asthma, which she was
+subject to as well as the dropsy, as she sent me word in her last letter,
+written about five weeks ago; but then said she was recovered.  I never was
+more afflicted at any death.  The poor creature had retired to Lynn two years
+ago, to live cheap, and pay her debts.  In her last letter she told me she
+hoped to be easy by Christmas; and she kept her word, although she meant it
+otherwise.  She had all sorts of amiable qualities, and no ill ones, but the
+indiscretion of too much neglecting her own affairs.  She had two thousand
+pounds left her by an old grandmother,[10] with which she intended to pay her
+debts, and live on an annuity she had of one hundred pounds a year, and
+Newburg House, which would be about sixty pounds more.  That odious
+grandmother living so long, forced her to retire; for the two thousand pounds
+was settled on her after the old woman's death, yet her brute of a brother,
+Sir James Long,[11] would not advance it for her; else she might have paid her
+debts, and continued here, and lived still:  I believe melancholy helped her
+on to her grave.  I have ordered a paragraph to be put in the Postboy,[12]
+giving an account of her death, and making honourable mention of her; which is
+all I can do to serve her memory:  but one reason was spite; for her brother
+would fain have her death a secret, to save the charge of bringing her up here
+to bury her, or going into mourning.  Pardon all this, for the sake of a poor
+creature I had so much friendship for.
+
+26.  I went to Mr. Secretary this morning, and he would have me dine with him.
+I called at noon at Mrs. Masham's, who desired me not to let the Prophecy be
+published, for fear of angering the Queen about the Duchess of Somerset; so I
+writ to the printer to stop them.  They have been printed and given about, but
+not sold.  I saw Lord Treasurer there, who had been two hours with the Queen;
+and Mrs. Masham is in hopes things will do well again.  I went at night again,
+and supped at Mr. Masham's, and Lord Treasurer sat with us till one o'clock.
+So 'tis late, etc.
+
+27.  I entertained our Society at the Thatched House Tavern to-day at dinner;
+but brother Bathurst sent for wine, the house affording none.  The printer had
+not received my letter, and so he brought up dozens apiece of the Prophecy;
+but I ordered him to part with no more.  'Tis an admirable good one, and
+people are mad for it.  The frost still continues violently cold.  Mrs. Masham
+invited me to come to-night and play at cards; but our Society did not part
+till nine.  But I supped with Mrs. Hill, her sister, and there was Mrs. Masham
+and Lord Treasurer, and we stayed till twelve.  He is endeavouring to get a
+majority against next Wednesday, when the House of Lords is to meet, and the
+Whigs intend to make some violent addresses against a peace, if not prevented.
+God knows what will become of us.--It is still prodigiously cold; but so I
+told you already.  We have eggs on the spit, I wish they may not be addled.
+When I came home tonight I found, forsooth, a letter from MD, N.24, 24, 24,
+24; there, do you know the numbers now? and at the same time one from Joe,[13]
+full of thanks:  let him know I have received it, and am glad of his success,
+but won't put him to the charge of a letter.  I had a letter some time ago
+from Mr. Warburton,[14] and I beg one of you will copy out what I shall tell
+you, and send it by some opportunity to Warburton.  'Tis as follows:  The
+Doctor has received Mr. Warburton's letter, and desires he will let the Doctor
+know where[15] that accident he mentions is like soon to happen, and he will
+do what he can in it.--And pray, madam, let them know that I do this to save
+myself the trouble, and them the expense of a letter.  And I think that this
+is enough for one that comes home at twelve from a Lord Treasurer and Mrs.
+Masham.  Oh, I could tell you ten thousand things of our mad politics, upon
+what small circumstances great affairs have turned.  But I will go rest my
+busy head.
+
+28.  I was this morning with brother Bathurst to see the Duke of Ormond.  We
+have given his Grace some hopes to be one of our Society.  The Secretary and I
+and Bathurst are to dine with him on Sunday next.  The Duke is not in much
+hopes, but has been very busy in endeavouring to bring over some lords against
+next Wednesday.  The Duchess caught me as I was going out; she is sadly in
+fear about things, and blames me for not mending them by my credit with Lord
+Treasurer; and I blame her.  She met me in the street at noon, and engaged me
+to dine with her, which I did; and we talked an hour after dinner in her
+closet.  If we miscarry on Wednesday, I believe it will be by some strange
+sort of neglect.  They talk of making eight new lords by calling up some
+peers' eldest sons; but they delay strangely.  I saw Judge Coote[16] to-day at
+the Duke of Ormond's:  he desires to come and see me, to justify his
+principles.
+
+29.  Morning.  This goes to-day.  I will not answer yours, your 24th, till
+next, which shall begin to-night, as usual.  Lord Shelburne has sent to invite
+me to dinner, but I am engaged with Lewis at Ned Southwell's.  Lord
+Northampton and Lord Aylesbury's sons[17] are both made peers; but we shall
+want more.  I write this post to your Dean.  I owe the Archbishop a letter
+this long time.  All people that come from Ireland complain of him, and scold
+me for protecting him.  Pray, Madam Dingley, let me know what Presto has
+received for this year, or whether anything is due to him for last:  I cannot
+look over your former letters now.  As for Dingley's own account of her
+exchequer money, I will give it on t'other side.  Farewell, my own dearest MD,
+and love Presto; and God ever bless dearest MD, etc. etc.  I wish you many
+happy Christmases and new years.
+
+I have owned to the Dean a letter I just had from you, but that I had not one
+this great while before.
+
+DINGLEY'S ACCOUNT
+
+Received of Mr. Tooke . .                         6 17  6
+Deducted for entering the letter of attorney .    0  2  6
+For the three half-crowns it used to cost you,
+I don't know why nor wherefore .  .               0  7  6
+For exchange to Ireland .  .                      0 10  0
+For coach-hire.  .                                0  2  6
+                                                 --------
+                                    In all, just  8  0  0
+
+So there's your money, and we are both even:  for I'll pay you no more than
+that eight pounds Irish, and pray be satisfied.
+
+Churchwarden's accounts, boys.
+
+Saturday night.  I have broke open my letter, and tore it into the bargain, to
+let you know that we are all safe:  the Queen has made no less than twelve
+lords,[18] to have a majority; nine new ones, the other three peers' sons; and
+has turned out the Duke of Somerset.  She is awaked at last, and so is Lord
+Treasurer:  I want nothing now but to see the Duchess out.  But we shall do
+without her.  We are all extremely happy.  Give me joy, sirrahs.  This is
+written in a coffee-house.  Three of the new lords are of our Society.
+
+
+
+LETTER 38.
+
+LONDON, Dec. 29, 1711.
+
+I put my letter in this evening, after coming from dinner at Ned Southwell's,
+where I drank very good Irish wine, and we are in great joy at this happy turn
+of affairs.  The Queen has been at last persuaded to her own interest and
+security, and I freely think she must have made both herself and kingdom very
+unhappy, if she had done otherwise.  It is still a mighty secret that Masham
+is to be one of the new lords; they say he does not yet know it himself; but
+the Queen is to surprise him with it.  Mr. Secretary will be a lord at the end
+of the session; but they want him still in Parliament.  After all, it is a
+strange unhappy necessity of making so many peers together; but the Queen has
+drawn it upon herself, by her confounded trimming and moderation.  Three, as I
+told you, are of our Society.
+
+30.  I writ the Dean and you a lie yesterday; for the Duke of Somerset is not
+yet turned out.  I was to-day at Court, and resolved to be very civil to the
+Whigs; but saw few there.  When I was in the bed-chamber talking to Lord
+Rochester, he went up to Lady Burlington,[1] who asked him who I was; and Lady
+Sunderland and she whispered about me:  I desired Lord Rochester to tell Lady
+Sunderland I doubted she was not as much in love with me as I was with her;
+but he would not deliver my message.  The Duchess of Shrewsbury came running
+up to me, and clapped her fan up to hide us from the company, and we gave one
+another joy of this change; but sighed when we reflected on the Somerset
+family not being out.  The Secretary and I, and brother Bathurst, and Lord
+Windsor, dined with the Duke of Ormond.  Bathurst and Windsor[2] are to be two
+of the new lords.  I desired my Lord Radnor's brother,[3] at Court to-day, to
+let my lord know I would call on him at six, which I did, and was arguing with
+him three hours to bring him over to us, and I spoke so closely that I believe
+he will be tractable; but he is a scoundrel, and though I said I only talked
+for my love to him, I told a lie; for I did not care if he were hanged:  but
+everyone gained over is of consequence.  The Duke of Marlborough was at Court
+today, and nobody hardly took notice of him.  Masham's being a lord begins to
+take wind:  nothing at Court can be kept a secret.  Wednesday will be a great
+day:  you shall know more.
+
+31.  Our frost is broken since yesterday, and it is very slabbery;[4] yet I
+walked to the City and dined, and ordered some things with the printer.  I
+have settled Dr. King in the Gazette; it will be worth two hundred pounds a
+year to him.  Our new lords' patents are passed:  I don't like the expedient,
+if we could have found any other.  I see I have said this before.  I hear the
+Duke of Marlborough is turned out of all his employments:  I shall know to-
+morrow when I am to carry Dr. King to dine with the Secretary.--These are
+strong remedies; pray God the patient is able to bear them.  The last Ministry
+people are utterly desperate.
+
+Jan. 1.  Now I wish my dearest little MD many happy new years; yes, both
+Dingley and Stella, ay and Presto too, many happy new years.  I dined with the
+Secretary, and it is true that the Duke of Marlborough is turned out of all.
+The Duke of Ormond has got his regiment of foot-guards, I know not who has the
+rest. If the Ministry be not sure of a peace, I shall wonder at this step, and
+do not approve it at best. The Queen and Lord Treasurer mortally hate the Duke
+of Marlborough, and to that he owes his fall, more than to his other faults:
+unless he has been tampering too far with his party, of which I have not heard
+any particulars; however it be, the world abroad will blame us.  I confess my
+belief that he has not one good quality in the world beside that of a general,
+and even that I have heard denied by several great soldiers.  But we have had
+constant success in arms while he commanded.  Opinion is a mighty matter in
+war, and I doubt the French think it impossible to conquer an army that he
+leads, and our soldiers think the same; and how far even this step may
+encourage the French to play tricks with us, no man knows.  I do not love to
+see personal resentment mix with public affairs.
+
+2.  This being the day the Lords meet, and the new peers to be introduced, I
+went to Westminster to see the sight; but the crowd was too great in the
+house.  So I only went into the robing-room, to give my four brothers joy, and
+Sir Thomas Mansel,[5] and Lord Windsor; the other six I am not acquainted
+with.  It was apprehended the Whigs would have raised some difficulties, but
+nothing happened.  I went to see Lady Masham at noon, and wish her joy of her
+new honour, and a happy new year.  I found her very well pleased; for peerage
+will be some sort of protection to her upon any turn of affairs.  She engaged
+me to come at night, and sup with her and Lord Treasurer:  I went at nine, and
+she was not at home, so I would not stay.--No, no, I won't answer your letter
+yet, young women.  I dined with a friend in the neighbourhood.  I see nothing
+here like Christmas, except brawn or mince-pies in places where I dine, and
+giving away my half-crowns like farthings to great men's porters and butlers.
+Yesterday I paid seven good guineas to the fellow at the tavern where I
+treated the Society.  I have a great mind to send you the bill.  I think I
+told you some articles.  I have not heard whether anything was done in the
+House of Lords after introducing the new ones.  Ford has been sitting with me
+till peeast tweeleve a clock.
+
+3.  This was our Society day:  Lord Dupplin was President; we choose every
+week; the last President treats and chooses his successor.  I believe our
+dinner cost fifteen pounds beside wine.  The Secretary grew brisk, and would
+not let me go, nor Lord Lansdowne,[6] who would fain have gone home to his
+lady, being newly married to Lady Mary Thynne.  It was near one when we
+parted, so you must think I cannot write much to-night.  The adjourning of the
+House of Lords yesterday, as the Queen desired, was just carried by the twelve
+new lords, and one more.  Lord Radnor was not there:  I hope I have cured him.
+Did I tell you that I have brought Dr. King in to be Gazetteer?  It will be
+worth above two hundred pounds a year to him:  I believe I told you so before,
+but I am forgetful.  Go, get you gone to ombre, and claret, and toasted
+oranges.  I'll go sleep.
+
+4.  I cannot get rid of the leavings of my cold.  I was in the City to-day,
+and dined with my printer, and gave him a ballad made by several hands, I know
+not whom.  I believe Lord Treasurer had a finger in it; I added three stanzas;
+I suppose Dr. Arbuthnot had the greatest share.  I had been overseeing some
+other little prints, and a pamphlet made by one of my under-strappers.
+Somerset is not out yet.  I doubt not but you will have the Prophecy in
+Ireland, although it is not published here, only printed copies given to
+friends.  Tell me, do you understand it?  No, faith, not without help.  Tell
+me what you stick at, and I'll explain.  We turned out a member of our Society
+yesterday for gross neglect and non-attendance.  I writ to him by order to
+give him notice of it.  It is Tom Harley,[7] secretary to the Treasurer, and
+cousin-german to Lord Treasurer.  He is going to Hanover from the Queen.  I am
+to give the Duke of Ormond notice of his election as soon as I can see him.
+
+5.  I went this morning with a parishioner of mine, one Nuttal, who came over
+here for a legacy of one hundred pounds, and a roguish lawyer had refused to
+pay him, and would not believe he was the man.  I writ to the lawyer a sharp
+letter, that I had taken Nuttal into my protection, and was resolved to stand
+by him, and the next news was, that the lawyer desired I would meet him, and
+attest he was the man, which I did, and his money was paid upon the spot.  I
+then visited Lord Treasurer, who is now right again, and all well, only that
+the Somerset family is not out yet.  I hate that; I don't like it, as the man
+said, by, etc.  Then I went and visited poor Will Congreve, who had a French
+fellow tampering with one of his eyes; he is almost blind of both.  I dined
+with some merchants in the City, but could not see Stratford, with whom I had
+business.  Presto, leave off your impertinence, and answer our letter, saith
+MD.  Yes, yes, one of these days, when I have nothing else to do.  O, faith,
+this letter is a week written, and not one side done yet. These ugly spots are
+not tobacco, but this is the last gilt sheet I have of large paper, therefore
+hold your tongue.  Nuttal was surprised when they gave him bits of paper
+instead of money, but I made Ben Tooke put him in his geers:[8]  he could not
+reckon ten pounds, but was puzzled with the Irish way.  Ben Tooke and my
+printer have desired me to make them stationers to the Ordnance, of which Lord
+Rivers is Master, instead of the Duke of Marlborough.  It will be a hundred
+pounds a year apiece to them, if I can get it.  I will try to-morrow.
+
+6.  I went this morning to Earl Rivers, gave him joy of his new employment,
+and desired him to prefer my printer and bookseller to be stationers to his
+office.  He immediately granted it me; but, like an old courtier, told me it
+was wholly on my account, but that he heard I had intended to engage Mr.
+Secretary to speak to him, and desired I would engage him to do so, but that,
+however, he did it only for my sake.  This is a Court trick, to oblige as many
+as you can at once.  I read prayers to poor Mrs. Wesley, who is very much out
+of order, instead of going to church; and then I went to Court, which I found
+very full, in expectation of seeing Prince Eugene, who landed last night, and
+lies at Leicester House; he was not to see the Queen till six this evening.  I
+hope and believe he comes too late to do the Whigs any good.  I refused dining
+with the Secretary, and was like to lose my dinner, which was at a private
+acquaintance's.  I went at six  to see the Prince at Court, but he was gone in
+to the Queen; and when he came out, Mr. Secretary, who introduced him, walked
+so near him that he quite screened me from him with his great periwig.  I'll
+tell you a good passage:  as Prince Eugene was going with Mr. Secretary to
+Court, he told the Secretary that Hoffman, the Emperor's Resident, said to His
+Highness that it was not proper to go to Court without a long wig, and his was
+a tied-up one:  "Now," says the Prince, "I knew not what to do, for I never
+had a long periwig in my life; and I have sent to all my valets and footmen,
+to see whether any of them have one, that I might borrow it, but none of them
+has any."--Was not this spoken very greatly with some sort of contempt?  But
+the Secretary said it was a thing of no consequence, and only observed by
+gentlemen ushers.  I supped with Lord Masham, where Lord Treasurer and Mr.
+Secretary supped with us:  the first left us at twelve, but the rest did not
+part till two, yet I have written all this, because it is fresh:  and now I'll
+go sleep if I can; that is, I believe I shall, because I have drank a little.
+
+7.  I was this morning to give the Duke of Ormond notice of the honour done
+him to make him one of our Society, and to invite him on Thursday next to the
+Thatched House:  he has accepted it with the gratitude and humility such a
+preferment deserves, but cannot come till the next meeting, because Prince
+Eugene is to dine with him that day, which I allowed for:  a good excuse, and
+will report accordingly.  I dined with Lord Masham, and sat there till eight
+this evening, and came home, because I was not very well, but a little griped;
+but now I am well again, I will not go, at least but very seldom, to Lord
+Masham's suppers.  Lord Treasurer is generally there, and that tempts me, but
+late sitting up does not agree with me:  there's the short and the long, and I
+won't do it; so take your answer, dear little young women; and I have no more
+to say to you to-night, because of the Archbishop, for I am going to write a
+long letter to him, but not so politely as formerly:  I won't trust him.
+
+8.  Well, then, come, let us see this letter; if I must answer it, I must.
+What's here now? yes, faith, I lamented my birthday[9] two days after, and
+that's all:  and you rhyme, Madam Stella; were those verses made upon my
+birthday? faith, when I read them, I had them running in my head all the day,
+and said them over a thousand times; they drank your health in all their
+glasses, and wished, etc.  I could not get them out of my head.  What? no, I
+believe it was not; what do I say upon the eighth of December?  Compare, and
+see whether I say so.  I am glad of Mrs. Stoyte's recovery, heartily glad;
+your Dolly Manley's and Bishop of Cloyne's[10] child I have no concern about:
+I am sorry in a civil way, that's all.  Yes, yes, Sir George St. George
+dead.[11]--Go, cry, Madam Dingley; I have written to the Dean.  Raymond will
+be rich, for he has the building itch.  I wish all he has got may put him out
+of debt.  Poh, I have fires like lightning; they cost me twelvepence a week,
+beside small coal.  I have got four new caps, madam, very fine and convenient,
+with striped cambric, instead of muslin; so Patrick need not mend them, but
+take the old ones.  Stella snatched Dingley's word out of her pen; Presto a
+cold?  Why, all the world here is dead with them:  I never had anything like
+it in my life; 'tis not gone in five weeks.  I hope Leigh is with you before
+this, and has brought your box.  How do you like the ivory rasp?  Stella is
+angry; but I'll have a finer thing for her.  Is not the apron as good?  I'm
+sure I shall never be paid it; so all's well again.--What? the quarrel with
+Sir John Walter?[12]  Why, we had not one word of quarrel; only he railed at
+me when I was gone:  and Lord Keeper and Treasurer teased me for a week.  It
+was nuts to them; a serious thing with a vengeance.--The Whigs may sell their
+estates then, or hang themselves, as they are disposed; for a peace there will
+be.  Lord Treasurer told me that Connolly[13] was going to Hanover.  Your
+Provost[14] is a coxcomb.  Stella is a good girl for not being angry when I
+tell her of spelling; I see none wrong in this.  God Almighty be praised that
+your disorder lessens; it increases my hopes mightily that they will go off.
+And have you been plagued with the fear of the plague? never mind those
+reports; I have heard them five hundred times.  Replevi?  Replevin, simpleton,
+'tis Dingley I mean; but it is a hard word, and so I'll excuse it.  I stated
+Dingley's accounts in my last. I forgot Catherine's sevenpenny dinner.  I hope
+it was the beef-steaks; I'll call and eat them in spring; but Goody Stoyte
+must give me coffee, or green tea, for I drink no bohea.  Well, ay, the
+pamphlet; but there are some additions to the fourth edition; the fifth
+edition was of four thousand, in a smaller print, sold for sixpence.  Yes, I
+had the twenty-pound bill from Parvisol:  and what then?  Pray now eat the
+Laracor apples; I beg you not to keep them, but tell me what they are.  You
+have had Tooke's bill in my last.  And so there now, your whole letter is
+answered.  I tell you what I do; I lay your letter before me, and take it in
+order, and answer what is necessary; and so and so.  Well, when I expected we
+were all undone, I designed to retire for six months, and then steal over to
+Laracor; and I had in my mouth a thousand times two lines of Shakespeare,
+where Cardinal Wolsey says,
+
+     "A weak old man, battered with storms of state,
+      Is come to lay his weary bones among you."[15]
+
+I beg your pardon; I have cheated you all this margin, I did not perceive it;
+and I went on wider and wider like Stella; awkward sluts; SHE WRITES SO SO,
+THERE:[16]  that's as like as two eggs a penny.--"A weak old man," now I am
+saying it, and shall till to-morrow.--The Duke of Marlborough says there is
+nothing he now desires so much as to contrive some way how to soften Dr.
+Swift.  He is mistaken; for those things that have been hardest against him
+were not written by me.  Mr. Secretary told me this from a friend of the
+Duke's; and I'm sure now he is down, I shall not trample on him; although I
+love him not, I dislike his being out.--Bernage was to see me this morning,
+and gave some very indifferent excuses for not calling here so long.  I care
+not twopence.  Prince Eugene did not dine with the Duke of Marlborough on
+Sunday, but was last night at Lady Betty Germaine's assemblee, and a vast
+number of ladies to see him.  Mr. Lewis and I dined with a private friend.  I
+was this morning to see the Duke of Ormond, who appointed me to meet him at
+the Cockpit at one, but never came.  I sat too some time with the Duchess.  We
+don't like things very well yet.  I am come home early, and going to be busy.
+I'll go write.
+
+9.  I could not go sleep last night till past two, and was waked before three
+by a noise of people endeavouring to break open my window.  For a while I
+would not stir, thinking it might be my imagination; but hearing the noise
+continued, I rose and went to the window, and then it ceased.  I went to bed
+again, and heard it repeated more violently; then I rose and called up the
+house, and got a candle:  the rogues had lifted up the sash a yard; there are
+great sheds before my windows, although my lodgings be a storey high; and if
+they get upon the sheds they are almost even with my window.  We observed
+their track, and panes of glass fresh broken.  The watchmen told us to-day
+they saw them, but could not catch them.  They attacked others in the
+neighbourhood about the same time, and actually robbed a house in Suffolk
+Street, which is the next street but one to us.  It is said they are seamen
+discharged from service.  I went up to call my man, and found his bed empty;
+it seems he often lies abroad.  I challenged him this morning as one of the
+robbers.  He is a sad dog; and the minute I come to Ireland I will discard
+him.  I have this day got double iron bars to every window in my dining-room
+and bed-chamber; and I hide my purse in my thread stocking between the bed's
+head and the wainscot.  Lewis and I dined with an old Scotch friend, who
+brought the Duke of Douglas[17] and three or four more Scots upon us.
+
+10.  This was our Society day, you know; but the Duke of Ormond could not be
+with us, because he dined with Prince Eugene.  It cost me a guinea
+contribution to a poet, who had made a copy of verses upon monkeys, applying
+the story to the Duke of Marlborough; the rest gave two guineas, except the
+two physicians,[18] who followed my example.  I don't like this custom:  the
+next time I will give nothing.  I sat this evening at Lord Masham's with Lord
+Treasurer:  I don't like his countenance; nor I don't like the posture of
+things well.
+
+     We cannot be stout,
+     Till Somerset's out:
+
+as the old saying is.
+
+11.  Mr. Lewis and I dined with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who eats the
+most elegantly of any man I know in town.  I walked lustily in the Park by
+moonshine till eight, to shake off my dinner and wine; and then went to sup at
+Mr. Domville's with Ford, and stayed till twelve.  It is told me to-day as a
+great secret that the Duke of Somerset will be out soon, that the thing is
+fixed; but what shall we do with the Duchess?  They say the Duke will make her
+leave the Queen out of spite, if he be out.  It has stuck upon that fear a
+good while already.  Well, but Lewis gave me a letter from MD, N.25.  O Lord,
+I did not expect one this fortnight, faith.  You are mighty good, that's
+certain:  but I won't answer it, because this goes to-morrow, only what you
+say of the printer being taken up; I value it not; all's safe there; nor do I
+fear anything, unless the Ministry be changed:  I hope that danger is over.
+However, I shall be in Ireland before such a change; which could not be, I
+think, till the end of the session, if the Whigs' designs had gone on.--Have
+not you an apron by Leigh, Madam Stella? have you all I mentioned in a former
+letter?
+
+12.  Morning.  This goes to-day as usual.  I think of going into the City; but
+of that at night.  'Tis fine moderate weather these two or three days last.
+Farewell, etc. etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 39.
+
+LONDON, Jan. 12,1711-12.
+
+When I sealed up my letter this morning, I looked upon myself to be not worth
+a groat in the world.  Last night, after Mr. Ford and I left Domville, Ford
+desired me to go with him for a minute upon earnest business, and then told me
+that both he and I were ruined; for he had trusted Stratford with five hundred
+pounds for tickets for the lottery, and he had been with Stratford, who
+confessed he had lost fifteen thousand pounds by Sir Stephen Evans,[1] who
+broke last week; that he concluded Stratford must break too; that he could not
+get his tickets, but Stratford made him several excuses, which seemed very
+blind ones, etc.  And Stratford had near four hundred pounds of mine, to buy
+me five hundred pounds in the South Sea Company.  I came home reflecting a
+little; nothing concerned me but MD.  I called all my philosophy and religion
+up; and, I thank God, it did not keep me awake beyond my usual time above a
+quarter of an hour.  This morning I sent for Tooke, whom I had employed to buy
+the stock of Stratford, and settle things with him.  He told me I was secure;
+for Stratford had transferred it to me in form in the South Sea House, and he
+had accepted it for me, and all was done on stamped parchment.  However, he
+would be further informed; and at night sent me a note to confirm me.
+However, I am not yet secure; and, besides, am in pain for Ford, whom I first
+brought acquainted with Stratford.  I dined in the City.
+
+13.  Domville and I dined with Ford to-day by appointment:  the Lord Mansel
+told me at Court to-day that I was engaged to him; but Stratford had promised
+Ford to meet him and me to-night at Ford's lodgings.  He did so; said he had
+hopes to save himself in his affair with Evans.  Ford asked him for his
+tickets:  he said he would send them tomorrow; but looking in his pocket-book,
+said he believed he had some of them about him, and gave him as many as came
+to two hundred pounds, which rejoiced us much; besides, he talked so frankly,
+that we might think there is no danger.  I asked him, Was there any more to be
+settled between us in my affair?  He said, No; and answered my questions just
+as Tooke had got them from others; so I hope I am safe.  This has been a
+scurvy affair.  I believe Stella would have half laughed at me, to see a
+suspicious fellow like me overreached.  I saw Prince Eugene to-day at Court:
+I don't think him an ugly-faced fellow, but well enough, and a good shape.
+
+14.  The Parliament was to sit to-day, and met; but were adjourned by the
+Queen's directions till Thursday.  She designs to make some important speech
+then.  She pretended illness; but I believe they were not ready, and they
+expect some opposition:  and the Scotch lords are angry,[2] and must be
+pacified.  I was this morning to invite the Duke of Ormond to our Society on
+Thursday, where he is then to be introduced.  He has appointed me at twelve
+to-morrow about some business:  I would fain have his help to impeach a
+certain lord; but I doubt we shall make nothing of it.  I intended to have
+dined with Lord Treasurer, but I was told he would be busy:  so I dined with
+Mrs. Van; and at night I sat with Lord Masham till one.  Lord Treasurer was
+there, and chid me for not dining with him:  he was in very good humour.  I
+brought home two flasks of burgundy in my chair:  I wish MD had them.  You see
+it is very late; so I'll go to bed, and bid MD good night.
+
+15.  This morning I presented my printer and bookseller to Lord Rivers, to be
+stationers to the Ordnance; stationers, that's the word; I did not write it
+plain at first. I believe it will be worth three hundred pounds a year between
+them.  This is the third employment I have got for them.  Rivers told them the
+Doctor commanded him, and he durst not refuse it.  I would have dined with
+Lord Treasurer to-day again, but Lord Mansel would not let me, and forced me
+home with him.  I was very deep with the Duke of Ormond to-day at the Cockpit,
+where we met to be private; but I doubt I cannot do the mischief I intended.
+My friend Penn came there, Will Penn the Quaker, at the head of his brethren,
+to thank the Duke for his kindness to their people in Ireland.  To see a dozen
+scoundrels with their hats on, and the Duke complimenting with his off, was a
+good sight enough.  I sat this evening with Sir William Robinson,[3] who has
+mighty often invited me to a bottle of wine:  and it is past twelve.
+
+16.  This being fast-day, Dr. Freind and I went into the City to dine late,
+like good fasters.  My printer and bookseller want me to hook in another
+employment for them in the Tower, because it was enjoyed before by a
+stationer, although it be to serve the Ordnance with oil, tallow, etc., and is
+worth four hundred pounds per annum more:  I will try what I can do.  They are
+resolved to ask several other employments of the same nature to other offices;
+and I will then grease fat sows, and see whether it be possible to satisfy
+them.  Why am not I a stationer?  The Parliament sits to-morrow, and Walpole,
+late Secretary at War, is to be swinged for bribery, and the Queen is to
+communicate something of great importance to the two Houses, at least they say
+so.  But I must think of answering your letter in a day or two.
+
+17.  I went this morning to the Duke of Ormond about some business, and he
+told me he could not dine with us today, being to dine with Prince Eugene.
+Those of our Society of the House of Commons could not be with us, the House
+sitting late on Walpole.  I left them at nine, and they were not come.  We
+kept some dinner for them.  I hope Walpole will be sent to the Tower, and
+expelled the House; but this afternoon the members I spoke with in the Court
+of Requests talked dubiously of it.  It will be a leading card to maul the
+Duke of Marlborough for the same crime, or at least to censure him.  The
+Queen's message was only to give them notice of the peace she is treating, and
+to desire they will make some law to prevent libels against the Government; so
+farewell to Grub Street.
+
+18.  I heard to-day that the commoners of our Society did not leave the
+Parliament till eleven at night, then went to those I left, and stayed till
+three in the morning.  Walpole is expelled, and sent to the Tower.  I was this
+morning again with Lord Rivers, and have made him give the other employment to
+my printer and bookseller; 'tis worth a great deal.  I dined with my friend
+Lewis privately, to talk over affairs.  We want to have this Duke of Somerset
+out, and he apprehends it will not be, but I hope better.  They are going now
+at last to change the Commissioners of the Customs; my friend Sir Matthew
+Dudley will be out, and three more, and Prior will be in.  I have made Ford
+copy out a small pamphlet, and sent it to the press, that I might not be known
+for author; 'tis A Letter to the October Club,[4] if ever you heard of such a
+thing.--Methinks this letter goes on but slowly for almost a week:  I want
+some little conversation with MD, and to know what they are doing just now.  I
+am sick of politics.  I have not dined with Lord Treasurer these three weeks:
+he chides me, but I don't care:  I don't.
+
+19.  I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer:  this is his day of choice company,
+where they sometimes admit me, but pretend to grumble.  And to-day they met on
+some extraordinary business; the Keeper, Steward, both Secretaries, Lord
+Rivers, and Lord Anglesea:  I left them at seven, and came away, and have been
+writing to the Bishop of Clogher.  I forgot to know where to direct to him
+since Sir George St. George's death,[5] but I have directed to the same house:
+you must tell me better, for the letter is sent by the bellman.  Don't write
+to me again till this is gone, I charge you, for I won't answer two letters
+together.  The Duke of Somerset is out, and was with his yellow liveries at
+Parliament to-day.  You know he had the same with the Queen, when he was
+Master of the Horse:  we hope the Duchess will follow, or that he will take
+her away in spite.  Lord Treasurer, I hope, has now saved his head.  Has the
+Dean received my letter? ask him at cards to-night.
+
+20.  There was a world of people to-day at Court to see Prince Eugene, but all
+bit, for he did not come.  I saw the Duchess of Somerset talking with the Duke
+of Buckingham; she looked a little down, but was extremely courteous.  The
+Queen has the gout, but is not in much pain.  Must I fill this line too?[6]
+well then, so let it be.  The Duke of Beaufort[7] has a mighty mind to come
+into our Society; shall we let him?  I spoke to the Duke of Ormond about it,
+and he doubts a little whether to let him in or no.  They say the Duke of
+Somerset is advised by his friends to let his wife stay with the Queen; I am
+sorry for it.  I dined with the Secretary to-day, with mixed company; I don't
+love it.  Our Society does not meet till Friday, because Thursday will be a
+busy day in the House of Commons, for then the Duke of Marlborough's bribery
+is to be examined into about the pension paid him by those that furnished
+bread to the army.
+
+21.  I have been five times with the Duke of Ormond about a perfect trifle,
+and he forgets it:  I used him like a dog this morning for it.  I was asked
+to-day by several in the Court of Requests whether it was true that the author
+of the Examiner was taken up in an action of twenty thousand pounds by the
+Duke of Marlborough?[8]  I dined in the City, where my printer showed me a
+pamphlet, called Advice to the October Club, which he said was sent him by an
+unknown hand:  I commended it mightily; he never suspected me; 'tis a twopenny
+pamphlet.  I came home and got timely to bed; but about eleven one of the
+Secretary's servants came to me to let me know that Lord Treasurer would
+immediately speak to me at Lord Masham's upon earnest business, and that, if I
+was abed, I should rise and come.  I did so:  Lord Treasurer was above with
+the Queen; and when he came down he laughed, and said it was not he that sent
+for me:  the business was of no great importance, only to give me a paper,
+which might have been done to-morrow.  I stayed with them till past one, and
+then got to bed again.  Pize[9] take their frolics.  I thought to have
+answered your letter.
+
+22.  Dr. Gastrell was to see me this morning:  he is an eminent divine, one of
+the canons of Christ Church, and one I love very well:  he said he was glad to
+find I was not with James Broad.  I asked what he meant.  "Why," says he,
+"have you not seen the Grub Street paper, that says Dr. Swift was taken up as
+author of the Examiner, on an action of twenty thousand pounds, and was now at
+James Broad's?" who, I suppose, is some bailiff.  I knew of this; but at the
+Court of Requests twenty people told me they heard I had been taken up.  Lord
+Lansdowne observed to the Secretary and me that the Whigs spread three lies
+yesterday; that about me; and another, that Maccartney, who was turned out
+last summer,[10] is again restored to his places in the army; and the third,
+that Jack Hill's commission for Lieutenant of the Tower is stopped, and that
+Cadogan is to continue.  Lansdowne thinks they have some design by these
+reports; I cannot guess it.  Did I tell you that Sacheverell has desired
+mightily to come and see me? but I have put it off:  he has heard that I have
+spoken to the Secretary in behalf of a brother whom he maintains, and who
+desires an employment.[11]  T'other day at the Court of Requests Dr.
+Yalden[12] saluted me by name:  Sacheverell, who was just by, came up to me,
+and made me many acknowledgment and compliments.  Last night I desired Lord
+Treasurer to do something for that brother of Sacheverell's:  he said he never
+knew he had a brother, but thanked me for telling him, and immediately put his
+name in his table-book.[13]  I will let Sacheverell know this, that he may
+take his measures accordingly, but he shall be none of my acquaintance.  I
+dined to-day privately with the Secretary, left him at six, paid a visit or
+two, and came home.
+
+23.  I dined again to-day with the Secretary, but could not despatch some
+business I had with him, he has so much besides upon his hands at this
+juncture, and preparing against the great business to-morrow, which we are top
+full of.  The Minister's design is that the Duke of Marlborough shall be
+censured as gently as possible, provided his friends will not make head to
+defend him, but if they do, it may end in some severer votes.  A gentleman,
+who was just now with him, tells me he is much cast down, and fallen away; but
+he is positive, if he has but ten friends in the House, that they shall defend
+him to the utmost, and endeavour to prevent the least censure upon him, which
+I think cannot be, since the bribery is manifest.  Sir Solomon Medina[14] paid
+him six thousand pounds a year to have the employment of providing bread for
+the army, and the Duke owns it in his letter to the Commissioners of Accounts.
+I was to-night at Lord Masham's:  Lord Dupplin took out my new little
+pamphlet, and the Secretary read a great deal of it to Lord Treasurer:  they
+all commended it to the skies, and so did I, and they began a health to the
+author.  But I doubt Lord Treasurer suspected; for he said, "This is Mr.
+Davenant's style," which is his cant when he suspects me.[15]  But I carried
+the matter very well.  Lord Treasurer put the pamphlet in his pocket to read
+at home.  I'll answer your letter to-morrow.
+
+24.  The Secretary made me promise to dine with him today, after the
+Parliament was up:  I said I would come; but I dined at my usual time, knowing
+the House would sit late on this great affair.  I dined at a tavern with Mr.
+Domville and another gentleman; I have not done so before these many months.
+At ten this evening I went to the Secretary, but he was not come home:  I sat
+with his lady till twelve, then came away; and he just came as I was gone, and
+he sent to my lodgings, but I would not go back; and so I know not how things
+have passed, but hope all is well; and I will tell you to-morrow day.  It is
+late, etc.
+
+25.  The Secretary sent to me this morning to know whether we should dine
+together.  I went to him, and there I learned that the question went against
+the Duke of Marlborough, by a majority of a hundred; so the Ministry is mighty
+well satisfied, and the Duke will now be able to do no hurt.  The Secretary
+and I, and Lord Masham, etc., dined with Lieutenant-General Withers,[16] who
+is just going to look after the army in Flanders:  the Secretary and I left
+them a little after seven, and I am come home, and will now answer your
+letter, because this goes to-morrow:  let me see--The box at Chester; oh, burn
+that box, and hang that Sterne; I have desired one to inquire for it who went
+toward Ireland last Monday, but I am in utter despair of it.  No, I was not
+splenetic; you see what plunges the Court has been at to set all right again.
+And that Duchess is not out yet, and may one day cause more mischief.
+Somerset shows all about a letter from the Queen, desiring him to let his wife
+continue with her.  Is not that rare!  I find Dingley smelled a rat; because
+the Whigs are UPISH; but if ever I hear that word again, I'll UPPISH you.  I
+am glad you got your rasp safe and sound; does Stella like her apron?  Your
+critics about guarantees of succession are puppies; that's an answer to the
+objection.  The answerers here made the same objection, but it is wholly
+wrong.  I am of your opinion that Lord Marlborough is used too hardly:  I have
+often scratched out passages from papers and pamphlets sent me, before they
+were printed, because I thought them too severe.  But he is certainly a vile
+man, and has no sort of merit beside the military.  The Examiners are good for
+little:  I would fain have hindered the severity of the two or three last, but
+could not.  I will either bring your papers over, or leave them with Tooke,
+for whose honesty I will engage.  And I think it is best not to venture them
+with me at sea.  Stella is a prophet, by foretelling so very positively that
+all would be well.  Duke of Ormond speak against peace?  No, simpleton, he is
+one of the staunchest we have for the Ministry.  Neither trouble yourself
+about the printer:  he appeared the first day of the term, and is to appear
+when summoned again; but nothing else will come of it.  Lord Chief-Justice[17]
+is cooled since this new settlement.  No; I will not split my journals in
+half; I will write but once a fortnight:  but you may do as you will; which
+is, read only half at once, and t'other half next week.  So now your letter is
+answered.  (P--- on these blots.)  What must I say more?  I will set out in
+March, if there be a fit of fine weather; unless the Ministry desire me to
+stay till the end of the session, which may be a month longer; but I believe
+they will not:  for I suppose the peace will be made, and they will have no
+further service for me.  I must make my canal fine this summer, as fine as I
+can.  I am afraid I shall see great neglects among my quicksets.  I hope the
+cherry-trees on the river walk are fine things now.  But no more of this.
+
+26.  I forgot to finish this letter this morning, and am come home so late I
+must give it to the bellman; but I would have it go to-night, lest you should
+think there is anything in the story of my being arrested in an action of
+twenty thousand pounds by Lord Marlborough, which I hear is in Dyer's
+Letter,[18] and, consequently, I suppose, gone to Ireland.  Farewell, dearest
+MD, etc. etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 40.
+
+LONDON, Jan. 26, 1711-12.
+
+I have no gilt paper left of this size, so you must be content with plain.
+Our Society dined together today, for it was put off, as I told you, upon Lord
+Marlborough's business on Thursday.  The Duke of Ormond dined with us to-day,
+the first time:  we were thirteen at table; and Lord Lansdowne came in after
+dinner, so that we wanted but three.  The Secretary proposed the Duke of
+Beaufort, who desires to be one of our Society; but I stopped it, because the
+Duke of Ormond doubts a little about it; and he was gone before it was
+proposed.  I left them at seven, and sat this evening with poor Mrs. Wesley,
+who has been mightily ill to-day with a fainting fit; she has often
+convulsions, too:  she takes a mixture with asafoetida, which I have now in my
+nose, and everything smells of it.  I never smelt it before; 'tis abominable.
+We have eight packets, they say, due from Ireland.
+
+27.  I could not see Prince Eugene at Court to-day, the crowd was so great.
+The Whigs contrive to have a crowd always about him, and employ the rabble to
+give the word, when he sets out from any place.  When the Duchess of Hamilton
+came from the Queen after church, she whispered me that she was going to pay
+me a visit.  I went to Lady Oglethorpe's, the place appointed; for ladies
+always visit me in third places; and she kept me till near four:  she talks
+too much, is a plaguy detractor, and I believe I shall not much like her.  I
+was engaged to dine with Lord Masham:  they stayed as long as they could, yet
+had almost dined, and were going in anger to pull down the brass peg for my
+hat, but Lady Masham saved it.  At eight I went again to Lord Masham's; Lord
+Treasurer is generally there at night:  we sat up till almost two.  Lord
+Treasurer has engaged me to contrive some way to keep the Archbishop of
+York[1] from being seduced by Lord Nottingham.  I will do what I can in it to-
+morrow.  'Tis very late, so I must go sleep.
+
+28.  Poor Mrs. Manley, the author, is very ill of a dropsy and sore leg:  the
+printer tells me he is afraid she cannot live long.  I am heartily sorry for
+her:  she has very generous principles for one of her sort, and a great deal
+of good sense and invention:  she is about forty, very homely, and very fat.
+Mrs. Van made me dine with her to-day.  I was this morning with the Duke of
+Ormond and the Prolocutor about what Lord Treasurer spoke to me yesterday; I
+know not what will be the issue.  There is but a slender majority in the House
+of Lords, and we want more.  We are sadly mortified at the news of the French
+taking the town in Brazil from the Portuguese.  The sixth edition of three
+thousand of the Conduct of the Allies is sold, and the printer talks of a
+seventh:  eleven thousand of them have been sold, which is a most prodigious
+run.  The little twopenny Letter of Advice to the October Club does not sell:
+I know not the reason, for it is finely written, I assure you; and, like a
+true author, I grow fond of it, because it does not sell:  you know that it is
+usual to writers to condemn the judgment of the world:  if I had hinted it to
+be mine, everybody would have bought it, but it is a great secret.
+
+29.  I borrowed one or two idle books of Contes des Fees,[2] and have been
+reading them these two days, although I have much business upon my hands.  I
+loitered till one at home; then went to Mr. Lewis at his office; and the Vice-
+Chamberlain told me that Lady Rialton[3] had yesterday resigned her employment
+of lady of the bed-chamber, and that Lady Jane Hyde,[4] Lord Rochester's
+daughter, a mighty pretty girl, is to succeed.  He said, too, that Lady
+Sunderland would resign in a day or two.  I dined with Lewis, and then went to
+see Mrs. Wesley, who is better to-day.  But you must know that Mr. Lewis gave
+me two letters, one from the Bishop of Cloyne, with an enclosed from Lord
+Inchiquin[5] to Lord Treasurer, which he desires I would deliver and
+recommend.  I am told that lord was much in with Lord Wharton, and I remember
+he was to have been one of the Lords Justices by his recommendation; yet the
+Bishop recommends him as a great friend to the Church, etc.  I'll do what I
+think proper.  T'other letter was from little saucy MD, N.26.  O Lord, never
+saw the like, under a cover, too, and by way of journal; we shall never have
+done.  Sirrahs, how durst you write so soon, sirrahs?  I won't answer it yet.
+
+30.  I was this morning with the Secretary, who was sick, and out of humour:
+he would needs drink champagne some days ago, on purpose to spite me, because
+I advised him against it, and now he pays for it.  Stella used to do such
+tricks formerly; he put me in mind of her.  Lady Sunderland has resigned her
+place too.  It is Lady Catherine Hyde[6] that succeeds Lady Rialton, and not
+Lady Jane.  Lady Catherine is the late Earl of Rochester's daughter.  I dined
+with the Secretary, then visited his lady; and sat this evening with Lady
+Masham:  the Secretary came to us; but Lord Treasurer did not; he dined with
+the Master of the Rolls,[7] and stayed late with him.  Our Society does not
+meet till to-morrow se'nnight, because we think the Parliament will be very
+busy to-morrow upon the state of the war, and the Secretary, who is to treat
+as President, must be in the House.  I fancy my talking of persons and things
+here must be very tedious to you, because you know nothing of them, and I talk
+as if you did.  You know Kevin's Street, and Werburgh Street, and (what do you
+call the street where Mrs. Walls lives?) and Ingoldsby,[8] and Higgins,[9] and
+Lord Santry;[10] but what care you for Lady Catherine Hyde?  Why do you say
+nothing of your health, sirrah?  I hope it is well.
+
+31.  Trimnel, Bishop of Norwich,[11] who was with this Lord Sunderland at Moor
+Park in their travels, preached yesterday before the House of Lords; and to-
+day the question was put to thank him, and print his sermon; but passed
+against him; for it was a terrible Whig sermon.  The Bill to repeal the Act
+for naturalising Protestant foreigners passed the House of Lords to-day by a
+majority of twenty, though the Scotch lords went out, and would vote neither
+way, in discontent about the Duke of Hamilton's patent, if you know anything
+of it.  A poem is come out to-day inscribed to me, by way of a flirt;[12] for
+it is a Whiggish poem, and good for nothing.  They plagued me with it in the
+Court of Requests.  I dined with Lord Treasurer at five alone, only with one
+Dutchman.  Prior is now a Commissioner of the Customs.  I told you so before,
+I suppose.  When I came home to-night, I found a letter from Dr. Sacheverell,
+thanking me for recommending his brother to Lord Treasurer and Mr. Secretary
+for a place.  Lord Treasurer sent to him about it:  so good a solicitor was I,
+although I once hardly thought I should be a solicitor for Sacheverell.
+
+Feb. 1.  Has not your Dean of St. Patrick received my letter? you say nothing
+of it, although I writ above a month ago.  My printer has got the gout, and I
+was forced to go to him to-day, and there I dined.  It was a most delicious
+day:  why don't you observe whether the same days be fine with you?  To-night,
+at six, Dr. Atterbury, and Prior, and I, and Dr. Freind, met at Dr. Robert
+Freind's[13] house at Westminster, who is master of the school:  there we sat
+till one, and were good enough company.  I here take leave to tell politic
+Dingley that the passage in the Conduct of the Allies is so far from being
+blamable that the Secretary designs to insist upon it in the House of Commons,
+when the Treaty of Barrier[14] is debated there, as it now shortly will, for
+they have ordered it to be laid before them.  The pamphlet of Advice to the
+October Club begins now to sell; but I believe its fame will hardly reach
+Ireland:  'tis finely written, I assure you.  I long to answer your letter,
+but won't yet; you know, 'tis late, etc.
+
+2.  This ends Christmas,[15] and what care I?  I have neither seen, nor felt,
+nor heard any Christmas this year.  I passed a lazy dull day.  I was this
+morning with Lord Treasurer, to get some papers from him, which he will
+remember as much as a cat, although it be his own business.  It threatened
+rain, but did not much; and Prior and I walked an hour in the Park, which
+quite put me out of my measures.  I dined with a friend hard by; and in the
+evening sat with Lord Masham till twelve.  Lord Treasurer did not come; this
+is an idle dining-day usually with him.  We want to hear from Holland how our
+peace goes on; for we are afraid of those scoundrels the Dutch, lest they
+should play us tricks.  Lord Mar,[16] a Scotch earl, was with us at Lord
+Masham's:  I was arguing with him about the stubbornness and folly of his
+countrymen; they are so angry about the affair of the Duke of Hamilton, whom
+the Queen has made a duke of England, and the House of Lords will not admit
+him.  He swears he would vote for us, but dare not, because all Scotland would
+detest him if he did:  he should never be chosen again, nor be able to live
+there.
+
+3.  I was at Court to-day to look for a dinner, but did not like any that were
+offered me; and I dined with Lord Mountjoy.  The Queen has the gout in her
+knee, and was not at chapel.  I hear we have a Dutch mail, but I know not what
+news, although I was with the Secretary this morning.  He showed me a letter
+from the Hanover Envoy, Mr. Bothmar, complaining that the Barrier Treaty is
+laid before the House of Commons; and desiring that no infringement may be
+made in the guarantee of the succession; but the Secretary has written him a
+peppering answer.  I fancy you understand all this, and are able states-girls,
+since you have read the Conduct of the Allies.  We are all preparing against
+the Birthday; I think it is Wednesday next.  If the Queen's gout increases, it
+will spoil sport.  Prince Eugene has two fine suits made against it; and the
+Queen is to give him a sword worth four thousand pounds, the diamonds set
+transparent.
+
+4.  I was this morning soliciting at the House of Commons' door for Mr. Vesey,
+a son of the Archbishop of Tuam,[17] who has petitioned for a Bill to relieve
+him in some difficulty about his estate:  I secured him above fifty members.
+I dined with Lady Masham.  We have no packet from Holland, as I was told
+yesterday:  and this wind will hinder many people from appearing at the
+Birthday, who expected clothes from Holland.  I appointed to meet a gentleman
+at the Secretary's to-night, and they both failed.  The House of Commons have
+this day made many severe votes about our being abused by our Allies.  Those
+who spoke drew all their arguments from my book, and their votes confirm all I
+writ; the Court had a majority of a hundred and fifty:  all agree that it was
+my book that spirited them to these resolutions; I long to see them in print.
+My head has not been as well as I could wish it for some days past, but I have
+not had any giddy fit, and I hope it will go over.
+
+5.  The Secretary turned me out of his room this morning, and showed me fifty
+guineas rolled up, which he was going to give some French spy.  I dined with
+four Irishmen at a tavern to-day:  I thought I had resolved against it before,
+but I broke it.  I played at cards this evening at Lady Masham's, but I only
+played for her while she was waiting; and I won her a pool, and supped there.
+Lord Treasurer was with us, but went away before twelve.  The ladies and lords
+have all their clothes ready against to-morrow:  I saw several mighty fine,
+and I hope there will be a great appearance, in spite of that spiteful French
+fashion of the Whiggish ladies not to come, which they have all resolved to a
+woman; and I hope it will more spirit the Queen against them for ever.
+
+6.  I went to dine at Lord Masham's at three, and met all the company just
+coming out of Court; a mighty crowd:  they stayed long for their coaches:  I
+had an opportunity of seeing several lords and ladies of my acquaintance in
+their fineries.  Lady Ashburnham[18] looked the best in my eyes.  They say the
+Court was never fuller nor finer.  Lord Treasurer, his lady, and two daughters
+and Mrs. Hill, dined with Lord and Lady Masham; the five ladies were monstrous
+fine.  The Queen gave Prince Eugene the diamond sword to-day; but nobody was
+by when she gave it except my Lord Chamberlain.  There was an entertainment of
+opera songs at night, and the Queen was at all the entertainment, and is very
+well after it.  I saw Lady Wharton,[19] as ugly as the devil, coming out in
+the crowd all in an undress; she has been with the Marlborough daughters[20]
+and Lady Bridgewater[21] in St. James's, looking out of the window all
+undressed to see the sight.  I do not hear that one Whig lady was there,
+except those of the bed-chamber.  Nothing has made so great a noise as one
+Kelson's chariot, that cost nine hundred and thirty pounds, the finest was
+ever seen.  The rabble huzzaed him as much as they did Prince Eugene.  This is
+Birthday chat.
+
+7.  Our Society met to-day:  the Duke of Ormond was not with us; we have
+lessened our dinners, which were grown so extravagant that Lord Treasurer and
+everybody else cried shame.  I left them at seven, visited for an hour, and
+then came home, like a good boy.  The Queen is much better after yesterday's
+exercise:  her friends wish she would use a little more.  I opposed Lord
+Jersey's[22] election into our Society, and he is refused:  I likewise opposed
+the Duke of Beaufort; but I believe he will be chosen in spite of me:  I don't
+much care; I shall not be with them above two months; for I resolve to set out
+for Ireland the beginning of April next (before I treat them again), and see
+my willows.
+
+8.  I dined to-day in the City.  This morning a scoundrel dog, one of the
+Queen's music, a German, whom I had never seen, got access to me in my chamber
+by Patrick's folly, and gravely desired me to get an employment in the Customs
+for a friend of his, who would be very grateful; and likewise to forward a
+project of his own, for raising ten thousand pounds a year upon operas:  I
+used him civiller than he deserved; but it vexed me to the pluck.[23]  He was
+told I had a mighty interest with Lord Treasurer, and one word of mine, etc.
+Well; I got home early on purpose to answer MD's letter, N.26; for this goes
+to-morrow.--Well; I never saw such a letter in all my life; so saucy, so
+journalish, so sanguine, so pretending, so everything.  I satisfied all your
+fears in my last:  all is gone well, as you say; yet you are an impudent slut
+to be so positive; you will swagger so upon your sagacity that we shall never
+have done.  Pray don't mislay your reply; I would certainly print it, if I had
+it here:  how long is it? I suppose half a sheet:  was the answer written in
+Ireland?  Yes, yes, you shall have a letter when you come from Ballygall.  I
+need not tell you again who's out and who's in:  we can never get out the
+Duchess of Somerset.--So, they say Presto writ the Conduct, etc.  Do they like
+it?  I don't care whether they do or no; but the resolutions printed t'other
+day in the Votes are almost quotations from it, and would never have passed if
+that book had not been written.  I will not meddle with the Spectator, let him
+fair-sex it to the world's end.  My disorder is over, but blood was not from
+the p-les.--Well, Madam Dingley, the frost; why, we had a great frost, but I
+forget how long ago; it lasted above a week or ten days:  I believe about six
+weeks ago; but it did not break so soon with us, I think, as December 29; yet
+I think it was about that time, on second thoughts.  MD can have no letter
+from Presto, says you; and yet four days before you own you had my thirty-
+seventh, unreasonable sluts!  The Bishop of Gloucester is not dead,[24] and I
+am as likely to succeed the Duke of Marlborough as him if he were; there's
+enough for that now.  It is not unlikely that the Duke of Shrewsbury will be
+your Governor; at least I believe the Duke of Ormond will not return.--Well,
+Stella again:  why, really three editions of the Conduct, etc., is very much
+for Ireland; it is a sign you have some honest among you.  Well; I will do Mr.
+Manley[25] all the service I can; but he will ruin himself.  What business had
+he to engage at all about the City?  Can't he wish his cause well, and be
+quiet, when he finds that stirring will do it no good, and himself a great
+deal of hurt?  I cannot imagine who should open my letter:  it must be done at
+your side.--If I hear of any thoughts of turning out Mr. Manley, I will
+endeavour to prevent it.  I have already had all the gentlemen of Ireland here
+upon my back often, for defending him.  So now I have answered your saucy
+letter.  My humble service to Goody Stoyte and Catherine; I will come soon for
+my dinner.
+
+9.  Morning.  My cold goes off at last; but I think I have got a small new
+one.  I have no news since last.  They say we hear by the way of Calais, that
+peace is very near concluding.  I hope it may be true.  I'll go and seal up my
+letter, and give it myself to-night into the post-office; and so I bid my
+dearest MD farewell till to-night.  I heartily wish myself with them, as hope
+saved.  My willows, and quicksets, and trees, will be finely improved, I hope,
+this year.  It has been fine hard frosty weather yesterday and to-day.
+Farewell, etc. etc. etc.
+
+
+
+LETTER 41.[1]
+
+LONDON, Feb. 9, 1711-12.
+
+When my letter is gone, and I have none of yours to answer, my conscience is
+so clear, and my shoulder so light, and I go on with such courage to prate
+upon nothing to deerichar MD, oo would wonder.  I dined with Sir Matthew
+Dudley, who is newly turned out of Commission of the Customs.  He affects a
+good heart, and talks in the extremity of Whiggery, which was always his
+principle, though he was gentle a little, while he kept in employment.  We can
+yet get no packets from Holland.  I have not been with any of the Ministry
+these two or three days.  I keep out of their way on purpose, for a certain
+reason, for some time, though I must dine with the Secretary to-morrow, the
+choosing of the company being left to me.  I have engaged Lord Anglesea[2] and
+Lord Carteret,[3] and have promised to get three more; but I have a mind that
+none else should be admitted:  however, if I like anybody at Court to-morrow,
+I may perhaps invite them.  I have got another cold, but not very bad.  Nite.
+. . MD.
+
+10.  I saw Prince Eugene at Court to-day very plain; he's plaguy yellow, and
+tolerably ugly besides.  The Court was very full, and people had their
+Birthday clothes.  I dined with the Secretary to-day.  I was to invite five,
+but I only invited two, Lord Anglesea and Lord Carteret.  Pshaw, I told you
+this but yesterday.  We have no packets from Holland yet.  Here are a parcel
+of drunken Whiggish lords, like your Lord Santry,[4] who come into chocolate-
+houses and rail aloud at the Tories, and have challenges sent them, and the
+next morning come and beg pardon.  General Ross[5] was like to swinge the
+Marquis of Winchester[6] for this trick t'other day; and we have nothing else
+now to talk of till the Parliament has had another bout with the state of the
+war, as they intended in a few days.  They have ordered the Barrier Treaty to
+be laid before them; and it was talked some time ago, as if there was a design
+to impeach Lord Townshend, who made it.  I have no more politics now.  Nite
+dee MD.
+
+11.  I dined with Lord Anglesea to-day, who had seven Irishmen to be my
+companions, of which two only were coxcombs; one I did not know, and t'other
+was young Blith,[7] who is a puppy of figure here, with a fine chariot.  He
+asked me one day at Court, when I had been just talking with some lords who
+stood near me, "Doctor, when shall we see you in the county of Meath?"  I
+whispered him to take care what he said, for the people would think he was
+some barbarian.  He never would speak to me since, till we met to-day.  I went
+to Lady Masham's to-night, and sat with Lord Treasurer and the Secretary there
+till past two o'clock; and when I came home, found some letters from Ireland,
+which I read, but can say nothing of them till to-morrow, 'tis so very late;
+but I[8] must always be. . .,[9] late or early.  Nite deelest sollahs.[10]
+
+12.  One letter was from the Bishop of Clogher last night, and t'other from
+Walls, about Mrs. South's[11] salary, and his own pension of 18 pounds for his
+tithe of the park.  I will do nothing in either; the first I cannot serve in,
+and the other is a trifle; only you may tell him I had his letter, and will
+speak to Ned Southwell about what he desires me.  You say nothing of your
+Dean's receiving my letter.  I find Clements,[12] whom I recommended to Lord
+Anglesea last year, at Walls's desire, or rather the Bishop of Clogher's, is
+mightily in Lord Anglesea's favour.  You may tell the Bishop and Walls so; I
+said to Lord Anglesea that I was [glad] I had the good luck to recommend him,
+etc.  I dined in the City with my printer, to consult with him about some
+papers Lord Treasurer gave me last night, as he always does, too late;
+however, I will do something with them.  My third cold is a little better; I
+never had anything like it before, three colds successively; I hope I shall
+have the fourth.[13]  Those messengers come from Holland to-day, and they
+brought over the six packets that were due.  I know not the particulars yet,
+for when I was with the Secretary at noon they were just opening; but one
+thing I find, that the Dutch are playing us tricks, and tampering with the
+French; they are dogs; I shall know more tomollow. . .  MD.[14]
+
+13.  I dined to-day privately with my friend Lewis, at his lodgings, to
+consult about some observations on the Barrier Treaty.  Our news from Holland
+is not good.  The French raise difficulties, and make such offers to the
+Allies as cannot be accepted.  And the Dutch are uneasy that we are likely to
+get anything for ourselves; and the Whigs are glad at all this.  I came home
+early, and have been very busy three or four hours.  I had a letter from Dr.
+Pratt[15] to-day by a private hand, recommending the bearer to me, for
+something that I shall not trouble myself about.  Wesley[16] writ to recommend
+the same fellow to me.  His expression is that, hearing I am acquainted with
+my Lord Treasurer, he desires I would do so and so:  a matter of nothing.
+What puppies are mankind!  I hope I shall be wiser when I have once done with
+Courts.  I think you han't troubled me much with your recommendations.  I
+would do you all the saavis[17] I could.
+
+Pray have you got your aplon,[18] maram Ppt?  I paid for it but yesterday;
+that puts me in mind of it.  I writ an inventory of what things I sent by
+Leigh in one of my letters; did you compare it with what you got?  I hear
+nothing of your cards now; do you never play?  Yes, at Ballygall.  Go to bed.
+Nite, deelest MD.[19]
+
+14.  Our Society dined to-day at Mr. Secretary's house.  I went there at four;
+but hearing the House of Commons would sit late upon the Barrier Treaty, I
+went for an hour to Kensington, to see Lord Masham's children.  My young
+nephew,[20] his son of six months old, has got a swelling in his neck; I fear
+it is the evil.  We did not go to dinner till eight at night, and I left them
+at ten.  The Commons have been very severe on the Barrier Treaty, as you will
+find by their votes.  A Whig member took out the Conduct of the Allies, and
+read that passage about the succession with great resentment; but none
+seconded him.  The Church party carried every vote by a great majority.  The
+A.B.[21] Dublin is so railed at by all who come from Ireland that I can defend
+him no longer.  Lord Anglesea assured me that the story of applying Piso out
+of Tacitus[22] to Lord Treasurer's being wounded is true.  I believe the Duke
+of Beaufort will be admitted to our Society next meeting.  To-day I published
+the Fable of Midas,[23] a poem, printed in a loose half-sheet of paper.  I
+know not how it will sell; but it passed wonderfully at our Society to-night;
+and Mr. Secretary read it before me the other night to Lord Treasurer, at Lord
+Masham's, where they equally approved of it.  Tell me how it passes with you.
+I think this paper is larger than ordinary; for here is six days' journal, and
+no nearer the bottom.  I fear these journals are very dull.  Nite my deelest
+lives.
+
+15.  Mr. Lewis and I dined by invitation with a Scotch acquaintance, after I
+had been very busy in my chamber till two afternoon.  My third cold is now
+very troublesome on my breast, especially in the morning.  This is a great
+revolution in my health; colds never used to return so soon with me, or last
+so long.  'Tis very surprising this news to-day of the Dauphin and Dauphiness
+both dying within six days.  They say the old King is almost heart-broke.  He
+has had prodigious mortifications in his family.  The Dauphin has left two
+little sons, of four and two years old; the eldest is sick.  There is a
+foolish story got about the town that Lord Strafford, one of our
+Plenipotentiaries, is in the interests of France; and it has been a good while
+said that Lord Privy Seal[24] and he do not agree very well.  They are both
+long practised in business, but neither of them of much parts.  Strafford has
+some life and spirit, but is infinitely proud, and wholly illiterate.  Nite,
+MD.
+
+16.  I dined to-day in the City with my printer, to finish something I am
+doing about the Barrier Treaty;[25] but it is not quite done.  I went this
+evening to Lord Masham's, where Lord Treasurer sat with us till past twelve.
+The Lords have voted an Address to the Queen, to tell her they are not
+satisfied with the King of France's offers.  The Whigs brought it in of a
+sudden; and the Court could not prevent it, and therefore did not oppose it.
+The House of Lords is too strong in Whigs, notwithstanding the new creations;
+for they are very diligent, and the Tories as lazy:  the side that is down has
+always most industry.  The Whigs intended to have made a vote that would
+reflect on Lord Treasurer; but their project was not ripe.  I hit my face such
+a rap by calling the coach to stop to-night, that it is plaguy sore, the bone
+beneath the eye.  Nite dee logues.
+
+17.  The Court was mighty full to-day, and has been these many Sundays; but
+the Queen was not at chapel.  She has got a little fit of the gout in her
+foot.  The good of going to Court is that one sees all one's acquaintance,
+whom otherwise I should hardly meet twice a year.  Prince Eugene dines with
+the Secretary to-day, with about seven or eight General Officers, or foreign
+Ministers.  They will be all drunk, I am sure.  I never was in company with
+this Prince:  I have proposed to some lords that we should have a sober meal
+with him; but I can't compass it.  It is come over in the Dutch news prints
+that I was arrested on an action of twenty thousand pounds by the Duke of
+Marlborough.  I did not like my Court invitation to-day; so Sir Andrew
+Fountaine and I went and dined with Mrs. Van.  I came home at six, and have
+been very busy till this minute, and it is past twelve.  So I got into bed to
+write to MD. . .  MD.[26]  We reckon the Dauphin's death will put forward the
+peace a good deal.  Pray is Dr. Griffith[27] reconciled to me yet?  Have I
+done enough to soften him? .  .  . [28]  Nite deelest logues.
+
+18.  Lewis had Guiscard's picture:  he bought it, and offered it to Lord
+Treasurer, who promised to send for it, but never did; so I made Lewis give it
+me, and I have it in my room; and now Lord Treasurer says he will take it from
+me:  is that fair?  He designs to have it at length in the clothes he was when
+he did the action, and a penknife in his hand; and Kneller is to copy it from
+this that I have.  I intended to dine with Lord Treasurer to-day, but he has
+put me off till to-morrow; so I dined with Lord Dupplin.  You know Lord
+Dupplin very well; he is a brother of the Society.  Well, but I have received
+a letter from the Bishop of Cloyne, to solicit an affair for him with Lord
+Treasurer, and with the Parliament, which I will do as soon as fly.  I am not
+near so keen about other people's affairs as. . . [29] Ppt used to reproach me
+about; it was a judgment on me.  Harkee, idle dearees both, meetinks I begin
+to want a rettle flom[30] MD:  faith, and so I do.  I doubt you have been in
+pain about the report of my being arrested.  The pamphleteers have let me
+alone this month, which is a great wonder:  only the third part of the Answer
+to the Conduct, which is lately come out.  (Did I tell you of it already?)
+The House of Commons goes on in mauling the late Ministry and their
+proceedings.  Nite deelest MD.[31]
+
+19.  I dined with Lord Treasurer to-day, and sat with him till ten, in spite
+of my teeth, though my printer waited for me to correct a sheet.  I told him
+of four lines I writ extempore with my pencil, on a bit of paper in his house,
+while he lay wounded.  Some of the servants, I suppose, made waste-paper of
+them, and he never had heard of them.  Shall I tell them you?  They were
+inscribed to Mr. Harley's physician.  Thus
+
+     On Britain Europe's safety lies;[32]
+     Britain is lost, if Harley dies.
+     Harley depends upon your skill:
+     Think what you save, or what you kill.
+
+Are not they well enough to be done off-hand; for that is the meaning of the
+word extempore, which you did not know, did you?  I proposed that some company
+should dine with him on the 8th of March, which was the day he was wounded,
+but he says he designs that the Lords of the Cabinet, who then sat with him,
+should dine that day with him:[33]  however, he has invited me too.  I am not
+got rid of my cold; it plagues me in the morning chiefly.  Nite, MD,
+
+20.  After waiting to catch the Secretary coming out from Sir Thomas Hanmer,
+for two hours, in vain, about some business, I went into the City to my
+printer, to correct some sheets of the Barrier Treaty and Remarks, which must
+be finished to-morrow:  I have been horrible busy for some days past, with
+this and some other things; and I wanted some very necessary papers, which the
+Secretary was to give me, and the pamphlet must now be published without them.
+But they are all busy too.  Sir Thomas Hanmer is Chairman of the Committee for
+drawing up a Representation of the state of the nation[34] to the Queen, where
+all the wrong steps of the Allies and late Ministry about the war will be
+mentioned.  The Secretary, I suppose, was helping him about it to-day; I
+believe it will be a pepperer.  Nite, deel MD.
+
+21.  I have been six hours to-day morning writing nineteen pages of a letter
+to Lord Treasurer, about forming a Society or Academy to correct and fix the
+English language.[35]  (Is English a speech or a language?)  It will not be
+above five or six more.  I will send it to him to-morrow, and will print it,
+if he desires me.  I dined, you know, with our Society to-day:  Thursday is
+our day.  We had a new member admitted; it was the Duke of Beaufort.  We had
+thirteen met:  brother Ormond was not there, but sent his excuse that Prince
+Eugene dined with him.  I left them at seven, being engaged to go to Sir
+Thomas Hanmer, who desired I would see him at that hour.  His business was
+that I would hoenlbp ihainm itavoi dsroanws ubpl tohne
+sroegporaensiepnotlastoigobn,[36] which I consented to do; but know not
+whether I shall succeed, because it is a little out of my way.  However, I
+have taken my share.  Nite, MD.
+
+22.  I finished the rest of my letter to Lord Treasurer today, and sent it to
+him about one o'clock; and then dined privately with my friend Mr. Lewis, to
+talk over some affairs of moment.  I had gotten the thirteenth volume of
+Rymer's Collection of the Records of the Tower for the University of
+Dublin.[37]  I have two volumes now.  I will write to the Provost, to know how
+I shall send them to him; no, I won't, for I will bring them myself among my
+own books.  I was with Hanmer this morning, and there were the Secretary and
+Chancellor of the Exchequer[38] very busy with him, laying their heads
+together about the representation.  I went to Lord Masham's to-night, and Lady
+Masham made me read to her a pretty twopenny pamphlet, called The St. Albans
+Ghost.[39]  I thought I had writ it myself; so did they; but I did not.  Lord
+Treasurer came down to us from the Queen, and we stayed till two o'clock.
+That is the best night-place I have.  The usual[40] company are Lord and Lady
+Masham, Lord Treasurer, Dr. Arbuthnot, and I; sometimes the Secretary, and
+sometimes Mrs. Hill of the bed-chamber, Lady Masham's sister.  I assure oo, it
+im vely rate now; but zis goes to-morrow:  and I must have time to converse
+with own richar MD.  Nite, deelest sollahs.[41]
+
+23.  I have no news to tell you this last day, nor do I know where I shall
+dine.  I hear the Secretary is a little out of order; perhaps I may dine
+there, perhaps not.  I sent Hanmer what he wanted from me, I know not how he
+will approve of it.  I was to do more of the same sort; I am going out, and
+must carry zis in my pottick to give it at some general post-house.  I will
+talk further with oo at night.  I suppose in my next I shall answer a letter
+from MD that will be sent me.  On Tuesday it will be four weeks since I had
+your last, N.26.  This day se'nnight I expect one, for that will be something
+more than a full month.  Farewell, MD. . .  deelest. . .  MD MD MD. . .  ME ME
+ME. . .  logues. . .  lele.[42]
+
+
+
+LETTER 42.[1]
+
+LONDON, Feb. 23, 1711-12.
+
+After having disposed my last letter in the post-office, I am now to begin
+this with telling MD that I dined with the Secretary to-day, who is much out
+of order with a cold, and feverish; yet he went to the Cabinet Council tonight
+at six, against my will.  The Secretary is much the greatest commoner in
+England, and turns the whole Parliament, who can do nothing without him; and
+if he lives and has his health, will, I believe, be one day at the head of
+affairs.  I have told him sometimes that, if I were a dozen years younger, I
+would cultivate his favour, and trust my fortune with his.  But what care oo
+for all this?  I am sorry when I came first acquainted with this Ministry that
+I did not send you their names and characters, and then you would have
+relished what[2] I would have writ, especially if I had let you into the
+particulars of affairs:  but enough of this.  Nite, deelest logues.
+
+24.  I went early this morning to the Secretary, who is not yet well.  Sir
+Thomas Hanmer and the Chancellor of the Exchequer came while I was there, and
+he would not let me stir; so I did not go to church, but was busy with them
+till noon, about the affair I told you in my last.  The other two went away;
+and I dined with the Secretary, and found my head very much out of order, but
+no absolute fit; and I have not been well all this day.  It has shook me a
+little.  I sometimes sit up very late at Lord Masham's, and have writ much for
+several days past:  but I will amend both; for I have now very little
+business, and hope I shall have no more, and I am resolved to be a great rider
+this summer in Ireland.  I was to see Mrs. Wesley this evening, who has been
+somewhat better for this month past, and talks of returning to the Bath in a
+few weeks.  Our peace goes on but slowly; the Dutch are playing tricks, and we
+do not push it strongly as we ought.  The fault of our Court is delay, of
+which the Queen has a great deal; and Lord Treasurer is not without his share.
+But pay richar MD ret us know a little of your life and tonvelsasens.[3]  Do
+you play at ombre, or visit the Dean, and Goody Walls and Stoytes and Manleys,
+as usual?  I must have a letter from oo, to fill the other side of this sheet.
+Let me know what you do.  Is my aunt alive yet?
+
+Oh, pray, now I think of it, be so kind to step to my aunt, and take notice of
+my great-grandfather's picture; you know he has a ring on his finger, with a
+seal of an anchor and dolphin about it; but I think there is besides, at the
+bottom of the picture, the same coat of arms quartered with another, which I
+suppose was my great-grandmother's.  If this be so, it is a stronger argument
+than the seal.  And pray see whether you think that coat of arms was drawn at
+the same time with the picture, or whether it be of a later hand; and ask my
+aunt what she knows about it.  But perhaps there is no such coat of arms on
+the picture, and I only dreamed it.  My reason is, because I would ask some
+herald here, whether I should choose that coat, or one in Guillim's large
+folio of heraldry,[4] where my uncle Godwin is named with another coat of arms
+of three stags.  This is sad stuff to rite; so nite, MD.
+
+25.  I was this morning again with the Secretary, and we were two hours busy;
+and then went together to the Park, Hyde Park, I mean; and he walked to cure
+his cold, and we were looking at two Arabian horses sent some time ago to Lord
+Treasurer.[5]  The Duke of Marlborough's coach overtook us, with his Grace and
+Lord Godolphin in it; but they did not see us, to our great satisfaction; for
+neither of us desired that either of those two lords should see us together.
+There was half a dozen ladies riding like cavaliers to take the air.  My head
+is better to-day.  I dined with the Secretary; but we did no business after
+dinner, and at six I walked into the fields; the days are grown pure and long;
+then I went to visit Perceval[6] and his family, whom I had seen but twice
+since they came to town.  They too are going to the Bath next month.  Countess
+Doll of Meath[7] is such an owl that, wherever I visit, people are asking me
+whether I know such an Irish lady, and her figure and her foppery?  I came
+home early, and have been amusing myself with looking into one of Rymer's
+volumes of the Records of the Tower, and am mighty easy to think I have no
+urgent business upon my hands.  My third cold is not yet off; I sometimes
+cough, and am not right with it in the morning.  Did I tell you that I believe
+it is Lady Masham's hot room that gives it me?  I never knew such a stove; and
+in my conscience I believe both my lord and she, my Lord Treasurer, Mr.
+Secretary, and myself have all suffered by it.  We have all had colds
+together, but I walk home on foot.  Nite dee logues.
+
+26.  I was again busy with the Secretary.[8]  We read over some papers, and
+did a good deal of business; and I dined with him, and we were to do more
+business after dinner; but after dinner is after dinner--an old saying and a
+true, "much drinking, little thinking."  We had company with us, and nothing
+could be done, and I am to go there again to-morrow.  I have now nothing to
+do; and the Parliament, by the Queen's recommendation, is to take some method
+for preventing libels, etc., which will include pamphlets, I suppose.  I don't
+know what method they will take, but it comes on in a day or two.  To-day in
+the morning I visited upwards:  first I saw the Duke of Ormond below stairs,
+and gave him joy of his being declared General in Flanders; then I went up one
+pair of stairs, and sat with the Duchess; then I went up another pair of
+stairs, and paid a visit to Lady Betty; and desired her woman to go up to the
+garret, that I might pass half an hour with her, but she was young and
+handsome, and would not.  The Duke is our President this week, and I have
+bespoke a small dinner on purpose, for good example.  Nite mi deelest logues.
+
+27.  I was again with the Secretary this morning; but we only read over some
+papers with Sir Thomas Hanmer; then I called at Lord Treasurer's; it was his
+levee-day, but I went up to his bed-chamber, and said what I had to say.  I
+came down and peeped in at the chamber, where a hundred fools were waiting,
+and two streets were full of coaches.  I dined in the City with my printer,[9]
+and came back at six to Lord Treasurer, who had invited me to dinner, but I
+refused him.  I sat there an hour or two, and then went to Lord Masham's.
+They were all abroad:  so truly I came, and read whatever stuff was next me.
+I can sit and be idle now, which I have not been above a year past.  However,
+I will stay out the session, to see if they have any further commands for me,
+and that, I suppose, will end in April.  But I may go somewhat before, for I
+hope all will be ended by then, and we shall have either a certain peace, or
+certain war.  The Ministry is contriving new funds for money by lotteries, and
+we go on as if the war were to continue, but I believe it will not.  'Tis
+pretty late now, ung oomens; so I bid oo nite, own dee dallars.
+
+28.  I have been packing up some books in a great box I have bought, and must
+buy another for clothes and luggage.  This is a beginning towards a removal.
+I have sent to Holland for a dozen shirts, and design to buy another new gown
+and hat.  I will come over like a zinkerman,[10] and lay out nothing in
+clothes in Ireland this good while.  I have writ this night to the Provost.
+Our Society met to-day as usual, and we were fourteen, beside the Earl of
+Arran,[11] whom his brother, the Duke of Ormond, brought among us against all
+order.  We were mightily shocked; but, after some whispers, it ended in
+choosing Lord Arran one of our Society, which I opposed to his face, but it
+was carried by all the rest against me.
+
+29.  This is leap year, and this is leap day.  Prince George was born on this
+day.  People are mistaken; and some here think it is St. David's Day; but they
+do not understand the virtue of leap year.  I have nothing to do now, boys,
+and have been reading all this day like Gumdragon; and yet I was dictating
+some trifles this morning to a printer.  I dined with a friend hard by, and
+the weather was so discouraging I could not walk.  I came home early, and have
+read two hundred pages of Arran.  Alexander the Great is just dead:  I do not
+think he was poisoned; betwixt you and me, all those are but idle stories:  it
+is certain that neither Ptolemy nor Aristobulus thought so, and they were both
+with him when he[12] died.  It is a pity we have not their histories.  The
+Bill for limiting Members of Parliament to have but so many places passed the
+House of Commons, and will pass the House of Lords, in spite of the Ministry,
+which you know is a great lessening of the Queen's power.  Four of the new
+lords voted against the Court in this point.  It is certainly a good Bill in
+the reign of an ill prince, but I think things are not settled enough for it
+at present.  And the Court may want a majority upon a pinch.  Nite deelest
+logues.  Rove Pdfr.
+
+March 1.  I went into the City to inquire after poor Stratford,[13] who has
+put himself a prisoner into the Queen's Bench, for which his friends blame him
+much, because his creditors designed to be very easy with him.  He grasped at
+too many things together, and that was his ruin.  There is one circumstance
+relative to Lieutenant-General Meredith[14] that is very melancholy:  Meredith
+was turned out of all his employments last year, and had about 10,000 pounds
+left to live on.  Stratford, upon friendship, desired he might have the
+management of it for Meredith, to put it into the stocks and funds for the
+best advantage, and now he has lost it all.  You have heard me often talk of
+Stratford; we were class-fellows at school and university.  I dined with some
+merchants, his friends, to-day, and they said they expected his breaking this
+good while.  I gave him notice of a treaty of peace, while it was a secret, of
+which he might have made good use, but that helped to ruin him; for he gave
+money, reckoning there would be actually a peace by this time, and
+consequently stocks rise high.  Ford narrowly 'scaped losing 500 pounds by
+him, and so did I too.  Nite, my two deelest rives MD.
+
+2.  Morning.  I was wakened at three this morning, my man and the people of
+the house telling me of a great fire in the Haymarket.  I slept again, and two
+hours after my man came in again, and told me it was my poor brother Sir
+William Wyndham's[15] house burnt, and that two maids, leaping out of an upper
+room to avoid the fire, both fell on their heads, one of them upon the iron
+spikes before the door, and both lay dead in the streets.  It is supposed to
+have been some carelessness of one or both those maids.  The Duke of Ormond
+was there helping to put out the fire.  Brother Wyndham gave 6,000 pounds but
+a few months ago for that house, as he told me, and it was very richly
+furnished.  I shall know more particulars at night.  He married Lady Catherine
+Seymour, the Duke of Somerset's daughter; you know her, I believe.--At night.
+Wyndham's young child escaped very narrowly; Lady Catherine escaped barefoot;
+they all went to Northumberland House.  Mr. Brydges's[16] house, at next door,
+is damaged much, and was like to be burnt.  Wyndham has lost above 10,000
+pounds by this accident; his lady above a thousand pounds worth of clothes.
+It was a terrible accident.  He was not at Court to-day.  I dined with Lord
+Masham.  The Queen was not at church.  Nite, MD.
+
+3.  Pray tell Walls that I spoke to the Duke of Ormond and Mr. Southwell about
+his friend's affair, who, I find, needed not me for a solicitor, for they both
+told me the thing would be done.  I likewise mentioned his own affair to Mr.
+Southwell, and I hope that will be done too, for Southwell seems to think it
+reasonable, and I will mind him of it again.  Tell him this nakedly.  You need
+not know the particulars.  They are secrets:  one of them is about Mrs. South
+having a pension; the other about his salary from the Government for the
+tithes of the park that lie in his parish, to be put upon the establishment,
+but oo must not know zees sings, zey are secrets; and we must keep them flom
+nauty dallars.  I dined in the City with my printer, with whom I had some
+small affair; but I have no large work on my hands now.  I was with Lord
+Treasurer this morning, and hat[17] care oo for zat?  Oo dined with the Dean
+to-day.  Monday is parson's holiday, and oo lost oo money at cards and dice;
+ze Givars[18] device.  So I'll go to bed.  Nite, my two deelest logues.
+
+4.  I sat to-day with poor Mrs. Wesley, who made me dine with her.  She is
+much better than she was.  I heartily pray for her health, out of the entire
+love I bear to her worthy husband.  This day has passed very insignificantly.
+But it is a great comfort to me now that I can come home and read, and have
+nothing upon my hands to write.  I was at Lord Masham's to-night, and stayed
+there till one.  Lord Treasurer was there; but I thought, I thought he looked
+melancholy, just as he did at the beginning of the session, and he was not so
+merry as usual.  In short, the majority in the House of Lords is a very weak
+one:  and he has much ado to keep it up; and he is not able to make those
+removes he would, and oblige his friends; and I doubt too[19] he does not take
+care enough about it, or rather cannot do all himself, and will not employ
+others:  which is his great fault, as I have often told you.  'Tis late.
+Nite, MD.
+
+5.  I wish you a merry Lent.  I hate Lent; I hate different diets, and furmity
+and butter, and herb porridge; and sour devout faces of people who only put on
+religion for seven weeks.  I was at the Secretary's office this morning; and
+there a gentleman brought me two letters, dated last October; one from the
+Bishop of Clogher, t'other from Walls.  The gentleman is called Colonel
+Newburgh.[20]  I think you mentioned him to me some time ago; he has business
+in the House of Lords.  I will do him what service I can.  The Representation
+of the House of Commons is printed:[21]  I have not seen it yet; it is plaguy
+severe, they say.  I dined with Dr. Arbuthnot, and had a true Lenten dinner,
+not in point of victuals, but spleen; for his wife and a child or two were
+sick in the house, and that was full as mortifying as fish.  We have had fine
+mighty cold frosty weather for some days past.  I hope you take the advantage
+of it, and walk now and then.  You never answer that part of my letters where
+I desire you to walk.  I must keep my breath to cool my Lenten porridge.  Tell
+Jemmy Leigh that his boy that robbed him now appears about the town:  Patrick
+has seen him once or twice.  I knew nothing of his being robbed till Patrick
+told me he had seen the boy.  I wish it had been Sterne that had been robbed,
+to be revenged for the box that he lost,[22] and be p-xed to him.  Nite, MD.
+
+6.  I hear Mr. Prior has suffered by Stratford's breaking.  I was yesterday to
+see Prior, who is not well, and I thought he looked melancholy.  He can ill
+afford to lose money.  I walked before dinner in the Mall a good while with
+Lord Arran and Lord Dupplin, two of my brothers, and then we went to dinner,
+where the Duke of Beaufort was our President.  We were but eleven to-day.  We
+are now in all nine lords and ten commoners.  The Duke of Beaufort had the
+confidence to propose his brother-in-law, the Earl of Danby,[23] to be a
+member; but I opposed it so warmly that it was waived.  Danby is not above
+twenty, and we will have no more boys, and we want but two to make up our
+number.  I stayed till eight, and then we all went away soberly.  The Duke of
+Ormond's treat last week cost 20 pounds, though it was only four dishes and
+four, without a dessert; and I bespoke it in order to be cheap.  Yet I could
+not prevail to change the house.  Lord Treasurer is in a rage with us for
+being so extravagant:  and the wine was not reckoned neither; for that is
+always brought by him that is President.  Lord Orrery[24] is to be President
+next week; and I will see whether it cannot be cheaper; or else we will leave
+the house. . .[25]  Lord Masham made me go home with him to-night to eat
+boiled oysters.  Take oysters, wash them clean; that is, wash their shells
+clean; then put your oysters into an earthen pot, with their hollow sides
+down, then put this pot into a great kettle with water, and so let them boil.
+Your oysters are boiled in their own liquor, and not mixed water.  Lord
+Treasurer was not with us; he was very ill to-day with a swimming in the head,
+and is gone home to be cupped, and sent to desire Lady Masham to excuse him to
+the Queen.  Nite, dee MD.
+
+7.  I was to-day at the House of Lords about a friend's Bill.  Then I crossed
+the water at Westminster Stairs to Southwark, went through St. George's Fields
+to the Mint, which is the dominion of the King's[26] Bench Prison, where
+Stratford lodges in a blind alley, and writ to me to come to him; but he was
+gone to the 'Change.  I thought he had something to say to me about his own
+affairs.  I found him at his usual coffee-house, and went to his own lodgings,
+and dined with him and his wife, and other company.  His business was only to
+desire I would intercede with the Ministry about his brother-in-law, Ben
+Burton,[27] of Dublin, the banker, who is likely to come into trouble, as we
+hear, about spreading false Whiggish news.  I hate Burton, and told Stratford
+so; and I will advise the Duke of Ormond to make use of it, to keep the rogue
+in awe.  Mrs. Stratford tells me her husband's creditors have consented to
+give him liberty to get up his debts abroad; and she hopes he will pay them
+all.  He was cheerfuller than I have seen him this great while.  I have walked
+much today.--Night, deelest logues.
+
+8.  This day twelvemonth Mr. Harley was stabbed; but he is ill, and takes
+physic to-day, I hear ('tis now morning), and cannot have the Cabinet Council
+with him, as he intended, nor me to say grace.  I am going to see him.  Pray
+read the Representation; 'tis the finest that ever was writ.  Some of it is
+Pdfr's style, but not very much.  This is the day of the Queen's accession to
+the Crown; so it is a great day.  I am going to Court, and will dine with Lord
+Masham; but I must go this moment to see the Secretary about some businesses;
+so I will seal up this, and put it in the post my own self.  Farewell, deelest
+hearts and souls, MD.  Farewell MD MD MD FW FW FW ME ME Lele Lele Lele Sollahs
+lele.
+
+
+
+LETTER 43.[1]
+
+LONDON, March 8, 1711-12.
+
+I carried my forty-second letter in my pocket till evening, and then put it in
+the general post.--I went in the morning to see Lord Treasurer, who had taken
+physic, and was drinking his broth.  I had been with the Secretary before, to
+recommend a friend, one Dr. Freind,[2] to be Physician-General; and the
+Secretary promised to mention it to the Queen.  I can serve everybody but
+myself.  Then I went to Court, and carried Lord Keeper and the Secretary to
+dine with Lord Masham, when we drank the Queen and Lord Treasurer with every
+health, because this was the day of his stabbing.--Then I went and played
+pools at picquet with Lady Masham and Mrs. Hill; won ten shillings, gave a
+crown to the box, and came home.  I met at my lodgings a letter from Joe, with
+a bit annexed from Ppt.  What Joe asks is entirely out of my way, and I take
+it for a foolish whim in him.  Besides, I know not who is to give a patent:
+if the Duke of Ormond, I would speak to him; and if it come in my head I will
+mention it to Ned Southwell.  They have no patents that I know of for such
+things here, but good security is all; and to think that I would speak to Lord
+Treasurer for any such matter at random is a jest.  Did I tell you of a race
+of rakes, called the Mohocks,[3] that play the devil about this town every
+night, slit people's noses, and beat them, etc.?  Nite, sollahs, and rove
+Pdfr.  Nite, MD.
+
+9.  I was at Court to-day, and nobody invited me to dinner, except one or two,
+whom I did not care to dine with; so I dined with Mrs. Van.  Young Davenant[4]
+was telling us at Court how he was set upon by the Mohocks, and how they ran
+his chair through with a sword.  It is not safe being in the streets at night
+for them.  The Bishop of Salisbury's son[5] is said to be of the gang.  They
+are all Whigs; and a great lady sent to me, to speak to her father and to Lord
+Treasurer, to have a care of them, and to be careful likewise of myself; for
+she heard they had malicious intentions against the Ministers and their
+friends.  I know not whether there be anything in this, though others are of
+the same opinion.  The weather still continues very fine and frosty.  I walked
+in the Park this evening, and came home early to avoid the Mohocks.  Lord
+Treasurer is better.  Nite, my own two deelest MD.
+
+10.  I went this morning again to the Lord Treasurer, who is quite recovered;
+and I stayed till he went out.  I dined with a friend in the City, about a
+little business of printing; but not my own.  You must buy a small twopenny
+pamphlet, called Law is a Bottomless Pit.[6]  'Tis very prettily written, and
+there will be a Second Part.  The Commons are very slow in bringing in their
+Bill to limit the press, and the pamphleteers make good use of their time; for
+there come out three or four every day.  Well, but is not it time, methinks,
+to have a letter from MD?  'Tis now six weeks since I had your Number 26.  I
+can assure oo I expect one before this goes; and I'll make shorter day's
+journals than usual, 'cause I hope to fill up a good deal of t'other side with
+my answer.  Our fine weather lasts yet, but grows a little windy.  We shall
+have rain soon, I dispose.  Go to cards, sollahs, and I to seep.  Nite, MD.
+
+11.  Lord Treasurer has lent the long letter I writ him[7] to Prior, and I
+can't get Prior to return it.  I want to have it printed, and to make up this
+Academy for the improvement of our language.  Faith, we never shall improve it
+so much as FW has done; sall we?  No, faith, ourrichar gangridge.[8]  I dined
+privately with my friend Lewis, and then went to see Ned Southwell, and talk
+with him about Walls's business, and Mrs. South's.  The latter will be done;
+but his own not.  Southwell tells me that it must be laid before Lord
+Treasurer, and the nature of it explained, and a great deal of clutter, which
+is not worth the while; and maybe Lord Treasurer won't do it [at] last; and it
+is, as Walls says himself, not above forty shillings a year difference.  You
+must tell Walls this, unless he would have the business a secret from you:  in
+that case only say I did all I could with Ned Southwell, and it can't be done;
+for it must be laid before Lord Treasurer, etc., who will not do it; and
+besides, it is not worth troubling his lordship.  So nite, my two deelest
+nuntyes nine MD.[9]
+
+12.  Here is the D---- and all to do with these Mohocks.  Grub Street papers
+about them fly like lightning, and a list printed of near eighty put into
+several prisons, and all a lie; and I begin almost to think there is no truth,
+or very little, in the whole story.  He that abused Davenant was a drunken
+gentleman; none of that gang.  My man tells me that one of the lodgers heard
+in a coffee-house, publicly, that one design of the Mohocks was upon me, if
+they could catch me; and though I believe nothing of it, I forbear walking
+late, and they have put me to the charge of some shillings already.  I dined
+to-day with Lord Treasurer and two gentlemen of the Highlands of Scotland, yet
+very polite men.  I sat there till nine, and then went to Lord Masham's, where
+Lord Treasurer followed me, and we sat till twelve; and I came home in a chair
+for fear of the Mohocks, and I have given him warning of it too.  Little
+Harrison,[10] whom I sent to Holland, is now actually made Queen's Secretary
+at The Hague.  It will be in the Gazette to-morrow.  'Tis worth twelve hundred
+pounds a year.  Here is a young fellow has writ some Sea Eclogues, poems of
+Mermen, resembling pastorals of shepherds, and they are very pretty, and the
+thought is new.  Mermen are he-mermaids; Tritons, natives of the sea.  Do you
+understand me?  I think to recommend him to our Society to-morrow.  His name
+is Diaper.[11]  P-- on him, I must do something for him, and get him out of
+the way.  I hate to have any new wits rise, but when they do rise I would
+encourage them; but they tread on our heels and thrust us off the stage.  Nite
+deelest MD.
+
+13.  You would laugh to see our printer constantly attending our Society after
+dinner, and bringing us whatever new thing he has printed, which he seldom
+fails to do.  Yet he had nothing to-day.  Lord Lansdowne, one of our Society,
+was offended at a passage in this day's Examiner, which he thinks reflects on
+him, as I believe it does, though in a mighty civil way.  'Tis only that his
+underlings cheat; but that he is a very fine gentleman every way, etc.[12]
+Lord Orrery was President to-day; but both our dukes were absent.  Brother
+Wyndham recommended Diaper to the Society.  I believe we shall make a
+contribution among ourselves, which I don't like.  Lord Treasurer has yet done
+nothing for us, but we shall try him soon.  The company parted early, but
+Freind, and Prior, and I, sat a while longer and reformed the State, and found
+fault with the Ministry.  Prior hates his Commission of the Customs, because
+it spoils his wit.  He says he dreams of nothing but cockets,[13] and dockets,
+and drawbacks, and other jargon words of the custom-house.  Our good weather
+went away yesterday, and the nights are now dark, and I came home before ten.
+Night nown. . .  deelest sollahs.
+
+14.  I have been plagued this morning with solicitors, and with nobody more
+than my brother, Dr. Freind, who must needs have to get old Dr. Lawrence,[14]
+the Physician-General, turned out and himself in.  He has argued with me so
+long upon the reasonableness of it, that I am fully convinced it is very
+unreasonable; and so I would tell the Secretary, if I had not already made him
+speak to the Queen.  Besides, I know not but my friend Dr. Arbuthnot would be
+content to have it himself, and I love him ten times better than Freind.
+What's all this to you? but I must talk of things as they happen in the day,
+whether you know anything of them or no.  I dined in the City, and, coming
+back, one Parson Richardson[15] of Ireland overtook me.  He was here last
+summer upon a project of converting the Irish and printing Bibles, etc., in
+that language, and is now returned to pursue it on.  He tells me Dr.
+Coghill[16] came last night [to] town.  I will send to see how he does to-
+morrow.  He gave me a letter from Walls about his old business.  Nite, deelest
+MD.
+
+15.  I had intended to be early with the Secretary this morning, when my man
+admitted upstairs one Mr. Newcomb,[17] an officer, who brought me a letter
+from the Bishop of Clogher, with four lines added by Mrs. Ashe, all about that
+Newcomb.  I think, indeed, his case is hard, but God knows whether I shall be
+able to do him any service.  People will not understand:  I am a very good
+second, but I care not to begin a recommendation, unless it be for an intimate
+friend.  However, I will do what I can.  I missed the Secretary, and then
+walked to Chelsea to dine with the Dean of Christ Church,[18] who was engaged
+to Lord Orrery with some other Christ Church men.  He made me go with him
+whether I would or not, for they have this long time admitted me a Christ
+Church man.  Lord Orrery, generally every winter, gives his old acquaintance
+of that college a dinner.  There were nine clergymen at table, and four
+laymen.  The Dean and I soon left them, and after a visit or two, I went to
+Lord Masham's, and Lord Treasurer, Arbuthnot and I sat till twelve.  And now I
+am come home and got to bed.  I came afoot, but had my man with me.  Lord
+Treasurer advised me not to go in a chair, because the Mohocks insult chairs
+more than they do those on foot.  They think there is some mischievous design
+in those villains.  Several of them, Lord Treasurer told me, are actually
+taken up.  I heard at dinner that one of them was killed last night.  We shall
+know more in a little time.  I don't like them, as the men said.[19]  Nite MD.
+
+16.  This morning, at the Secretary's, I met General Ross,[20] and recommended
+Newcomb's case to him, who promises to join with me in working up the Duke of
+Ormond to do something for him.  Lord Winchelsea[21] told me to-day at Court
+that two of the Mohocks caught a maid of old Lady Winchelsea's,[22] at the
+door of their house in the Park, where she was with a candle, and had just
+lighted out somebody.  They cut all her face, and beat her without any
+provocation.  I hear my friend Lewis has got a Mohock in one of the
+messenger's hands.  The Queen was at church to-day, but was carried in an open
+chair.  She has got an ugly cough, Arbuthnot, her physician, says.  I dined
+with Crowe,[23] late Governor of Barbados; an acquaintance of Sterne's.[24]
+After dinner I asked him whether he had heard of Sterne.  "Here he is," said
+he, "at the door in a coach:" and in came Sterne.  He has been here this week.
+He is buying a captainship in his cousin Sterne's[25] regiment.  He told me he
+left Jemmy Leigh playing at cards with you.  He is to give 800 guineas for his
+commission.  I suppose you know all this better than I.  How shall I have room
+to answer oo rettle[26] hen I get it, I have gone so far already?  Nite,
+deelest logues MD.
+
+17.  Dr. Sacheverell came this morning to give me thanks for getting his
+brother an employment.  It was but six or seven weeks since I spoke to Lord
+Treasurer for him.  Sacheverell brought Trapp[27] along with him.  We dined
+together at my printer's, and I sat with them till seven.  I little thought,
+and I believe so did he, that ever I should be his solicitor to the present
+Ministry, when I left Ireland.  This is the seventh I have now provided for
+since I came, and can do nothing for myself.  I don't care; I shall have
+Ministries and other people obliged to me.  Trapp is a coxcomb, and the
+t'other is not very deep; and their judgment in things of wit or sense is
+miraculous.  The Second Part of Law is a Bottomless Pit[28] is just now
+printed, and better, I think, than the first.  Night, my two deel saucy
+dallars.
+
+18.  There is a proclamation out against the Mohocks.  One of those that are
+taken is a baronet.  I dined with poor Mrs. Wesley, who is returning to the
+Bath.  Mrs. Perceval's[29] young daughter has got the smallpox, but will do
+well.  I walked this evening in the Park, and met Prior, who made me go home
+with him, where I stayed till past twelve, and could not get a coach, and was
+alone, and was afraid enough of the Mohocks.  I will do so no more, though I
+got home safe.  Prior and I were talking discontentedly of some managements,
+that no more people are turned out, which get Lord Treasurer many enemies:
+but whether the fault be in him, or the Queen, I know not; I doubt, in both.
+Ung omens, it is now seven weeks since I received your last; but I expect one
+next Irish packet, to fill the rest of this paper; but if it don't come, I'll
+do without it:  so I wish oo good luck at ombre with the Dean.  Nite, nuntyes
+nine.[30]
+
+19.  Newcomb came to me this morning, and I went to the Duke of Ormond to
+speak for him; but the Duke was just going out to take the oaths for General.
+The Duke of Shrewsbury is to be Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.  I walked with
+Domville and Ford to Kensington, where we dined, and it cost me above a crown.
+I don't like it, as the man said.[31]  It was very windy walking.  I saw there
+Lord Masham's children.  The youngest, my nephew, I fear, has got the king's
+evil; the other two are daughters of three and four years old.  'Twas very
+windy walking.  The gardens there are mighty fine.  I passed the evening at
+Lord Masham's with Lord Treasurer and Arbuthnot, as usual, and we stayed till
+past one; but I had my man to come with me, and at home I found three letters;
+one from one Fetherston, a parson, with a postscript of Tisdall's to recommend
+him:  and Fetherston, whom I never saw, has been so kind to give me a letter
+of attorney to recover a debt for him.  Another from Lord Abercorn, to get him
+the dukedom of Chatelherault[32] from the King of France; in which I will do
+what I can, for his pretensions are very just.  The third, I warrant you, from
+our MD.  'Tis a great stir this, of getting a dukedom from the King of France:
+but it is only to speak to the Secretary, and get the Duke of Ormond to engage
+in it, and mention the case to Lord Treasurer, etc., and this I shall do.
+Nite deelest richar MD.
+
+20.  I was with the Duke of Ormond this morning, about Lord Abercorn, Dr.
+Freind, and Newcomb.  Some will do, and some will not do; that's wise,
+marams.[33]  The Duke of Shrewsbury is certainly to be your Governor.  I will
+go in a day or two, and give the Duchess joy, and recommend the Archbishop of
+Dublin to her.  I writ to the Archbishop, some months ago, that it would be
+so, and told him I would speak a good word for him to the Duchess; and he says
+he has a great respect for her, etc.  I made our Society change their house,
+and we met to-day at the Star and Garter in the Pall Mall.  Lord Arran was
+President.  The other dog was so extravagant in his bills, that for four
+dishes and four, first and second course, without wine or dessert, he charged
+twenty-one pounds, six shillings, and eightpence, to the Duke of Ormond.  We
+design, when all have been Presidents this turn, to turn it into a reckoning
+of so much a head; but we shall break up when the session ends.  Nite deelest
+MD.
+
+21.  Morning.  Now I will answer MD's rettle, N.27; you that are adding to
+your number and grumbling, had made it 26, and then altered[34] it to 27.  I
+believe it is above a month since your last; yes, it is above seven weeks
+since I had your last:  but I ought to consider that this was twelve days
+right,[35] so that makes it pretty even.  O, the sirry zade,[36] with her
+excuses of a fortnight at Ballygall, seeing their friends, and landlord
+running away.  O Rold, hot a cruttle[37] and a bustle!--No--if you will have
+it--I am not Dean of Wells,[38] nor know anything of being so; nor is there
+anything in the story; and that's enough.  It was not Roper[39] sent that
+news:  Roper is my humble slave.--Yes, I heard of your resolves, and that
+Burton was embroiled.  Stratford spoke to me in his behalf; but I said I hated
+the rascal.  Poor Catherine gone to Wales?  But she will come back again, I
+hope.  I would see her in my journey, if she were near the road; and bring her
+over.  Joe[40] is a fool; that sort of business is not at all in my way, pray
+put him off it.  People laugh when I mention it.  Bed ee paadon, Maram; I'm
+drad oo rike ee aplon:[41]  no harm, I hope.  And so. . .  DD wonders she has
+not a letter at the day; oo'll have it soon. . . .  The D---- he is! married
+to that vengeance!  Men are not to be believed.  I don't think her a fool.
+Who would have her?  Dilly will be governed like an ass; and she will govern
+like a lion.  Is not that true, Ppt?  Why, Sterne told me he left you at ombre
+with Leigh; and yet you never saw him.  I know nothing of his wife being here:
+it may cost her a c---[42] (I don't care to write that word plain).  He is a
+little in doubt about buying his commission.  Yes, I will bring oo over all
+the little papers I can think on.  I thought I sent you, by Leigh, all that
+were good at that time.  The author of the Sea Eclogues sent books to the
+Society yesterday, and we gave him guineas apiece; and, maybe, will do further
+from him (for him, I mean).  So the Bishop of Clogher, and lady, were your
+guests for a night or two.  Why, Ppt, you are grown a great gamester and
+company keeper.  I did say to myself, when I read those names, just what you
+guess; and you clear up the matter wonderfully.  You may converse with those
+two nymphs if you please, but the ----- take me if ever I do.  Iss, fais, it
+is delightful to hear that Ppt is every way Ppt now, in health, and looks, and
+all.  Pray God keep her so, many, many, many years.  I doubt the session will
+not be over till the end of April; however, I shall not wait for it, if the
+Ministry will let me go sooner.  I wish I were just now in my garden at
+Laracor.  I would set out for Dublin early on Monday, and bring you an account
+of my young trees, which you are better acquainted with than the Ministry, and
+so am I.  Oh, now you have got Number 41, have you so?  Why, perhaps, I
+forgot, and kept it to next post in my pocket:  I have done such tricks.  My
+cold is better, but not gone.  I want air and riding.  Hold ee tongue, oo Ppt,
+about colds at Moor Park! the case is quite different.  I will do what you
+desire me for Tisdall, when I next see Lord Anglesea.  Pray give him my
+service.  The weather is warm these three or four days, and rainy.  I am to
+dine to-day with Lewis and Darteneuf at Somers's,[43] the Clerk of the Kitchen
+at Court.  Darteneuf loves good bits and good sups.  Good mollows richar
+sollohs.--At night.  I dined, as I said; and it cost me a shilling for a
+chair.  It has rained all day, and is very warm.  Lady Masham's young son, my
+nephew, is very ill; and she is out of mind[44] with grief.  I pity her
+mightily.  I am got home early, and going to write to the Bishop of Clogher,
+but have no politics to send him.  Nite my own two deelest saucy d[ear] ones.
+
+22.  I am going into the City this morning with a friend about some business;
+so I will immediately seal up this, and keep it in my pottick till evening,
+and zen put it in the post.  The weather continues warm and gloomy.  I have
+heard no news since I went to bed, so can say no more.  Pray send. . .  that I
+may have time to write to. . .[45] about it.  I have here underneath given
+order for forty shillings to Mrs. Brent, which you will send to Parvisol.
+Farewell, deelest deel MD, and rove Pdfr dearly dearly.  Farewell, MD, MD, FW,
+FW, FW, ME, ME, ME, Lele lele lele lele lele lele, and lele aden.
+
+
+
+LETTER 44.[1]
+
+LONDON, March 22, 1711-12.
+
+Ugly, nasty weather.  I was in the City to-day with Mrs. Wesley and Mrs.
+Perceval, to get money from a banker for Mrs. Wesley, who goes to Bath on
+Thursday.  I left them there, and dined with a friend, and went to see Lord
+Treasurer; but he had people with him I did not know:  so I went to Lady
+Masham's, and lost a crown with her at picquet, and then sat with Lord Masham
+and Lord Treasurer, etc., there till past one; but I had my man with me, to
+come home.  I gave in my forty-third, and one for the Bishop of Clogher, to
+the post-office, as I came from the City; and so oo know 'tis late now, and I
+have nothing to say for this day.  Our Mohocks are all vanished; however, I
+shall take care of my person.  Nite my own two deelest nuntyes MD.
+
+23.  I was this morning, before church, with the Secretary, about Lord
+Abercorn's business, and some others.  My soliciting season is come, and will
+last as long as the session.  I went late to Court, and the company was almost
+gone.  The Court serves me for a coffee-house; once a week I meet acquaintance
+there, that I should not otherwise see in a quarter.  There is a flying report
+that the French have offered a cessation of arms, and to give us Dunkirk, and
+the Dutch Namur, for security, till the peace is made.  The Duke of Ormond,
+they say, goes in a week.  Abundance of his equipage is already gone.  His[2]
+friends are afraid the expense of this employment will ruin him, since he must
+lose the government of Ireland.  I dined privately with a friend, and refused
+all dinners offered me at Court; which, however, were but two, and I did not
+like either.  Did I tell you of a scoundrel about the Court that sells
+employments to ignorant people, and cheats them of their money?  He lately
+made a bargain for the Vice-Chamberlain's place, for seven thousand pounds,
+and had received some guineas earnest; but the whole thing was discovered
+t'other day, and examination taken of it by Lord Dartmouth, and I hope he will
+be swinged.  The Vice-Chamberlain told me several particulars of it last night
+at Lord Masham's.  Can DD play at ombre yet, enough to hold the cards while
+Ppt steps into the next room?  Nite deelest sollahs.[3]
+
+24.  This morning I recommended Newcomb again to the Duke of Ormond, and left
+Dick Stewart[4] to do it further.  Then I went to visit the Duchess of
+Hamilton, who was not awake.  So I went to the Duchess of Shrewsbury, and sat
+an hour at her toilet.  I talked to her about the Duke's being Lord
+Lieutenant.  She said she knew nothing of it; but I rallied her out of that,
+and she resolves not to stay behind the Duke.  I intend to recommend the
+Bishop of Clogher to her for an acquaintance.  He will like her very well:
+she is, indeed, a most agreeable woman, and a great favourite of mine.  I know
+not whether the ladies in Ireland will like her.  I was at the Court of
+Requests, to get some lords to be at a committee to-morrow, about a friend's
+Bill:  and then the Duke of Beaufort gave me a poem, finely bound in folio,
+printed at Stamford, and writ by a country squire.  Lord Exeter[5] desired the
+Duke to give it the Queen, because the author is his friend; but the Duke
+desired I would let him know whether it was good for anything.  I brought it
+home, and will return it to-morrow, as the dullest thing I ever read; and
+advise the Duke not to present it.  I dined with Domville at his lodgings, by
+invitation; for he goes in a few days for Ireland.  Nite dee MD.
+
+25.  There is a mighty feast at a Tory sheriff's to-day in the City:  twelve
+hundred dishes of meat.--Above five lords, and several hundred gentlemen, will
+be there, and give four or five guineas apiece, according to custom.  Dr.
+Coghill and I dined, by invitation, at Mrs. Van's.  It has rained or mizzled
+all day, as my pockets feel.  There are two new answers come out to the
+Conduct of the Allies.  The last year's Examiners, printed together in a small
+volume, go off but slowly.  The printer over-printed himself by at least a
+thousand; so soon out of fashion are party papers, however so well writ.  The
+Medleys are coming out in the same volume, and perhaps may sell better.  Our
+news about a cessation of arms begins to flag, and I have not these three days
+seen anybody in business to ask them about it.  We had a terrible fire last
+night in Drury Lane, or thereabouts, and three or four people destroyed.  One
+of the maids of honour has the smallpox; but the best is, she can lose no
+beauty; and we have one new handsome maid of honour.  Nite MD.
+
+26.  I forgot to tell you that on Sunday last, about seven at night, it
+lightened above fifty times as I walked the Mall, which I think is
+extraordinary at this time of the year, and the weather was very hot.  Had you
+anything of this in Dublin?  I intended to dine with Lord Treasurer to-day;
+but Lord Mansel and Mr. Lewis made me dine with them at Kit Musgrave's.[6]  I
+sat the evening with Mrs. Wesley, who goes to-morrow morning to the Bath.  She
+is much better than she was.  The news of the French desiring a cessation of
+arms, etc., was but town talk.  We shall know in a few days, as I am told,
+whether there will be a peace or not.  The Duke of Ormond will go in a week
+for Flanders, they say.  Our Mohocks go on still, and cut people's faces every
+night; fais, they shan't cut mine, I like it better as it is.  The dogs will
+cost me at least a crown a week in chairs.  I believe the souls of your
+houghers of cattle have got into them, and now they don't distinguish between
+a cow and a Christian.  I forgot to wish you yesterday a happy New Year.  You
+know the twenty-fifth of March is the first day of the year, and now you must
+leave off cards, and put out your fire.  I'll put out mine the first of April,
+cold or not cold.  I believe I shall lose credit with you by not coming over
+at the beginning of April; but I hoped the session would be ended, and I must
+stay till then; yet I would fain be at the beginning of my willows growing.
+Perceval tells me that the quicksets upon the flat in the garden do not grow
+so well as those famous ones on the ditch.  They want digging about them.  The
+cherry-trees, by the river-side, my heart is set upon.  Nite MD.
+
+27.  Society day.  You know that, I suppose.  Dr. Arthburnett[7] was
+President.  His dinner was dressed in the Queen's kitchen, and was mighty
+fine.  We ate it at Ozinda's Chocolate-house,[8] just by St. James's.  We were
+never merrier, nor better company, and did not part till after eleven.  I did
+not summon Lord Lansdowne:  he and I are fallen out.  There was something in
+an Examiner a fortnight ago that he thought reflected on the abuses in his
+office (he is Secretary at War), and he writ to the Secretary that he heard I
+had inserted that paragraph.  This I resented highly, that he should complain
+of me before he spoke to me.  I sent him a peppering letter, and would not
+summon him by a note, as I did the rest; nor ever will have anything to say to
+him, till he begs my pardon.  I met Lord Treasurer to-day at Lady Masham's.
+He would fain have carried me home to dinner, but I begged his pardon.  What!
+upon a Society day!  No, no.  'Tis rate, sollahs.  I an't dlunk.  Nite MD.
+
+28.  I was with my friend Lewis to-day, getting materials for a little
+mischief; and I dined with Lord Treasurer, and three or four fellows I never
+saw before.  I left them at seven, and came home, and have been writing to the
+Archbishop of Dublin, and cousin Deane,[9] in answer to one of his of four
+months old, that I spied by chance, routing among my papers.  I have a pain
+these two days exactly upon the top of my left shoulder.  I fear it is
+something rheumatic; it winches[10] now and then.  Shall I put flannel to it?
+Domville is going to Ireland; he came here this morning to take leave of me,
+but I shall dine with him to-morrow.  Does the Bishop of Clogher talk of
+coming for England this summer?  I think Lord Molesworth told me so about two
+months ago.  The weather is bad again; rainy and very cold this evening.  Do
+you know what the longitude is?  A projector[11] has been applying himself to
+me, to recommend him to the Ministry, because he pretends to have found out
+the longitude.  I believe he has no more found it out than he has found out
+mine. . .[12]  However, I will gravely hear what he says, and discover him a
+knave or fool.  Nite MD.
+
+29.  I am plagued with these pains in my shoulder; I believe it is rheumatic;
+I will do something for it to-night.  Mr. Lewis and I dined with Mr. Domville,
+to take our leave of him.  I drank three or four glasses of champagne by
+perfect teasing, though it is bad for my pain; but if it continue, I will not
+drink any wine without water till I am well.  The weather is abominably cold
+and wet.  I am got into bed, and have put some old flannel, for want of new,
+to my shoulder, and rubbed it with Hungary water.[13]  It is plaguy hard.  I
+never would drink any wine, if it were not for my head, and drinking has given
+me this pain.  I will try abstemiousness for a while.  How does MD do now; how
+does DD and Ppt?  You must know I hate pain, as the old woman said.  But I'll
+try to go seep.  My flesh sucks up Hungary water rarely.  My man is an awkward
+rascal, and makes me peevish.  Do you know that t'other day he was forced to
+beg my pardon, that he could not shave my head, his hand shook so?  He is
+drunk every day, and I design to turn him off soon as ever I get to Ireland.
+I'll write no more now, but go to sleep, and see whether sleep and flannel
+will cure my shoulder.  Nite deelest MD.
+
+30.  I was not able to go to church or Court to-day for my shoulder.  The pain
+has left my shoulder, and crept to my neck and collar-bone.  It makes me think
+of poo Ppt's bladebone.  Urge, urge, urge; dogs gnawing.  I went in a chair at
+two, and dined with Mrs. Van, where I could be easy, and came back at seven.
+My Hungary water is gone; and to-night I use spirits of wine, which my
+landlady tells me is very good.  It has rained terribly all day long, and is
+extremely cold.  I am very uneasy, and such cruel twinges every moment!  Nite
+deelest MD.
+
+31.  April 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.  All these days I have been extremely ill,
+though I twice crawled out a week ago; but am now recovering, though very
+weak.  The violence of my pain abated the night before last:  I will just tell
+you how I was, and then send away this letter, which ought to have gone
+Saturday last.  The pain increased with mighty violence in my left shoulder
+and collar-bone, and that side my neck.  On Thursday morning appeared great
+red spots in all those places where my pain was, and the violence of the pain
+was confined to my neck behind, a little on the left side; which was so
+violent that I had not a minute's ease, nor hardly a minute's sleep in three
+days and nights.  The spots increased every day, and bred little pimples,
+which are now grown white, and full of corruption, though small.  The red
+still continues too, and most prodigious hot and inflamed.  The disease is the
+shingles.  I eat nothing but water-gruel; am very weak; but out of all violent
+pain.  The doctors say it would have ended in some violent disease if it had
+not come out thus.  I shall now recover fast.  I have been in no danger of
+life, but miserable torture.  I must not write too much.  So adieu, deelest MD
+MD MD FW FW, ME ME ME, Lele.  I can say lele yet, oo see.  Fais, I don't
+conceal a bit, as hope saved.[14]
+
+I[15] must purge and clyster after this; and my next letter will not be in the
+old order of journal, till I have done with physic.  An't oo surprised to see
+a letter want half a side?
+
+
+
+LETTER 45.[1]
+
+LONDON, April 24, 1712.
+
+I had your twenty-eighth two or three days ago.  I can hardly answer it now.
+Since my last I have been extremely ill.  'Tis this day just a month since I
+felt a small pain on the tip of my left shoulder, which grew worse, and spread
+for six days; then broke all out by my collar and left side of my neck in
+monstrous red spots inflamed, and these grew to small pimples.  For four days
+I had no rest, nor nights, for a pain in my neck; then I grew a little better;
+afterward, where my pains were, a cruel itching seized me, beyond whatever I
+could imagine, and kept me awake several nights.  I rubbed it vehemently, but
+did not scratch it:  then it grew into three or four great sores like
+blisters, and run; at last I advised the doctor to use it like a blister, so I
+did with melilot[2] plasters, which still run:  and am now in pain enough, but
+am daily mending.  I kept my chamber a fortnight, then went out a day or two,
+but then confined myself again.  Two days ago I went to a neighbour to dine,
+but yesterday again kept at home.  To-day I will venture abroad a little, and
+hope to be well in a week or ten days.  I never suffered so much in my life.
+I have taken my breeches in above two inches, so I am leaner, which answers
+one question in your letter.  The weather is mighty fine.  I write in the
+morning, because I am better then.  I will go and try to walk a little.  I
+will give DD's certificate to Tooke to-morrow.  Farewell, MD MD MD, ME ME, FW
+FW ME ME.
+
+
+
+LETTER 46.[1]
+
+LONDON, May 10, 1712.
+
+I have not yet ease or humour enough to go on in my journal method, though I
+have left my chamber these ten days.  My pain continues still in my shoulder
+and collar: I keep flannel on it, and rub it with brandy, and take a nasty
+diet drink.  I still itch terribly, and have some few pimples; I am weak, and
+sweat; and then the flannel makes me mad with itching; but I think my pain
+lessens.  A journal, while I was sick, would have been a noble thing, made up
+of pain and physic, visits, and messages; the two last were almost as
+troublesome as the two first.  One good circumstance is that I am grown much
+leaner.  I believe I told you that I have taken in my breeches two inches.  I
+had your N.29 last night.  In answer to your good opinion of my disease, the
+doctors said they never saw anything so odd of the kind; they were not
+properly shingles, but herpes miliaris, and twenty other hard names.  I can
+never be sick like other people, but always something out of the common way;
+and as for your notion of its coming without pain, it neither came, nor
+stayed, nor went without pain, and the most pain I ever bore in my life.
+Medemeris[2] is retired in the country, with the beast her husband, long ago.
+I thank the Bishop of Clogher for his proxy; I will write to him soon.  Here
+is Dilly's wife in town; but I have not seen her yet.  No, sinkerton:[3]  'tis
+not a sign of health, but a sign that, if it had not come out, some terrible
+fit of sickness would have followed.  I was at our Society last Thursday, to
+receive a new member, the Chancellor of the Exchequer;[4] but I drink nothing
+above wine and water.  We shall have a peace, I hope, soon, or at least
+entirely broke; but I believe the first.  My Letter to Lord Treasurer, about
+the English tongue,[5] is now printing; and I suffer my name to be put at the
+end of it, which I never did before in my life.  The Appendix to the Third
+Part of John Bull[6] was published yesterday; it is equal to the rest.  I hope
+you read John Bull.  It was a Scotch gentleman,[7] a friend of mine, that writ
+it; but they put it upon me.  The Parliament will hardly be up till June.  We
+were like to be undone some days ago with a tack; but we carried it bravely,
+and the Whigs came in to help us.  Poor Lady Masham, I am afraid, will lose
+her only son, about a twelvemonth old, with the king's evil.  I never would
+let Mrs. Fenton see me during my illness, though she often came; but she has
+been once here since I recovered.  Bernage has been twice to see me of late.
+His regiment will be broke, and he only upon half-pay; so perhaps he thinks he
+will want me again.  I am told here the Bishop of Clogher and family are
+coming over, but he says nothing of it himself.  I have been returning the
+visits of those that sent howdees[8] in my sickness; particularly the Duchess
+of Hamilton, who came and sat with me two hours.  I make bargains with all
+people that I dine with, to let me scrub my back against a chair; and the
+Duchess of Ormond[9] was forced to bear it the other day.  Many of my friends
+are gone to Kensington, where the Queen has been removed for some time.  This
+is a long letter for a kick[10] body.  I will begin the next in the journal
+way, though my journals will be sorry ones.  My left hand is very weak, and
+trembles; but my right side has not been touched.
+
+     This is a pitiful letter
+     For want of a better;
+     But plagued with a tetter,
+     My fancy does fetter.
+
+Ah! my poor willows and quicksets!  Well, but you must read John Bull.  Do you
+understand it all?  Did I tell you that young Parson Gery[11] is going to be
+married, and asked my advice when it was too late to break off?  He tells me
+Elwick has purchased forty pounds a year in land adjoining to his living.  Ppt
+does not say one word of her own little health.  I am angry almost; but I
+won't, 'cause see im a dood dallar in odle sings;[12] iss, and so im DD too.
+God bless MD, and FW, and ME, ay and Pdfr too.  Farewell, MD, MD, MD, FW, FW,
+FW.  ME, ME Lele.  I can say lele it, ung oomens, iss I tan, well as oo.
+
+
+
+LETTER 47.[1]
+
+LONDON, May 31, 1712.
+
+I cannot yet arrive to my journal letters, my pains continuing still, though
+with less violence; but I don't love to write journals while I am in pain; and
+above all, not journals to MD.  But, however, I am so much mended, that I
+intend my next shall be in the old way; and yet I shall, perhaps, break my
+resolution when I feel pain.  I believe I have lost credit with you, in
+relation to my coming over; but I protest it is impossible for one who has
+anything to do with this Ministry to be certain when he fixes any time.  There
+is a business which, till it take some turn or other, I cannot leave this
+place in prudence or honour.  And I never wished so much as now that I had
+stayed in Ireland; but the die is cast, and is now a spinning, and till it
+settles, I cannot tell whether it be an ace or a sise.[2]  I am confident by
+what you know yourselves, that you will justify me in all this.  The moment I
+am used ill, I will leave them; but know not how to do it while things are in
+suspense. The session will soon be over (I believe in a fortnight), and the
+peace, we hope, will be made in a short time; and there will be no further
+occasion for me; nor have I anything to trust to but Court gratitude, so that
+I expect to see my willows[3] a month after the Parliament is up:  but I will
+take MD in my way, and not go to Laracor like an unmannerly spraenekich
+ferrow.[4]  Have you seen my Letter to Lord Treasurer?  There are two answers
+come out to it already;[5] though it is no politics, but a harmless proposal
+about the improvement of the English Tongue.  I believe if I writ an essay
+upon a straw some fool would answer it.  About ten days hence I expect a
+letter from MD; N.30.--You are now writing it, near the end, as I guess.--I
+have not received DD's money; but I will give you a note for it on Parvisol,
+and bed oo paadon[6] I have not done it before.  I am just now thinking to go
+lodge at Kensington for the air.  Lady Masham has teased me to do it, but
+business has hindered me; but now Lord Treasurer has removed thither.  Fifteen
+of our Society dined together under a canopy in an arbour at Parson's Green[7]
+last Thursday:  I never saw anything so fine and romantic.  We got a great
+victory last Wednesday in the House of Lords by a majority, I think, of
+twenty-eight; and the Whigs had desired their friends to bespeak places to see
+Lord Treasurer carried to the Tower.[8]  I met your Higgins[9] here yesterday:
+he roars at the insolence of the Whigs in Ireland, talks much of his own
+sufferings and expenses in asserting the cause of the Church; and I find he
+would fain plead merit enough to desire that his fortune should be mended.  I
+believe he designs to make as much noise as he can in order to preferment.
+Pray let the Provost, when he sees you, give you ten English shillings, and I
+will give as much here to the man who delivered me Rymer's books:[10]  he
+knows the meaning.  Tell him I will not trust him, but that you can order it
+to be paid me here; and I will trust you till I see you.  Have I told you that
+the rogue Patrick has left me these two months, to my great satisfaction?  I
+have got another, who seems to be much better, if he continues it.  I am
+printing a threepenny pamphlet,[11] and shall print another in a fortnight,
+and then I have done, unless some new occasion starts.  Is my curate Warburton
+married to Mrs. Melthrop in my parish? so I hear.  Or is it a lie?  Has
+Raymond got to his new house?  Do you see Joe now and then?  What luck have
+you at ombre?  How stands it with the Dean? . . .[12]  My service to Mrs.
+Stoyte, and Catherine, if she be come from Wales.  I have not yet seen Dilly
+Ashe's wife.  I called once, but she was not at home:  I think she is under
+the doctor's hand. . . .[13]  I believe the news of the Duke of Ormond
+producing letters in the council of war, with orders not to fight, will
+surprise you in Ireland.  Lord Treasurer said in the House of Lords that in a
+few days the treaty of peace should be laid before them; and our Court thought
+it wrong to hazard a battle, and sacrifice many lives in such a juncture.  If
+the peace holds, all will do well, otherwise I know not how we shall weather
+it.  And it was reckoned as a wrong step in politics for Lord Treasurer to
+open himself so much.  The Secretary would not go so far to satisfy the Whigs
+in the House of Commons; but there all went swimmingly.  I'll say no more to
+oo to-nite, sellohs, because I must send away the letter, not by the bell,[14]
+but early:  and besides, I have not much more to say at zis plesent
+liting.[15]  Does MD never read at all now, pee?[16]  But oo walk
+plodigiousry, I suppose; oo make nothing of walking to, to, to, ay, to
+Donnybrook.  I walk too as much as I can, because sweating is good; but I'll
+walk more if I go to Kensington.  I suppose I shall have no apples this year
+neither, for I dined t'other day with Lord Rivers, who is sick at his country-
+house, and he showed me all his cherries blasted.  Nite deelest sollahs;
+farewell deelest rives; rove poo poo Pdfr.  Farewell deelest richar MD, MD,
+MD, FW, FW, FW, FW, FW, ME, ME, Lele, ME, Lele, Lele, richar MD.
+
+
+
+LETTER 48.[1]
+
+KENSINGTON, June 17, 1712.
+
+I have been so tosticated about since my last, that I could not go on in my
+journal manner, though my shoulder is a great deal better; however, I feel
+constant pain in it, but I think it diminishes, and I have cut off some slices
+from my flannel.  I have lodged here near a fortnight, partly for the air and
+exercise, partly to be near the Court, where dinners are to be found.  I
+generally get a lift in a coach to town, and in the evening I walk back.  On
+Saturday I dined with the Duchess of Ormond at her lodge near Sheen, and
+thought to get a boat back as usual.  I walked by the bank to Cue [Kew], but
+no boat, then to Mortlake, but no boat, and it was nine o'clock.  At last a
+little sculler called, full of nasty people.  I made him set me down at
+Hammersmith, so walked two miles to this place, and got here by eleven.  Last
+night I had another such difficulty.  I was in the City till past ten at
+night; it rained hard, but no coach to be had.  It gave over a little, and I
+walked all the way here, and got home by twelve.  I love these shabby
+difficulties when they are over; but I hate them, because they arise from not
+having a thousand pound a year.  I had your N.30 about three days ago, which I
+will now answer.  And first, I did not relapse, but found[2] I came out before
+I ought; and so, and so, as I have told you in some of my last.  The first
+coming abroad made people think I was quite recovered, and I had no more
+messages afterwards.  Well, but John Bull is not writ by the person you
+imagine, as hope![3]  It is too good for another to own.  Had it been Grub
+Street, I would have let people think as they please; and I think that's
+right:  is not it now? so flap ee hand, and make wry mouth oo-self, sauci
+doxi.  Now comes DD.  Why sollah, I did write in a fortnight my 47th; and if
+it did not come in due time, can I help wind and weather? am I a Laplander? am
+I a witch? can I work miracles? can I make easterly winds?  Now I am against
+Dr. Smith.  I drink little water with my wine, yet I believe he is right.  Yet
+Dr. Cockburn told me a little wine would not hurt me; but it is so hot and
+dry, and water is so dangerous.  The worst thing here is my evenings at Lord
+Masham's, where Lord Treasurer comes, and we sit till after twelve.  But it is
+convenient I should be among them for a while as much as possible.  I need not
+tell oo why.  But I hope that will be at an end in a month or two, one way or
+other, and I am resolved it shall.  But I can't go to Tunbridge, or anywhere
+else out of the way, in this juncture.  So Ppt designs for Templeoag (what a
+name is that!).  Whereabouts is that place?  I hope not very far from Dublin.
+Higgins is here, roaring that all is wrong in Ireland, and would have me get
+him an audience of Lord Treasurer to tell him so; but I will have nothing to
+do in it, no, not I, faith.  We have had no thunder till last night, and till
+then we were dead for want of rain; but there fell a great deal:  no field
+looked green.  I reckon the Queen will go to Windsor in three or four weeks:
+and if the Secretary takes a house there, I shall be sometimes with him.  But
+how affectedly Ppt talks of my being here all the summer; which I do not
+intend:  nor to stay one minute longer in England than becomes the
+circumstances I am in.  I wish you would go soon into the country, and take a
+good deal of it; and where better than Trim?  Joe will be your humble servant,
+Parvisol your slave, and Raymond at your command, for he piques himself on
+good manners.  I have seen Dilly's wife--and I have seen once or twice old
+Bradley[4] here.  He is very well, very old, and very wise:  I believe I must
+go see his wife, when I have leisure.  I should be glad to see Goody Stoyte
+and her husband; pray give them my humble service, and to Catherine, and to
+Mrs. Walls--I am not the least bit in love with Mrs. Walls--I suppose the
+cares of the husband increase with the fruitfulness of the wife.  I am grad at
+halt[5] to hear of Ppt's good health:  pray let her finish it by drinking
+waters.  I hope DD had her bill, and has her money.  Remember to write a due
+time before ME money is wanted, and be good galls, dood dallars, I mean, and
+no crying dallars.  I heard somebody coming upstairs, and forgot I was in the
+country; and I was afraid of a visitor:  that is one advantage of being here,
+that I am not teased with solicitors.  Molt, the chemist, is my acquaintance.
+My service to Dr. Smith.  I sent the question to him about Sir Walter
+Raleigh's cordial, and the answer he returned is in these words:  "It is
+directly after Mr. Boyle's receipt."  That commission is performed; if he
+wants any of it, Molt shall use him fairly.  I suppose Smith is one of your
+physicians.  So, now your letter is fully and impartially answered; not as
+rascals answer me:  I believe, if I writ an essay upon a straw, I should have
+a shoal of answerers:  but no matter for that; you see I can answer without
+making any reflections, as becomes men of learning.  Well, but now for the
+peace:  why, we expect it daily; but the French have the staff in their own
+hands, and we trust to their honesty.  I wish it were otherwise.  Things are
+now in the way of being soon in the extremes of well or ill.  I hope and
+believe the first.  Lord Wharton is gone out of town in a rage, and curses
+himself and friends for ruining themselves in defending Lord Marlborough and
+Godolphin, and taking Nottingham into their favour.  He swears he will meddle
+no more during this reign; a pretty speech at sixty-six, and the Queen is near
+twenty years younger, and now in very good health; for you must know her
+health is fixed by a certain reason, that she has done with braces (I must use
+the expression), and nothing ill is happened to her since; so she has a new
+lease of her life.  Read the Letter to a Whig Lord.[6]  Do you ever read?  Why
+don't you say so?  I mean does DD read to Ppt?  Do you walk?  I think Ppt
+should walk to[7] DD; as DD reads to Ppt, for Ppt oo must know is a good
+walker; but not so good as Pdfr.  I intend to dine to-day with Mr. Lewis, but
+it threatens rain; and I shall be too late to get a lift; and I must write to
+the Bishop of Clogher.  'Tis now ten in the morning; and this is all writ at a
+heat.  Farewell deelest. . .  deelest MD, MD, MD, MD, MD, FW, FW, FW, ME, ME,
+ME, Lele, ME, Lele, ME, Lele, ME, Lele, Lele, Lele, ME.
+
+
+
+LETTER 49.[1]
+
+KENSINGTON, July 1, 1712.
+
+I never was in a worse station for writing letters than this, especially for
+writing to MD, since I left off my journals.  For I go to town early; and when
+I come home at night, I generally go to Lord Masham, where Lord Treasurer
+comes, and we stay till past twelve.  But I am now resolved to write journals
+again, though my shoulder is not yet well; for I have still a few itching
+pimples, and a little pain now and then.  It is now high cherry-time with us;
+take notice, is it so soon with you?  And we have early apricots, and
+gooseberries are ripe.  On Sunday Archdeacon Parnell came here to see me.  It
+seems he has been ill for grief of his wife's death,[2] and has been two
+months at the Bath.  He has a mind to go to Dunkirk with Jack Hill,[3] and I
+persuade him to it, and have spoke to Hill to receive him; but I doubt he
+won't have spirit to go.  I have made Ford[4] Gazetteer, and got two hundred
+pounds a year settled on the employment by the Secretary of State, beside the
+perquisites.  It is the prettiest employment in England of its bigness; yet
+the puppy does not seem satisfied with it.  I think people keep some follies
+to themselves, till they have occasion to produce them.  He thinks it not
+genteel enough, and makes twenty difficulties.  'Tis impossible to make any
+man easy.  His salary is paid him every week, if he pleases, without taxes or
+abatements.  He has little to do for it.  He has a pretty office, with coals,
+candles, papers, etc.; can frank what letters he will; and his perquisites, if
+he takes care, may be worth one hundred pounds more.  I hear the Bishop of
+Clogher is landing, or landed, in England; and I hope to see him in a few
+days.  I was to see Mrs. Bradley[5] on Sunday night.  Her youngest son is
+married to somebody worth nothing, and her daughter was forced to leave Lady
+Giffard, because she was striking up an intrigue with a footman, who played
+well upon the flute.  This is the mother's account of it.  Yesterday the old
+Bishop of Worcester,[6] who pretends to be a prophet, went to the Queen, by
+appointment, to prove to Her Majesty, out of Daniel and the Revelations, that
+four years hence there would be a war of religion; that the King of France
+would be a Protestant, and fight on their side; that the Popedom would be
+destroyed, etc.; and declared that he would be content to give up his
+bishopric if it were not true.  Lord Treasurer, who told it me, was by, and
+some others; and I am told Lord Treasurer confounded him sadly in his own
+learning, which made the old fool very quarrelsome.  He is near ninety years
+old.  Old Bradley is fat and lusty, and has lost his palsy.  Have you seen
+Toland's Invitation to Dismal?[7]  How do you like it?  But it is an imitation
+of Horace, and perhaps you don't understand Horace.  Here has been a great
+sweep of employments, and we expect still more removals.  The Court seems
+resolved to make thorough work.  Mr. Hill intended to set out to-morrow for
+Dunkirk, of which he is appointed Governor; but he tells me to-day that he
+cannot go till Thursday or Friday.  I wish it were over.  Mr. Secretary tells
+me he is [in] no fear at all that France will play tricks with us.  If we have
+Dunkirk once, all is safe.  We rail now all against the Dutch, who, indeed,
+have acted like knaves, fools, and madmen.  Mr. Secretary is soon to be made a
+viscount.  He desired I would draw the preamble of his patent; but I excused
+myself from a work that might lose me a great deal of reputation, and get me
+very little.  We would fain have the Court make him an earl, but it would not
+be; and therefore he will not take the title of Bullenbrook,[8] which is
+lately extinct in the elder branch of his family.  I have advised him to be
+called Lord Pomfret; but he thinks that title is already in some other
+family;[9] and, besides, he objects that it is in Yorkshire, where he has no
+estate; but there is nothing in that, and I love Pomfret.  Don't you love
+Pomfret?  Why?  'Tis in all our histories; they are full of Pomfret Castle.
+But what's all this to you?  You don't care for this.  Is Goody Stoyte come to
+London?  I have not heard of her yet.  The Dean of St. Patrick's never had the
+manners to answer my letter.  I was t'other day to see Sterne[10] and his
+wife.  She is not half so handsome as when I saw her with you at Dublin.  They
+design to pass the summer at a house near Lord Somers's, about a dozen miles
+off.  You never told me how my "Letter to Lord Treasurer" passes in Ireland.
+I suppose you are drinking at this time Temple-something's[11] waters.  Steele
+was arrested the other day for making a lottery directly against an Act of
+Parliament.  He is now under prosecution; but they think it will be dropped
+out of pity.[12]  I believe he will very soon lose his employment, for he has
+been mighty impertinent of late in his Spectators; and I will never offer a
+word in his behalf.  Raymond writes me word that the Bishop of Meath[13] was
+going to summon me, in order to suspension, for absence, if the Provost had
+not prevented him.  I am prettily rewarded for getting them their First-
+Fruits, with a p--.  We have had very little hot weather during the whole
+month of June; and for a week past we have had a great deal of rain, though
+not every day.  I am just now told that the Governor of Dunkirk has not orders
+yet to deliver up the town to Jack Hill and his forces, but expects them
+daily.  This must put off Hill's journey a while, and I don't like these
+stoppings in such an affair.  Go, get oo gone, and drink oo waters, if this
+rain has not spoiled them, sauci doxi.  I have no more to say to oo at
+plesent; but rove Pdfr, and MD, and ME.  And Podefr will rove Pdfr, and MD and
+ME.  I wish you had taken any account when I sent money to Mrs. Brent.  I
+believe I han't done it a great while.  And pray send me notice when ME . . .
+to have it when it is due.[14]  Farewell, dearest MD FW FW FW ME ME ME.
+
+
+
+LETTER 50.[1]
+
+KENSINGTON, July 17, 1712.
+
+I am weary of living in this place, and glad to leave it soon.  The Queen goes
+on Tuesday to Windsor, and I shall follow in three or four days after.  I can
+do nothing here, going early to London, and coming late from it, and supping
+at Lady Masham's.  I dined to-day with the Duke of Argyle at Cue [Kew], and
+would not go to the Court to-night, because of writing to MD.  The Bishop of
+Clogher has been here this fortnight:  I see him as often as I can.  Poor
+Master Ashe has a sad redness in his face; it is St. Anthony's fire; his face
+all swelled, and will break in his cheek, but no danger.  Since Dunkirk has
+been in our hands, Grub Street has been very fruitful.  Pdfr has writ five or
+six Grub Street papers this last week.  Have you seen Toland's Invitation to
+Dismal, or Hue and Cry after Dismal, or Ballad on Dunkirk, or Argument that
+Dunkirk is not in our Hands?  Poh! you have seen nothing.  I am dead here with
+the hot weather; yet I walk every night home, and believe it does me good:
+but my shoulder is not yet right; itchings, and scratchings, and small
+achings.  Did I tell you I had made Ford Gazetteer, with two hundred pounds a
+year salary, beside perquisites?  I had a letter lately from Parvisol, who
+says my canal looks very finely; I long to see it; but no apples; all blasted
+again.  He tells me there will be a triennial visitation in August.  I must
+send Raymond another proxy.  So now I will answer oo rettle N.33,[2] dated
+June 17.  Ppt writes as well as ever, for all her waters.  I wish I had never
+come here, as often and as heartily as Ppt.  What had I to do here?  I have
+heard of the Bishop's making me uneasy, but I did not think it was because I
+never writ to him.  A little would make me write to him, but I don't know what
+to say.  I find I am obliged to the Provost for keeping the Bishop[3] from
+being impertinent.  Yes, Maram DD, but oo would not be content with letters
+flom Pdfr of six lines, or twelve either, fais.  I hope Ppt will have done
+with the waters soon, and find benefit by them.  I believe, if they were as
+far off as Wexford, they would do as much good; for I take the journey to
+contribute as much as anything.  I can assure you the Bishop of Clogher's
+being here does not in the least affect my staying or going.  I never talked
+to Higgins but once in my life in the street, and I believe he and I shall
+hardly meet but by chance.  What care I whether my Letter to Lord Treasurer be
+commended there or no?  Why does not somebody among you answer it, as three or
+four have done here?  (I am now sitting with nothing but my nightgown, for
+heat.)  Ppt shall have a great Bible.  I have put it down in my memlandums[4]
+just now.  And DD shall be repaid her t'other book; but patience, all in good
+time:  you are so hasty, a dog would, etc.  So Ppt has neither won nor lost.
+Why, mun, I play sometimes too at picket, that is picquet, I mean; but very
+seldom.--Out late? why, 'tis only at Lady Masham's, and that is in our town;
+but I never come late here from London, except once in rain, when I could not
+get a coach.  We have had very little thunder here; none these two months.
+Why, pray, madam philosopher, how did the rain hinder the thunder from doing
+any harm?  I suppose it ssquenched it.  So here comes Ppt aden[5] with her
+little watery postscript.  O Rold, dlunken srut![6] drink Pdfr's health ten
+times in a morning! you are a whetter, fais; I sup MD's fifteen times evly
+molning in milk porridge.  Lele's fol oo now--and lele's fol oo rettle, and
+evly kind of sing[7]--and now I must say something else.  You hear Secretary
+St. John is made Viscount Bullinbrook.[8]  I can hardly persuade him to take
+that title, because the eldest branch of his family had it in an earldom, and
+it was last year extinct.  If he did not take it, I advised him to be Lord
+Pomfret, which I think is a noble title.  You hear of it often in the
+Chronicles, Pomfret Castle:  but we believed it was among the titles of some
+other lord.  Jack Hill sent his sister a pattern of a head-dress from Dunkirk;
+it was like our fashion twenty years ago, only not quite so high, and looked
+very ugly.  I have made Trapp[9] chaplain to Lord Bullinbroke, and he is
+mighty happy and thankful for it.  Mr. Addison returned me my visit this
+morning.  He lives in our town.  I shall be mighty retired, and mighty busy
+for a while at Windsor.  Pray why don't MD go to Trim, and see Laracor, and
+give me an account of the garden, and the river, and the holly and the cherry-
+trees on the river-walk?
+
+19.  I could not send this letter last post, being called away before I could
+fold or finish it.  I dined yesterday with Lord Treasurer; sat with him till
+ten at night; yet could not find a minute for some business I had with him.
+He brought me to Kensington, and Lord Bulingbrook would not let me go away
+till two; and I am now in bed, very lazy and sleepy at nine.  I must shave
+head and face, and meet Lord Bullinbrook at eleven, and dine again with Lord
+Treasurer.  To-day there will be another Grub,[10] A Letter from the Pretender
+to a Whig Lord.  Grub Street has but ten days to live; then an Act of
+Parliament takes place that ruins it, by taxing every half-sheet at a
+halfpenny.  We have news just come, but not the particulars, that the Earl of
+Albemarle,[11] at the head of eight thousand Dutch, is beaten, lost the
+greatest part of his men, and himself a prisoner.  This perhaps may cool their
+courage, and make them think of a peace.  The Duke of Ormond has got abundance
+of credit by his good conduct of affairs in Flanders.  We had a good deal of
+rain last night, very refreshing.  'Tis late, and I must rise.  Don't play at
+ombre in your waters, sollah.  Farewell, deelest MD, MD MD MD FW FW ME ME ME
+Lele Lele Lele.
+
+
+
+LETTER 51.[1]
+
+LONDON, Aug. 7, 1712.
+
+I had your N.32 at Windsor:  I just read it, and immediately sealed it up
+again, and shall read it no more this twelvemonth at least.  The reason of my
+resentment at it is, because you talk as glibly of a thing as if it were done,
+which, for aught I know, is farther from being done than ever, since I hear
+not a word of it, though the town is full of it, and the Court always giving
+me joy and vexation.  You might be sure I would have let you know as soon as
+it was done; but I believe you fancied I would affect not to tell it you, but
+let you learn it from newspapers and reports.  I remember only there was
+something in your letter about ME's money, and that shall be taken care of on
+the other side.  I left Windsor on Monday last, upon Lord Bolingbroke's being
+gone to France, and somebody's being here that I ought often to consult with
+in an affair I am upon:  but that person talks of returning to Windsor again,
+and I believe I shall follow him.  I am now in a hedge-lodging very busy, as I
+am every day till noon:  so that this letter is like to be short, and you are
+not to blame me these two months; for I protest, if I study ever so hard, I
+cannot in that time compass what I am upon.  We have a fever both here and at
+Windsor, which hardly anybody misses; but it lasts not above three or four
+days, and kills nobody.[2]  The Queen has forty servants down of it at once.
+I dined yesterday with Treasurer, but could do no business, though he sent for
+me, I thought, on purpose; but he desires I will dine with him again to-day.
+Windsor is a most delightful place, and at this time abounds in dinners.  My
+lodgings there look upon Eton and the Thames.  I wish I was owner of them;
+they belong to a prebend.  God knows what was in your letter; and if it be not
+answered, whose fault is it, sauci dallars?--Do you know that Grub Street is
+dead and gone last week?  No more ghosts or murders now for love or money.  I
+plied it pretty close the last fortnight, and published at least seven penny
+papers of my own, besides some of other people's:  but now every single half-
+sheet pays a halfpenny to the Queen.[3]  The Observator is fallen; the Medleys
+are jumbled together with the Flying Post; the Examiner is deadly sick; the
+Spectator keeps up, and doubles its price; I know not how long it will hold.
+Have you seen the red stamp the papers are marked with?  Methinks it is worth
+a halfpenny, the stamping it.  Lord Bolingbroke and Prior set out for France
+last Saturday.  My lord's business is to hasten the peace before the Dutch are
+too much mauled, and hinder France from carrying the jest of beating them too
+far.  Have you seen the Fourth Part of John Bull?[4]  It is equal to the rest,
+and extremely good.  The Bishop of Clogher's son has been ill of St. Anthony's
+fire, but is now quite well.  I was afraid his face would be spoiled, but it
+is not.  Dilly is just as he used to be, and puns as plentifully and as bad.
+The two brothers see one another; but I think not the two sisters.  Raymond
+writ to me that he intended to invite you to Trim.  Are you, have you, will
+you be there?  Won't oo see pool Laratol?[5]  Parvisol says I shall have no
+fruit.  Blasts have taken away all.  Pray observe the cherry-trees on the
+river-walk; but oo are too lazy to take such a journey.  If you have not your
+letters in due time for two months hence, impute it to my being tosticated
+between this and Windsor.  And pray send me again the state of ME's money; for
+I will not look into your letter for it.  Poor Lord Winchelsea[6] is dead, to
+my great grief.  He was a worthy honest gentleman, and particular friend of
+mine:  and, what is yet worse, my old acquaintance, Mrs. Finch,[7] is now
+Countess of Winchelsea, the title being fallen to her husband, but without
+much estate.  I have been poring my eyes all this morning, and it is now past
+two afternoon, so I shall take a little walk in the Park.  Do you play at
+ombre still?  Or is that off by Mr. Stoyte's absence, and Mrs. Manley's grief?
+Somebody was telling me of a strange sister that Mrs. Manley has got in
+Ireland, who disappointed you all about her being handsome.  My service to
+Mrs. Walls.  Farewell, deelest MD MD MD, FW FW FW, ME ME ME ME ME.  Lele,
+logues both; rove poo Pdfr.
+
+
+
+LETTER 52.[1]
+
+WINDSOR, Sept. 15, 1712.
+
+I never was so long without writing to MD as now, since I left them, nor ever
+will again while I am able to write.  I have expected from one week to another
+that something would be done in my own affairs; but nothing at all is, nor I
+don't know when anything will, or whether ever at all, so slow are people at
+doing favours.  I have been much out of order of late with the old giddiness
+in my head.  I took a vomit for it two days ago, and will take another about a
+day or two hence.  I have eat mighty little fruit; yet I impute my disorder to
+that little, and shall henceforth wholly forbear it.  I am engaged in a long
+work, and have done all I can of it, and wait for some papers from the
+Ministry for materials for the rest; and they delay me, as if it were a favour
+I asked of them; so that I have been idle here this good while, and it
+happened in a right time, when I was too much out of order to study.  One is
+kept constantly out of humour by a thousand unaccountable things in public
+proceedings; and when I reason with some friends, we cannot conceive how
+affairs can last as they are.  God only knows, but it is a very melancholy
+subject for those who have any near concern in it.  I am again endeavouring,
+as I was last year, to keep people[2] from breaking to pieces upon a hundred
+misunderstandings.  One cannot withhold them from drawing different ways,
+while the enemy is watching to destroy both.  See how my style is altered, by
+living and thinking and talking among these people, instead of my canal and
+river-walk and willows.  I lose all my money here among the ladies;[3] so that
+I never play when I can help it, being sure to lose.  I have lost five pounds
+the five weeks I have been here.  I hope Ppt is luckier at picquet with the
+Dean and Mrs. Walls.  The Dean never answered my letter, though.  I have
+clearly forgot whether I sent a bill for ME in any of my last letters.  I
+think I did; pray let me know, and always give me timely notice.  I wait here
+but to see what they will do for me; and whenever preferments are given from
+me, as hope saved, I will come over.
+
+18.  I have taken a vomit to-day, and hope I shall be better.  I have been
+very giddy since I writ what is before, yet not as I used to be:  more
+frequent, but not so violent.  Yesterday we were alarmed with the Queen's
+being ill:  she had an aguish and feverish fit; and you never saw such
+countenances as we all had, such dismal melancholy.  Her physicians from town
+were sent for, but towards night she grew better; to-day she missed her fit,
+and was up:  we are not now in any fear; it will be at worst but an ague, and
+we hope even that will not return.  Lord Treasurer would not come here from
+London, because it would make a noise if he came before his usual time, which
+is Saturday, and he goes away on Mondays.  The Whigs have lost a great support
+in the Earl of Godolphin.[4]  It is a good jest to hear the Ministers talk of
+him now with humanity and pity, because he is dead, and can do them no more
+hurt.  Lady Orkney,[5] the late King's mistress (who lives at a fine place,
+five miles from hence, called Cliffden[6]), and I, are grown mighty
+acquaintance.  She is the wisest woman I ever saw; and Lord Treasurer made
+great use of her advice in the late change of affairs.  I heard Lord
+Marlborough is growing ill of his diabetes; which, if it be true, may soon
+carry him off; and then the Ministry will be something more at ease.  MD has
+been a long time without writing to Pdfr, though they have not the same cause:
+it is seven weeks since your last came to my hands, which was N.32, that you
+may not be mistaken.  I hope Ppt has not wanted her health.  You were then
+drinking waters.  The doctor tells me I must go into a course of steel, though
+I have not the spleen; for that they can never give me, though I have as much
+provocation to it as any man alive.  Bernage's[7] regiment is broke; but he is
+upon half-pay.  I have not seen him this long time; but I suppose he is
+overrun with melancholy.  My Lord Shrewsbury is certainly designed to be
+Governor of Ireland; and I believe the Duchess will please the people there
+mightily.  The Irish Whig leaders promise great things to themselves from his
+government; but care shall be taken, if possible, to prevent them.  Mrs.
+Fenton[8] has writ to me that she has been forced to leave Lady Giffard, and
+come to town, for a rheumatism:  that lady does not love to be troubled with
+sick people.  Mrs. Fenton writes to me as one dying, and desires I would think
+of her son:  I have not answered her letter.  She is retired[9] to Mrs.
+Povey's.  Is my aunt alive yet? and do you ever see her?  I suppose she has
+forgot the loss of her son.  Is Raymond's new house quite finished? and does
+he squander as he used to do?  Has he yet spent all his wife's fortune?  I
+hear there are five or six people putting strongly in for my livings; God help
+them!  But if ever the Court should give me anything, I would recommend
+Raymond to the Duke of Ormond; not for any particular friendship to him, but
+because it would be proper for the minister of Trim to have Laracor.  You may
+keep the gold-studded snuff-box now; for my brother Hill, Governor of Dunkirk,
+has sent me the finest that ever you saw.[10]  It is allowed at Court that
+none in England comes near it, though it did not cost above twenty pounds.
+And the Duchess of Hamilton has made me pockets for [it] like a woman's, with
+a belt and buckle (for, you know, I wear no waistcoat in summer), and there
+are several divisions, and one on purpose for my box, oh ho!--We have had most
+delightful weather this whole week; but illness and vomiting have hindered me
+from sharing in a great part of it.  Lady Masham made the Queen send to
+Kensington for some of her preserved ginger for me, which I take in the
+morning, and hope it will do me good.  Mrs. Brent[11] sent me a letter by a
+young fellow, a printer, desiring I would recommend him here, which you may
+tell her I have done:  but I cannot promise what will come of it, for it is
+necessary they should be made free here[12] before they can be employed.  I
+remember I put the boy prentice to Brent.  I hope Parvisol has set my tithes
+well this year:  he has writ nothing to me about it; pray talk to him of it
+when you see him, and let him give me an account how things are.  I suppose
+the corn is now off the ground.  I hope he has sold that great ugly horse.
+Why don't you sell to him?  He keeps me at charges for horses that I never
+ride:  yours is lame, and will never be good for anything.  The Queen will
+stay here about a month longer, I suppose; but Lady Masham will go in ten days
+to lie in at Kensington.  Poor creature, she fell down in the court here
+t'other day.  She would needs walk across it upon some displeasure with her
+chairmen, and was likely to be spoiled so near her time; but we hope all is
+over for a black eye and a sore side:  though I shall not be at ease till she
+is brought to bed.  I find I can fill up a letter, some way or other, without
+a journal.  If I had not a spirit naturally cheerful, I should be very much
+discontented at a thousand things.  Pray God preserve MD's health, and Pdfr's,
+and that I may live far from the envy and discontent that attends those who
+are thought to have more favour at Courts than they really possess.  Love
+Pdfr, who loves MD above all things.  Farewell, deelest, ten thousand times
+deelest, MD MD MD, FW FW, ME ME ME ME.  Lele, Lele, Lele, Lele.
+
+
+
+LETTER 53.[1]
+
+LONDON, Oct. 9, 1712.
+
+I have left Windsor these ten days, and am deep in pills with asafoetida, and
+a steel bitter drink; and I find my head much better than it was.  I was very
+much discouraged; for I used to be ill for three or four days together, ready
+to totter as I walked.  I take eight pills a day, and have taken, I believe, a
+hundred and fifty already.  The Queen, Lord Treasurer, Lady Masham, and I,
+were all ill together, but are now all better; only Lady Masham expects every
+day to lie in at Kensington.  There was never such a lump of lies spread about
+the town together as now.  I doubt not but you will have them in Dublin before
+this comes to you, and all without the least grounds of truth.  I have been
+mightily put backward in something I am writing by my illness, but hope to
+fetch it up, so as to be ready when the Parliament meets.  Lord Treasurer has
+had an ugly fit of the rheumatism, but is now near quite well.  I was playing
+at one-and-thirty with him and his family t'other night.  He gave us all
+twelvepence apiece to begin with:  it put me in mind of Sir William Temple.[2]
+I asked both him and Lady Masham seriously whether the Queen were at all
+inclined to a dropsy, and they positively assured me she was not:  so did her
+physician Arbuthnot, who always attends her.  Yet these devils have spread
+that she has holes in her legs, and runs at her navel, and I know not what.
+Arbuthnot has sent me from Windsor a pretty Discourse upon Lying, and I have
+ordered the printer to come for it.  It is a proposal for publishing a curious
+piece, called The Art of Political Lying, in two volumes, etc.  And then there
+is an abstract of the first volume, just like those pamphlets which they call
+The Works of the Learned.[3]  Pray get it when it comes out.  The Queen has a
+little of the gout in one of her hands.  I believe she will stay a month still
+at Windsor.  Lord Treasurer showed me the kindest letter from her in the
+world, by which I picked out one secret, that there will be soon made some
+Knights of the Garter.  You know another is fallen by Lord Godolphin's death:
+he will be buried in a day or two at Westminster Abbey.  I saw Tom Leigh[4] in
+town once.  The Bishop of Clogher has taken his lodging for the winter; they
+are all well.  I hear there are in town abundance of people from Ireland; half
+a dozen bishops at least. The poor old Bishop of London,[5] at past fourscore,
+fell down backward going upstairs, and I think broke or cracked his skull; yet
+is now recovering.  The town is as empty as at midsummer; and if I had not
+occasion for physic, I would be at Windsor still.  Did I tell you of Lord
+Rivers's will?  He has left legacies to about twenty paltry old whores by
+name, and not a farthing to any friend, dependent, or relation:  he has left
+from his only child, Lady Barrymore,[6] her mother's estate, and given the
+whole to his heir-male, a popish priest, a second cousin, who is now Earl
+Rivers, and whom he used in his life like a footman.  After him it goes to his
+chief wench and bastard.  Lord Treasurer and Lord Chamberlain are executors of
+this hopeful will.  I loved the man, and detest his memory.  We hear nothing
+of peace yet:  I believe verily the Dutch are so wilful, because they are told
+the Queen cannot live.  I had poor MD's letter, N.3,[7] at Windsor:  but I
+could not answer it then; poor Pdfr was vely kick[8] then:  and, besides, it
+was a very inconvenient place to send letters from.  Oo thought to come home
+the same day, and stayed a month:  that was a sign the place was agreeable.[9]
+I should love such a sort of jaunt.  Is that lad Swanton[10] a little more
+fixed than he used to be?  I think you like the girl very well.  She has left
+off her grave airs, I suppose.  I am now told Lord Godolphin was buried last
+night.--O poo Ppt! lay down oo head aden, fais I. . . ; I always reckon if oo
+are ill I shall hear it, and therefore hen oo are silent I reckon all is
+well.[11]  I believe I 'scaped the new fever[12] for the same reason that Ppt
+did, because I am not well; but why should DD 'scape it, pray?  She is
+melthigal, oo know, and ought to have the fever; but I hope it is now too
+late, and she won't have it at all.  Some physicians here talk very
+melancholy, and think it foreruns the plague, which is actually at Hamburg.  I
+hoped Ppt would have done with her illness; but I think we both have that
+faculty never to part with a disorder for ever; we are very constant.  I have
+had my giddiness twenty-three years by fits.  Will Mrs. Raymond never have
+done lying-in?  He intends to leave beggars enough; for I daresay he has
+squandered away the best part of his fortune already, and is not out of debt.
+I had a letter from him lately.
+
+Oct. 11.  Lord Treasurer sent for me yesterday and the day before to sit with
+him, because he is not yet quite well enough to go abroad; and I could not
+finish my letter.  How the deuce come I to be so exact in ME money?  Just
+seventeen shillings and eightpence more than due; I believe you cheat me.  If
+Hawkshaw does not pay the interest I will have the principal; pray speak to
+Parvisol and have his advice what I should do about it.  Service to Mrs.
+Stoyte and Catherine and Mrs. Walls.  Ppt makes a petition with many
+apologies.  John Danvers, you know, is Lady Giffard's friend.  The rest I
+never heard of.  I tell you what, as things are at present, I cannot possibly
+speak to Lord Treasurer for anybody.  I need tell you no more.  Something or
+nothing will be done in my own affairs:  if the former, I will be a solicitor
+for your sister;[13] if the latter, I have done with Courts for ever.
+Opportunities will often fall in my way, if I am used well, and I will then
+make it my business.  It is my delight to do good offices for people who want
+and deserve, and a tenfold delight to do it to a relation of Ppt, whose
+affairs she has so at heart.[14]  I have taken down his name and his case (not
+HER case), and whenever a proper time comes, I will do all I can; zat's enough
+to say when I can do no more; and I beg oo pardon a sousand times,[15] that I
+cannot do better.  I hope the Dean of St. P[atrick's] is well of his fever:
+he has never writ to me:  I am glad of it; pray don't desire him to write.  I
+have dated your bill late, because it must not commence, ung oomens, till the
+first of November[16] next.  O, fais, I must be ise;[17] iss, fais, must I;
+else ME will cheat Pdfr.  Are you good housewives and readers?  Are you
+walkers?  I know you are gamesters.  Are you drinkers?  Are you--  O Rold, I
+must go no further, for fear of abusing fine radies.[18]  Parvisol has never
+sent me one word how he set this year's tithes.  Pray ask whether tithes set
+well or ill this year.  The Bishop of Killaloe[19] tells me wool bears a good
+rate in Ireland:  but how is corn?  I dined yesterday with Lady Orkney, and we
+sat alone from two till eleven at night.--You have heard of her, I suppose.  I
+have twenty letters upon my hands, and am so lazy and so busy, I cannot answer
+them, and they grow upon me for several months.  Have I any apples at Laracor?
+It is strange every year should blast them, when I took so much care for
+shelter.  Lord Bolingbroke has been idle at his country-house this fortnight,
+which puts me backward in a business I have.  I am got into an ordinary room
+two pair of stairs, and see nobody, if I can help it; yet some puppies have
+found me out, and my man is not such an artist as Patrick at denying me.
+Patrick has been soliciting to come to me again, but in vain.  The printer has
+been here with some of the new whims printed, and has taken up my time.  I am
+just going out, and can only bid oo farewell.  Farewell, deelest ickle MD, MD
+MD MD FW FW FW FW ME ME ME ME.  Lele deel ME.  Lele lele lele sollahs
+bose.[20]
+
+
+
+LETTER 54.[1]
+
+LONDON, Oct. 28, 1712.
+
+I have been in physic this month, and have been better these three weeks.  I
+stop my physic, by the doctor's orders, till he sends me further directions.
+DD grows politician, and longs to hear the peace is proclaimed.  I hope we
+shall have it soon, for the Dutch are fully humbled; and Prior is just come
+over from France for a few days; I suppose upon some important affair.  I saw
+him last night, but had no private talk with him.  Stocks rise upon his
+coming.  As for my stay in England, it cannot be long now, so tell my friends.
+The Parliament will not meet till after Christmas, and by that time the work I
+am doing will be over, and then nothing shall keep me.  I am very much
+discontented at Parvisol, about neglecting to sell my horses, etc.
+
+Lady Masham is not yet brought to bed; but we expect it daily.  I dined with
+her to-day.  Lord Bolingbroke returned about two months ago, and Prior about a
+week; and goes back (Prior I mean) in a few days.  Who told you of my snuff-
+box and pocket?  Did I?  I had a letter to-day from Dr. Coghill,[2] desiring
+me to get Raphoe for Dean Sterne, and the deanery for myself.  I shall indeed,
+I have such obligations to Sterne.  But however, if I am asked who will make a
+good bishop, I shall name him before anybody.  Then comes another letter,
+desiring I would recommend a Provost,[3] supposing that Pratt (who has been
+here about a week) will certainly be promoted; but I believe he will not.  I
+presented Pratt to Lord Treasurer, and truly young Molyneux[4] would have had
+me present him too; but I directly answered him I would not, unless he had
+business with him.  He is the son of one Mr. Molyneux of Ireland.  His father
+wrote a book;[5] I suppose you know it.  Here is the Duke of Marlborough going
+out of England (Lord knows why), which causes many speculations.  Some say he
+is conscious of guilt, and dare not stand it.  Others think he has a mind to
+fling an odium on the Government, as who should say that one who has done such
+great services to his country cannot live quietly in it, by reason of the
+malice of his enemies.  I have helped to patch up these people[6] together
+once more.  God knows how long it may last. I was to-day at a trial between
+Lord Lansdowne and Lord Carteret, two friends of mine.  It was in the Queen's
+Bench, for about six thousand a year (or nine, I think).  I sat under Lord
+Chief-Justice Parker, and his pen falling down I reached it up.  He made me a
+low bow; and I was going to whisper him that I HAD DONE GOOD FOR EVIL; FOR HE
+WOULD HAVE TAKEN MINE FROM ME.[7]  I told it Lord Treasurer and Bolingbroke.
+Parker would not have known me, if several lords on the bench, and in the
+court, bowing, had not turned everybody's eyes, and set them a whispering.  I
+owe the dog a spite, and will pay him in two months at furthest, if I can.  So
+much for that.  But you must have chat, and I must say every sorry thing that
+comes into my head.  They say the Queen will stay a month longer at Windsor.
+These devils of Grub Street rogues, that write the Flying Post and Medley in
+one paper,[8] will not be quiet.  They are always mauling Lord Treasurer, Lord
+Bolingbroke, and me.  We have the dog under prosecution, but Bolingbroke is
+not active enough; but I hope to swinge him.  He is a Scotch rogue, one
+Ridpath.[9]  They get out upon bail, and write on.  We take them again, and
+get fresh bail; so it goes round.  They say some learned Dutchman has wrote a
+book, proving by civil law that we do them wrong by this peace; but I shall
+show by plain reason that we have suffered the wrong, and not they.  I toil
+like a horse, and have hundreds of letters still to read and squeeze a line
+out of each, or at least the seeds of a line.  Strafford goes back to Holland
+in a day or two, and I hope our peace is very near.  I have about thirty pages
+more to write (that is, to be extracted), which will be sixty in print.  It is
+the most troublesome part of all, and I cannot keep myself private, though I
+stole into a room up two pair of stairs, when I came from Windsor; but my
+present man has not yet learned his lesson of denying me discreetly.
+
+30.  The Duchess of Ormond found me out to-day, and made me dine with her.
+Lady Masham is still expecting.  She has had a cruel cold.  I could not finish
+my letter last post for the soul of me.  Lord Bolingbroke has had my papers
+these six weeks, and done nothing to them.  Is Tisdall yet in the world?  I
+propose writing controversies, to get a name with posterity.  The Duke of
+Ormond will not be over these three or four days.  I desire to make him join
+with me in settling all right among our people.  I have ordered the Duchess to
+let me have an hour with the Duke at his first coming, to give him a true
+state of persons and things.  I believe the Duke of Shrewsbury will hardly be
+declared your Governor yet; at least, I think so now; but resolutions alter
+very often.  The Duke of Hamilton gave me a pound of snuff to-day, admirable
+good.  I wish DD had it, and Ppt too, if she likes it.  It cost me a quarter
+of an hour
+of his politics, which I was forced to hear.  Lady Orkney[10] is making me a
+writing-table of her own contrivance, and a bed nightgown.  She is perfectly
+kind, like a mother.  I think the devil was in it the other day, that I should
+talk to her of an ugly squinting cousin of hers, and the poor lady herself,
+you know, squints like a dragon.  The other day we had a long discourse with
+her about love; and she told us a saying of her sister Fitz-Hardinge,[11]
+which I thought excellent, that in men, desire begets love, and in women, love
+begets desire.  We have abundance of our old criers[12] still hereabouts.  I
+hear every morning your women with the old satin and taffeta, etc., the fellow
+with old coats, suits or cloaks.  Our weather is abominable of late.  We have
+not two tolerable days in twenty.  I have lost money again at ombre, with Lord
+Orkney and others; yet, after all, this year I have lost but three-and-twenty
+shillings; so that, considering card money, I am no loser.
+
+Our Society hath not yet renewed their meetings.  I hope we shall continue to
+do some good this winter; and Lord Treasurer promises the Academy for
+reforming our language shall soon go forward.  I must now go hunt those dry
+letter  for materials.  You will see something very notable, I hope.  So much
+for that.  God Almighty bless you.
+
+
+
+LETTER 55.[1]
+
+LONDON, Nov. 15, 1712.
+
+Before this comes to your hands, you will have heard of the most terrible
+accident that hath almost ever happened.  This morning, at eight, my man
+brought me word that the Duke of Hamilton had fought with Lord Mohun,[2] and
+killed him, and was brought home wounded.[3]  I immediately sent him to the
+Duke's house, in St. James's Square; but the porter could hardly answer for
+tears, and a great rabble was about the house.  In short, they fought at seven
+this morning.  The dog Mohun was killed on the spot; and while[4] the Duke was
+over him, Mohun, shortening his sword, stabbed him in at the shoulder to the
+heart.  The Duke was helped toward the cake-house by the Ring in Hyde Park
+(where they fought), and died on the grass, before he could reach the house;
+and was brought home in his coach by eight, while the poor Duchess[5] was
+asleep.  Maccartney,[6] and one Hamilton,[7] were the seconds, who fought
+likewise, and are both fled.  I am told that a footman of Lord Mohun's stabbed
+the Duke of Hamilton; and some say Maccartney did so too.  Mohun gave the
+affront, and yet sent the challenge.  I am infinitely concerned for the poor
+Duke, who was a frank, honest, good-natured man.  I loved him very well, and I
+think he loved me better.  He had[8] the greatest mind in the world to have me
+go with him to France, but durst not tell it me; and those he did, said I
+could not be spared, which was true.  They have removed the poor Duchess to a
+lodging in the neighbourhood, where I have been with her two hours, and am
+just come away.  I never saw so melancholy a scene; for indeed all reasons for
+real grief belong to her; nor is it possible for anybody to be a greater loser
+in all regards.  She has moved my very soul.  The lodging was inconvenient,
+and they would have removed her to another; but I would not suffer it, because
+it had no room backward, and she must have been tortured with the noise of the
+Grub Street screamers mention[ing] her husband's murder to her ears.
+
+I believe you have heard the story of my escape, in opening the bandbox sent
+to Lord Treasurer.[9]  The prints have told a thousand lies of it; but at last
+we gave them a true account of it at length, printed in the evening;[10] only
+I would not suffer them to name me, having been so often named before, and
+teased to death with questions.  I wonder how I came to have so much presence
+of mind, which is usually not my talent; but so it pleased God, and I saved
+myself and him; for there was a bullet apiece.  A gentleman told me that if I
+had been killed, the Whigs would have called it a judgment, because the
+barrels were of inkhorns, with which I had done them so much mischief.  There
+was a pure Grub Street of it, full of lies and inconsistencies.[11]  I do not
+like these things at all, and I wish myself more and more among my
+willows.[12]  There is a devilish spirit among people, and the Ministry must
+exert themselves, or sink.  Nite dee sollahs, I'll go seep.[13]
+
+16.  I thought to have finished this yesterday; but was too much disturbed.  I
+sent a letter early this morning to Lady Masham, to beg her to write some
+comforting words to the poor Duchess.  I dined to-[day] with Lady Masham at
+Kensington, where she is expecting these two months to lie in.  She has
+promised me to get the Queen to write to the Duchess kindly on this occasion;
+and to-morrow I will beg Lord Treasurer to visit and comfort her.  I have been
+with her two hours again, and find her worse:  her violences not so frequent,
+but her melancholy more formal and settled.  She has abundance of wit and
+spirit; about thirty-three years old; handsome and airy, and seldom spared
+anybody that gave her the least provocation; by which she had many enemies and
+few friends.  Lady Orkney, her sister-in-law, is come to town on this
+occasion, and has been to see her, and behaved herself with great humanity.
+They have been always very ill together, and the poor Duchess could not have
+patience when people told her I went often to Lady Orkney's.  But I am
+resolved to make them friends; for the Duchess is now no more the object of
+envy, and must learn humility from the severest master, Affliction.  I design
+to make the Ministry put out a proclamation (if it can be found proper)
+against that villain Maccartney.  What shall we do with these murderers?  I
+cannot end this letter to-night, and there is no occasion; for I cannot send
+it till Tuesday, and the crowner's inquest on the Duke's body is to be to-
+morrow, and I shall know more.  But what care oo for all this?  Iss, poo MD im
+sorry for poo Pdfr's[14] friends; and this is a very surprising event.  'Tis
+late, and I'll go to bed.  This looks like journals.  Nite.
+
+17.  I was to-day at noon with the Duchess of Hamilton again, after I had been
+with Lady Orkney, and charged her to be kind to her sister in her affliction.
+The Duchess told me Lady Orkney had been with her, and that she did not treat
+her as gently as she ought.  They hate one another, but I will try to patch it
+up.  I have been drawing up a paragraph for the Postboy, to be out to-morrow,
+and as malicious as possible, and very proper for Abel Roper,[15] the printer
+of it.  I dined at Lord Treasurer's at six in the evening, which is his usual
+hour of returning from Windsor:  he promises to visit the Duchess to-morrow,
+and says he has a message to her from the Queen.  Thank God.  I have stayed
+till past one with him.  So nite deelest MD.[16]
+
+18.  The Committee of Council is to sit this afternoon upon the affair of the
+Duke of Hamilton's murder, and I hope a proclamation will be out against
+Maccartney.  I was just now ('tis now noon) with the Duchess, to let her know
+Lord Treasurer will see her.  She is mightily out of order.  The jury have not
+yet brought in their verdict upon the crowner's inquest. We suspect Maccartney
+stabbed the Duke while he was fighting.  The Queen and Lord Treasurer are in
+great concern at this event.  I dine to-day again with Lord Treasurer; but
+must send this to the post-office before, because else I shall not have time;
+he usually keeping me so late.  Ben Tooke bid me write to DD to send her
+certificate, for it is high time it should be sent, he says.  Pray make
+Parvisol write to me, and send me a general account of my affairs; and let him
+know I shall be over in spring, and that by all means he sells the horses.
+Prior has kissed the Queen's hand, and will return to France in a few days,
+and Lord Strafford to Holland; and now the King of Spain has renounced his
+pretensions to France, the peace must follow very soon unavoidably.  You must
+no more call Philip, Duke of Anjou, for we now acknowledge him King of Spain.
+Dr. Pratt tells me you are all mad in Ireland with your playhouse frolics and
+prologues, and I know not what.  The Bishop of Clogher and family are well:
+they have heard from you, or you from them, lately, I have forgot which:  I
+dined there t'other day, but the Bishop came not till after dinner; and our
+meat and drink was very so so.  Mr. Vedeau[17] was with me yesterday, and
+inquired after you.  He was a lieutenant, and is now broke, and upon half-pay.
+He asked me nothing for himself; but wanted an employment for a friend, who
+would give a handsome pair of gloves.  One Hales sent me up a letter t'other
+day, which said you lodged in his house, and therefore desired I would get him
+a civil employment.  I would not be within, and have directed my man to give
+him an answer, that I never open letters brought me by the writers, etc.  I
+was complaining to a lady that I wanted to mend an employment from forty to
+sixty pounds a year, in the Salt Office, and thought it hard I could not do
+it.  She told me one Mr. Griffin[18] should do it.  And afterward I met
+Griffin at her lodgings; and he was, as I found, one I had been acquainted
+with.  I named Filby[19] to him, and his abode somewhere near Nantwich.  He
+said frankly he had formerly examined the man, and found he understood very
+little of his business; but if he heard he mended, he would do what I desired.
+I will let it rest a while, and then resume it; and if Ppt writes to Filby,
+she may advise him to diligence, etc.  I told Griffin positively I would have
+it done, if the man mended.  This is an account of poo Ppt's commission to her
+most humble servant Pdfr.  I have a world of writing to finish, and little
+time; these toads of Ministers are so slow in their helps.  This makes me
+sometimes steal a week from the exactness I used to write to MD.  Farewell,
+dee logues, deelest MD MD MD,. . .  FW FW FW ME ME ME Lele.
+
+Smoke the folding of my letters of late.[20]
+
+
+
+LETTER 56.[1]
+
+LONDON, Dec. 12, 1712.
+
+Here is now a stlange ting; a rettle flom MD unanswered:  never was before.  I
+am slower, and MD is faster:  but the last was owing to DD's certificate.  Why
+could it not be sent before, pay now?  Is it so hard for DD to prove she is
+alive?  I protest solemnly I am not able to write to MD for other business,
+but I will resume my journal method next time.  I find it is easier, though it
+contains nothing but where I dine, and the occurrences of the day.  I will
+write now but once in three weeks till this business is off my hands, which
+must be in six, I think, at farthest. O Ppt, I remember your reprimanding me
+for meddling in other people's affairs:  I have enough of it now, with a
+wanion.[2]  Two women have been here six times apiece; I never saw them yet.
+The first I have despatched with a letter; the other I must see, and tell her
+I can do nothing for her:  she is wife of one Connor,[3] an old college
+acquaintance, and comes on a foolish errand, for some old pretensions, that
+will succeed when I am Lord Treasurer.  I am got [up] two pair of stairs, in a
+private lodging, and have ordered all my friends not to discover where I am;
+yet every morning two or three sots are plaguing me, and my present servant
+has not yet his lesson perfect of denying me.  I have written a hundred and
+thirty pages in folio, to be printed, and must write thirty more, which will
+make a large book of four shillings.[4]  I wish I knew an opportunity of
+sending you some snuff.  I will watch who goes to Ireland, and do it if
+possible.  I had a letter from Parvisol, and find he has set my livings very
+low.  Colonel Hamilton, who was second to the Duke of Hamilton, is tried to-
+day.  I suppose he is come off, but have not heard.[5]  I dined with Lord
+Treasurer, but left him by nine, and visited some people.  Lady Betty,[6]
+his[7] daughter, will be married on Monday next (as I suppose) to the Marquis
+of Caermarthen.  I did not know your country place had been Portraine, till
+you told me so in your last.  Has Swanton taken it of Wallis?  That Wallis was
+a grave, wise coxcomb.  God be thanked that Ppt im better of her disoddles.[8]
+Pray God keep her so.  The pamphlet of Political Lying is written by Dr.
+Arbuthnot, the author of John Bull; 'tis very pretty, but not so obvious to be
+understood.  Higgins,[9] first chaplain to the Duke of Hamilton?  Why, the
+Duke of Hamilton never dreamt of a chaplain, nor I believe ever heard of
+Higgins.  You are glorious newsmongers in Ireland--Dean Francis,[10] Sir R.
+Levinge,[11] stuff stuff:  and Pratt, more stuff.  We have lost our fine frost
+here; and Abel Roper tells as you have had floods in Dublin; ho, brave[12]
+you!  Oh ho! Swanton seized Portraine, now I understand oo.  Ay, ay, now I see
+Portraune at the top of your letter.  I never minded it before.  Now to your
+second, N.36.  So, you read one of the Grub Streets about the bandbox.[13]
+The Whig papers have abused me about the bandbox.  God help me, what could I
+do?  I fairly ventured my life.  There is a particular account of it in the
+Postboy, and Evening Post of that day.  Lord Treasurer has had the seal sent
+him that sealed the box, and directions where to find the other pistol in a
+tree in St. James's Park, which Lord Bolingbroke's messenger found
+accordingly; but who sent the present is not yet known.  The Duke of Hamilton
+avoided the quarrel as much as possible, according to the foppish rules of
+honour in practice.  What signified your writing angry to Filby?  I hope you
+said nothing of hearing anything from me.  Heigh! do oo write by sandlelight!
+nauti, nauti, nauti dallar, a hundred times, fol doing so.  O, fais, DD, I'll
+take care of myself!  The Queen is in town, and Lady Masham's month of lying-
+in is within two days of being out.  I was at the christening on Monday.  I
+could not get the child named Robin, after Lord Treasurer; it is Samuel, after
+the father.  My brother Ormond sent me some chocolate to-day.  I wish you had
+share of it:  but they say 'tis good for me, and I design to drink some in a
+morning.  Our Society meets next Thursday, now the Queen is in town; and Lord
+Treasurer assures me that the Society for reforming the language shall soon be
+established.  I have given away ten shillings to-day to servants; 'tan't be
+help if one should cry one's eyes out.[14]  Hot a stir is here about your
+company and visits!  Charming company, no doubt; now I keep no company at all,
+nor have I any desire to keep any.  I never go to a coffee-house nor a tavern,
+nor have touched a card since I left Windsor.  I make few visits, nor go to
+levees; my only debauching is sitting late where I dine, if I like the
+company.  I have almost dropped the Duchesses of Shrewsbury and Hamilton, and
+several others.  Lord Treasurer, the Duke of Ormond, and Lady Orkney are all
+that I see very often.  Oh yes, and Lady Masham and Lord Bolingbroke, and one
+or two private friends.  I make no figure but at Court, where I affect to turn
+from a lord to the meanest of my acquaintance, and I love to go there on
+Sundays to see the world.  But, to say the truth, I am growing weary of it.  I
+dislike a million of things in the course of public affairs; and if I were to
+stay here much longer, I am sure I should ruin myself with endeavouring to
+mend them.  I am every day invited into schemes of doing this, but I cannot
+find any that will probably succeed.  It is impossible to save people against
+their own will; and I have been too much engaged in patchwork already.  Do you
+understand all this stuff?  No.  Well zen, you are now returned to ombre and
+the Dean, and Christmas; I wish oo a very merry one; and pray don't lose oo
+money, nor play upon Watt Welch's game.  Nite, sollahs, 'tis rate I'll go to
+seep; I don't seep well, and therefore never dare to drink coffee or tea after
+dinner:  but I am very seepy in a molning.  This is the effect of time and
+years.  Nite deelest MD.
+
+18.  Morn.  I am so very seepy in the morning that my man wakens me above ten
+times; and now I can tell oo no news of this day.  (Here is a restless dog,
+crying cabbages and savoys, plagues me every morning about this time; he is
+now at it.  I wish his largest cabbage were sticking in his throat.)  I lodge
+over against the house in Little Rider Street, where DD lodged.  Don't oo
+lememble, maram?  To-night I must see the Abbe Gaultier,[15] to get some
+particulars for my History.  It was he who was first employed by France in the
+overtures of peace, and I have not had time this month to see him; he is but a
+puppy too.  Lady Orkney has just sent to invite me to dinner; she has not
+given me the bed-nightgown;[16] besides, I am come very much off from writing
+in bed, though I am doing it this minute; but I stay till my fire is burnt up.
+My grate is very large; two bushels of coals in a week:  but I save it in
+lodgings.  Lord Abercorn is come to London, and will plague me, and I can do
+him no service.  The Duke of Shrewsbury goes in a day or two for France,
+perhaps to-day.  We shall have a peace very soon; the Dutch are almost
+entirely agreed, and if they stop we shall make it without them; that has been
+long resolved.  One Squire Jones,[17] a scoundrel in my parish, has writ to me
+to desire I would engage Joe Beaumont to give him his interest for Parliament-
+man for Trim:  pray tell Joe this; and if he designed to vote for him already,
+then he may tell Jones that I received his letter, and that I writ to Joe to
+do it.  If Joe be engaged for any other, then he may do what he will:  and
+Parvisol may say he spoke to Joe, but Joe's engaged, etc.  I received three
+pair of fine thread stockings from Joe lately.  Pray thank him when you see
+him, and that I say they are very fine and good.  (I never looked at them yet,
+but that's no matter.)  This is a fine day.  I am ruined with coaches and
+chairs this twelvepenny weather.  I must see my brother Ormond at eleven, and
+then the Duchess of Hamilton, with whom I doubt I am in disgrace, not having
+seen her these ten days.  I send this to-day, and must finish it now; and
+perhaps some people may come and hinder me; for it im ten o'clock (but not
+shaving-day), and I must be abroad at eleven.  Abbe Gaultier sends me word I
+can't see him to-night; pots cake him!  I don't value anything but one letter
+he has of Petecum's,[18] showing the roguery of the Dutch.  Did not the
+Conduct of the Allies make you great politicians?  Fais, I believe you are not
+quite so ignorant as I thought you.  I am glad to hear oo walked so much in
+the country.  Does DD ever read to you, ung ooman?  O, fais! I shall find
+strange doings hen I tum ole![19]  Here is somebody coming that I must see
+that wants a little place; the son of cousin Rooke's eldest daughter, that
+died many years ago.  He's here.  Farewell, deelest MD MD MD ME ME ME FW FW
+FW, Lele.
+
+
+
+LETTER 57.[1]
+
+LONDON, Dec. 18, 1712.
+
+Our Society was to meet to-day; but Lord Harley, who was President this week,
+could not attend, being gone to Wimbledon with his new brother-in-law, the
+young Marquis of Caermarthen, who married Lady Betty Harley on Monday last;
+and Lord Treasurer is at Wimbledon too.  However, half a dozen of us met, and
+I propose our meetings should be once a fortnight; for, between you and me, we
+do no good.  It cost me nineteen shillings to-day for my Club at dinner; I
+don't like it, fais.  We have terrible snowy slobbery weather.  Lord Abercorn
+is come to town, and will see me, whether I will or no.  You know he has a
+pretence to a dukedom in France, which the Duke of Hamilton was soliciting
+for; but Abercorn resolves to spoil their title, if they will not allow him a
+fourth part; and I have advised the Duchess to compound with him, and have
+made the Ministry of my opinion.  Night, dee sollahs, MD, MD.
+
+19.  Ay mally zis is sumsing rike,[2] for Pdfr to write journals again!  'Tis
+as natural as mother's milk, now I am got into it.  Lord Treasurer is returned
+from Wimbledon ('tis not above eight miles off), and sent for me to dine with
+him at five; but I had the grace to be abroad, and dined with some others,
+with honest Ben Tooke, by invitation.  The Duchess of Ormond promised me her
+picture, and coming home tonight, I found hers and the Duke's both in my
+chamber.  Was not that a pretty civil surprise?  Yes, and they are in fine
+gilded frames, too.  I am writing a letter to thank her, which I will send to-
+morrow morning.  I'll tell her she is such a prude that she will not let so
+much as her picture be alone in a room with a man, unless the Duke's be with
+it; and so forth.[3]  We are full of snow, and dabbling.  Lady Masham has come
+abroad these three days, and seen the Queen.  I dined with her t'other day at
+her sister Hill's.  I hope she will remove in a few days to her new lodgings
+at St. James's from Kensington.  Nite, dee logues MD.
+
+20.  I lodge [up] two pair of stairs, have but one room, and deny myself to
+everybody almost, yet I cannot be quiet; and all my mornings are lost with
+people, who will not take answers below stairs; such as Dilly, and the Bishop,
+and Provost, etc.  Lady Orkney invited me to dinner to-day, which hindered me
+from dining with Lord Treasurer.  This is his day that his chief friends in
+the Ministry dine with him.  However, I went there about six, and sat with
+them till past nine, when they all went off; but he kept me back, and told me
+the circumstances of Lady Betty's match.  The young fellow has 60,000 pounds
+ready money, three great houses furnished, 7,000 pounds a year at present, and
+about five more after his father and mother die.  I think Lady Betty's portion
+is not above 8,000 pounds.  I remember either Tisdall writ to me in somebody's
+letter, or you did it for him, that I should mention him on occasion to Lord
+Anglesea, with whom, he said, he had some little acquaintance.  Lord Anglesea
+was with me to-night at Lord Treasurer's; and then I asked him about Tisdall,
+and described him.  He said he never saw him, but that he had sent him his
+book.[4]  See what it is to be a puppy.  Pray tell Mr. Walls that Lord
+Anglesea thanked me for recommending Clements[5] to him; that he says he is
+20,000 pounds the better for knowing Clements.  But pray don't let Clements go
+and write a letter of thanks, and tell my lord that he hears so and so, etc.
+Why, 'tis but like an Irish understanding to do so.  Sad weather; two
+shillings in coaches to-day, and yet I am dirty.  I am now going to read over
+something and correct it.  So, nite.
+
+21.  Puppies have got a new way of plaguing me.  I find letters directed for
+me at Lord Treasurer's, sometimes with enclosed ones to him, and sometimes
+with projects, and some times with libels.  I usually keep them three or four
+days without opening.  I was at Court to-day, as I always am on Sundays,
+instead of a coffee-house, to see my acquaintance.  This day se'nnight, after
+I had been talking at Court with Sir William Wyndham, the Spanish
+Ambassador[6] came to him and said he heard that was Dr. Swift, and desired
+him to tell me that his master, and the King of France, and the Queen, were
+more obliged to me than any man in Europe; so we bowed, and shook hands, etc.
+I took it very well of him.  I dined with Lord Treasurer, and must again to-
+morrow, though I had rather not (as DD says); but now the Queen is in town, he
+does not keep me so late.  I have not had time to see Fanny Manley since she
+came, but intend it one of these days.  Her uncle, Jack Manley,[7] I hear,
+cannot live a month, which will be a great loss to her father in Ireland, for
+I believe he is one of his chief supports.  Our peace now will soon be
+determined; for Lord Bolingbroke tells me this morning that four provinces of
+Holland[8] have complied with the Queen, and we expect the rest will do so
+immediately.  Nite MD.
+
+22.  Lord Keeper promised me yesterday the first convenient living to poor Mr.
+Gery,[9] who is married, and wants some addition to what he has.  He is a very
+worthy creature.  I had a letter some weeks ago from Elwick,[10] who married
+Betty Gery.  It seems the poor woman died some time last summer.  Elwick grows
+rich, and purchases lands.  I dined with Lord Treasurer to-day, who has
+engaged me to come again to-morrow.  I gave Lord Bolingbroke a poem of
+Parnell's.[11]  I made Parnell insert some compliments in it to his lordship.
+He is extremely pleased with it, and read some parts of it to-day to Lord
+Treasurer, who liked it as much.  And indeed he outdoes all our poets here a
+bar's length.  Lord Bolingbroke has ordered me to bring him to dinner on
+Christmas Day, and I made Lord Treasurer promise to see him; and it may one
+day do Parnell a kindness.  You know Parnell.  I believe I have told you of
+that poem.  Nite, deel MD.
+
+23.  This morning I presented one Diaper,[12] a poet, to Lord Bolingbroke,
+with a new poem, which is a very good one; and I am to give him a sum of money
+from my lord; and I have contrived to make a parson of him, for he is half one
+already, being in deacon's orders, and serves a small cure in the country; but
+has a sword at his a--- here in town.  'Tis a poor little short wretch, but
+will do best in a gown, and we will make Lord Keeper give him a living.  Lord
+Bolingbroke writ to Lord Treasurer to excuse me to-day; so I dined with the
+former, and Monteleon, the Spanish Ambassador, who made me many compliments.
+I stayed till nine, and now it is past ten, and my man has locked me up, and I
+have just called to mind that I shall be in disgrace with Tom Leigh.[13]  That
+coxcomb had got into acquaintance with one Eckershall,[14] Clerk of the
+Kitchen to the Queen, who was civil to him at Windsor on my account; for I had
+done some service to Eckershall.  Leigh teases me to pass an evening at his
+lodgings with Eckershall.  I put it off several times, but was forced at last
+to promise I would come to-night; and it never was in my head till I was
+locked up, and I have called and called, but my man is gone to bed; so I will
+write an excuse to-morrow.  I detest that Tom Leigh, and am as formal to him
+as I can when I happen to meet him in the Park.  The rogue frets me, if he
+knew it.  He asked me why I did not wait on the Bishop of Dromore.[15]  I
+answered I had not the honour to be acquainted with him, and would not
+presume, etc.  He takes me seriously, and says the Bishop is no proud man,
+etc.  He tells me of a judge in Ireland that has done ill things.  I ask why
+he is not out?  Says he, "I think the bishops, and you, and I, and the rest of
+the clergy, should meet and consult about it."  I beg his pardon, and say, "I
+cannot be serviceable that way."  He answers, "Yes, everybody may help
+something."--Don't you see how curiously he contrives to vex me; for the dog
+knows that with half a word I could do more than all of them together.  But he
+only does it from the pride and envy of his own heart, and not out of a
+humorous design of teasing.  He is one of those that would rather a service
+should not be done, than done by a private man, and of his own country.  You
+take all this, don't you?  Nite dee sollahs, I'll go seep a dozey.
+
+24.  I dined to-day with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in order to look
+over some of my papers; but nothing was done.  I have been also mediating
+between the Hamilton family and Lord Abercorn, to have them compound with him;
+and I believe they will do it.  Lord Selkirk,[16] the late Duke's brother, is
+to be in town, in order to go to France, to make the demands; and the Ministry
+are of opinion they will get some satisfaction, and they empowered me to
+advise the Hamilton side to agree with Abercorn, who asks a fourth part, and
+will go to France and spoil all if they won't yield it.  Nite sollahs.
+
+25.  All melly Titmasses--melly Titmasses--I said it first--I wish it a
+souzand [times] zoth with halt[17] and soul.[18]  I carried Parnell to dine at
+Lord Bolingbroke's, and he behaved himself very well; and Lord Bolingbroke is
+mightily pleased with him.  I was at St. James's Chapel by eight this morning;
+and church and sacrament were done by ten.  The Queen has the gout in her
+hand, and did not come to church today; and I stayed so long in my chamber
+that I missed going to Court.  Did I tell you that the Queen designs to have a
+Drawing-room and company every day?  Nite dee logues.
+
+26.  I was to wish the Duke of Ormond a happy Christmas, and give half a crown
+to his porter.  It will cost me a dozen half-crowns among such fellows.  I
+dined with Lord Treasurer, who chid me for being absent three days.  Mighty
+kind, with a p--; less of civility, and more of his interest!  We hear
+Maccartney is gone over to Ireland.  Was it not comical for a gentleman to be
+set upon by highwaymen, and to tell them he was Maccartney?  Upon which they
+brought him to a justice of peace, in hopes of the reward,[19] and the rogues
+were sent to gaol.  Was it not great presence of mind?  But maybe you heard
+this already; for there was a Grub Street of it.  Lord Bolingbroke told me I
+must walk away to-day when dinner was done, because Lord Treasurer, and he,
+and another, were to enter upon business; but I said it was as fit I should
+know their business as anybody, for I was to justify [it].[20]  So the rest
+went, and I stayed, and it was so important, I was like to sleep over it.  I
+left them at nine, and it is now twelve.  Nite, MD.
+
+27.  I dined to-day with General Hill, Governor of Dunkirk.  Lady Masham and
+Mrs. Hill, his two sisters, were of the company, and there have I been sitting
+this evening till eleven, looking over others at play; for I have left off
+loving play myself; and I think Ppt is now a great gamester.  I have a great
+cold on me, not quite at its height.  I have them seldom, and therefore ought
+to be patient.  I met Mr. Addison and Pastoral Philips on the Mall to-day, and
+took a turn with them; but they both looked terrible dry and cold.  A curse of
+party!  And do you know I have taken more pains to recommend the Whig wits to
+the favour and mercy of the Ministers than any other people.  Steele I have
+kept in his place.  Congreve I have got to be used kindly, and secured.  Rowe
+I have recommended, and got a promise of a place.  Philips I could certainly
+have provided for, if he had not run party mad, and made me withdraw my
+recommendation; and I set Addison so right at first that he might have been
+employed, and have partly secured him the place he has; yet I am worse used by
+that faction than any man.  Well, go to cards, sollah Ppt, and dress the wine
+and olange, sollah MD, and I'll go seep.  'Tis rate.  Nite MD.
+
+28.  My cold is so bad that I could not go to church today, nor to Court; but
+I was engaged to Lord Orkney's with the Duke of Ormond, at dinner; and
+ventured, because I could cough and spit there as I pleased.  The Duke and
+Lord Arran left us, and I have been sitting ever since with Lord and Lady
+Orkney till past eleven:  and my cold is worse, and makes me giddy.  I hope it
+is only my cold.  Oh, says Ppt, everybody is giddy with a cold; I hope it is
+no more; but I'll go to bed, for the fellow has bawled "Past twelve."  Night,
+deels.
+
+29.  I got out early to-day, and escaped all my duns.  I went to see Lord
+Bolingbroke about some business, and truly he was gone out too.  I dined in
+the City upon the broiled leg of a goose and a bit of brawn, with my printer.
+Did I tell you that I forbear printing what I have in hand, till the Court
+decides something about me?  I will contract no more enemies, at least I will
+not embitter worse those I have already, till I have got under shelter; and
+the Ministers know my resolution, so that you may be disappointed in seeing
+this thing as soon as you expected.  I hear Lord Treasurer is out of order.
+My cold is very bad.  Every[body] has one.  Nite two dee logues.
+
+30.  I suppose this will be full by Saturday; zen[21] it sall go.  Duke of
+Ormond, Lord Arran, and I, dined privately to-day at an old servant's house of
+his.  The Council made us part at six.  One Mrs. Ramsay dined with us; an old
+lady of about fifty-five, that we are all very fond of.  I called this evening
+at Lord Treasurer's, and sat with him two hours.  He has been cupped for a
+cold, and has been very ill.  He cannot dine with Parnell and me at Lord
+Bolingbroke's to-morrow, but says he will see Parnell some other time.  I
+hoise[22] up Parnell partly to spite the envious Irish folks here,
+particularly Tom Leigh.  I saw the Bishop of Clogher's family to-day; Miss is
+mighty ill of a cold, coughs incessantly.[23]  Nite MD.
+
+31.  To-day Parnell and I dined with Lord Bolingbroke, to correct Parnell's
+poem.  I made him show all the places he disliked; and when Parnell has
+corrected it fully he shall print it.  I went this evening to sit with Lord
+Treasurer.  He is better, and will be out in a day or two.  I sat with him
+while the young folks went to supper; and then went down, and there were the
+young folks merry together, having turned Lady Oxford up to my lord, and I
+stayed with them till twelve.  There was the young couple, Lord and Lady
+Caermarthen, and Lord and Lady Dupplin, and Lord Harley and I; and the old
+folks were together above.  It looked like what I have formerly done so often;
+stealing together from the old folks, though indeed it was not from poor Lord
+Treasurer, who is as young a fellow as any of us:  but Lady Oxford is a silly
+mere old woman.[24]  My cold is still so bad that I have not the least
+smelling.  I am just got home, and 'tis past twelve; and I'll go to bed, and
+settle my head, heavy as lead.  Nite MD.
+
+Jan. 1, 1712-13.  A sousand melly new eels[25] to deelest richar MD.  Pray God
+Almighty bless you, and send you ever happy!  I forgot to tell you that
+yesterday Lord Abercorn was here, teasing me about his French duchy, and
+suspecting my partiality to the Hamilton family in such a whimsical manner
+that Dr. Pratt, who was by, thought he was mad.  He was no sooner gone but
+Lord Orkney sent to know whether he might come and sit with me half an hour
+upon some business.  I returned answer that I would wait on him; which I did.
+We discoursed a while, and he left me with Lady Orkney; and in came the Earl
+of Selkirk, whom I had never seen before.  He is another brother of the Duke
+of Hamilton, and is going to France, by a power from his mother, the old
+Duchess,[26] to negotiate their pretensions to the duchy of Chatelherault.  He
+teased me for two hours in spite of my teeth, and held my hand when I offered
+to stir; would have had me engage the Ministry to favour him against Lord
+Abercorn, and to convince them that Lord Abercorn had no pretensions; and
+desired I would also convince Lord Abercorn himself so; and concluded he was
+sorry I was a greater friend to Abercorn than Hamilton.  I had no patience,
+and used him with some plainness.  Am not I purely handled between a couple of
+puppies?  Ay, says Ppt, you must be meddling in other folks' affairs.  I
+appeal to the Bishop of Clogher whether Abercorn did not complain that I would
+not let him see me last year, and that he swore he would take no denial from
+my servant when he came again.  The Ministers gave me leave to tell the
+Hamilton family it was their opinion that they ought to agree with Abercorn.
+Lord Anglesea was then by, and told Abercorn; upon which he gravely tells me I
+was commissioned by the Ministers, and ought to perform my commission, etc.--
+But I'll have done with them.  I have warned Lord Treasurer and Lord
+Bolingbroke to beware of Selkirk's teasing,; --x on him!  Yet Abercorn vexes
+me more.  The whelp owes to me all the kind receptions he has had from the
+Ministry.  I dined to-day at Lord Treasurer's with the young folks, and sat
+with Lord Treasurer till nine, and then was forced to Lady Masham's, and sat
+there till twelve, talking of affairs, till I am out of humour, as everyone
+must that knows them inwardly.  A thousand things wrong, most of them easy to
+mend; yet our schemes availing at best but little, and sometimes nothing at
+all.  One evil, which I twice patched up with the hazard of all the credit I
+had, is now spread more than ever.[27]  But burn politics, and send me from
+Courts and Ministers!  Nite deelest richar MD.
+
+2.  I sauntered about this morning, and went with Dr. Pratt to a picture
+auction, where I had like to be drawn in to buy a picture that I was fond of,
+but, it seems, was good for nothing.  Pratt was there to buy some pictures for
+the Bishop of Clogher, who resolves to lay out ten pounds to furnish his house
+with curious pieces.  We dined with the Bishop, I being by chance disengaged.
+And this evening I sat with the Bishop of Ossory,[28] who is laid up with the
+gout.  The French Ambassador, Duke d'Aumont,[29] came to town to-night; and
+the rabble conducted him home with shouts.  I cannot smell yet, though my cold
+begins to break.  It continues cruel hard frosty weather.  Go and be melly,. .
+.  sollahs.[30]
+
+3.  Lord Dupplin and I went with Lord and Lady Orkney this morning at ten to
+Wimbledon, six miles off, to see Lord and Lady Caermarthen.  It is much the
+finest place about this town.  Did oo never see it?  I was once there before,
+about five years ago.  You know Lady Caermarthen is Lord Treasurer's daughter,
+married about three weeks ago.  I hope the young fellow will be a good
+husband.--I must send this away now.  I came back just by nightfall, cruel
+cold weather; I have no smell yet, but my cold something better.  Nite (?)
+sollahs; I'll take my reeve.  I forget how MD's accounts are.  Pray let me
+know always timely before MD wants; and pray give the bill on t'other side to
+Mrs. Brent as usual.  I believe I have not paid her this great while.  Go,
+play cards, and. . .  rove Pdfr.  Nite richar MD. . .  roves Pdfr.  FW lele. .
+.  MD MD MD MD MD FW FW FW FW MD MD Lele. . .[31]
+
+The six odd shillings, tell Mrs. Brent, are for her new year's gift.
+
+
+
+I[32] am just now told that poor dear Lady Ashburnham,[33] the Duke of
+Ormond's daughter, died yesterday at her country house.  The poor creature was
+with child.  She was my greatest favourite, and I am in excessive concern for
+her loss.  I hardly knew a more valuable person on all accounts.  You must
+have heard me talk of her.  I am afraid to see the Duke and Duchess.  She was
+naturally very healthy; I am afraid she has been thrown away for want of care.
+Pray condole with me.  'Tis extremely moving.  Her lord's a puppy; and I shall
+never think it worth my while to be troubled with him, now he has lost all
+that was valuable in his possession; yet I think he used her pretty well.  I
+hate life when I think it exposed to such accidents; and to see so many
+thousand wretches burdening the earth, while such as her die, makes me think
+God did never intend life for a blessing.  Farewell.
+
+
+
+LETTER 58.[1]
+
+LONDON, Jan. 4, 1712-13.
+
+I ended my last with the melancholy news of poor Lady Ashburnham's death.  The
+Bishop of Clogher and Dr. Pratt made me dine with them to-day at Lord
+Mountjoy's, pursuant to an engagement, which I had forgot.  Lady Mountjoy told
+me that Maccartney was got safe out of our clutches, for she had spoke with
+one who had a letter from him from Holland.  Others say the same thing.  'Tis
+hard such a dog should escape.--As I left Lord Mountjoy's I saw the Duke
+d'Aumont, the French Ambassador, going from Lord Bolingbroke's, where he
+dined, to have a private audience of the Queen.  I followed, and went up to
+Court, where there was a great crowd.  I was talking with the Duke of Argyle
+by the fireside in the bed-chamber, when the Ambassador came out from the
+Queen.  Argyle presented me to him, and Lord Bolingbroke and we talked
+together a while.  He is a fine gentleman, something like the Duke of Ormond,
+and just such an expensive man.  After church to-day I showed the Bishop of
+Clogher, at Court, who was who.  Nite my two dee logues, and. . .[2]
+
+5.  Our frost is broke, but it is bloody cold.  Lord Treasurer is recovered,
+and went out this evening to the Queen.  I dined with Lady Oxford, and then
+sat with Lord Treasurer while he went out.  He gave me a letter from an
+unknown hand, relating to Dr. Brown,[3] Bishop of Cork, recommending him to a
+better bishopric, as a person who opposed Lord Wharton, and was made a bishop
+on that account, celebrating him for a great politician, etc.:  in short, all
+directly contrary to his character, which I made bold to explain.  What dogs
+there are in the world!  I was to see the poor Duke and Duchess of Ormond this
+morning.  The Duke was in his public room, with Mr. Southwell[4] and two more
+gentlemen.  When Southwell and I were alone with him, he talked something of
+Lord Ashburnham, that he was afraid the Whigs would get him again.  He bore up
+as well as he could, but something falling accidentally in discourse, the
+tears were just falling out of his eyes, and I looked off to give him an
+opportunity (which he took) of wiping them with his handkerchief.  I never saw
+anything so moving, nor such a mixture of greatness of mind, and tenderness,
+and discretion.  Nite MD.
+
+6.  Lord Bolingbroke and Parnell and I dined, by invitation, with my friend
+Darteneuf,[5] whom you have heard me talk of.  Lord Bolingbroke likes Parnell
+mightily; and it is pleasant to see that one who hardly passed for anything in
+Ireland makes his way here with a little friendly forwarding.  It is scurvy
+rainy weather, and I have hardly been abroad to-day, nor know anything that
+passes.--Lord Treasurer is quite recovered, and I hope will be careful to keep
+himself well.  The Duchess of Marlborough is leaving England to go to her
+Duke, and makes presents of rings to several friends, they say worth two
+hundred pounds apiece.  I am sure she ought to give me one, though the Duke
+pretended to think me his greatest enemy, and got people to tell me so, and
+very mildly to let me know how gladly he would have me softened toward him.  I
+bid a lady of his acquaintance and mine let him know that I had hindered many
+a bitter thing against him; not for his own sake, but because I thought it
+looked base; and I desired everything should be left him, except power.  Nite
+MD.
+
+7.  I dined with Lord and Lady Masham to-day, and this evening played at ombre
+with Mrs. Vanhom, merely for amusement.  The Ministers have got my papers, and
+will neither read them nor give them to me; and I can hardly do anything.
+Very warm slabby weather, but I made a shift to get a walk; yet I lost half of
+it, by shaking off Lord Rochester,[6] who is a good, civil, simple man.  The
+Bishop of Ossory will not be Bishop of Hereford,[7] to the great grief of
+himself and his wife.  And hat is MD doing now, I wonder?  Playing at cards
+with the Dean and Mrs. Walls?  I think it is not certain yet that Maccartney
+is escaped.  I am plagued with bad authors, verse and prose, who send me their
+books and poems, the vilest trash I ever saw; but I have given their names to
+my man, never to let them see me.  I have got new ink, and 'tis very white;
+and I don't see that it turns black at all.  I'll go to seep; 'tis past
+twelve.--Nite, MD.
+
+8.  Oo must understand that I am in my geers, and have got a chocolate-pot, a
+present from Mrs. Ashe of Clogher, and some chocolate from my brother Ormond,
+and I treat folks sometimes.  I dined with Lord Treasurer at five o'clock to-
+day, and was by while he and Lord Bolingbroke were at business; for it is fit
+I should know all that passes now, because, etc.  The Duke of Ormond employed
+me to speak to Lord Treasurer to-day about an affair, and I did so; and the
+Duke had spoke himself two hours before, which vexed me, and I will chide the
+Duke about it.  I'll tell you a good thing; there is not one of the Ministry
+but what will employ me as gravely to speak for them to Lord Treasurer as if I
+were their brother or his; and I do it as gravely:  though I know they do it
+only because they will not make themselves uneasy, or had rather I should be
+denied than they.  I believe our peace will not be finished these two months;
+for I think we must have a return from Spain by a messenger, who will not go
+till Sunday next.  Lord Treasurer has invited me to dine with him again to-
+morrow.  Your Commissioner, Keatley,[8] is to be there.  Nite dee richar
+MD.[9]
+
+9.  Dr. Pratt drank chocolate with me this morning, and then we walked.  I was
+yesterday with him to see Lady Betty Butler, grieving for her sister
+Ashburnham.  The jade was in bed in form, and she did so cant, she made me
+sick.  I meet Tom Leigh every day in the Park, to preserve his health.  He is
+as ruddy as a rose, and tells me his Bishop of Dromore[10] recovers very much.
+That Bishop has been very near dying.  This day's Examiner talks of the play
+of "What is it like?"[11] and you will think it to be mine, and be bit; for I
+have no hand in these papers at all.  I dined with Lord Treasurer, and shall
+again to-morrow, which is his day when all the Ministers dine with him.  He
+calls it whipping-day.  It is always on Saturday, and we do indeed usually
+rally him about his faults on that day.  I was of the original Club, when only
+poor Lord Rivers, Lord Keeper, and Lord Bolingbroke came; but now Ormond,
+Anglesea, Lord Steward,[12] Dartmouth, and other rabble intrude, and I scold
+at it; but now they pretend as good a title as I; and, indeed, many Saturdays
+I am not there.  The company being too many, I don't love it.  Nite MD.
+
+10.  At seven this evening, as we sat after dinner at Lord Treasurer's, a
+servant said Lord Peterborow was at the door.  Lord Treasurer and Lord
+Bolingbroke went out to meet him, and brought him in.  He was just returned
+from abroad, where he has been above a year.  Soon as he saw me, he left the
+Duke of Ormond and other lords, and ran and kissed me before he spoke to them;
+but chid me terribly for not writing to him, which I never did this last time
+he was abroad, not knowing where he was; and he changed places so often, it
+was impossible a letter should overtake him.  He left England with a bruise,
+by his coach overturning, that made him spit blood, and was so ill, we
+expected every post to hear of his death; but he outrode it or outdrank it, or
+something, and is come home lustier than ever.  He is at least sixty, and has
+more spirits than any young fellow I know in England.  He has got the old
+Oxford regiment of horse, and I believe will have a Garter.  I love the hang-
+dog dearly.  Nite dee MD.
+
+11.  The Court was crammed to-day to see[13] the French Ambassador; but he did
+not come.  Did I never tell you that I go to Court on Sundays as to a coffee-
+house, to see acquaintance, whom I should otherwise not see twice a year?  The
+Provost[14] and I dined with Ned Southwell, by appointment, in order to settle
+your kingdom, if my scheme can be followed; but I doubt our Ministry will be
+too tedious.  You must certainly have a new Parliament; but they would have
+that a secret yet.  Our Parliament here will be prorogued for three weeks.
+Those puppies the Dutch will not yet come in, though they pretend to submit to
+the Queen in everything; but they would fain try first how our session begins,
+in hopes to embroil us in the House of Lords:  and if my advice had been
+taken, the session should have begun, and we would have trusted the Parliament
+to approve the steps already made toward the peace, and had an Address perhaps
+from them to conclude without the Dutch, if they would not agree.--Others are
+of my mind, but it is not reckoned so safe, it seems; yet I doubt whether the
+peace will be ready so soon as three weeks, but that is a secret.  Nite MD.
+
+12.  Pratt and I walked into the City to one Bateman's,[15] a famous
+bookseller, for old books.  There I laid out four pounds like a fool, and we
+dined at a hedge ale-house, for two shillings and twopence, like emperors.
+Let me see, I bought Plutarch, two volumes, for thirty shillings, etc.  Well,
+I'll tell you no more; oo don't understand Greek.[16]  We have no news, and I
+have nothing more to say to-day, and I can't finish my work.  These Ministers
+will not find time to do what I would have them.  So nite, nown dee dallars.
+
+13.  I was to have dined to-day with Lord Keeper, but would not, because that
+brute Sir John Walter[17] was to be one of the company.  You may remember he
+railed at me last summer was twelvemonth at Windsor, and has never begged my
+pardon, though he promised to do it; and Lord Mansel, who was one of the
+company, would certainly have set us together by the ears, out of pure roguish
+mischief.  So I dined with Lord Treasurer, where there was none but Lord
+Bolingbroke.  I stayed till eight, and then went to Lady Orkney's, who has
+been sick, and sat with her till twelve, from whence you may consider it is
+late, sollahs.  The Parliament was prorogued to-day, as I told you, for three
+weeks.  Our weather is very bad and slobbery, and I shall spoil my new hat (I
+have bought a new hat), or empty my pockets.  Does Hawkshaw pay the interest
+he owes?  Lord Abercorn plagues me to death.  I have now not above six people
+to provide for, and about as many to do good offices to; and thrice as many
+that I will do nothing for; nor can I if I would.  Nite dee MD.
+
+14.  To-day I took the circle of morning visits.  I went to the Duchess of
+Ormond, and there was she, and Lady Betty, and Lord Ashburnham together:  this
+was the first time the mother and daughter saw each other since Lady
+Ashburnham's death.  They were both in tears, and I chid them for being
+together, and made Lady Betty go to her own chamber; then sat a while with the
+Duchess, and went after Lady Betty, and all was well.  There is something of
+farce in all these mournings, let them be ever so serious.  People will
+pretend to grieve more than they really do, and that takes off from their true
+grief.  I then went to the Duchess of Hamilton, who never grieved, but raged,
+and stormed, and railed.[18]  She is pretty quiet now, but has a diabolical
+temper.  Lord Keeper and his son, and their two ladies, and I, dined to-day
+with Mr. Caesar,[19] Treasurer of the Navy, at his house in the City, where he
+keeps his office.  We happened to talk of Brutus, and I said something in his
+praise, when it struck me immediately that I had made a blunder in doing so;
+and, therefore, I recollected myself, and said, "Mr. Caesar, I beg your
+pardon."  So we laughed, etc.  Nite, my own deelest richar logues, MD.
+
+15.  I forgot to tell you that last night I had a present sent me (I found it,
+when I came home, in my chamber) of the finest wild fowl I ever saw, with the
+vilest letter, and from the vilest poet in the world, who sent it me as a
+bribe to get him an employment.  I knew not where the scoundrel lived, so I
+could not send them back, and therefore I gave them away as freely as I got
+them, and have ordered my man never to let up the poet when he comes.  The
+rogue should have kept the wings at least for his muse.  One of his fowls was
+a large capon pheasant, as fat as a pullet.  I ate share of it to-day with a
+friend.  We have now a Drawing-room every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at
+one o'clock.  The Queen does not come out; but all her Ministers, foreigners,
+and persons of quality are at it.  I was there to-day; and as Lord Treasurer
+came towards me, I avoided him, and he hunted me thrice about the room.  I
+affect never to take notice of him at church or Court.  He knows it, for I
+have told him so; and to-night, at Lord Masham's, he gave an account of it to
+the company; but my reasons are, that people seeing me speak to him causes a
+great deal of teasing.  I tell you what comes into my head, that I never knew
+whether MD were Whigs or Tories, and I value our conversation the more that it
+never turned on that subject.  I have a fancy that Ppt is a Tory, and a
+violent one.  I don't know why; but methinks she looks like one, and DD a sort
+of a Trimmer.  Am I right?  I gave the Examiner a hint about this prorogation,
+and to praise the Queen for her tenderness to the Dutch in giving them still
+more time to submit.[20]  It fitted the occasions at present.  Nite MD.
+
+16.  I was busy to-day at the Secretary's office, and stayed till past three.
+The Duke of Ormond and I were to dine at Lord Orkney's.  The Duke was at the
+Committee, so I thought all was safe.  When I went there, they had almost
+dined; for the Duke had sent to excuse himself, which I never knew.  I came
+home at seven, and began a little whim, which just came into my head; and will
+make a threepenny pamphlet.[21]  It shall be finished and out in a week; and
+if it succeeds, you shall know what it is; otherwise, not.  I cannot send this
+to-morrow, and will put it off till next Saturday, because I have much
+business.  So my journals shall be short, and Ppt must have patience.  So
+nite, dee sollahs.
+
+17.  This rogue Parnell has not yet corrected his poem, and I would fain have
+it out.  I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer, and his Saturday company, nine of
+us in all.  They went away at seven, and Lord Treasurer and I sat talking an
+hour after.  After dinner he was talking to the lords about the speech the
+Queen must make when the Parliament meets.  He asked me how I would make it.
+I was going to be serious, because it was seriously put; but I turned it to a
+jest.  And because they had been speaking of the Duchess of Marlborough going
+to Flanders after the Duke, I said the speech should begin thus:  "My Lords
+and Gentlemen, In order to my own quiet, and that of my subjects, I have
+thought fit to send the Duchess of Marlborough abroad after the Duke."  This
+took well, and turned off the discourse.  I must tell you I do not at all like
+the present situation of affairs, and remember I tell you so.  Things must be
+on another foot, or we are all undone.  I hate this driving always to an inch.
+Nite MD.
+
+18.  We had a mighty full Court to-day.  Dilly was with me at the French
+church, and edified mightily.  The Duke of Ormond and I dined at Lord
+Orkney's; but I left them at seven, and came home to my whim.  I have made a
+great progress.  My large Treatise[22] stands stock still.  Some think it too
+dangerous to publish, and would have me print only what relates to the peace.
+I cannot tell what I shall do.--The Bishop of Dromore is dying.  They thought
+yesterday he could not live two hours; yet he is still alive, but is utterly
+past all hopes.  Go to cards, sollahs, and nite.
+
+19.  I was this morning to see the Duke and Duchess of Ormond.  The Duke
+d'Aumont came in while I was with the Duke of Ormond, and we complimented each
+other like dragons.  A poor fellow called at the door where I lodge, with a
+parcel of oranges for a present for me.  I bid my man know what his name was,
+and whence he came.  He sent word his name was Bun, and that I knew him very
+well.  I bid my man tell him I was busy, and he could not speak to me; and not
+to let him leave his oranges.  I know no more of it, but I am sure I never
+heard the name, and I shall take no such presents from strangers.  Perhaps he
+might be only some beggar, who wanted a little money.  Perhaps it might be
+something worse.  Let them keep their poison for their rats.  I don't love
+it.[23]  That blot is a blunder.  Nite dee MD. . . .
+
+20.  A Committee of our Society dined to-day with the Chancellor of the
+Exchequer.  Our Society does not meet now as usual, for which I am blamed:
+but till Lord Treasurer will agree to give us money and employments to bestow,
+I am averse to it; and he gives us nothing but promises.  The Bishop of
+Dromore is still alive, and that is all.  We expect every day he will die, and
+then Tom Leigh must go back, which is one good thing to the town.  I believe
+Pratt will drive at one of these bishoprics.  Our English bishopric[24] is not
+yet disposed of.  I believe the peace will not be ready by the session.  Nite
+MD.
+
+21.  I was to-day with my printer, to give him a little pamphlet I have
+written, but not politics.  It will be out by Monday.  If it succeeds, I will
+tell you of it; otherwise, not.  We had a prodigious thaw to-day, as bad as
+rain; yet I walked like a good boy all the way.  The Bishop of Dromore still
+draws breath, but cannot live two days longer.  My large book lies flat.  Some
+people think a great part of it ought not to be now printed.  I believe I told
+you so before.  This letter shall not go till Saturday, which makes up the
+three weeks exactly; and I allow MD six weeks, which are now almost out; so oo
+must know I expect a rettle vely soon, and that MD is vely werr;[25] and so
+nite, dee MD.
+
+22.  This is one of our Court days, and I was there.  I told you there is a
+Drawing-room, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  The Hamiltons and Abercorns
+have done teasing me.  The latter, I hear, is actually going to France.  Lord
+Treasurer quarrelled with me at Court for being four days without dining with
+him; so I dined there to-day, and he has at last fallen in with my project (as
+he calls it) of coining halfpence and farthings, with devices, like medals, in
+honour of the Queen, every year changing the device.  I wish it may be done.
+Nite MD.
+
+23.  The Duke of Ormond and I appointed to dine with Ned Southwell to-day, to
+talk of settling your affairs of Parliament in Ireland, but there was a
+mixture of company, and the Duke of Ormond was in haste, and nothing was done.
+If your Parliament meets this summer, it must be a new one; but I find some
+are of opinion there should be none at all these two years.  I will trouble
+myself no more about it.  My design was to serve the Duke of Ormond.  Dr.
+Pratt and I sat this evening with the Bishop of Clogher, and played at ombre
+for threepences.  That, I suppose, is but low with you.  I found, at coming
+home, a letter from MD, N.37.  I shall not answer it zis bout, but will the
+next.  I am sorry for poo poo Ppt.  Pray walk hen oo can.  I have got a
+terrible new cold before my old one was quite gone, and don't know how.  Pay.
+. . . [26]  I shall have DD's money soon from the Exchequer.  The Bishop of
+Dromore is dead now at last.  Nite, dee MD.
+
+24.  I was at Court to-day, and it was comical to see Lord Abercorn bowing to
+me, but not speaking, and Lord Selkirk the same.[27]  I dined with Lord
+Treasurer and his Saturday Club, and sat with him two hours after the rest
+were gone, and spoke freer to him of affairs than I am afraid others do, who
+might do more good.  All his friends repine, and shrug their shoulders; but
+will not deal with him so freely as they ought.  It is an odd business; the
+Parliament just going to sit, and no employments given.  They say they will
+give them in a few days.  There is a new bishop made of Hereford;[28] so
+Ossory[29] is disappointed.  I hinted so to his friends two months ago, to
+make him leave off deluding himself, and being indiscreet, as he was.  I have
+just time to send this, without giving to the bellman.  Nite deelest richar
+MD. . . .  dee MD MD MD FW FW FW ME ME ME Lele Lele Lele.
+
+My second cold is better now.  Lele lele lele lele.
+
+
+
+LETTER 59.[1]
+
+LONDON, Jan. 25, 1712-1713.
+
+We had such a terrible storm to-day, that, going to Lord Bolingbroke's, I saw
+a hundred tiles fallen down; and one swinger fell about forty yards before me,
+that would have killed a horse:  so, after church and Court, I walked through
+the Park, and took a chair to Lord Treasurer's.  Next door to his house, a tin
+chimneytop had fallen down, with a hundred bricks.  It is grown calm this
+evening.  I wonder had you such a wind to-day?  I hate it as much as any hog
+does.  Lord Treasurer has engaged me to dine again with him to-morrow.  He has
+those tricks sometimes of inviting me from day to day, which I am forced to
+break through.  My little pamphlet[2] is out:  'tis not politics.  If it
+takes, I say again you shall hear of it.  Nite dee logues.
+
+26.  This morning I felt a little touch of giddiness, which has disordered and
+weakened me with its ugly remains all this day.  Pity Pdfr.  After dinner at
+Lord Treasurer's, the French Ambassador, Duke d'Aumont, sent Lord Treasurer
+word that his house was burnt down to the ground.  It took fire in the upper
+rooms, while he was at dinner with Monteleon, the Spanish Ambassador, and
+other persons; and soon after Lord Bolingbroke came to us with the same story.
+We are full of speculations upon it, but I believe it was the carelessness of
+his French rascally servants.  'Tis odd that this very day Lord Somers,
+Wharton, Sunderland, Halifax, and the whole club of Whig lords, dined at
+Pontack's[3] in the City, as I received private notice.  They have some damned
+design.  I tell you another odd thing; I was observing it to Lord Treasurer,
+that he was stabbed on the day King William died; and the day I saved his
+life, by opening the bandbox,[4] was King William's birthday.  My friend Mr.
+Lewis has had a lie spread on him by the mistake of a man, who went to another
+of his name, to give him thanks for passing his Privy Seal to come from
+France.[5]  That other Lewis spread about that the man brought him thanks from
+Lord Perth and Lord Melfort (two lords with the Pretender), for his great
+services, etc.  The Lords will examine that t'other Lewis to-morrow in
+council; and I believe you will hear of it in the prints, for I will make Abel
+Roper give a relation of it.  Pray tell me if it be necessary to write a
+little plainer; for I looked over a bit of my last letter, and could hardly
+read it.  I'll mend my hand, if oo please:  but you are more used to it nor I,
+as Mr. Raymond says.  Nite MD.
+
+27.  I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer:  this makes four days together; and
+he has invited me again to-morrow, but I absolutely refused him.  I was this
+evening at a christening with him of Lord Dupplin's[6] daughter.  He went away
+at ten; but they kept me and some others till past twelve; so you may be sure
+'tis late, as they say.  We have now stronger suspicions that the Duke
+d'Aumont's house was set on fire by malice.  I was to-day to see Lord Keeper,
+who has quite lost his voice with a cold.  There Dr. Radcliffe told me that it
+was the Ambassador's confectioner set the house on fire by boiling sugar, and
+going down and letting it boil over.  Yet others still think differently; so I
+know not what to judge.  Nite my own deelest MD, rove Pdfr.
+
+28.  I was to-day at Court, where the Spanish Ambassador talked to me as if he
+did not suspect any design in burning d'Aumont's house:  but Abbe Gaultier,
+Secretary for France here, said quite otherwise; and that d'Aumont had a
+letter the very same day to let him know his house should be burnt, and they
+tell several other circumstances too tedious to write.  One is, that a fellow
+mending the tiles just when the fire broke out, saw a pot with wildfire[7] in
+the room.  I dined with Lord Orkney.  Neither Lord Abercorn nor Selkirk will
+now speak with me.  I have disobliged both sides.  Nite dear MD.
+
+29.  Our Society met to-day, fourteen of us, and at a tavern.  We now resolve
+to meet but once a fortnight, and have a Committee every other week of six or
+seven, to consult about doing some good.  I proposed another message to Lord
+Treasurer by three principal members, to give a hundred guineas to a certain
+person, and they are to urge it as well as they can.  We also raised sixty
+guineas upon our own Society; but I made them do it by sessors,[8] and I was
+one of them, and we fitted our tax to the several estates.  The Duke of Ormond
+pays ten guineas, and I the third part of a guinea; at that rate, they may tax
+as often as they please.  Well, but I must answer oor rettle, ung oomens:  not
+yet; 'tis rate now, and I can't tind it.  Nite deelest MD.
+
+30.  I have drank Spa waters this two or three days; but they do not pass, and
+make me very giddy.  I an't well; faith, I'll take them no more.  I sauntered
+after church with the Provost to-day to see a library to be sold, and dined at
+five with Lord Orkney.  We still think there was malice in burning d'Aumont's
+house.  I hear little Harrison[9] is come over; it was he I sent to Utrecht.
+He is now Queen's Secretary to the Embassy, and has brought with him the
+Barrier Treaty, as it is now corrected by us, and yielded to by the Dutch,
+which was the greatest difficulty to retard the peace.  I hope he will bring
+over the peace a month hence, for we will send him back as soon as possible.
+I long to see the little brat, my own creature.  His pay is in all a thousand
+pounds a year, and they have never paid him a groat, though I have teased
+their hearts out.  He must be three or four hundred pounds in debt at least,
+the brat!  Let me go to bed, sollahs.--Nite dee richar MD.
+
+31.  Harrison was with me this morning:  we talked three hours, and then I
+carried him to Court.  When we went down to the door of my lodging, I found a
+coach waited for him.  I chid him for it; but he whispered me it was
+impossible to do otherwise; and in the coach he told me he had not one
+farthing in his pocket to pay it; and therefore took the coach for the whole
+day, and intended to borrow money somewhere or other.  So there was the
+Queen's Minister entrusted in affairs of the greatest importance, without a
+shilling in his pocket to pay a coach!  I paid him while he was with me seven
+guineas, in part of a dozen of shirts he bought me in Holland.  I presented
+him to the Duke of Ormond, and several lords at Court; and I contrived it so
+that Lord Treasurer came to me and asked (I had Parnell by me) whether that
+was Dr. Parnell, and came up and spoke to him with great kindness, and invited
+him to his house.  I value myself upon making the Ministry desire to be
+acquainted with Parnell, and not Parnell with the Ministry.  His poem is
+almost fully corrected, and shall soon be out.  Here's enough for to-day:
+only to tell you that I was in the City with my printer to alter an Examiner
+about my friend Lewis's story,[10] which will be told with remarks.  Nite MD.
+
+Feb. 1.  I could do nothing till to-day about the Examiner, but the printer
+came this morning, and I dictated to him what was fit to be said, and then Mr.
+Lewis came, and corrected it as he would have it; so I was neither at church
+nor Court.  The Duke of Ormond and I dined at Lord Orkney's.  I left them at
+seven, and sat with Sir Andrew Fountaine, who has a very bad sore leg, for
+which he designs to go to France.  Fais, here's a week gone, and one side of
+this letter not finished.  Oh, but I write now but once in three weeks; iss,
+fais, this shall go sooner.  The Parliament is to sit on the third, but will
+adjourn for three or four days; for the Queen is laid up with the gout, and
+both Speakers out of order, though one of them, the Lord Keeper, is almost
+well.  I spoke to the Duke of Ormond a good deal about Ireland.  We do not
+altogether agree, nor am I judge enough of Irish affairs; but I will speak to
+Lord Treasurer to-morrow, that we three may settle them some way or other.
+Nite sollahs both, rove Pdfr.
+
+2.  I had a letter some days ago from Moll Gery;[11] her name is now Wigmore,
+and her husband has turned parson.  She desires nothing but that I would get
+Lord Keeper to give him a living; but I will send her no answer, though she
+desires it much.  She still makes mantuas at Farnham.  It rained all this day,
+and Dilly came to me, and was coaching it into the City; so I went with him
+for a shaking, because it would not cost me a farthing.  There I met my friend
+Stratford,[12] the merchant, who is going abroad to gather up his debts, and
+be clear in the world.  He begged that I would dine with some merchant friends
+of ours there, because it was the last time I should see him:  so I did, and
+thought to have seen Lord Treasurer in the evening, but he happened to go out
+at five; so I visited some friends, and came home.  And now I have the
+greatest part of your letter to answer; and yet I will not do it to-night, say
+what oo please.  The Parliament meets to-morrow, but will be prorogued for a
+fortnight; which disappointment will, I believe, vex abundance of them, though
+they are not Whigs; for they are forced to be in town at expense for nothing:
+but we want an answer from Spain, before we are sure of everything being right
+for the peace; and God knows whether we can have that answer this month.  It
+is a most ticklish juncture of affairs; we are always driving to an inch:  I
+am weary of it.  Nite MD.
+
+3.  The Parliament met, and was prorogued, as I said, and I found some cloudy
+faces, and heard some grumbling.  We have got over all our difficulties with
+France, I think.  They have now settled all the articles of commerce between
+us and them, wherein they were very much disposed to play the rogue if we had
+not held them to [it]; and this business we wait from Spain is to prevent some
+other rogueries of the French, who are finding an evasion to trade to the
+Spanish West Indies; but I hope we shall prevent it.  I dined with Lord
+Treasurer, and he was in good humour enough.  I gave him that part of my book
+in manuscript to read where his character was, and drawn pretty freely.  He
+was reading and correcting it with his pencil, when the Bishop of St.
+David's[13] (now removing to Hereford) came in and interrupted us.  I left him
+at eight, and sat till twelve with the Provost and Bishop of Clogher at the
+Provost's.  Nite MD.
+
+4.  I was to-day at Court, but kept out of Lord Treasurer's way, because I was
+engaged to the Duke of Ormond, where I dined, and, I think, ate and drank too
+much.  I sat this evening with Lady Masham, and then with Lord Masham and Lord
+Treasurer at Lord Masham's.  It was last year, you may remember, my constant
+evening place.  I saw Lady Jersey[14] with Lady Masham, who has been laying
+out for my acquaintance, and has forced a promise for me to drink chocolate
+with her in a day or two, which I know not whether I shall perform (I have
+just mended my pen, you see), for I do not much like her character; but she is
+very malicious, and therefore I think I must keep fair with her.  I cannot
+send this letter till Saturday next, I find; so I will answer oors now.  I see
+no different days of the month; yet it is dated January 3:  so it was long a
+coming.  I did not write to Dr. Coghill that I would have nothing in Ireland,
+but that I was soliciting nothing anywhere, and that is true.  I have named
+Dr. Sterne to Lord Treasurer, Lord Bolingbroke, and the Duke of Ormond, for a
+bishopric, and I did it heartily.  I know not what will come of it; but I tell
+you as a great secret that I have made the Duke of Ormond promise me to
+recommend nobody till he tells me, and this for some reasons too long to
+mention.  My head is still in no good order.  I am heartily sorry for poo Ppt,
+I'm sure.  Her head is good for. . .[15]  I'll answer more to-mollow.  Nite,
+dearest MD; nite dee sollahs, MD.[16]
+
+5.  I must go on with oo letter.  I dined to-day with Sir Andrew Fountaine and
+the Provost, and I played at ombre with him all the afternoon.  I won, yet Sir
+Andrew is an admirable player.  Lord Pembroke[17] came in, and I gave him
+three or four scurvy Dilly puns, that begin with an IF.  Well, but oor letter,
+well, ret me see.--No; I believe I shall write no more this good while, nor
+publish what I have done.  Nauty (?) Ppt, oo are vely tempegant.  I did not
+suspect oo would tell Filby.[18]  Oo are so. . . [19]  Turns and visitations--
+what are these?  I'll preach and visit as much for Mr. Walls.  Pray God mend
+poopt's[20] health; mine is but very indifferent.  I have left off Spa water;
+it makes my leg swell.  Nite deelest MD.
+
+6.  This is the Queen's Birthday, and I never saw it celebrated with so much
+luxury and fine clothes.  I went to Court to see them, and I dined with Lord
+Keeper, where the ladies were fine to admiration.  I passed the evening at
+Mrs. Vanhomrigh's, and came home pretty early, to answer oo rettle again.
+Pray God keep the Queen.  She was very ill about ten days ago, and had the
+gout in her stomach.  When I came from Lord Keeper's, I called at Lord
+Treasurer's, because I heard he was very fine, and that was a new thing; and
+it was true, for his coat and waistcoat were embroidered.  I have seen the
+Provost often since, and never spoke to him to speak to the Temples about
+Daniel Carr, nor will; I don't care to do it.  I have writ lately to Parvisol.
+Oo did well to let him make up his accounts.  All things grow dear in Ireland,
+but corn to the parsons; for my livings are fallen much this year by
+Parvisol's account.  Nite dee logues, MD.
+
+ 7.(8)  I was at Court to-day, but saw no Birthday clothes; the great folks
+never wear them above once or twice.  I dined with Lord Orkney, and sat the
+evening with Sir Andrew Fountaine, whose leg is in a very dubious condition.
+Pray let me know when DD's money is near due:  always let me know it
+beforehand.  This, I believe, will hardly go till Saturday; for I tell you
+what, being not very well, I dare not study much:  so I let company come in a
+morning, and the afternoon pass in dining and sitting somewhere.  Lord
+Treasurer is angry if I don't dine with him every second day, and I cannot
+part with him till late:  he kept me last night till near twelve.  Our weather
+is constant rain above these two months, which hinders walking, so that our
+spring is not like yours.  I have not seen Fanny Manley[21] yet; I cannot find
+time.  I am in rebellion with all my acquaintance, but I will mend with my
+health and the weather.  Clogher make a figure!  Clogher make a ----.  Colds!
+why, we have been all dying with colds; but now they are a little over, and my
+second is almost off.  I can do nothing for Swanton indeed.  It is a thing
+impossible, and wholly out of my way.  If he buys, he must buy.  So now I have
+answered oo rettle; and there's an end of that now; and I'll say no more, but
+bid oo nite, dee MD.
+
+8.(9) It was terrible rainy to-day from morning till night.  I intended to
+have dined with Lord Treasurer, but went to see Sir Andrew Fountaine, and he
+kept me to dinner, which saved coach-hire; and I stayed with him all the
+afternoon, and lost thirteen shillings and sixpence at ombre.  There was
+management! and Lord Treasurer will chide; but I'll dine with him to-morrow.
+The Bishop of Clogher's daughter has been ill some days,[22] and it proves the
+smallpox.  She is very full; but it comes out well, and they apprehend no
+danger.  Lady Orkney has given me her picture; a very fine original of Sir
+Godfrey Kneller's; it is now a mending.  He has favoured her squint admirably;
+and you know I love a cast in the eye.  I was to see Lady Worsley[23] to-day,
+who is just come to town; she is full of rheumatic pains.  All my acquaintance
+grow old and sickly.  She lodges in the very house in King Street, between St.
+James's Street and St. James's Square, where DD's brother bought the
+sweetbread, when I lodged there, and MD came to see me.  Short sighs.[24]
+Nite MD.
+
+9.(10) I thought to have dined with Lord Treasurer to-day, but he dined abroad
+at Tom Harley's; so I dined at Lord Masham's, and was winning all I had lost
+playing with Lady Masham at crown picquet, when we went to pools, and I lost
+it again.  Lord Treasurer came in to us, and chid me for not following him to
+Tom Harley's.  Miss Ashe is still the same, and they think her not in danger;
+my man calls there daily after I am gone out, and tells me at night.  I was
+this morning to see Lady Jersey, and we have made twenty parties about dining
+together, and I shall hardly keep one of them.  She is reduced after all her
+greatness to seven servants, and a small house, and no coach.[25]  I like her
+tolerably as yet.  Nite MD.
+
+10.(11) I made visits this morning to the Duke and Duchess of Ormond, and Lady
+Betty, and the Duchess of Hamilton.  (When I was writing this near twelve
+o'clock, the Duchess of Hamilton sent to have me dine with her to-morrow.  I
+am forced to give my answer through the door, for my man has got the key, and
+is gone to bed; but I cannot obey her, for our Society meets to-morrow.)  I
+stole away from Lord Treasurer by eight, and intended to have passed the
+evening with Sir Thomas Clarges[26] and his lady; but met them in another
+place, and have there sat till now.  My head has not been ill to-day.  I was
+at Court, and made Lord Mansel walk with me in the Park before we went to
+dinner.--Yesterday and to-day have been fair, but yet it rained all last
+night.  I saw Sterne staring at Court to-day.  He has been often to see me, he
+says:  but my man has not yet let him up.  He is in deep mourning; I hope it
+is not for his wife.[27]  I did not ask him.  Nite MD.
+
+12.[28] I have reckoned days wrong all this while; for this is the twelfth.  I
+do not know when I lost it.  I dined to-day with our Society, the greatest
+dinner I have ever seen.  It was at Jack Hill's, the Governor of Dunkirk.  I
+gave an account of sixty guineas I had collected, and am to give them away to
+two authors to-morrow; and Lord Treasurer has promised us a hundred pounds to
+reward some others.  I found a letter on my table last night to tell me that
+poor little Harrison, the Queen's Secretary, that came lately from Utrecht
+with the Barrier Treaty, was ill, and desired to see me at night; but it was
+late, and I could not go till to-day.  I have often mentioned him in my
+letters, you may remember. . . .  I went in the morning, and found him mighty
+ill, and got thirty guineas for him from Lord Bolingbroke, and an order for a
+hundred pounds from the Treasury to be paid him to-morrow; and I have got him
+removed to Knightsbridge for air.  He has a fever and inflammation on his
+lungs; but I hope will do well.  Nite.
+
+13.  I was to see a poor poet, one Mr. Diaper,[29] in a nasty garret, very
+sick.  I gave him twenty guineas from Lord Bolingbroke, and disposed the other
+sixty to two other authors, and desired a friend to receive the hundred pounds
+for poor Harrison, and will carry it to him to-morrow morning.  I sent to see
+how he did, and he is extremely ill; and I very much afflicted for him, for he
+is my own creature, and in a very honourable post, and very worthy of it.  I
+dined in the City.  I am in much concern for this poor lad.  His mother and
+sister attend him, and he wants nothing.  Nite poo dee MD.
+
+14.  I took Parnell this morning, and we walked to see poor Harrison.  I had
+the hundred pounds in my pocket.  I told Parnell I was afraid to knock at the
+door; my mind misgave me.  I knocked, and his man in tears told me his master
+was dead an hour before.  Think what grief this is to me!  I went to his
+mother, and have been ordering things for his funeral with as little cost as
+possible, to-morrow at ten at night.  Lord Treasurer was much concerned when I
+told him.  I could not dine with Lord Treasurer, nor anywhere else; but got a
+bit of meat toward evening.  No loss ever grieved me so much:  poor creature!
+Pray God Almighty bless poor MD.  Adieu.
+
+I send this away to-night, and am sorry it must go while I am in so much
+grief.
+
+
+
+LETTER 60.[1]
+
+LONDON, Feb. 15 [1712-13].
+
+I dined to-day with Mr. Rowe[2] and a projector, who has been teasing me with
+twenty schemes to get grants; and I don't like one of them; and, besides, I
+was out of humour for the loss of poor Harrison.  At ten this night I was at
+his funeral, which I ordered to be as private as possible.  We had but one
+coach with four of us; and when it was carrying us home after the funeral, the
+braces broke; and we were forced to sit in it, and have it held up, till my
+man went for chairs,[3] at eleven at night in terrible rain.  I am come home
+very melancholy, and will go to bed.  Nite. . .  MD.[4]
+
+16.  I dined to-day with Lord Dupplin and some company to divert me; but left
+them early, and have been reading a foolish book for amusement.  I shall never
+have courage again to care for making anybody's fortune.  The Parliament meets
+to-morrow, and will be prorogued another fortnight, at which several of both
+parties were angry; but it cannot be helped, though everything about the peace
+is past all danger.  I never saw such a continuance of rainy weather.  We have
+not had two fair days together these ten weeks.  I have not dined with Lord
+Treasurer these four days, nor can I till Saturday; for I have several
+engagements till then, and he will chide me to some purpose.  I am perplexed
+with this hundred pounds of poor Harrison's, what to do with it.  I cannot pay
+his relations till they administer, for he is much in debt;[5] but I will have
+the staff in my own hands, and venture nothing.  Nite poo dee MD.
+
+17.  Lady Jersey and I dined by appointment to-day with Lord Bolingbroke.  He
+is sending his brother[6] to succeed Mr.[7] Harrison.  It is the prettiest
+post in Europe for a young gentleman.  I lose my money at ombre sadly; I make
+a thousand blunders.  I play but[8] threepenny ombre; but it is what you call
+running ombre.  Lady Clarges,[9] and a drab I hate, won a dozen shillings of
+me last night.  The Parliament was prorogued to-day; and people grumble; and
+the good of it is the peace cannot be finished by the time they meet, there
+are so many fiddling things to do.  Is Ppt an ombre lady yet?  You know all
+the tricks of it now, I suppose.  I reckon you have all your cards from
+France, for ours pay sixpence a pack taxes, which goes deep to the box.  I
+have given away all my Spa water, and take some nasty steel drops, and my head
+has been better this week past.  I send every day to see how Miss Ashe does:
+she is very full, they say, but in no danger.  I fear she will lose some of
+her beauty.  The son lies out of the house.  I wish he had them too, while he
+is so young.--Nite MD.
+
+18.  The Earl of Abingdon[10] has been teasing me these three months to dine
+with him; and this day was appointed about a week ago, and I named my company;
+Lord Stawel,[11] Colonel Disney,[12] and Dr. Arbuthnot; but the two last
+slipped out their necks, and left Stawell and me to dine there.  We did not
+dine till seven, because it is Ash Wednesday.  We had nothing but fish, which
+Lord Stawell could not eat, and got a broiled leg of a turkey.  Our wine was
+poison; yet the puppy has twelve thousand pound a year.  His carps were raw,
+and his candles tallow.  He[13] shall not catch me in haste again, and
+everybody has laughed at me for dining with him.  I was to-day to let
+Harrison's mother know I could not pay till she administers; which she will
+do.  I believe she is an old bawd,[14] and her daughter a -----.  There were
+more Whigs to-day at Court than Tories.  I believe they think the peace must
+be made, and so come to please the Queen.  She is still lame with the gout.
+Nite MD.
+
+19.  I was at Court to-day, to speak to Lord Bolingbroke to look over
+Parnell's poem since it is corrected; and Parnell and I dined with him, and he
+has shown him three or four more places to alter a little.  Lady Bolingbroke
+came down to us while we were at dinner, and Parnell stared at her as if she
+were a goddess.  I thought she was like Parnell's wife, and he thought so too.
+Parnell is much pleased with Lord Bolingbroke's favour to him, and I hope it
+may one day turn to his advantage.  His poem will be printed in a few days.
+Our weather continues as fresh raining as if it had not rained at all.  I sat
+to-night at Lady Masham's, where Lord Treasurer came and scolded me for not
+dining with him.  I told him I could not till Saturday.  I have stayed there
+till past twelve.  So nite dee sollahs, nite.
+
+20.  Lady Jersey, Lady Catherine Hyde,[15] the Spanish Ambassador, the Duke
+d'Atree,[16] another Spaniard, and I, dined to-day by appointment with Lord
+Bolingbroke; but they fell a drinking so many Spanish healths in champagne
+that I stole away to the ladies, and drank tea till eight; and then went and
+lost my money at ombre with Sir Andrew Fountaine, who has a very bad leg.
+Miss Ashe is past all danger; and her eye, which was lately bad (I suppose one
+effect of her distemper), is now better.  I do not let the Bishop see me, nor
+shall this good while.  Good luck! when I came home, I warrant, I found a
+letter from MD, No.38; and oo write so small nowadays, I hope oo poor eyes are
+better.  Well, this shall go to-morrow se'nnight, with a bill for MD.  I will
+speak to Mr. Griffin[17] to-morrow about Ppt's brother Filby, and desire,
+whether he deserves or no, that his employment may be mended; that is to say,
+if I can see Griffin; otherwise not; and I'll answer oo rettle hen I Pdfr
+think fit.  Nite MD.
+
+21.  Methinks I writ a little saucy last night.  I mean the last. . . [18]  I
+saw Griffin at Court.  He says he knows nothing of a salt-work at Recton; but
+that he will give Filby a better employment, and desires Filby will write to
+him.  If I knew how to write to Filby, I would; but pray do you.  Bid him make
+no mention of you; but only let Mr. Griffin know that he has the honour to be
+recommended by Dr. S----, etc.; that he will endeavour to deserve, etc.; and
+if you dictated a whole letter for him, it would be better; I hope he can
+write and spell well.  I'll inquire for a direction to Griffin before I finish
+this.  I dined with Lord Treasurer and seven lords to-day.  You know Saturday
+is his great day, but I sat with them alone till eight, and then came home,
+and have been writing a letter to Mrs. Davis, at York.  She took care to have
+a letter delivered for me at Lord Treasurer's; for I would not own one she
+sent by post.  She reproaches me for not writing to her these four years; and
+I have honestly told her it was my way never to write to those whom I am never
+likely to see, unless I can serve them, which I cannot her, etc.  Davis the
+schoolmaster's widow.  Nite MD.
+
+22.  I dined to-day at Lord Orkney's, with the Duke of Ormond and Sir Thomas
+Hanmer.[19]  Have you ever heard of the latter?  He married the Duchess of
+Grafton in his youth (she dined with us too).  He is the most considerable man
+in the House of Commons.  He went last spring to Flanders, with the Duke of
+Ormond; from thence to France, and was going to Italy; but the Ministry sent
+for him, and he has been come over about ten days.  He is much out of humour
+with things:  he thinks the peace is kept off too long, and is full of fears
+and doubts.  It is thought he is designed for Secretary of State, instead of
+Lord Dartmouth.  We have been acquainted these two years; and I intend, in a
+day or two, to have an hour's talk with him on affairs.  I saw the Bishop of
+Clogher at Court; Miss is recovering.  I know not how much she will be marked.
+The Queen is slowly mending of her gout, and intends to be brought in a chair
+to Parliament when it meets, which will be March 3; for I suppose they will
+prorogue no more; yet the peace will not be signed then, and we apprehend the
+Tories themselves will many of them be discontented.  Nite dee MD.
+
+23.  It was ill weather to-day, and I dined with Sir Andrew Fountaine, and in
+the evening played at ombre with him and the Provost, and won twenty-five
+shillings; so I have recovered myself pretty well.  Dilly has been dunning me
+to see Fanny Manley; but I have not yet been able to do it.  Miss Ashe is now
+quite out of danger; and hope will not be much marked.  I cannot tell how to
+direct to Griffin; and think he lives in Bury Street, near St. James's Street,
+hard by me; but I suppose your brother may direct to him to the Salt Office,
+and, as I remember, he knows his Christian name, because he sent it me in the
+list of the Commissioners.  Nite dee MD.
+
+24.  I walked this morning to Chelsea, to see Dr. Atterbury, Dean of Christ
+Church.  I had business with him about entering Mr. Fitzmaurice,[20] my Lord
+Kerry's son, into his College; and Lady Kerry[21] is a great favourite of
+mine.  Lord Harley, Lord Dupplin, young Bromley[22] the Speaker's son, and I,
+dined with Dr. Stratford[23] and some other clergymen; but I left them at
+seven to go to Lady Jersey, to see Monteleon the Spanish Ambassador play at
+ombre.  Lady Jersey was abroad, and I chid the servants, and made a rattle;
+but since I came home she sent me a message that I was mistaken, and that the
+meeting is to be to-morrow.  I have a worse memory than when I left you, and
+every day forget appointments; but here my memory was by chance too good.  But
+I'll go to-morrow; for Lady Catherine Hyde and Lady Bolingbroke are to be
+there by appointment, and I listed[24] up my periwig, and all, to make a
+figure.  Well, who can help it?  Not I, vow to. . . ![25]  Nite MD.
+
+25.  Lord Treasurer met me last night at Lord Masham's, and thanked me for my
+company in a jeer, because I had not dined with him in three days.  He chides
+me if I stay away but two days together.  What will this come to?  Nothing.
+My grandmother used to say, "More of your lining, and less of your dining."
+However, I dined with him, and could hardly leave him at eight, to go to Lady
+Jersey's, where five or six foreign Ministers were, and as many ladies.
+Monteleon played like the English, and cried "gacco," and knocked his knuckles
+for trump, and played at small games like Ppt.  Lady Jersey whispered me to
+stay and sup with the ladies when the fellows were gone; but they played till
+eleven, and I would not stay.  I think this letter must go on Saturday; that's
+certain; and it is not half full yet.  Lady Catherine Hyde had a mighty mind I
+should be acquainted with Lady Dalkeith,[26] her sister, the Duke of
+Monmouth's eldest son's widow, who was of the company to-night; but I did not
+like her; she paints too much.  Nite MD.
+
+26.  This day our Society met at the Duke of Ormond's, but I had business that
+called me another way; so I sent my excuses, and dined privately with a
+friend.  Besides, Sir Thomas Hanmer whispered me last night at Lady Jersey's
+that I must attend Lord Treasurer and Duke of Ormond at supper at his house
+to-night; which I did at eleven, and stayed till one, so oo may be sure 'tis
+late enough.  There was the Duchess of Grafton, and the Duke her son; nine of
+us in all.  The Duke of Ormond chid me for not being at the Society to-day,
+and said sixteen were there.  I said I never knew sixteen people good company
+in my life; no, fais, nor eight either.  We have no news in this town at all.
+I wonder why I don't write you news.  I know less of what passes than anybody,
+because I go to[27] no coffee-house, nor see any but Ministers, and such
+people; and Ministers never talk politics in conversation.  The Whigs are
+forming great schemes against the meeting of Parliament, which will be next
+Tuesday, I still think, without fail; and we hope to hear by then that the
+peace is ready to sign.  The Queen's gout mends daily.  Nite MD.
+
+27.  I passed a very insipid day, and dined privately with a friend in the
+neighbourhood.  Did I tell you that I have a very fine picture of Lady
+Orkney,[28] an original, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, three-quarters length?  I
+have it now at home, with a fine frame.  Lord Bolingbroke and Lady Masham have
+promised to sit for me; but I despair of Lord Treasurer; only I hope he will
+give me a copy, and then I shall have all the pictures of those I really love
+here; just half a dozen; only I'll make Lord Keeper give me his print in a
+frame.  This letter must go to-morrow, because of sending ME a bill; else it
+should not till next week, I assure oo.  I have little to do now with my pen;
+for my grand business stops till they are more pressing, and till something or
+other happens; and I believe I shall return with disgust to finish it, it is
+so very laborious.  Sir Thomas Hanmer has my papers now.  And hat is MD doing
+now?  Oh, at ombre with the Dean always on Friday night, with Mrs. Walls.
+Pray don't play at small games.  I stood by, t'other night, while the Duke
+d'Atree[29] lost six times with manilio, basto, and three small trumps; and
+Lady Jersey won above twenty pounds.  Nite dee richar[30] MD.
+
+28.  I was at Court to-day, when the Abbe Gaultier whispered me that a courier
+was just come with an account that the French King had consented to all the
+Queen's demands, and his consent was carried to Utrecht, and the peace will be
+signed in a few days.  I suppose the general peace cannot be so soon ready;
+but that is no matter.  The news presently ran about the Court.  I saw the
+Queen carried out in her chair, to take the air in the garden.  I met Griffin
+at Court, and he told me that orders were sent to examine Filby; and, if he be
+fit, to make him (I think he called it) an assistant; I don't know what,
+Supervisor, I think; but it is some employment a good deal better than his
+own.  The Parliament will have another short prorogation, though it is not
+known yet.  I dined with Lord Treasurer and his Saturday company, and left him
+at eight to put this in the post-office time enough.  And now I must bid oo
+farewell, deelest richar Ppt.  God bless oo ever, and rove Pdfr.  Farewell MD
+MD MD FW FW FW FW ME ME ME Lele Lele.
+
+
+
+LETTER 61.[1]
+
+LONDON, March 1, 1712-13.
+
+'Tis out of my head whether I answered all your letter in my last yesterday or
+no.  I think I was in haste, and could not:  but now I see I answered a good
+deal of it; no, only about your brother, and ME's bill.  I dined with Lady
+Orkney, and we talked politics till eleven at night; and, as usual, found
+everything wrong, and put ourselves out of humour.  Yes, I have Lady Giffard's
+picture sent me by your mother.  It is boxed up at a place where my other
+things are.  I have goods in two or three places; and when I leave a lodging,
+I box up the books I get (for I always get some), and come naked into a new
+lodging; and so on.  Talk not to me of deaneries; I know less of that than
+ever by much.  Nite MD.
+
+2.  I went to-day into the City to see Pat Rolt,[2] who lodges with a City
+cousin, a daughter of coz Cleve; (you are much the wiser).  I had never been
+at her house before.  My he-coz Thompson the butcher is dead, or dying.  I
+dined with my printer, and walked home, and went to sit with Lady Clarges.  I
+found four of them at whist; Lady Godolphin[3] was one.  I sat by her, and
+talked of her cards, etc., but she would not give me one look, nor say a word
+to me.  She refused some time ago to be acquainted with me.  You know she is
+Lord Marlborough's eldest daughter.  She is a fool for her pains, and I'll
+pull her down.  What can I do for Dr. Smith's daughter's husband?  I have no
+personal credit with any of the Commissioners.  I'll speak to Keatley;[4] but
+I believe it will signify nothing.  In the Customs people must rise by
+degrees, and he must at first take what is very low, if he be qualified for
+that.  Ppt mistakes me; I am not angry at your recommending anyone to me,
+provided you will take my answer.  Some things are in my way, and then I serve
+those I can.  But people will not distinguish, but take things ill, when I
+have no power; but Ppt is wiser.  And employments in general are very hard to
+be got.  Nite MD.
+
+3.  I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer, who chid me for my absence, which was
+only from Saturday last.  The Parliament was again prorogued for a week, and I
+suppose the peace will be ready by then, and the Queen will be able to be
+brought to the House, and make her speech.  I saw Dr. Griffith[5] two or three
+months ago, at a Latin play at Westminster; but did not speak to him.  I hope
+he will not die; I should be sorry for Ppt's sake; he is very tender of her.
+I have long lost all my colds, and the weather mends a little.  I take some
+steel drops, and my head is pretty well.  I walk when I can, but am grown very
+idle; and, not finishing my thing, I gamble[6] abroad and play at ombre.  I
+shall be more careful in my physic than Mrs. Price:  'tis not a farthing
+matter her death, I think; and so I say no more to-night, but will read a dull
+book, and go sleep.  Nite dee MD.
+
+4.  Mr. Ford has been this half-year inviting me to dine at his lodgings:  so
+I did to-day, and brought the Provost and Dr. Parnell with me, and my friend
+Lewis was there.  Parnell went away, and the other three played at ombre, and
+I looked on; which I love, and would not play.  Tisdall is a pretty fellow, as
+you say; and when I come back to Ireland with nothing, he will condole with me
+with abundance of secret pleasure.  I believe I told you what he wrote to me,
+that I have saved England, and he Ireland;[7] but I can bear that.  I have
+learned to hear and see, and say nothing.  I was to see the Duchess of
+Hamilton to-day, and met Blith[8] of Ireland just going out of her house into
+his coach.  I asked her how she came to receive young fellows.  It seems he
+had a ball in the Duke of Hamilton's house when the Duke died; and the Duchess
+got an advertisement put in the Postboy,[9] reflecting on the ball, because
+the Marlborough daughters[10] were there; and Blith came to beg the Duchess's
+pardon, and clear himself.  He's a sad dog.  Nite poo dee deelest MD.
+
+5.  Lady Masham has miscarried; but is well almost again.  I have many visits
+to-day.  I met Blith at the Duke of Ormond's; and he begged me to carry him to
+the Duchess of Hamilton, to beg her pardon again.  I did on purpose to see how
+the blunderbuss behaved himself; but I begged the Duchess to use him
+mercifully, for she is the devil of a teaser.  The good of it is, she ought to
+beg his pardon, for he meant no harm; yet she would not allow him to put in an
+advertisement to clear himself from hers, though hers was all a lie.  He
+appealed to me, and I gravely gave it against him.  I was at Court to-day, and
+the foreign Ministers have got a trick of employing me to speak for them to
+Lord Treasurer and Lord Bolingbroke; which I do when the case is reasonable.
+The College[11] need not fear; I will not be their Governor.  I dined with Sir
+Thomas Hanmer and his Duchess.[12]  The Duke of Ormond was there, but we
+parted soon, and I went to visit Lord Pembroke for the first time; but it was
+to see some curious books.  Lord Cholmondeley[13] came in; but I would not
+talk to him, though he made many advances.  I hate the scoundrel for all he is
+your Griffith's friend.--Yes, yes, I am abused enough, if that be all.  Nite
+sollahs.
+
+6.  I was to-day at an auction of pictures with Pratt,[14] and laid out two
+pound five shillings for a picture of Titian, and if it were a Titian it would
+be worth twice as many pounds.  If I am cheated, I'll part with it to Lord
+Masham:  if it be a bargain, I'll keep it to myself.  That's my conscience.
+But I made Pratt buy several pictures for Lord Masham.  Pratt is a great
+virtuoso that way.  I dined with Lord Treasurer, but made him go to Court at
+eight.  I always tease him to be gone.  I thought to have made Parnell dine
+with him, but he was ill; his head is out of order like mine, but more
+constant, poor boy!--I was at Lord Treasurer's levee with the Provost, to ask
+a book for the College.--I never go to his levee, unless to present somebody.
+For all oor rallying, saucy[15] Ppt, as hope saved, I expected they would have
+decided about me long ago; and as hope saved, as soon as ever things are given
+away and I not provided for, I will be gone with the very first opportunity,
+and put up bag and baggage.  But people are slower than can be thought.  Nite
+MD.
+
+7.  Yes, I hope Leigh will soon be gone, a p-- on him!  I met him once, and he
+talked gravely to me of not seeing the Irish bishops here, and the Irish
+gentlemen; but I believe my answers fretted him enough.  I would not dine with
+Lord Treasurer to-day, though it was Saturday (for he has engaged me for to-
+morrow), but went and dined with Lord Masham, and played at ombre, sixpenny
+running ombre, for three hours.  There were three voles[16] against me, and I
+was once a great loser, but came off for three shillings and sixpence.  One
+may easily lose five guineas at it.  Lady Orkney is gone out of town to-day,
+and I could not see her for laziness, but writ to her.  She has left me some
+physic.  Fais, I never knew MD's politics before, and I think it pretty
+extraordinary, and a great compliment to you, and I believe never three people
+conversed so much with so little politics.  I avoid all conversation with the
+other party; it is not to be borne, and I am sorry for it.  O yes, things
+[are] very dear.  DD must come in at last with DD's two eggs a penny.  There
+the proverb was well applied.  Parvisol has sent me a bill of fifty pounds, as
+I ordered him, which, I hope, will serve me, and bring me over.  Pray God MD
+does not be delayed for it; but I have had very little from him this long
+time.  I was not at Court to-day; a wonder!  Nite sollahs. . .  Pdfr.
+
+8.  Oo must know, I give chocolate almost every day to two or three people
+that I suffer to come to see me in a morning.  My man begins to lie pretty
+well.  'Tis nothing for people to be denied ten times.  My man knows all I
+will see, and denies me to everybody else.  This is the day of the Queen's
+coming to the Crown, and the day Lord Treasurer was stabbed by Guiscard.  I
+was at Court, where everybody had their Birthday clothes on, and I dined with
+Lord Treasurer, who was very fine.  He showed me some of the Queen's speech,
+which I corrected in several places, and penned the vote of address of thanks
+for the speech; but I was of opinion the House should not sit on Tuesday next,
+unless they hear the peace is signed; that is, provided they are sure it will
+be signed the week after, and so have one scolding for all.  Nite MD.
+
+9.  Lord Treasurer would have had me dine with him to-day; he desired me last
+night, but I refused, because he would not keep the day of his stabbing with
+all the Cabinet, as he intended:  so I dined with my friend Lewis; and the
+Provost and Parnell, and Ford, was with us.  I lost sixteen shillings at
+ombre; I don't like it, as etc.  At night Lewis brought us word that the
+Parliament does not sit to-morrow.  I hope they are sure of the peace by next
+week, and then they are right in my opinion:  otherwise I think they have done
+wrong, and might have sat three weeks ago.  People will grumble; but Lord
+Treasurer cares not a rush.  Lord Keeper is suddenly taken ill of a quinsy,
+and some lords are commissioned, I think Lord Trevor,[17] to prorogue the
+Parliament in his stead.  You never saw a town so full of ferment and
+expectation.  Mr. Pope has published a fine poem, called Windsor Forest.[18]
+Read it.  Nite.
+
+10.  I was early this morning to see Lord Bolingbroke.  I find he was of
+opinion the Parliament should sit; and says they are not sure the peace will
+be signed next week.  The prorogation is to this day se'nnight.  I went to
+look on a library I am going to buy, if we can agree.  I have offered a
+hundred and twenty pounds, and will give ten more.  Lord Bolingbroke will lend
+me the money.  I was two hours poring on the books.  I will sell some of them,
+and keep the rest; but I doubt they won't take the money.  I dined in the
+City, and sat an hour in the evening with Lord Treasurer, who was in very good
+humour; but reproached me for not dining with him yesterday and to-day.  What
+will all this come to?  Lord Keeper had a pretty good night, and is better.  I
+was in pain for him.  How do oo do sollahs?. . .  Nite MD.[19]
+
+11.  I was this morning to visit the Duke and Duchess of Ormond, and the
+Duchess of Hamilton, and went with the Provost to an auction of pictures, and
+laid out fourteen shillings.  I am in for it, if I had money; but I doubt I
+shall be undone; for Sir Andrew Fountaine invited the Provost and me to dine
+with him, and play at ombre, when I fairly lost fourteen shillings.  Fais, it
+won't do; and I shall be out of conceit with play this good while.  I am come
+home; and it is late, and my puppy let out my fire, and I am gone to bed and
+writing there, and it is past twelve a good while.  Went out four matadores
+and a trump in black, and was bested.  Vely bad, fais! Nite my deelest logues
+MD.
+
+12.  I was at another auction of pictures to-day, and a great auction it was.
+I made Lord Masham lay out forty pounds.  There were pictures sold of twice as
+much value apiece.  Our Society met to-day at the Duke of Beaufort's:  a
+prodigious fine dinner, which I hate; but we did some business.  Our printer
+was to attend us, as usual; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer sent the
+author of the Examiner[20] twenty guineas.  He is an ingenious fellow, but the
+most confounded vain coxcomb in the world, so that I dare not let him see me,
+nor am acquainted with him.  I had much discourse with the Duke of Ormond this
+morning, and am driving some points to secure us all in case of accidents,
+etc.[21]  I left the Society at seven.  I can't drink now at all with any
+pleasure.  I love white Portugal wine better than claret, champagne, or
+burgundy.  I have a sad vulgar appetite.  I remember Ppt used to maunder, when
+I came from a great dinner, and DD had but a bit of mutton.  I cannot endure
+above one dish; nor ever could since I was a boy, and loved stuffing.  It was
+a fine day, which is a rarity with us, I assure [you].  Never fair two days
+together.  Nite dee MD.
+
+13.  I had a rabble of Irish parsons this morning drinking my chocolate.  I
+cannot remember appointments.  I was to have supped last night with the
+Swedish Envoy at his house, and some other company, but forgot it; and he
+rallied me to-day at Lord Bolingbroke's, who excused me, saying, the Envoy
+ought not to be angry, because I serve Lord Treasurer and him the same way.
+For that reason, I very seldom promise to go anywhere.  I dined with Lord
+Treasurer, who chid me for being absent so long, as he always does if I miss a
+day.  I sat three hours this evening with Lady Jersey; but the first two hours
+she was at ombre with some company.  I left Lord Treasurer at eight:  I
+fancied he was a little thoughtful, for he was playing with an orange by fits,
+which, I told him, among common men looked like the spleen.  This letter shall
+not go to-morrow; no haste, ung oomens; nothing that presses.  I promised but
+once in three weeks, and I am better than my word.  I wish the peace may be
+ready, I mean that we have notice it is signed, before Tuesday; otherwise the
+grumbling will much increase.  Nite logues.
+
+14.  It was a lovely day this, and I took the advantage of walking a good deal
+in the Park, before I went to Court.  Colonel Disney, one of our Society, is
+ill of a fever, and, we fear, in great danger.  We all love him mightily, and
+he would be a great loss.  I doubt I shall not buy the library; for a roguey
+bookseller has offered sixty pounds more than I designed to give; so you see I
+meant to have a good bargain.  I dined with Lord Treasurer and his Saturday
+company; but there were but seven at table.  Lord Peterborrow is ill, and
+spits blood, with a bruise he got before he left England; but, I believe, an
+Italian lady he has brought over is the cause that his illness returns.  You
+know old Lady Bellasis[22] is dead at last?  She has left Lord Berkeley of
+Stratton[23] one of her executors, and it will be of great advantage to him;
+they say above ten thousand pounds.  I stayed with Lord Treasurer upon
+business, after the company was gone; but I dare not tell you upon what.  My
+letters would be good memoirs, if I durst venture to say a thousand things
+that pass; but I hear so much of letters opening at your post-office that I am
+fearful, etc., and so good-nite, sollahs, rove Pdfr, MD.
+
+15.  Lord Treasurer engaged me to dine with him again to-day, and I had ready
+what he wanted; but he would not see it, but put me off till to-morrow.  The
+Queen goes to chapel now.  She is carried in an open chair, and will be well
+enough to go to Parliament on Tuesday, if the Houses meet, which is not yet
+certain; neither, indeed, can the Ministers themselves tell; for it depends on
+winds and weather, and circumstances of negotiation.  However, we go on as if
+it was certainly to meet; and I am to be at Lord Treasurer's to-morrow, upon
+that supposition, to settle some things relating that way.  Ppt[24] may
+understand me.  The doctors tell me that if poor Colonel Disney does not get
+some sleep to-night, he must die.  What care you?  Ah! but I do care.  He is
+one of our Society; a fellow of abundance of humour; an old battered rake, but
+very honest, not an old man, but an old rake.  It was he that said of Jenny
+Kingdom,[25] the maid of honour, who is a little old, that, since she could
+not get a husband, the Queen should give her a brevet to act as a married
+woman.  You don't understand this.  They give brevets to majors and captains
+to act as colonels in the army.  Brevets are commissions.  Ask soldiers, dull
+sollahs.  Nite MD.
+
+16.  I was at Lord Treasurer's before he came; and, as he entered, he told me
+the Parliament was prorogued till Thursday se'nnight.  They have had some
+expresses, by which they count that the peace may be signed by that time; at
+least, that France, Holland, and we, will sign some articles, by which we
+shall engage to sign the peace when it is ready:  but Spain has no Minister
+there; for Monteleon, who is to be their Ambassador at Utrecht, is not yet
+gone from hence; and till he is there, the Spaniards can sign no peace:  and
+[of] one thing take notice, that a general peace can hardly be finished these
+two months, so as to be proclaimed here; for, after signing, it must be
+ratified; that is, confirmed by the several princes at their Courts, which to
+Spain will cost a month; for we must have notice that it is ratified in all
+Courts before we can proclaim it.  So be not in too much haste.  Nite MD.
+
+17.  The Irish folks were disappointed that the Parliament did not meet to-
+day, because it was St. Patrick's Day; and the Mall was so full of crosses
+that I thought all the world was Irish.  Miss Ashe is almost quite well, and I
+see the Bishop, but shall not yet go to his house.  I dined again with Lord
+Treasurer; but the Parliament being prorogued, I must keep what I have till
+next week:  for I believe he will not see it till just the evening before the
+session.  He has engaged me to dine with him again to-morrow, though I did all
+I could to put it off; but I don't care to disoblige him.  Nite dee sollahs
+'tis late.  Nite MD.
+
+18.  I have now dined six days successively with Lord Treasurer; but to-night
+I stole away while he was talking with somebody else, and so am at liberty to-
+morrow.  There was a flying report of a general cessation of arms:  everybody
+had it at Court; but, I believe, there is nothing in it.  I asked a certain
+French Minister how things went.  And he whispered me in French, "Your
+Plenipotentiaries and ours play the fool."  None of us, indeed, approve of the
+conduct of either at this time; but Lord Treasurer was in full good-humour for
+all that.  He had invited a good many of his relations; and, of a dozen at
+table, they were all of the Harley family but myself.  Disney is recovering,
+though you don't care a straw.  Dilly murders us with his IF puns.  You know
+them. . . . [26]  Nite MD.
+
+19.  The Bishop of Clogher has made an IF pun that he is mighty proud of, and
+designs to send it over to his brother Tom.  But Sir Andrew Fountaine has
+wrote to Tom Ashe last post, and told him the pun, and desired him to send it
+over to the Bishop as his own; and, if it succeeds, 'twill be a pure bite.
+The Bishop will tell it us as a wonder that he and his brother should jump so
+exactly.  I'll tell you the pun:--If there was a hackney coach at Mr.
+Pooley's[27] door, what town in Egypt would it be?  Why, it would be
+Hecatompolis; Hack at Tom Pooley's.  "Sillly," says Ppt.  I dined with a
+private friend to-day; for our Society, I told you, meet but once a fortnight.
+I have not seen Fanny Manley yet; I can't help it.  Lady Orkney is come to
+town:  why, she was at her country house; hat[28] care you?  Nite darling (?)
+dee MD.
+
+20.  Dilly read me a letter to-day from Ppt.  She seems to have scratched her
+head when she writ it.  'Tis a sad thing to write to people without tact.
+There you say, you hear I was going to Bath.  No such thing; I am pretty well,
+I thank God.  The town is now sending me to Savoy.[29]  Forty people have
+given me joy of it, yet there is not the least truth that I know in it.  I was
+at an auction of pictures, but bought none.  I was so glad of my liberty, that
+I would dine nowhere; but, the weather being fine, I sauntered into the City,
+and ate a bit about five, and then supped at Mr. Burke's[30] your Accountant-
+General, who had been engaging me this month.  The Bishop of Clogher was to
+have been there, but was hindered by Lord Paget's[31] funeral.  The Provost
+and I sat till one o'clock; and, if that be not late, I don't know what is
+late.  Parnell's poem will be published on Monday, and to-morrow I design he
+shall present it to Lord Treasurer and Lord Bolingbroke at Court.  The poor
+lad is almost always out of order with his head.  Burke's wife is his sister.
+She has a little of the pert Irish way.  Nite MD.
+
+21.  Morning.  I will now finish my letter; for company will come, and a stir,
+and a clutter; and I'll keep the letter in my pottick,[32] and give it into
+the post myself.  I must go to Court, and you know on Saturdays I dine with
+Lord Treasurer, of course.  Farewell, deelest MD MD MD, FW FW FW, MD ME ME ME
+Lele sollahs.[33]
+
+
+
+LETTER 62.[1]
+
+LONDON, March 21, 1712-13.
+
+I gave your letter in this night.  I dined with Lord Treasurer to-day, and
+find he has been at a meeting at Lord Halifax's house, with four principal
+Whigs; but he is resolved to begin a speech against them when the Parliament
+sits; and I have begged that the Ministers may have a meeting on purpose to
+settle that matter, and let us be the attackers; and I believe it will come to
+something, for the Whigs intend to attack the Ministers:  and if, instead of
+that, the Ministers attack the Whigs, it will be better:  and farther, I
+believe we shall attack them on those very points they intend to attack us.
+The Parliament will be again prorogued for a fortnight, because of Passion
+Week.  I forgot to tell you that Mr. Griffin has given Ppt's brother[2] a new
+employment, about ten pounds a year better than his former; but more remote,
+and consequently cheaper.  I wish I could have done better, and hope oo will
+take what can be done in good part, and that oo brother will not dislike it.--
+Nite own dear. . .  MD.
+
+22.  I dined to-day with Lord Steward.[3]  There Frank Annesley[4] (a
+Parliament-man) told me he had heard that I had wrote to my friends in Ireland
+to keep firm to the Whig interest; for that Lord Treasurer would certainly
+declare for it after the peace.  Annesley said twenty people had told him
+this.  You must know this is what they endeavour to report of Lord Treasurer,
+that he designs to declare for the Whigs; and a Scotch fellow has wrote the
+same to Scotland; and his meeting with those lords gives occasion to such
+reports.  Let me henceforth call Lord Treasurer Eltee, because possibly my
+letters may be opened.  Pray remember Eltee.  You know the reason; L.T. and
+Eltee pronounced the same way.  Stay, 'tis five weeks since I had a letter
+from MD.  I allow you six.  You see why I cannot come over the beginning of
+April; whoever has to do with this Ministry can fix no time:  but as[5] hope
+saved, it is not Pdfr's fault.  Pay don't blame poo Pdfr.  Nite deelest logues
+MD.[6]
+
+23.  I dined to-day at Sir Thomas Hanmer's, by an old appointment:  there was
+the Duke of Ormond, and Lord and Lady Orkney.  I left them at six.  Everybody
+is as sour as vinegar.  I endeavour to keep a firm friendship between the Duke
+of Ormond and Eltee.  (Oo know who Eltee is, or have oo fordot already?)  I
+have great designs, if I can compass them; but delay is rooted in Eltee's
+heart; yet the fault is not altogether there, that things are no better.  Here
+is the cursedest libel in verse come out that ever was seen, called The
+Ambassadress;[7] it is very dull, too; it has been printed three or four
+different ways, and is handed about, but not sold.  It abuses the Queen
+horribly.  The Examiner has cleared me to-day of being author of his paper,
+and done it with great civilities to me.[8]  I hope it will stop people's
+mouths; if not, they must go on and be hanged, I care not.  'Tis terribly
+rainy weather, I'll go sleep.  Nite deelest MD.
+
+24.  It rained all this day, and ruined me in coach-hire.  I went to Colonel
+Disney, who is past danger.  Then I visited Lord Keeper, who was at dinner;
+but I would not dine with him, but drove to Lord Treasurer (Eltee I mean),
+paid the coachman, and went in; but he dined abroad:  so I was forced to call
+the coachman again, and went to Lord Bolingbroke's.  He dined abroad too; and
+at Lord Dupplin's I alighted, and by good luck got a dinner there, and then
+went to the Latin play at Westminster School, acted by the boys; and Lord
+Treasurer (Eltee I mean again) honoured them with his presence.  Lady Masham's
+eldest son, about two years old, is ill, and I am afraid will not live:  she
+is full of grief, and I pity and am angry with her.  Four shillings to-day in
+coach-hire; fais, it won't do.  Our peace will certainly be ready by Thursday
+fortnight; but our Plenipotentiaries were to blame that it was not done
+already.  They thought their powers were not full enough to sign the peace,
+unless every Prince was ready, which cannot yet be; for Spain has no Minister
+yet at Utrecht; but now ours have new orders.  Nite MD.
+
+25.  Weather worse than ever; terrible rain all day, but I was resolved I
+would spend no more money.  I went to an auction of pictures with Dr. Pratt,
+and there met the Duke of Beaufort, who promised to come with me to Court, but
+did not.  So a coach I got, and went to Court, and did some little business
+there, but was forced to go home; for oo must understand I take a little
+physic over-night, which works me next day.  Lady Orkney is my physician.  It
+is hiera picra,[9] two spoonfuls, devilish stuff!  I thought to have dined
+with Eltee, but would not, merely to save a shilling; but I dined privately
+with a friend, and played at ombre, and won six shillings.  Here are several
+people of quality lately dead of the smallpox.  I have not yet seen Miss Ashe,
+but hear she is well.  The Bishop of Clogher has bought abundance of pictures,
+and Dr. Pratt has got him very good pennyworths.[10]  I can get no walks, the
+weather is so bad.  Is it so with oo, sollahs?. . . [11]
+
+26.  Though it was shaving-day, head and beard, yet I was out early to see
+Lord Bolingbroke, and talk over affairs with him; and then I went to the Duke
+of Ormond's, and so to Court, where the Ministers did not come, because the
+Parliament was prorogued till this day fortnight.  We had terrible rain and
+hail to-day.  Our Society met this day, but I left them before seven, and went
+to Sir A[ndrew] F[ountaine], and played at ombre with him and Sir Thomas
+Clarges, till ten, and then went to Sir Thomas Hanmer.  His wife, the Duchess
+of Grafton, left us after a little while, and I stayed with him about an hour,
+upon some affairs, etc.  Lord Bolingbroke left us at the Society before I
+went; for there is an express from Utrecht, but I know not yet what it
+contains; only I know the Ministers expect the peace will be signed in a week,
+which is a week before the session.  Nite, MD.
+
+27.  Parnell's poem is mightily esteemed; but poetry sells ill.  I am plagued
+with that. . . [12] poor Harrison's mother; you would laugh to see how
+cautious I am of paying her the 100 pounds I received for her son from the
+Treasury.  I have asked every creature I know whether I may do it safely, yet
+durst not venture, till my Lord Keeper assured me there was no danger.  I have
+not paid her, but will in a day or two:  though I have a great mind to stay
+till Ppt sends me her opinion, because Ppt is a great lawyer.  I dined to-day
+with a mixture of people at a Scotchman's, who made the invitation to Mr.
+Lewis and me, and has some design upon us, which we know very well.  I went
+afterwards to see a famous moving picture,[13] and I never saw anything so
+pretty.  You see a sea ten miles wide, a town on t'other end, and ships
+sailing in the sea, and discharging their cannon.  You see a great sky, with
+moon and stars, etc.  I'm a fool.  Nite, dee MD.
+
+28.  I had a mighty levee to-day.  I deny myself to everybody, except about
+half a dozen, and they were all here, and Mr. Addison was one, and I had
+chocolate twice, which I don't like.  Our rainy weather continues.  Coach-hire
+goes deep.  I dined with Eltee and his Saturday company, as usual, and could
+not get away till nine.  Lord Peterborow was making long harangues, and Eltee
+kept me in spite.  Then I went to see the Bishop of Ossory, who had engaged me
+in the morning; he is going to Ireland.  The Bishop of Killaloe[14] and Tom
+Leigh was with us.  The latter had wholly changed his style, by seeing how the
+bishops behaved themselves, and he seemed to think me one of more importance
+than I really am.  I put the ill conduct of the bishops about the First-
+Fruits, with relation to Eltee and me, strongly upon Killaloe, and showed how
+it had hindered me from getting a better thing for them, called the Crown
+rents, which the Queen had promised.  He had nothing to say, but was humble,
+and desired my interest in that and some other things.  This letter is half
+done in a week:  I believe oo will have it next.  Nite MD.
+
+29.  I have been employed in endeavouring to save one of your junior
+Fellows,[15] who came over here for a dispensation from taking orders, and, in
+soliciting it, has run out his time, and now his fellowship is void, if the
+College pleases, unless the Queen suspends the execution, and gives him time
+to take orders.  I spoke to all the Ministers yesterday about it; but they say
+the Queen is angry, and thought it was a trick to deceive her; and she is
+positive, and so the man must be ruined, for I cannot help him.  I never saw
+him in my life; but the case was so hard, I could not forbear interposing.
+Your Government recommended him to the Duke of Ormond, and he thought they
+would grant it; and by the time it was refused, the fellowship by rigour is
+forfeited.  I dined with Dr. Arbuthnot (one of my brothers) at his lodgings in
+Chelsea, and was there at chapel; and the altar put me in mind of Tisdall's
+outlandish would[16] at your hospital for the soldiers.  I was not at Court
+to-day, and I hear the Queen was not at church.  Perhaps the gout has seized
+her again.  Terrible rain all day.  Have oo such weather?  Nite MD.
+
+30.  Morning.  I was naming some time ago, to a certain person, another
+certain person, that was very deserving, and poor and sickly; and t'other,
+that first certain person, gave me a hundred pounds to give the other, which I
+have not yet done.  The person who is to have it never saw the giver, nor
+expects one farthing, nor has the least knowledge or imagination of it; so I
+believe it will be a very agreeable surprise; for I think it is a handsome
+present enough.  At night I dined in the City, at Pontack's,[17] with Lord
+Dupplin, and some others.  We were treated by one Colonel Cleland,[18] who has
+a mind to be Governor of Barbados, and is laying these long traps for me and
+others, to engage our interests for him.  He is a true Scotchman.  I paid the
+hundred pounds this evening, and it was an agreeable surprise to the receiver.
+We reckon the peace is now signed, and that we shall have it in three days.  I
+believe it is pretty sure.  Nite MD.
+
+31.  I thought to-day on Ppt when she told me she suppose[d] I was acquainted
+with the steward, when I was giving myself airs of being at some lord's house.
+Sir Andrew Fountaine invited the Bishop of Clogher and me, and some others, to
+dine where he did; and he carried us to the Duke of Kent's,[19] who was gone
+out of town; but the steward treated us nobly, and showed us the fine
+pictures, etc.  I have not yet seen Miss Ashe.  I wait till she has been
+abroad, and taken the air.  This evening Lady Masham, Dr. Arbuthnot, and I,
+were contriving a lie for to-morrow, that Mr. Noble,[20] who was hanged last
+Saturday, was recovered by his friends, and then seized again by the sheriff,
+and is now in a messenger's hands at the Black Swan in Holborn.  We are all to
+send to our friends, to know whether they have heard anything of it, and so we
+hope it will spread.  However, we shall do our endeavours; nothing shall be
+wanting on our parts, and leave the rest to fortune.  Nite MD.
+
+April 1.  We had no success in our story, though I sent my man to several
+houses, to inquire among the footmen, without letting him into the secret; but
+I doubt my colleagues did not contribute as they ought.  Parnell and I dined
+with Darteneuf[21] to-day.  You have heard of Darteneuf:  I have told you of
+Darteneuf.  After dinner we all went to Lord Bolingbroke's, who had desired me
+to dine with him; but I would not, because I heard it was to look over a dull
+poem of one parson Trapp[22] upon the peace.  The Swedish Envoy told me to-day
+at Court that he was in great apprehensions about his master;[23] and indeed
+we are afraid that prince has[24] died among those Turkish dogs.  I prevailed
+on Lord Bolingbroke to invite Mr. Addison to dine with him on Good Friday.  I
+suppose we shall be mighty mannerly.  Addison is to have a play of his acted
+on Friday in Easter Week:  'tis a tragedy, called Cato; I saw it unfinished
+some years ago.[25]  Did I tell you that Steele has begun a new daily paper,
+called the Guardian?[26] they say good for nothing.  I have not seen it.  Nite
+dee MD.
+
+2.  I was this morning with Lord Bolingbroke, and he tells me a Spanish
+courier is just come, with the news that the King of Spain has agreed to
+everything that the Queen desires; and the Duke d'Ossuna has left Paris in
+order to his journey to Utrecht.  I was prevailed on to come home with Trapp,
+and read his poem and correct it; but it was good for nothing.  While I was
+thus employed, Sir Thomas Hanmer came up to my chamber, and balked me of a
+journey he and I intended this week to Lord Orkney's at Cliffden;[27] but he
+is not well, and his physician will not let him undertake such a journey.  I
+intended to dine with Lord Treasurer; but going to see Colonel Disney, who
+lives with General Withers,[28] I liked the General's little dinner so well,
+that I stayed and took share of it, and did not go to Lord Treasurer till six,
+where I found Dr. Sacheverell, who told us that the bookseller had given him
+100 pounds for his sermon,[29] preached last Sunday, and intended to print
+30,000:  I believe he will be confoundedly bit, and will hardly sell above
+half.  I have fires still, though April has begun, against my old maxim; but
+the weather is wet and cold.  I never saw such a long run of ill weather in my
+life.  Nite dee logues MD.
+
+3.  I was at the Queen's chapel to-day, but she was not there.  Mr. St. John,
+Lord Bolingbroke's brother, came this day at noon with an express from
+Utrecht, that the peace is signed by all the Ministers there, but those of the
+Emperor, who will likewise sign in a few days; so that now the great work is
+in effect done, and I believe it will appear a most excellent peace for
+Europe, particularly for England.  Addison and I, and some others, dined with
+Lord Bolingbroke, and sat with him till twelve.  We were very civil, but yet
+when we grew warm, we talked in a friendly manner of party.  Addison raised
+his objections, and Lord Bolingbroke answered them with great complaisance.
+Addison began Lord Somers's health, which went about; but I bid him not name
+Lord Wharton's, for I would not pledge it; and I told Lord Bolingbroke frankly
+that Addison loved Lord Wharton as little as I did:  so we laughed, etc.
+Well, but you are glad of the peace, you Ppt the Trimmer, are not you?  As for
+DD I don't doubt her.  Why, now, if I did not think Ppt had been a violent
+Tory, and DD the greater Whig of the two!  'Tis late.  Nite MD.
+
+4.  This Passion Week, people are so demure, especially this last day, that I
+told Dilly, who called here, that I would dine with him, and so I did, faith;
+and had a small shoulder of mutton of my own bespeaking.  It rained all day.
+I came home at seven, and have never stirred out, but have been reading
+Sacheverell's long dull sermon, which he sent me.  It is the first sermon
+since his suspension is expired; but not a word in it upon the occasion,
+except two or three remote hints.  The Bishop of Clogher has been sadly bit by
+Tom Ashe, who sent him a pun, which the Bishop had made, and designed to send
+to him, but delayed it; and Lord Pembroke and I made Sir Andrew Fountaine
+write it to Tom.  I believe I told you of it in my last; it succeeded right,
+and the Bishop was wondering to Lord Pembroke how he and his brother could hit
+on the same thing.  I'll go to bed soon, for I must be at church by eight to-
+morrow, Easter Day.  Nite dee MD.
+
+5.  Warburton[30] wrote to me two letters about a living of one Foulkes, who
+is lately dead in the county of Meath.  My answer is, that before I received
+the first letter, General Gorges[31] had recommended a friend of his to the
+Duke of Ormond, which was the first time I heard of its vacancy, and it was
+the Provost told me of it.  I believe verily that Foulkes was not dead when
+Gorges recommended the other:  for Warburton's last letter said that Foulkes
+was dead the day before the date.--This has prevented me from serving
+Warburton, as I would have done, if I had received early notice enough.  Pray
+say or write this to Warburton, to justify me to him.  I was at church at
+eight this morning, and dressed and shaved after I came back, but was too late
+at Court; and Lord Abingdon[32] was like to have snapped me for dinner, and I
+believe will fall out with me for refusing him; but I hate dining with them,
+and I dined with a private friend, and took two or three good walks; for it
+was a very fine day, the first we have had a great while.  Remember, was
+Easter Day a fine day with you?  I have sat with Lady Worsley till now.  Nite
+dee MD.
+
+6.  I was this morning at ten at the rehearsal of Mr. Addison's play, called
+Cato, which is to be acted on Friday.  There were not above half a score of us
+to see it.  We stood on the stage, and it was foolish enough to see the actors
+prompted every moment, and the poet directing them; and the drab that acts
+Cato's daughter,[33] out in the midst of a passionate part, and then calling
+out, "What's next?"  The Bishop of Clogher was there too; but he stood
+privately in a gallery.  I went to dine with Lord Treasurer, but he was gone
+to Wimbledon, his daughter Caermarthen's[34] country seat, seven miles off.
+So I went back, and dined privately with Mr. Addison, whom I had left to go to
+Lord Treasurer.  I keep fires yet; I am very extravagant.  I sat this evening
+with Sir A. Fountaine, and we amused ourselves with making IFS for Dilly.  It
+is rainy weather again; nevle saw ze rike.[35]  This letter shall go to-
+morrow; remember, ung oomens, it is seven weeks since oor last, and I allow oo
+but five weeks; but oo have been galloping into the country to Swanton's.[36]
+O pray tell Swanton I had his letter, but cannot contrive how to serve him.
+If a Governor were to go over, I would recommend him as far as lay in my
+power, but I can do no more:  and you know all employments in Ireland, at
+least almost all, are engaged in reversions.  If I were on the spot, and had
+credit with a Lord Lieutenant, I would very heartily recommend him; but
+employments here are no more in my power than the monarchy itself.  Nite, dee
+MD.
+
+7.  Morning.  I have had a visitor here, that has taken up my time.  I have
+not been abroad, oo may be sure; so I can say nothing to-day, but that I rove
+MD bettle zan ever, if possibbere.  I will put this in the post-office; so I
+say no more.  I write by this post to the Dean, but it is not above two lines;
+and one enclosed to you, but that enclosed to you is not above three lines;
+and then one enclosed to the Dean, which he must not have but upon condition
+of burning it immediately after reading, and that before your eyes; for there
+are some things in it I would not have liable to accident.  You shall only
+know in general that it is an account of what I have done to serve him in his
+pretensions on these vacancies, etc.  But he must not know that you know so
+much.[37]  Does this perplex you?  Hat care I?  But rove Pdfr, saucy Pdfr.
+Farewell, deelest MD MD MD FW FW FW,. . .  ME, MD Lele.
+
+
+
+LETTER 63.[1]
+
+LONDON, April 7, 1713.
+
+I fancy I marked my last, which I sent this day, wrong; only 61, and it ought
+to be 62.  I dined with Lord Treasurer, and though the business I had with him
+is something against Thursday, when the Parliament is to meet, and this is
+Tuesday, yet he put it off till to-morrow.  I dare not tell you what it is,
+lest this letter should miscarry or be opened; but I never saw his fellow for
+delays.  The Parliament will now certainly sit, and everybody's expectations
+are ready to burst.  At a Council to-night the Lord Chief-Justice Parker, a
+Whig, spoke against the peace; so did Lord Chomley,[2] another Whig, who is
+Treasurer of the Household.  My Lord Keeper[3] was this night made Lord
+Chancellor.  We hope there will soon be some removes.  Nite, dee sollahs;
+Late.  Rove Pdfr.[4]
+
+8.  Lord Chomley (the right name is Cholmondeley) is this day removed from his
+employment, for his last night's speech; and Sir Richard Temple,[5]
+Lieutenant-General, the greatest Whig in the army, is turned out; and
+Lieutenant-General Palmes[6] will be obliged to sell his regiment.  This is
+the first-fruits of a friendship I have established between two great men.  I
+dined with Lord Treasurer, and did the business I had for him to his
+satisfaction.  I won't tell MD what it was.  . . . [7] for zat.  The
+Parliament sits to-morrow for certain.  Here is a letter printed in
+Maccartney's name, vindicating himself from the murder of the Duke of
+Hamilton.  I must give some hints to have it answered; 'tis full of lies, and
+will give an opportunity of exposing that party.  To morrow will be a very
+important day.  All the world will be at Westminster.  Lord Treasurer is as
+easy as a lamb.  They are mustering up the proxies of the absent lords; but
+they are not in any fear of wanting a majority, which death and accidents have
+increased this year.  Nite MD.
+
+9.  I was this morning with Lord Treasurer, to present to him a young son[8]
+of the late Earl of Jersey, at the desire of the widow.  There I saw the mace
+and great coach ready for Lord Treasurer, who was going to Parliament.  Our
+Society met to-day; but I expected the Houses would sit longer than I cared to
+fast; so I dined with a friend, and never inquired how matters went till eight
+this evening, when I went to Lord Orkney's, where I found Sir Thomas Hanmer.
+The Queen delivered her speech very well, but a little weaker in her voice.
+The crowd was vast.  The order for the Address[9] was moved, and opposed by
+Lord Nottingham, Halifax, and Cowper.  Lord Treasurer spoke with great spirit
+and resolution; Lord Peterborow flirted[10] against the Duke of Marlborough
+(who is in Germany, you know), but it was in answer to one of Halifax's
+impertinences.  The order for an Address passed by a majority of thirty-three,
+and the Houses rose before six.  This is the account I heard at Lord Orkney's.
+The Bishop of Chester,[11] a high Tory, was against the Court.  The Duchess of
+Marlborough sent for him some months ago, to justify herself to him in
+relation to the Queen, and showed him letters, and told him stories, which the
+weak man believed, and was perverted.  Nite MD.
+
+10.  I dined with a cousin in the City, and poor Pat Rolt was there.  I have
+got her rogue of a husband leave to come to England from Port-Mahon.  The
+Whigs are much down; but I reckon they have some scheme in agitation.  This
+Parliament-time hinders our Court meetings on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and
+Saturdays.  I had a great deal of business to-night, which gave me a
+temptation to be idle, and I lost a dozen shillings at ombre, with Dr. Pratt
+and another.  I have been to see t'other day the Bishop of Clogher and lady,
+but did not see Miss.  It rains every day, and yet we are all over dust.  Lady
+Masham's eldest boy is very ill:  I doubt he will not live, and she stays at
+Kensington to nurse him, which vexes us all.  She is so excessively fond, it
+makes me mad.  She should never leave the Queen, but leave everything, to
+stick to what is so much the interest of the public, as well as her own.  This
+I tell her; but talk to the winds.  Nite MD.
+
+11.  I dined at Lord Treasurer's, with his Saturday company.  We had ten at
+table, all lords but myself and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.  Argyle went
+off at six, and was in very indifferent humour as usual.  Duke of Ormond and
+Lord Bolingbroke were absent.  I stayed till near ten.  Lord Treasurer showed
+us a small picture, enamelled work, and set in gold, worth about twenty
+pounds; a picture, I mean, of the Queen, which she gave to the Duchess of
+Marlborough, set in diamonds.  When the Duchess was leaving England, she took
+off all the diamonds, and gave the picture to one Mrs. Higgins (an old
+intriguing woman, whom everybody knows), bidding her make the best of it she
+could.  Lord Treasurer sent to Mrs. Higgins for this picture, and gave her a
+hundred pounds for it.  Was ever such an ungrateful beast as that Duchess? or
+did you ever hear such a story?  I suppose the Whigs will not believe it.
+Pray, try them.  Takes off the diamonds, and gives away the picture to an
+insignificant woman, as a thing of no consequence:  and gives it to her to
+sell, like a piece of old-fashioned plate.  Is she not a detestable slut?
+Nite deelest MD.
+
+12.  I went to Court to-day, on purpose to present Mr. Berkeley,[12] one of
+your Fellows of Dublin College, to Lord Berkeley of Stratton.  That Mr.
+Berkeley is a very ingenious man, and great philosopher, and I have mentioned
+him to all the Ministers, and given them some of his writings; and I will
+favour him as much as I can.  This I think I am bound to, in honour and
+conscience, to use all my little credit toward helping forward men of worth in
+the world.  The Queen was at chapel to-day, and looks well.  I dined at Lord
+Orkney's with the Duke of Ormond, Lord Arran, and Sir Thomas Hanmer.  Mr. St.
+John, Secretary at Utrecht, expects every moment to return there with the
+ratification of the peace.  Did I tell you in my last of Addison's play called
+Cato, and that I was at the rehearsal of it?  Nite MD.
+
+13.  This morning my friend, Mr. Lewis, came to me, and showed me an order for
+a warrant for the three vacant deaneries; but none of them to me.  This was
+what I always foresaw, and received the notice of it better, I believe, than
+he expected.  I bid Mr. Lewis tell Lord Treasurer that I took nothing ill of
+him but his not giving me timely notice, as he promised to do, if he found the
+Queen would do nothing for me.  At noon, Lord Treasurer hearing I was in Mr.
+Lewis's office, came to me, and said many things too long to repeat.  I told
+him I had nothing to do but go to Ireland immediately; for I could not, with
+any reputation, stay longer here, unless I had something honourable
+immediately given to me.  We dined together at the Duke of Ormond's.  He there
+told me he had stopped the warrants for the deans, that what was done for me
+might be at the same time, and he hoped to compass it to-night; but I believe
+him not.  I told the Duke of Ormond my intentions.  He is content Sterne
+should be a bishop, and I have St. Patrick's; but I believe nothing will come
+of it, for stay I will not; and so I believe for all oo. . . [13] oo may see
+me in Dublin before April ends.  I am less out of humour than you would
+imagine:  and if it were not that impertinent people will condole with me, as
+they used to give me joy, I would value it less.  But I will avoid company,
+and muster up my baggage, and send them next Monday by the carrier to Chester,
+and come and see my willows, against the expectation of all the world.--Hat
+care I?  Nite deelest logues, MD.
+
+14.  I dined in the City to-day, and ordered a lodging to be got ready for me
+against I came to pack up my things; for I will leave this end of the town as
+soon as ever the warrants for the deaneries are out, which are yet stopped.
+Lord Treasurer told Mr. Lewis that it should be determined to-night:  and so
+he will for[14] a hundred nights.  So he said yesterday, but I value it not.
+My daily journals shall be but short till I get into the City, and then I will
+send away this, and follow it myself; and design to walk it all the way to
+Chester, my man and I, by ten miles a day.  It will do my health a great deal
+of good.  I shall do it in fourteen days.  Nite dee MD.
+
+15.  Lord Bolingbroke made me dine with him to-day; he[15] was as good company
+as ever; and told me the Queen would determine something for me to-night.  The
+dispute is, Windsor or St. Patrick's.  I told him I would not stay for their
+disputes, and he thought I was in the right.  Lord Masham told me that Lady
+Masham is angry I have not been to see her since this business, and desires I
+will come to-morrow.  Nite deelest MD.
+
+16.  I was this noon at Lady Masham's, who was just come from Kensington,
+where her eldest son is sick.  She said much to me of what she had talked to
+the Queen and Lord Treasurer.  The poor lady fell a shedding tears openly.
+She could not bear to think of my having St. Patrick's, etc.  I was never more
+moved than to see so much friendship.  I would not stay with her, but went and
+dined with Dr. Arbuthnot, with Mr. Berkeley, one of your Fellows, whom I have
+recommended to the Doctor, and to Lord Berkeley of Stratton.  Mr. Lewis tells
+me that the Duke of Ormond has been to-day with the Queen; and she was content
+that Dr. Sterne should be Bishop of Dromore, and I Dean of St. Patrick's; but
+then out came Lord Treasurer, and said he would not be satisfied but that I
+must be Prebend[ary] of Windsor.  Thus he perplexes things.  I expect neither;
+but I confess, as much as I love England, I am so angry at this treatment
+that, if I had my choice, I would rather have St. Patrick's.  Lady Masham says
+she will speak to purpose to the Queen to-morrow.  Nite, . . .  dee MD.
+
+17.  I went to dine at Lady Masham's to-day, and she was taken ill of a sore
+throat, and aguish.  She spoke to the Queen last night, but had not much time.
+The Queen says she will determine to-morrow with Lord Treasurer.  The warrants
+for the deaneries are still stopped, for fear I should be gone.  Do you think
+anything will be done?  I don't care whether it is or no.  In the meantime, I
+prepare for my journey, and see no great people, nor will see Lord Treasurer
+any more, if I go.  Lord Treasurer told Mr. Lewis it should be done to-night;
+so he said five nights ago.  Nite MD.
+
+18.  This morning Mr. Lewis sent me word that Lord Treasurer told him the
+Queen would determine at noon.  At three Lord Treasurer sent to me to come to
+his lodgings at St. James's, and told me the Queen was at last resolved that
+Dr. Sterne should be Bishop of Dromore, and I Dean of St. Patrick's; and that
+Sterne's warrant should be drawn immediately.  You know the deanery is in the
+Duke of Ormond's gift; but this is concerted between the Queen, Lord
+Treasurer, and the Duke of Ormond, to make room for me.  I do not know whether
+it will yet be done; some unlucky accident may yet come.  Neither can I feel
+joy at passing my days in Ireland; and I confess I thought the Ministry would
+not let me go; but perhaps they can't help it.  Nite MD.
+
+19.  I forgot to tell you that Lord Treasurer forced me to dine with him
+yesterday as usual, with his Saturday company; which I did after frequent
+refusals.  To-day I dined with a private friend, and was not at Court.  After
+dinner Mr. Lewis sent me a note, that the Queen stayed till she knew whether
+the Duke of Ormond approved of Sterne for Bishop.  I went this evening, and
+found the Duke of Ormond at the Cock-pit, and told him, and desired he would
+go to the Queen, and approve of Sterne.  He made objections, desired I would
+name any other deanery, for he did not like Sterne; that Sterne never went to
+see him; that he was influenced by the Archbishop of Dublin, etc.; so all now
+is broken again.  I sent out for Lord Treasurer, and told him this.  He says
+all will do well; but I value not what he says.  This suspense vexes me worse
+than anything else.  Nite MD.
+
+20.  I went to-day, by appointment, to the Cock-pit, to talk with the Duke of
+Ormond.  He repeated the same proposals of any other deanery, etc.  I desired
+he would put me out of the case, and do as he pleased.  Then, with great
+kindness, he said he would consent; but would do it for no man alive but me,
+etc.  And he will speak to the Queen today or to-morrow; so, perhaps,
+something will come of it.  I can't tell.  Nite dee dee logues, MD.
+
+21.  The Duke of Ormond has told the Queen he is satisfied that Sterne should
+be Bishop, and she consents I shall be Dean; and I suppose the warrants will
+be drawn in a day or two.  I dined at an ale-house with Parnell and Berkeley;
+for I am not in humour to go among the Ministers, though Lord Dartmouth
+invited me to dine with him to-day, and Lord Treasurer was to be there.  I
+said I would, if I were out of suspense.  Nite deelest MD.
+
+22.  The Queen says warrants shall be drawn, but she will dispose of all in
+England and Ireland at once, to be teased no more.  This will delay it some
+time; and, while it is delayed, I am not sure of the Queen, my enemies being
+busy.  I hate this suspense.  Nite deelest MD.[16]
+
+23.  I dined yesterday with General Hamilton.[17]  I forgot to tell oo.  I
+write short journals now.  I have eggs on the spit.  This night the Queen has
+signed all the warrants, among which Sterne is Bishop of Dromore, and the Duke
+of Ormond is to send over an order for making me Dean of St. Patrick's.  I
+have no doubt of him at all.  I think 'tis now passed.  And I suppose MD is
+malicious enough to be glad, and rather have it than Wells.[18]  But you see
+what a condition I am in.  I thought I was to pay but six hundred pounds for
+the house; but the Bishop of Clogher says eight hundred pounds; first-fruits
+one hundred and fifty pounds, and so, with patent, a thousand pounds in all;
+so that I shall not be the better for the deanery these three years.  I hope
+in some time they will be persuaded here to give me some money to pay off
+these debts.  I must finish the book I am writing,[19] before I can go over;
+and they expect I shall pass next winter here, and then I will dun them to
+give me a sum of money.  However, I hope to pass four or five months with MD,
+and whatever comes on it.  MD's allowance must be increased, and shall be too,
+fais. . . [20]  I received oor rettle No. 39 to-night; just ten weeks since I
+had your last.  I shall write next post to Bishop Sterne.  Never man had so
+many enemies of Ireland[21] as he.  I carried it with the strongest hand
+possible.  If he does not use me well and gently in what dealings I shall have
+with him, he will be the most ungrateful of mankind.  The Archbishop of
+York,[22] my mortal enemy, has sent, by a third hand, that he would be glad to
+see me.  Shall I see him, or not?  I hope to be over in a month, and that MD,
+with their raillery, will be mistaken, that I shall make it three years.  I
+will answer oo rettle soon; but no more journals.  I shall be very busy.
+Short letters from hence forward.  I shall not part with Laracor.  That is all
+I have to live on, except the deanery be worth more than four hundred pounds a
+year.  Is it?  If it be, the overplus shall be divided between MD and FW
+beside usual allowance of MD. . . . [23]  Pray write to me a good-humoured
+letter immediately, let it be ever so short.  This affair was carried with
+great difficulty, which vexes me.  But they say here 'tis much to my
+reputation that I have made a bishop, in spite of all the world, to get the
+best deanery in Ireland.  Nite dee sollahs.
+
+24.  I forgot to tell you I had Sterne's letter yesterday, in answer to mine.
+Oo performed oor commission well, dood dallars both.[24]  I made mistakes the
+three last days, and am forced to alter the number.[25]  I dined in the City
+to-day with my printer, and came home early, and am going to [be] busy with my
+work.  I will send this to-morrow, and I suppose the warrants will go then.  I
+wrote to Dr. Coghill, to take care of passing my patent; and to Parvisol, to
+attend him with money, if he has any, or to borrow some where he can.  Nite
+MD.
+
+25.  Morning.  I know not whether my warrant be yet ready from the Duke of
+Ormond.  I suppose it will by tonight.  I am going abroad, and will keep this
+unsealed, till I know whether all be finished.  Mollow,[26] sollahs.
+
+I had this letter all day in my pocket, waiting till I heard the warrants were
+gone over.  Mr. Lewis sent to Southwell's clerk at ten; and he said the Bishop
+of Killaloe[27] had desired they should be stopped till next post.  He sent
+again, that the Bishop of Killaloe's business had nothing to do with ours.
+Then I went myself, but it was past eleven, and asked the reason.  Killaloe is
+removed to Raphoe, and he has a mind to have an order for the rents of Raphoe,
+that have fallen due since the vacancy, and he would have all stop till he has
+gotten that.  A pretty request!  But the clerk, at Mr. Lewis's message, sent
+the warrants for Sterne and me; but then it was too late to send this, which
+frets me heartily, that MD should not have intelligence first from Pdfr.  I
+think to take a hundred pounds a year out of the deanery, and divide it
+between MD and Pr,[28] and so be one year longer in paying the debt; but we'll
+talk of zis hen I come over.  So nite dear sollahs.  Lele.[29]
+
+26.  I was at Court to-day, and a thousand people gave me joy; so I ran out.
+I dined with Lady Orkney.  Yesterday I dined with Lord Treasurer and his
+Saturday people as usual; and was so bedeaned!  The Archbishop of York says he
+will never more speak against me.  Pray see that Parvisol stirs about getting
+my patent.  I have given Tooke DD's note to prove she is alive.  I'll answer
+oo rettle. . . .  Nite.
+
+27.  Nothing new to-day.  I dined with Tom Harley, etc.  I'll seal up this to-
+night.  Pray write soon. . . .  MD MD MD FW FW FW ME ME ME Lele, lele.
+
+
+
+LETTER 64.[1]
+
+LONDON, May 16 [1713].
+
+I had yours, No. 40, yesterday.  Your new Bishop acts very ungratefully.  I
+cannot say so bad of it as he deserved.  I begged at the same post his warrant
+and mine went over, that he would leave those livings to my disposal.  I shall
+write this post to him to let him know how ill I take it.  I have letters to
+tell me that I ought to think of employing some body to set the tithes of the
+deanery.  I know not what to do at this distance.  I cannot be in Ireland
+under a month.  I will write two orders; one to Parvisol, and t'other to
+Parvisol, and a blank for whatever fellow it is whom the last Dean employed;
+and I would desire you to advise with friends which to make use of:  and if
+the latter, let the fellow's name be inserted, and both act by commission.  If
+the former, then speak to Parvisol, and know whether he can undertake it.  I
+doubt it is hardly to be done by a perfect stranger alone, as Parvisol is.  He
+may perhaps venture at all, to keep up his interest with me; but that is
+needless, for I am willing to do him any good, that will do me no harm.  Pray
+advise with Walls and Raymond, and a little with Bishop Sterne for form.  Tell
+Raymond I cannot succeed for him to get that living of Moimed.  It is
+represented here as a great sinecure.  Several chaplains have solicited for
+it; and it has vexed me so, that, if I live, I will make it my business to
+serve him better in something else.  I am heartily sorry for his illness, and
+that of the other two.  If it be not necessary to let the tithes till a month
+hence, you may keep the two papers, and advise well in the meantime; and
+whenever it is absolutely necessary, then give that paper which you are most
+advised to.  I thank Mr. Walls for his letter.  Tell him that must serve for
+an answer, with my service to him and her.  I shall buy Bishop Sterne's hair
+as soon as his household goods.  I shall be ruined, or at least sadly cramped,
+unless the Queen will give me a thousand pounds.  I am sure she owes me a
+great deal more.  Lord Treasurer rallies me upon it, and I believe intends it;
+but, quando?  I am advised to hasten over as soon as possible, and so I will,
+and hope to set out the beginning of June.  Take no lodging for me.  What? at
+your old tricks again?  I can lie somewhere after I land, and I care not
+where, nor how.  I will buy your eggs and bacon, DD. . . [2] your caps and
+Bible; and pray think immediately, and give me some commissions, and I will
+perform them as far as oo poo Pdfr can.[3]  The letter I sent before this was
+to have gone a post before; but an accident hindered it; and, I assure oo, I
+wam very akkree[4] MD did not write to Dean Pdfr, and I think oo might have
+had a Dean under your girdle for the superscription.  I have just finished my
+Treatise,[5] and must be ten days correcting it.  Farewell, deelest MD, MD,
+MD, FW, FW, FW, ME, ME, ME, Lele.
+
+You'll seal the two papers after my name.
+
+
+"LONDON, May 16, 1713.
+
+"I appoint Mr. Isaiah Parvisol and Mr.     to set and let the tithes of the
+Deanery of St. Patrick's for this present year.  In witness whereof, I
+hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year above written.
+                                 [JONAT. SWIFT."[6]]
+
+
+"LONDON, May 16, 1713.
+
+"I do hereby appoint Mr. Isaiah Parvisol my proctor, to set and let the tithes
+of the Deanery of St. Patrick's.  In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my
+hand and seal, the day and year above written.
+                                  JONAT. SWIFT."
+
+
+
+LETTER 65.[1]
+
+CHESTER, June 6, 1713.
+
+I am come here after six days.  I set out on Monday last,  and got here to-day
+about eleven in the morning.  A noble rider, fais! and all the ships and
+people went off yesterday with a rare wind.  This was told me, to my comfort,
+upon my arrival.  Having not used riding these three years, made me terrible
+weary; yet I resolve on Monday to set out for Holyhead, as weary as I am.
+'Tis good for my health, mam.  When I came here, I found MD's letter of the
+26th of May sent down to me.  Had you writ a post sooner I might have brought
+some pins:  but you were lazy, and would not write your orders immediately, as
+I desired you.  I will come when God pleases; perhaps I may be with you in a
+week.  I will be three days going to Holyhead; I cannot ride faster, say hat
+oo will.  I am upon Stay-behind's mare.  I have the whole inn to myself.  I
+would fain 'scape this Holyhead journey; but I have no prospect of ships, and
+it will be almost necessary I should be in Dublin before the 25th instant, to
+take the oaths;[2] otherwise I must wait to a quarter sessions.  I will lodge
+as I can; therefore take no lodgings for me, to pay in my absence.  The poor
+Dean can't afford it.  I spoke again to the Duke of Ormond about Moimed for
+Raymond, and hope he may yet have it, for I laid it strongly to the Duke, and
+gave him the Bishop of Meath's memorial.  I am sorry for Raymond's fistula;
+tell him so.  I will speak to Lord Treasurer about Mrs. South[3] to-morrow.
+Odso! I forgot; I thought I had been in London.  Mrs. Tisdall[4] is very big,
+ready to lie down.  Her husband is a puppy.  Do his feet stink still?  The
+letters to Ireland go at so uncertain an hour, that I am forced to conclude.
+Farewell, MD, MD MD FW FW FW ME ME ME ME.
+
+     Lele lele
+     lele logues and
+     Ladies bose fair
+     and slender.
+
+[On flyleaf.]
+
+I mightily approve Ppt's project of hanging the blind parson.  When I read
+that passage upon Chester walls, as I was coming into town, and just received
+your letter, I said aloud--Agreeable B-tch.
+
+
+
+NOTES.
+
+These notes are referenced by 'Notes to the Introduction' or 'Letter
+(number)', and the numbers in square brackets (thus -- [3]) in the body of the
+Journal.
+
+
+
+Notes to the Introduction.
+
+1 Notes and Queries, Sixth Series, x. 287.
+
+2 See letter from Swift to John Temple, February 1737.  She was then "quite
+sunk with years and unwieldliness."
+
+3 Athenaeum, Aug. 8, 1891.
+
+4 Journal, May 4, 1711.
+
+5 Craik's Life of Swift, 269.
+
+6 Unpublished Letters of Dean Swift, pp. 189-96.
+
+7 In 1730 he wrote, "Those who have been married may form juster ideas of that
+estate than I can pretend to do" (Dr. Birkbeck Hill's Unpublished Letters of
+Dean Swift, p. 237).
+
+8 Scott added a new incident which has become incorporated in the popular
+conception of Swift's story.  Delany is said to have met Swift rushing out of
+Archbishop King's study, with a countenance of distraction, immediately after
+the wedding.  King, who was in tears, said, "You have just met the most
+unhappy man on earth; but on the subject of his wretchedness you must never
+ask a question."  Will it be believed that Scott--who rejects Delany's
+inference from this alleged incident--had no better authority for it than "a
+friend of his (Delany's) relict"?
+
+9 This incident, for which there is probably some foundation of fact--we
+cannot say how much--has been greatly expanded by Mrs. Woods in her novel
+Esther Vanhomrigh.  Unfortunately most of her readers cannot, of course, judge
+exactly how far her story is a work of imagination.
+
+10 In October Swift explained that he had been in the country "partly to see a
+lady of my old acquaintance, who was extremely ill" (Unpublished Letters of
+Dean Swift, p. 198).
+
+11 There is a story that shortly before her death Swift begged Stella to allow
+herself to be publicly announced as his wife, but that she replied that it was
+then too late.  The versions given by Delany and Theophilus Swift differ
+considerably, while Sheridan alters the whole thing by representing Swift as
+brutally refusing to comply with Stella's last wishes.
+
+12 There has also been the absurd suggestion that the impediment was Swift's
+knowledge that both he and Stella were the illegitimate children of Sir
+William Temple--a theory which is absolutely disproved by known facts.
+
+13 It is curious to note the intimate knowledge of some of Swift's
+peculiarities which was possessed by the hostile writer of a pamphlet called A
+Hue and Cry after Dr. S---t, published in 1714.  That piece consists, for the
+most part, of extracts from a supposed Diary by Swift, and contains such
+passages as these:  "Friday.  Go to the Club . . .  Am treated.  Expenses one
+shilling."  "Saturday.  Bid my servant get all things ready for a journey to
+the country:  mend my breeches; hire a washerwoman, making her allow for old
+shirts, socks, dabbs and markees, which she bought of me . . .  Six coaches of
+quality, and nine hacks, this day called at my lodgings."  "Thursday.  The
+Earl looked queerly:  left him in a huff.  Bid him send for me when he was fit
+for company. . .  Spent ten shillings."
+
+14  The "little language" is marked chiefly by such changes of letters (e.g.,
+l for r, or r for l) as a child makes when learning to speak.  The
+combinations of letters in which Swift indulges are not so easy of
+interpretation.  For himself he uses Pdfr, and sometimes Podefar or FR
+(perhaps Poor dear foolish rogue).  Stella is Ppt (Poor pretty thing).  MD (my
+dears) usually stands for both Stella and Mrs. Dingley, but sometimes for
+Stella alone.  Mrs. Dingley is indicated by ME (Madam Elderly), D, or DD (Dear
+Dingley).  The letters FW may mean Farewell, or Foolish Wenches.  Lele seems
+sometimes to be There, there, and sometimes Truly.
+
+
+
+Letter 1.
+
+1. Addressed "To Mrs. Dingley, at Mr. Curry's house over against the Ram in
+Capel Street, Dublin, Ireland," and endorsed by Esther Johnson, "Sept. 9.
+Received."  Afterwards Swift added, "MD received this Sept. 9," and "Letters
+to Ireland from Sept.1710, begun soon after the change of Ministry.  Nothing
+in this."
+
+2. Beaumont is the "grey old fellow, poet Joe," of Swift's verses "On the
+little house by the Churchyard at Castlenock."  Joseph Beaumont, a linen-
+merchant, is described as "a venerable, handsome, grey-headed man, of quick
+and various natural abilities, but not improved by learning."  His inventions
+and mathematical speculations, relating to the longitude and other things,
+brought on mental troubles, which were intensified by bankruptcy, about 1718.
+He was afterwards removed from Dublin to his home at Trim, where he rallied;
+but in a few years his madness returned, and he committed suicide.
+
+3. Vicar of Trim, and formerly a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin.  In
+various places in his correspondence Swift criticises the failings of Dr.
+Anthony Raymond, who was, says Scott, "a particular friend."  His
+unreliability in money matters, the improvidence of his large family, his
+peculiarities in grammar, his pride in his good manners, all these points are
+noticed in the journal and elsewhere.  But when Dr. Raymond returned to
+Ireland after a visit to London, Swift felt a little melancholy, and regretted
+that he had not seen more of him.  In July 1713 Raymond was presented to the
+Crown living of Moyenet.
+
+4. A small township on the estuary of the Dee, between twelve and thirteen
+miles north-west of Chester.  In the early part of the eighteenth century
+Parkgate was a rival of Holyhead as a station for the Dublin packets, which
+started, on the Irish side, from off Kingsend.
+
+5. Dr. St. George Ashe, afterwards Bishop of Derry, who had been Swift's tutor
+at Trinity College, Dublin.  He died in 1718.  It is this lifelong friend who
+is said to have married Swift and Esther Johnson in 1716.
+
+6. The Commission to solicit for the remission of the First-Fruits and
+twentieth parts, payable to the Crown by the Irish clergy, was signed by the
+Archbishops of Armagh, Dublin, and Cashel, and the Bishops of Kildare, Meath,
+and Killala.
+
+7. Dr. William Lloyd was appointed Bishop of Killala in 1690.  He had
+previously been Dean of Achonry.
+
+8. Dr. John Hough (1651-1743).  In 1687 he had been elected President of
+Magdalen College, Oxford, in place of the nominee of James II.  Hough was
+Bishop of Oxford, Lichfield, and Worcester successively, and declined the
+primacy in 1715.
+
+9. Steele was at this time Gazetteer.  The Cockpit, in Whitehall, looked upon
+St. James's Palace, and was used for various Government purposes.
+
+10. This coffee-house, the resort of the Whig politicians, was kept by a man
+named Elliot.  It is often alluded to in the Tatler and Spectator.
+
+11. William Stewart, second Viscount Mountjoy, a friend and correspondent of
+Swift's in Ireland.  He was the son of one of William's generals, and was
+himself a Lieutenant-General and Master-General of the Ordnance; he died in
+1728.
+
+12. Catherine, daughter of Maurice Keating, of Narraghmore, Kildare, and wife
+of Garret Wesley, of Dangan, M.P. for Meath.  She died in 1745. On the death
+of Garret Wesley without issue in 1728, the property passed to a cousin,
+Richard Colley, who was afterwards created Baron Mornington, and was
+grandfather to the Duke of Wellington.
+
+13. The landlady of Esther Johnson and Mrs. Dingley.
+
+14. Swift's housekeeper at Laracor. Elsewhere Swift speaks of his "old
+Presbyterian housekeeper," "who has been my Walpole above thirty years,
+whenever I lived in this kingdom."  "Joe Beaumont is my oracle for public
+affairs in the country, and an old Presbyterian woman in town."
+
+15. Isaiah Parvisol, Swift's tithe-agent and steward at Laracor, was an
+Irishman of French extraction, who died in 1718 (Birkbeck's Unpublished
+Letters of Dean Swift, 1899, p.85).
+
+Letter 2.
+
+1. In some MS. Accounts of Swift's, in the Forster Collection at South
+Kensington there is the following entry:--"Set out for England Aug. 31st on
+Thursday, 10 at night; landed at Parkgate Friday 1st at noon.  Sept. 1, 171O,
+came to London.  Thursday at noon, Sept. 7th, with Lord Mountjoy, etc.  Mem.:
+Lord Mountjoy bore my expenses from Chester to London."
+
+2. In a letter to Archbishop King of the same date Swift says he was "equally
+caressed by both parties; by one as a sort of bough for drowning men to lay
+hold of, and by the other as one discontented with the late men in power."
+
+3. The Earl of Godolphin, who was severely satirised by Swift in his Sid
+Hamet's Rod, 171O.  He had been ordered to break his staff as Treasurer on
+August 8.  Swift told Archbishop King that Godolphin was "altogether short,
+dry, and morose."
+
+4. Martha, widow of Sir Thomas Giffard, Bart., of County Kildare, the
+favourite sister of Sir William Temple, had been described by Swift in early
+pindaric verses as "wise and great."  Afterwards he was to call her "an old
+beast" (Journal, Nov. 11, 171O).  Their quarrel arose, towards the close of
+17O9, out of a difference with regard to the publication of Sir William
+Temple's Works.  On the appearance of vol. v. Lady Giffard charged Swift with
+publishing portions of the writings from an unfaithful copy in lieu of the
+originals in his possession, and in particular with printing laudatory notices
+of Godolphin and Sunderland which Temple intended to omit, and with omitting
+an unfavourable remark on Sunderland which Temple intended to print.  Swift
+replied that the corrections were all made by Temple himself.
+
+5. Lord Wharton's second wife, Lucy, daughter of Lord Lisburn.  She died in
+1716, a few months after her husband.  See Lady M. W. Montagu's Letters.
+
+6. Mrs. Bridget Johnson, who married, as her second husband, Ralph Mose or
+Moss, of Farnham, an agent for Sir William Temple's estate, was waiting-woman
+or companion to Lady Giffard.  In her will (1722) Lady Giffard left Mrs. Moss
+2O pounds, "with my silver cup and cover."  Mrs. Moss died in 1745, when
+letters of administration were granted to a creditor of the deceased.
+
+7. Dr. William King (165O-1729), a Whig and High Churchman, had more than one
+difference with Swift during the twenty years following Swift's first visit to
+London in connection with the First-Fruits question.
+
+8. Swift's benefice, in the diocese of Meath, two miles from Trim.
+
+9. Steele, who had been issuing the Tatler thrice weekly since April 17O9.  He
+lost the Gazetteership in October.
+
+10. James, second Duke of Ormond (1665-1745) was appointed Lord Lieutenant on
+the 26th of October.  In the following year he became Captain-General and
+Commander-in-Chief.  He was impeached of high treason and attainted in 1715;
+and he died in exile.
+
+11. "Presto," substituted by the original editor for "Pdfr," was suggested by
+a passage in the Journal for Aug. 2, 1711, where Swift says that the Duchess
+of Shrewsbury "could not say my name in English, but said Dr. Presto, which is
+Italian for Swift."
+
+12. Charles Jervas, the popular portrait-painter, has left two portraits of
+Swift, one of which is in the National Portrait Gallery, and the other in the
+Bodleian Library.
+
+13. Sir William Temple's nephew, and son of Sir John Temple (died 17O4),
+Solicitor and Attorney-General, and Speaker of the Irish House of Commons.
+"Jack" Temple acquired the estate of Moor Park, Surrey, by his marriage with
+Elizabeth, granddaughter of Sir William Temple, and elder daughter of John
+Temple, who committed suicide in 1689.  As late as 17O6 Swift received an
+invitation to visit Moor Park.
+
+14. Dr. Benjamin Pratt, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, was appointed Dean
+of Down in 1717.  Swift calls him "a person of wit and learning," and "a
+gentleman of good birth and fortune,. .  very much esteemed among us" (Short
+Character of Thomas, Earl of Wharton).  On his death in 1721 Swift wrote, "He
+was one of the oldest acquaintance I had, and the last that I expected to die.
+He has left a young widow, in very good circumstances.  He had schemes of long
+life. . . .  What a ridiculous thing is man!"  (Unpublished Letters of Dean
+Swift, 1899, p. 106).
+
+15. A Westmeath landlord, whom Swift met from time to time in London.  The
+Leighs were well acquainted with Esther Johnson.
+
+16. Dr. Enoch Sterne, appointed Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, in 17O4.  Swift
+was his successor in the deanery on Dr. Sterne's appointment as Bishop of
+Dromore in 1713.  In 1717 Sterne was translated to the bishopric of Clogher.
+He spent much money on the cathedrals, etc., with which he was connected.
+
+17. Archdeacon Walls was rector of Castle Knock, near Trim.  Esther Johnson
+was a frequent visitor at his house in Queen Street, Dublin.
+
+18. William Frankland, Comptroller of the Inland Office at the Post Office,
+was the second son of the Postmaster-General, Sir Thomas Frankland, Bart.
+Luttrell (vi. 333) records that in 17O8 he was made Treasurer of the Stamp
+Office, or, according to Chamberlayne's Mag. Brit. Notitia for 171O, Receiver-
+General.
+
+19. Thomas Wharton, Earl and afterwards Marquis of Wharton, had been one of
+Swift's fellow-travellers from Dublin.  Lord Lieutenant of Ireland under the
+Whig Government, from 17O8 to 171O, Wharton was the most thorough-going party
+man that had yet appeared in English politics; and his political enemies did
+not fail to make the most of his well-known immorality.  In his Notes to
+Macky's Characters Swift described Wharton as "the most universal villain that
+ever I knew."  On his death in 1715 he was succeeded by his profligate son,
+Philip, who was created Duke of Wharton in 1718.
+
+20. This money was a premium the Government had promised Beaumont for his
+Mathematical Sleying Tables, calculated for the improvement of the linen
+manufacture.
+
+21. The bellman was both town-crier and night-watchman.
+
+Letter 3.
+
+1. Dr. William Cockburn (1669-1739), Swift's physician, of a good Scottish
+family, was educated at Leyden.  He invented an electuary for the cure of
+fluxes, and in 173O, in The Danger of Improving Physick, satirised the
+academical physicians who envied him the fortune he had made by his secret
+remedy.  He was described in 1729 as "an old very rich quack."
+
+2. Sir Matthew Dudley, Bart., an old Whig friend, was M.P. for
+Huntingdonshire, and Commissioner of the Customs from 17O6 to 1712, and again
+under George I., until his death in 1721.
+
+3. Isaac Manley, who was appointed Postmaster-General in Ireland in 17O3
+(Luttrell, v. 333).  He had previously been Comptroller of the English Letter
+Office, a post in which he was succeeded by William Frankland, son of Sir
+Thomas Frankland.  Dunton calls Manley "loyal and acute."
+
+4. Sir Thomas Frankland was joint Postmaster-General from 1691 to 1715.  He
+succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father, Sir William Frankland,
+in 1697, and he died in 1726.  Macky describes Sir Thomas as "of a sweet and
+easy disposition, zealous for the Constitution, yet not forward, and indulgent
+to his dependants."  On this Swift comments, "This is a fair character."
+
+5. Theophilus Butler, elected M.P. for Cavan, in the Irish Parliament, in
+17O3, and for Belturbet (as "the Right Hon. Theophilus Butler") in 1713.  On
+May 3, 171O, Luttrell wrote (Brief Relation of State Affairs, vi. 577), "'Tis
+said the Earl of Montrath, Lord Viscount Mountjoy. . .  and Mr. Butler will be
+made Privy Councillors of the Kingdom of Ireland."  Butler--a contemporary of
+Swift's at Trinity College, Dublin--was created Baron of Newtown-Butler in
+1715, and his brother, who succeeded him in 1723, was made Viscount
+Lanesborough.  Butler's wife was Emilia, eldest daughter and co-heir of James
+Stopford, of Tara, County Meath.
+
+6. No. 193 of the Tatler, for July 4, 1710, contained a letter from Downes the
+Prompter--not by Steele himself--in ridicule of Harley and his proposed
+Ministry.
+
+7. Charles Robartes, second Earl of Radnor, who died in 1723.  In the Journal
+for Dec. 3O, 1711, Swift calls him "a scoundrel."
+
+8. Benjamin Tooke, Swift's bookseller or publisher, lived at the Middle Temple
+Gate.  Dunton wrote of him, "He is truly honest, a man of refined sense, and
+is unblemished in his reputation." Tooke died in 1723.
+
+9. Swift's servant, of whose misdeeds he makes frequent complaints in the
+Journal.
+
+10. Deputy Vice-Treasurer of Ireland.  In one place Swift calls him Captain
+Pratt; and in all probability he is the John Pratt who, as we learn from
+Dalton's English Army Lists, was appointed captain in General Erle's regiment
+of foot in 1699, and was out of the regiment by 17O6.  In 17O2 he obtained the
+Queen's leave to be absent from the regiment when it was sent to the West
+Indies.  Pratt seems to have been introduced to Swift by Addison.
+
+11. Charles Ford, of Wood Park, near Dublin, was a great lover of the opera
+and a friend of the Tory wits.  He was appointed Gazetteer in 1712.  Gay calls
+him "joyous Ford," and he was given to over-indulgence in conviviality.  See
+Swift's poem on Stella at Wood Park.
+
+12. Lord Somers, to whom Swift had dedicated The Tale of a Tub, with high
+praise of his public and private virtues.  In later years Swift said that
+Somers "possessed all excellent qualifications except virtue."
+
+13. At the foundation school of the Ormonds at Kilkenny.  (see note 22.)
+
+14. A Whig haberdasher.
+
+15. Benjamin Hoadley, the Whig divine, had been engaged in controversy with
+Sacheverell, Blackall, and Atterbury.  After the accession of George I. he
+became Bishop of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury, and Winchester in success.
+
+16. Dr. Henry Sacheverell, whose impeachment and trial had led to the fall of
+the Whig Government.
+
+17. Sir Berkeley Lucy, Bart., F.R.S., married Katherine, daughter of Charles
+Cotton, of Beresford, Staffordshire, Isaac Walton's friend.  Lady Lucy died in
+174O, leaving an only surviving daughter, Mary, who married the youngest son
+of the Earl of Northampton, and had two sons, who became successively seventh
+and eighth Earls of Northampton.  Forster and others assumed that "Lady Lucy"
+was a Lady Lucy Stanhope, though they were not able to identify her.  It was
+reserved for Mr. Ryland to clear up this difficulty.  As he points out, Lady
+Lucy's elder sister, Olive, married George Stanhope, Dean of Canterbury, and
+left a daughter Mary,--Swift's "Moll Stanhope,"--a beauty and a madcap, who
+married, in 1712, William Burnet, son of Bishop Burnet, and
+died in 1714.  Mary, another sister of Lady Lucy's, married Augustine
+Armstrong, of Great Ormond Street, and is the Mrs. Armstrong mentioned by
+Swift on Feb. 3, 1711, as a pretender to wit, without taste.  Sir Berkeley
+Lucy's mother was a daughter of the first Earl of Berkeley, and it was
+probably through the Berkeleys that Swift came to know the Lucys.
+
+18. Ann Long was sister to Sir James Long, and niece to Colonel Strangeways.
+Once a beauty and toast of the Kit-Cat Club, she fell into narrow
+circumstances through imprudence and the unkindness of her friends, and
+retired under the name of Mrs. Smythe to Lynn, in Norfolk, where she died in
+1711 (see Journal, December 25, 1711).  Swift said, "She was the most
+beautiful person of the age she lived in; of great honour and virtue, infinite
+sweetness and generosity of temper, and true good sense" (Forster's Swift,
+229).  In a letter of December 1711, Swift wrote that she "had every valuable
+quality of body and mind that could make a lady loved and esteemed."
+
+19. Said, I know not on what authority, to be Swift's friend, Mrs. Barton.
+But Mrs. Barton is often mentioned by Swift as living in London in 1710-11.
+
+20. One of Swift's cousins, who was separated from her husband, a man of bad
+character, living abroad.  Her second husband, Lancelot, a servant of Lord
+Sussex, lived in New Bond Street, and there Swift lodged in 1727.
+
+21. 100,000 pounds.
+
+22. Francis Stratford's name appears in the Dublin University Register for
+1686 immediately before Swift's.  Budgell is believed to have referred to the
+friendship of Swift and Stratford in the Spectator, No. 353, where he
+describes two schoolfellows, and says that the man of genius was buried in a
+country parsonage of 160 pounds a year, while his friend, with the bare
+abilities of a common scrivener, had gained an estate of above 100,000 pounds.
+
+23. William Cowper, afterwards Lord Cowper.
+
+24. Sir Simon Harcourt, afterwards Viscount Harcourt, had been counsel for
+Sacheverell.  On Sept. 19, 171O, he was appointed Attorney-General, and on
+October 19 Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.  In April 1713 he became Lord
+Chancellor.
+
+25. This may be some relative of Dr. John Freind (see Letter 9), or, more
+probably, as Sir Henry Craik suggests, a misprint for Colonel Frowde,
+Addison's friend (see Journal, Nov. 4, 171O).  No officer named Freind or
+Friend is mentioned in Dalton's English Army Lists.
+
+26. See the Tatler, Nos. 124, 2O3.  There are various allusions in the
+"Wentworth Papers" to this, the first State Lottery of 171O; and two bluecoat
+boys drawing out the tickets, and showing their hands to the crowd, as Swift
+describes them, are shown in a reproduction of a picture in a contemporary
+pamphlet given in Ashton's Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, i. 115.
+
+27. A few weeks later Swift wrote, "I took a fancy of resolving to grow mad
+for it, but now it is off."
+
+28. Sir John Holland, Bart., was a leading manager for the Commons in the
+impeachment of Sacheverell.  He succeeded Sir Thomas Felton in the
+Comptrollership in March 171O.
+
+29. Dryden Leach. (see Letter 7.)
+
+30. William Pate, "bel esprit and woollen-draper," as Swift called him, lived
+opposite the Royal Exchange.  He was Sheriff of London in 1734, and died in
+1746.  Arbuthnot, previous to matriculating at Oxford, lodged with Pate, who
+gave him a letter of introduction to Dr. Charlett, Master of University
+College; and Pate is supposed to have been the woollen-draper, "remarkable for
+his learning and good-nature," who is mentioned by Steele in the Guardian, No.
+141.
+
+31. James Brydges, son of Lord Chandos of Sudeley, was appointed Paymaster-
+General of Forces Abroad in 17O7.  He succeeded his father as Baron Chandos in
+1714, and was created Duke of Chandos in 1729.  The "princely Chandos" and his
+house at Canons suggested to Pope the Timon's villa of the "Epistle to Lord
+Burlington."  The Duke died in 1744.
+
+32. Charles Talbot, created Duke of Shrewsbury in 1694, was held in great
+esteem by William III., and was Lord Chamberlain under Anne.  In 1713 he
+became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and held various offices under George I.,
+until his death in 1718.  "Before he was o. age," says Macaulay, "he was
+allowed to be one of the finest gentlemen and finest scholars of his time."
+
+33. See No. 23O.
+
+34. William Cavendish, second Duke of Devonshire (1673-1729), who was Lord
+Steward from 17O7 to 1710 and from 1714 to 1716.  Afterwards he was Lord
+President of the Council.  Swift's comment on Macky's character of this Whig
+nobleman was, "A very poor understanding."
+
+35. John Annesley, fourth Earl of Anglesea, a young nobleman of great promise,
+had only recently been appointed joint Vice-Treasurer, Receiver-General, and
+Paymaster of the Forces in Ireland, and sworn of the Privy Council.
+
+36. Nichols, followed by subsequent editors, suggested that "Durham" was a
+mistake for "St. David's," because Dr. George Bull, Bishop of St.  David's,
+died in 1710.  But Dr. Bull died on Feb. 17, 171O, though his successor, Dr.
+Philip Bisse, was not appointed until November; and Swift was merely repeating
+a false report of the death of Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham, which was current
+on the day on which he wrote.  Luttrell says, on Sept. 19, "The Lord Crewe. .
+.  died lately"; but on the 23rd he adds, "The Bishop of Durham is not dead as
+reported" (Brief Relation, vi. 63O, 633.
+
+37. Lady Elizabeth ("Betty") Butler, who died unmarried in 175O.
+
+38. Swift wrote in 1734, "Once every year I issued out an edict, commanding
+that all ladies of wit, sense, merit, and quality, who had an ambition to be
+acquainted with me, should make the first advances at their peril:  which
+edict, you may believe, was universally obeyed."
+
+39. Charles, second Earl of Berkeley (1649-171O), married Elizabeth, daughter
+of Baptist Noel, Viscount Campden.  The Earl died on Sept. 24, 171O, and his
+widow in 1719.  Swift, it will be remembered, had been chaplain to Lord
+Berkeley in Ireland in 1699.
+
+40. Lady Betty and Lady Mary Butler. (see Letter 7, notes 2 and 3.)
+
+41. Henry Boyle, Chancellor of the Exchequer from 17O2 to 17O8, was Secretary
+of State from 17O8 to 171O, when he was succeeded by St. John.  In 1714 he was
+created Baron Carleton, and he was Lord President from 1721 until his death in
+1725.
+
+42. On Sept. 29 Swift wrote that his rooms consisted of the first floor, a
+dining-room and bed-chamber, at eight shillings a week.  On his last visit to
+England, in 1726, he lodged "next door to the Royal Chair" in Bury Street.
+Steele lived in the same street from 17O7 to 1712; and Mrs. Vanhomrigh was
+Swift's next-door neighbour.
+
+43. In Exchange Alley.  Cf. Spectator, No. 454:  "I went afterwards to
+Robin's, and saw people who had dined with me at the fivepenny ordinary just
+before, give bills for the value of large estates."
+
+Letter 4.
+
+1 John Molesworth, Commissioner of the Stamp Office, was sent as Envoy to
+Tuscany in 1710, and was afterwards Minister at Florence, Venice, Geneva, and
+Turin.  He became second Viscount Molesworth in 1725, and died in 1731.
+
+2 Misson says, "Every two hours you may write to any part of the city or
+suburbs:  he that receives it pays a penny, and you give nothing when you put
+it into the Post; but when you write into the country both he that writes and
+he that receives pay each a penny."  The Penny Post system had been taken over
+by the Government, but was worked separately from the general Post.
+
+3 The Countess of Berkeley's second daughter, who married, in 1706, Sir John
+Germaine, Bart. (165O-1718), a soldier of fortune.  Lady Betty Germaine is
+said to have written a satire on Pope (Nichols' Literary Anecdotes, ii. 11),
+and was a constant correspondent of Swift's.  She was always a Whig, and
+shortly before her death in 1769 she made a present of 100 pounds to John
+Wilkes, then in prison in the Tower.  Writing of Lady Betty Butler and Lady
+Betty Germaine, Swift says elsewhere, "I saw two Lady Bettys this afternoon;
+the beauty of one, the good breeding and nature of the other, and the wit of
+either, would have made a fine woman."  Germaine obtained the estate at
+Drayton through his first wife, Lady Mary Mordaunt--Lord Peterborough's
+sister--who had been divorced by her first husband, the Duke of Norfolk.  Lady
+Betty was thirty years younger than her husband, and after Sir John's death
+she remained a widow for over fifty years.
+
+4 The letter in No. 28O of the Tatler.
+
+5 Discover, find out.  Cf.  Shakespeare's All's Well that Ends Well, iii. 6:
+"He was first smoked by the old Lord Lafeu."
+
+6 A village near Dublin.
+
+7 Excellent.
+
+8 John Molesworth, and, probably, his brother Richard, afterwards third
+Viscount Molesworth, who had saved the Duke of Marlborough's life at the
+battle of Ramillies, and had been appointed, in 171O, colonel of a regiment of
+foot.
+
+9 Presumably at Charles Ford's.
+
+10 The Virtues of Sid Hamet the Magician's Rod, published as a single folio
+sheet, was a satire on Godolphin.
+
+11 Apparently Marcus Antonius Morgan, steward to the Bishop of Kildare
+(Craik).  Swift wrote to the Duke of Montagu on Aug. 12, 1713 (Buccleuch MSS.,
+1899, i. 359). "Mr. Morgan of Kingstrope is a friend, and was, I am informed,
+put out of the Commission of justice for being so."
+
+12 Dr. Raymond is called Morgan's "father" because he warmly supported
+Morgan's interests.
+
+13 The Rev. Thomas Warburton, Swift's curate at Laracor, whom Swift described
+to the Archbishop as "a gentleman of very good learning and sense, who has
+behaved himself altogether unblamably."
+
+14 The tobacco was to be used as snuff.  About this time ladies much affected
+the use of snuff, and Steele, in No.  344 of the Spectator, speaks of Flavilla
+pulling out her box, "which is indeed full of good Brazil," in the middle of
+the sermon.  People often made their own snuff out of roll tobacco, by means
+of rasps.  On Nov. 3, 1711, Swift speaks of sending "a fine snuff rasp of
+ivory, given me by Mrs. St. John for Dingley, and a large roll of tobacco."
+
+15 Katherine Barton, second daughter of Robert Barton, of Brigstock,
+Northamptonshire, and niece of Sir Isaac Newton.  She was a favourite among
+the toasts of the Kit-Cat Club, and Lord Halifax, who left her a fortune, was
+an intimate friend.  In 1717 she married John Conduitt, afterwards Master of
+the Mint.
+
+16 William Connolly, appointed a Commissioner of the Revenue in 1709, was
+afterwards Speaker of the Irish House of Commons.  He died in 1729.  Francis
+Robarts, appointed a Commissioner of the Revenue in 1692, was made a Teller of
+the Exchequer in England in 1704, and quitted that office, in September 171O,
+on his reappointment, in Connolly's place, as Revenue Commissioner in Ireland.
+In 1714 Robarts was removed, and Connolly again appointed Commissioner.
+
+17 Enoch Sterne, Collector of Wicklow and Clerk to the Irish House of Lords.
+Writing to Dr. Sterne on Sept. 26, Swift said, "I saw Collector Sterne, who
+desired me to present his service to you, and to tell you he would be glad to
+hear from you, but not about business."
+
+18 In his "Character of Mrs. Johnson" Swift says, "She was never known to cry
+out, or discover any fear, in a coach." The passage in the text is obscure.
+Apparently Esther Johnson had boasted of saving money by walking, instead of
+riding, like a coward.
+
+19 John Radcliffe (165O-1714), the well-known physician and wit, was often
+denounced as a clever empiric.  Early in 1711 he treated Swift for his
+dizziness.  By his will, Radcliffe left most of his property to the University
+of Oxford.
+
+20 Charles Barnard, Sergeant-Surgeon to the Queen, and Master of the Barber
+Surgeons' Company.  His large and valuable library, to which Swift afterwards
+refers, fetched great prices.  Luttrell records Barnard's death in his diary
+for Oct. 12, 171O.
+
+21 Robert Harley, afterwards Earl of Oxford, had been appointed Chancellor of
+the Exchequer in August 1710.  In May 1711 he was raised to the peerage and
+made Lord High Treasurer; and he is constantly referred to in the Journal as
+"Lord Treasurer."  He was impeached in 1715, but was acquitted to 1717; he
+died in 1724.
+
+22 The Right Hon. Thomas Bligh, M.P., of Rathmore, County Meath, died on Aug.
+28, 1710.  His son, mentioned later in the Journal, became Earl of Darnley.
+
+Letter 5.
+
+1 Penalty.
+
+2 Erasmus Lewis, Under Secretary of State under Lord Dartmouth, was a great
+friend of Swift, Pope, and Arbuthnot.  He had previously been one of Harley's
+secretaries, and in his Horace Imitated, Book I. Ep. vii., Swift describes him
+as "a cunning shaver, and very much in Harley's favour."  Arbuthnot says that
+under George I. Lewis kept company with the greatest, and was "principal
+governor" in many families.  Lewis was a witness to Arbuthnot's will.  Pope
+and Esther Vanhomrigh both left him money to buy rings.  Lewis died in 1754,
+aged eighty-three.
+
+3 Charles Darteneuf, or Dartiquenave, was a celebrated epicure, who is said to
+have been a son of Charles II.  Lord Lyttleton, in his Dialogues of the Dead,
+recalling Pope's allusions to him, selects him to represent modern bon vivants
+in the dialogue between Darteneuf and Apicius.  See Tatler 252.  Darteneuf was
+Paymaster of the Royal Works and a member of the Kit-Cat Club.  He died in
+1737.
+
+4 No. 23O.
+
+5 Good, excellent.
+
+6 Captain George Delaval, appointed Envoy Extraordinary to the King of
+Portugal in Oct, 171O, was with Lord Peterborough in Spain in 1706.  In May
+1707 he went to Lisbon with despatches for the Courts of Spain and Portugal,
+from whence he was to proceed as Envoy to the Emperor of Morocco, with rich
+presents (Luttrell, vi. 52, 174, 192).
+
+7 Charles Montagu, Earl of Halifax, as Ranger of Bushey Park and Hampton
+Court, held many offices under William III., and was First Lord of the
+Treasury under George I., until his death in 1715.  He was great as financier
+and as debater, and he was a liberal patron of literature.
+
+8 John Manley, M.P. for Bossiney, was made Surveyor-General on Sept. 3O, 1710,
+and died in 1714.  In 1706 he fought a duel with another Cornish member
+(Luttrell, vi. 11, 535, 635).  He seems to be the cousin whom Mrs. De la
+Riviere Manley accuses of having drawn her into a false marriage.  For Isaac
+Manley and Sir Thomas Frankland, see Letter 3, notes 3 and 4.
+
+9 The Earl of Godolphin (see Letter 2, note 3).
+
+10 Sir John Stanley, Bart., of Northend, Commissioner of Customs, whom Swift
+knew through his intimate friends the Pendarves.  His wife, Anne, daughter of
+Bernard Granville, and niece of John, Earl of Bath, was aunt to Mary
+Granville, afterwards Mrs. Delany, who lived with the Stanleys at their house
+in Whitehall.
+
+11 Henry, Viscount Hyde, eldest son of Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester,
+succeeded his father in the earldom in 1711, and afterwards became Earl of
+Clarendon.  His wife, Jane, younger daughter of Sir William Leveson Gower,--
+who married a daughter of John Granville, Earl of Bath,--was a beauty, and the
+mother of two beauties--Jane, afterwards Countess of Essex (see journal, Jan.
+29, 1712), and Catherine, afterwards Countess of Queensberry.  Lady Hyde was
+complimented by Prior, Pope, and her kinsman, Lord Lansdowne, and is said to
+have been more handsome than either of her daughters.  She died in 1725; her
+husband in 1753.  Lord Hyde became joint Vice-Treasurer for Ireland in 171O;
+hence his interest with respect to Pratt's appointment.
+
+12 See Letter 3, note 10.
+
+13 Sir Paul Methuen (1672-1757), son of John Methuen, diplomatist and Lord
+Chancellor of Ireland.  Methuen was Envoy and Ambassador to Portugal from 1697
+to 1708, and was M.P. for Devizes from 1708 to 171O, and a Lord of the
+Admiralty.  Under George I. he was Ambassador to Spain, and held other
+offices.  Gay speaks of "Methuen of sincerest mind, as Arthur grave, as soft
+as womankind," and Steele dedicated to him the seventh volume of the
+Spectator.  In his Notes on Macky's Characters, Swift calls him "a profligate
+rogue. . .  without abilities of any kind."
+
+14 Sir James Montagu was Attorney-General from 1708 to Sept. 171O, when he
+resigned, and was succeeded by Sir Simon Harcourt.  Under George I. Montagu
+was raised to the Bench, and a few months before his death in 1723 became
+Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
+
+15 The turnpike system had spread rapidly since the Restoration, and had
+already effected an important reform in the English roads.  Turnpike roads
+were as yet unknown in Ireland.
+
+16 Ann Johnson, who afterwards married a baker named Filby.
+
+17 An infusion of which the main ingredient was cowslip or palsy-wort.
+
+18 William Legge, first Earl of Dartmouth (1672-175O), was St. John's fellow
+Secretary of State.  Lord Dartmouth seems to have been a plain, unpretending
+man, whose ignorance of French helped to throw important matters into St.
+John's hands.
+
+19 Richard Dyot was tried at the Old Bailey, on Jan. 13, 171O-11, for
+counterfeiting stamps, and was acquitted, the crime being found not felony,
+but only breach of trust.  Two days afterwards a bill of indictment was found
+against him for high misdemeanour.
+
+20 Sir Philip Meadows (1626-1718) was knighted in 1658, and was Ambassador to
+Sweden under Cromwell.  His son Philip (died 1757) was knighted in 170O, and
+was sent on a special mission to the Emperor in 1707.  A great-grandson of the
+elder Sir Philip was created Earl Manvers in 1806.
+
+21 Her eyes were weak.
+
+22 The son of the Sir Robert Southwell to whom Temple had offered Swift as a
+"servant" on his going as Secretary of State to Ireland in 1690.  Edward
+Southwell (1671-173O) succeeded his father as Secretary of State for Ireland
+in 1702, and in 1708 was appointed Clerk to the Privy Council of Great
+Britain.  Southwell held various offices under George I. and George II., and
+amassed a considerable fortune.
+
+23 Nicholas Rowe (1674-1718), dramatist and poet laureate, and one of the
+first editors of Shakespeare, was at this time under-secretary to the Duke of
+Queensberry, Secretary of State for Scotland.
+
+24 No. 238 contains Swift's "Description of a Shower in London."
+
+25 This seems to be a vague allusion to the text, "Cast thy bread upon the
+waters," etc.
+
+26 Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), the fashionable portrait-painter of the
+period.
+
+27 At the General election of 171O the contest at Westminster excited much
+interest.  The number of constituents was large, and the franchise low, all
+householders who paid scot and lot being voters.  There were, too, many houses
+of great Whig merchants, and a number of French Protestants.  But the High
+Church candidates, Cross and Medlicott, were returned by large majorities,
+though the Whigs had chosen popular candidates--General Stanhope, fresh from
+his successes in Spain, and Sir Henry Dutton Colt, a Herefordshire gentleman.
+
+28 Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676-1753), a distinguished antiquary, of an old
+Norfolk family, was knighted by William III. in 1699, and inherited his
+father's estate at Norfolk in 17O6.  He succeeded Sir Isaac Newton as Warden
+of the Mint in 1727, and was Vice-Chamberlain to Queen Caroline.  He became
+acquainted with Swift in Ireland in 1707, when he went over as Usher of the
+Black Rod in Lord Pembroke's Court.
+
+29 See Letter 2, note 17.  The Bishop was probably Dr. Moreton, Bishop of
+Meath (see Journal, July 1, 1712).
+
+30 The game of ombre--of Spanish origin--is described in Pope's Rape of the
+Lock.  See also the Compleat Gamester, 1721, and Notes and Queries, April 8,
+1871.  The ace of spades, or Spadille, was always the first trump; the ace of
+clubs (Basto) always the third.  The second trump was the worst card of the
+trump suit in its natural order, i.e. the seven in red and the deuce in black
+suits, and was called Manille.  If either of the red suits was trumps, the ace
+of the suit was fourth trump (Punto).  Spadille, Manille, and Basto were
+"matadores," or murderers, as they never gave suit.
+
+31 See Letter 3, note 30,
+
+32 In the Spectator, No. 337, there is a complaint from "one of the top China
+women about town," of the trouble given by ladies who turn over all the goods
+in a shop without buying anything.  Sometimes they cheapened tea, at others
+examined screens or tea-dishes.
+
+33 The Right Hon. John Grubham Howe, M.P. for Gloucestershire, an extreme
+Tory, had recently been appointed Paymaster of the Forces.  He is mentioned
+satirically as a patriot in sec. 9 of The Tale of a Tub.
+
+34 George Henry Hay, Viscount Dupplin, eldest son of the sixth Earl of
+Kinnoull, was made a Teller of the Exchequer in August, and a peer of Great
+Britain in December 1711, with the title of Baron Hay.  He married, in 1709,
+Abigail, Harley's younger daughter, and he succeeded his father in the earldom
+of Kinnoull in 1719.
+
+35 Edward Harley, afterwards Lord Harley, who succeeded his father as Earl of
+Oxford in 1724.  He married Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles, daughter of the
+Duke of Newcastle, but died without male issue in 1741.  His interest in
+literature caused him to form the collection known as the Harleian Miscellany.
+
+36 William Penn (1644-1718), the celebrated founder of Pennsylvania.  Swift
+says that he "spoke very agreeably, and with much spirit."
+
+37 This "Memorial to Mr. Harley about the First-Fruits" is dated Oct. 7, 171O.
+
+38 Henry St. John, created Viscount Bolingbroke in July 1712.  In the quarrel
+between Oxford and Bolingbroke in 1714, Swift's sympathies were with Oxford.
+
+39 I.e., it is decreed by fate.  So Tillotson says, "These things are fatal
+and necessary."
+
+40 See Letter 3, note 8.
+
+41 Obscure.  Hooker speaks of a "blind or secret corner."
+
+42 Ale served in a gill measure.
+
+43 Scott suggests that the allusion is to The Tale of a Tub.
+
+44 An extravagant compliment.
+
+45 See Letter 8.
+
+46 L'Estrange speaks of "trencher-flies and spungers."
+
+47 See Letter 1, note 10.
+
+48 Samuel Garth, physician and member of the Kit-Cat Club, was knighted in
+1714.  He is best known by his satirical poem, The Dispensary, 1699.
+
+49 Gay speaks of "Wondering Main, so fat, with laughing eyes" (Mr. Pope's
+Welcome from Greece, st. xvii.).
+
+50 See Letter 5, note 10.
+
+51 See the letter of Oct. 10, 1710, to Archbishop King.
+
+52 See Letter 1.
+
+53 Seventy-three lines in folio upon one page, and in a very small hand."
+(Deane Swift).
+
+Letter 6.
+
+1. I.e., Lord Lieutenant.
+
+2 Tatler, No. 238.
+
+3 See Letter 1, note 12.
+
+4 Charles Coote, fourth Earl of Mountrath, and M.P. for Knaresborough.  He
+died unmarried in 1715.
+
+5 Henry Coote, Lord Mountrath's brother.  He succeeded to the earldom in 1715,
+but died unmarried in 172O.
+
+6 The Devil Tavern was the meeting-place of Ben Jonson's Apollo Club.  The
+house was pulled down in 1787.
+
+7 Addison was re-elected M.P. for Malmesbury in Oct.  171O, and he kept that
+seat until his death in 1719.
+
+8 Captain Charles Lavallee, who served in the Cadiz Expedition of 1702, and
+was appointed a captain in Colonel Hans Hamilton's Regiment of Foot in 1706
+(Luttrell, v. 175, vi. 64O; Dalton's English Army Lists, iv. 126).
+
+9 See Letter 5.
+
+10 The Tatler, No. 23O, Sid Hamet's Rod, and the ballad (now lost) on the
+Westminster Election.
+
+11 The Earl of Galway (1648-172O), who lost the battle of Almanza to the Duke
+of Berwick in 1707.  Originally the Marquis de Ruvigny, a French refugee, he
+had been made Viscount Galway and Earl of Galway successively by William III.
+
+12 William Harrison, the son of a doctor at St. Cross, Winchester, had been
+recommended to Swift by Addison, who obtained for him the post of governor to
+the Duke of Queensberry's son.  In Jan. 1711 Harrison began the issue of a
+continuation of Steele's Tatler with Swift's assistance, but without success.
+In May 1711, St. John gave Harrison the appointment of secretary to Lord Raby,
+Ambassador Extraordinary at the Hague, and in Jan. 1713 Harrison brought the
+Barrier Treaty to England.  He died in the following month, at the age of
+twenty-seven, and Lady Strafford says that "his brother poets buried him, as
+Mr. Addison, Mr. Philips, and Dr. Swift."  Tickell calls him "that much loved
+youth," and Swift felt his death keenly.  Harrison's best poem is Woodstock
+Park, 1706.
+
+13 The last volume of Tonson's Miscellany, 1708.
+
+14 James Douglas, second Duke of Queensberry and Duke of Dover (1662-1711),
+was appointed joint Keeper of the Privy Seal in 1708, and third Secretary of
+State in 1709.  Harrison must have been "governor" either to the third son,
+Charles, Marquis of Beverley (born 1698), who succeeded to the dukedom in
+1711, or to the fourth son, George, born in 1701.
+
+15 Anthony Henley, son of Sir Robert Henley, M.P. for Andover, was a favourite
+with the wits in London.  He was a strong Whig, and occasionally contributed
+to the Tatler and Maynwaring's Medley.  Garth dedicated The Dispensary to him.
+Swift records Henley's death from apoplexy in August 1711.
+
+16 Sir William Ashurst, Sir Gilbert Heathcote, and Mr. John Ward were replaced
+by Sir Richard Hoare, Sir George Newland, and Mr. John Cass at the election
+for the City in 1710.  Scott was wrong in saying that the Whigs lost also the
+fourth seat, for Sir William Withers had been member for the City since 1707.
+
+17 Sir Richard Onslow, Bart., was chosen Speaker of the House of Commons in
+1708.  Under George I. he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, and was elevated to
+the peerage as Baron Onslow in 1716.  He died in the following year.
+
+18 "The upper part of the letter was a little besmeared with some such stuff;
+the mark is still on it" (Deane Swift).
+
+19 John Bolton, D.D., appointed a prebendary of St.  Patrick's in 1691, became
+Dean of Derry in 1699.  He died in 1724.  Like Swift, Bolton was chaplain to
+Lord Berkeley, the Lord Lieutenant, and, according to Swift, he obtained the
+deanery of Derry through Swift having declined to give a bribe of 1000 pounds
+to Lord Berkeley's secretary.  But Lord Orrery says that the Bishop of Derry
+objected to Swift, fearing that he would be constantly flying backwards and
+forwards between Ireland and England.
+
+20 See Letter 2, note 16.
+
+21 "That is, to the next page; for he is now within three lines of the bottom
+of the first" (Deane Swift).
+
+22 See Letter 4, note 15.
+
+23 Joshua Dawson, secretary to the Lords Justices.  He built a fine house in
+Dawson Street, Dublin, and provided largely for his relatives by the aid of
+the official patronage in his hands.
+
+24 He had been dead three weeks (see Letters 3 and 5).
+
+25 In The Importance of the Guardian Considered, Swift says that Steele, "to
+avoid being discarded, thought fit to resign his place of Gazetteer."
+
+26 As Swift never used the name "Stella" in the Journal, this fragment of his
+"little language" must have been altered by Deane Swift, the first editor.
+Forster makes the excellent suggestion that the correct reading is
+"sluttikins," a word used in the Journal on Nov. 28, 1710.  Swift often calls
+his correspondents "sluts."
+
+27 Godolphin, who was satirised in Sid Hamel's Rod (see Letter 2, note 3).
+
+28 No. 23O.
+
+29 "This appears to be an interjection of surprise at the length of his
+journal" (Deane Swift).
+
+30 Matthew Prior, poet and diplomatist, had been deprived of his
+Commissionership of Trade by the Whigs, but was rewarded for his Tory
+principles in 1711 by a Commissionership of Customs.
+
+31 "The twentieth parts are 12 pence in the pound paid annually out of all
+ecclesiastical benefices as they were valued at the Reformation.  They amount
+to about 500 pounds per annum; but are of little or no value to the Queen
+after the offices and other charges are paid, though of much trouble and
+vexation to the clergy" (Swift's "Memorial to Mr. Harley").
+
+32 Charles Mordaunt, the brilliant but erratic Earl of Peterborough, had been
+engaged for two years, after the unsatisfactory inquiry into his conduct in
+Spain by the House of Lords in 17O8, in preparing an account of the money he
+had received and expended.  The change of Government brought him relief from
+his troubles; in November he was made Captain-General of Marines, and in
+December he was nominated Ambassador Extraordinary to Vienna.
+
+33 Tapped, nudged.
+
+34 I.e., told only to you.
+
+35 Sir Hew Dalrymple (1652-1737), Lord President of the Court of Session, and
+son of the first Viscount Stair.
+
+36 Robert Benson, a moderate Tory, was made a Lord of the Treasury in August
+1710, and Chancellor of the Exchequer in the following June, and was raised to
+the peerage as Baron Bingley in 1713.  He died in 1731.
+
+37 The Smyrna Coffee-house was on the north side of Pall Mall, opposite
+Marlborough House.  In the Tatler (Nos. 10, 78) Steele laughed at the "cluster
+of wise heads" to be found every evening at the Smyrna; and Goldsmith says
+that Beau Nash would wait a whole day at a window at the Smyrna, in order to
+receive a bow from the Prince or the Duchess of Marlborough, and would then
+look round upon the company for admiration and respect.
+
+38 See Letter 4, note 14.
+
+39 See Letter 5, note 17.
+
+40 An Irish doctor, with whom Swift invested money.
+
+41 Enoch Sterne, Collector of Wicklow and Clerk to the House of Lords in
+Ireland.
+
+42 Claret.
+
+43 Colonel Ambrose Edgworth, a famous dandy, who is supposed to have been
+referred to by Steele in No. 246 of the Tatler.  Edgworth was the son of Sir
+John Edgworth, who was made Colonel of a Regiment of Foot in 1689 (Dalton,
+iii, 59).  Ambrose Edgworth was a Captain in the same regiment, but father and
+son were shortly afterwards turned out of the regiment for dishonest conduct
+in connection with the soldiers' clothing.  Ambrose was, however, reappointed
+a Captain in General Eric's Regiment of Foot in 1691.  He served in Spain as
+Major in Brigadier Gorge's regiment; was taken prisoner in 1706; and was
+appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of Colonel Thomas Allen's Regiment of Foot in
+17O7.
+
+44 This volume of Miscellanies in Prose and Verse was published by Morphew in
+1711.
+
+45 Dr. Thomas Lindsay, afterwards Bishop of Raphoe.
+
+
+Letter 7.
+
+1 The first mention of the Vanhomrighs in the Journal.  Swift had made their
+acquaintance when he was in London in 1708.
+
+2 Lady Elizabeth and Lady Mary (see Letter 3, note 40 and below).
+
+3 John, third Lord Ashburnham, and afterwards Earl of Ashburnham (1687-1737),
+married, on Oct. 21, 1710, Lady Mary Butler, younger daughter of the Duke of
+Ormond.  She died on Jan. 2, 1712-3, in her twenty-third year.  She was
+Swift's "greatest favourite," and he was much moved at her death.
+
+4 Edward Wortley Montagu, grandson of the first Earl of Sandwich, and M.P. for
+Huntingdon.  He was a great friend of Addison's, and the second volume of the
+Tatler was dedicated to him.  In 1712 he married the famous Lady Mary
+Pierrepont, eldest daughter of the Duke of Kingston, and under George I. he
+became Ambassador Extraordinary to the Porte.  He died in 1761, aged eighty.
+
+5 See Letter 5, note 27.  No copy of these verses is known.
+
+6 Henry Alexander, fifth Earl of Stirling, who died without issue in 1739.
+His sister, Lady Judith Alexander, married Sir William Trumbull, Pope's
+friend.
+
+7 "These words, notwithstanding their great obscurity at present, were very
+clear and intelligible to Mrs. Johnson:  they referred to conversations, which
+passed between her and Dr. Tisdall seven or eight years before; when the
+Doctor, who was not only a learned and faithful divine, but a zealous Church-
+Tory, frequently entertained her with Convocation disputes.  This gentleman,
+in the year 17O4, paid his addresses to Mrs. Johnson" (Deane Swift).  The Rev.
+William Tisdall was made D.D. in 17O7.  Swift never forgave Tisdall's proposal
+to marry Esther Johnson in 17O4, and often gave expression to his contempt for
+him.  In 1706 Tisdall married, and was appointed Vicar of Kerry and Ruavon; in
+1712 he became Vicar of Belfast.  He published several controversial pieces,
+directed against Presbyterians and other Dissenters.
+
+8 No. 193 of the Tatler, for July 4, 1710, contained a letter from Downes the
+Prompter in ridicule of Harley's newly formed Ministry.  This letter, the
+authorship of which Steele disavowed, was probably by Anthony Henley.
+
+9 William Berkeley, fourth Baron Berkeley of Stratton, was sworn of the Privy
+Council in September 1710, and was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of
+Lancaster.  He married Frances, youngest daughter of Sir John Temple, of East
+Sheen, Surrey, and died in 174O.
+
+10 Probably the widow of Sir William Temple's son, John Temple (see Letter 2,
+note 13).  She was Mary Duplessis, daughter of Duplessis Rambouillet, a
+Huguenot.
+
+11 The Rev. James Sartre, who married Addison's sister Dorothy, was Prebendary
+and Archdeacon of Westminster.  He had formerly been French pastor at
+Montpelier.  After his death in 1713 his widow married a Mr. Combe, and lived
+until 175O.
+
+12 William Congreve's last play was produced in 1700.  In 1710, when he was
+forty, he published a collected edition of his works.  Swift and Congreve had
+been schoolfellows at Kilkenny, and they had both been pupils of St. George
+Ashe--afterwards Bishop of Clogher--at Trinity College, Dublin.  On Congreve's
+death, in 1729, Swift wrote, "I loved him from my youth."
+
+13 See Letter 4, note 11.
+
+14 Dean Sterne.
+
+15 See Letter 6, note 19.
+
+16 When he became Dean he withheld from Swift the living of St. Nicholas
+Without, promised in gratitude for the aid rendered by Swift in his election.
+
+17 Crowe was a Commissioner for Appeals from the Revenue Commissioners for a
+short time in 17O6, and was Recorder of Blessington, Co. Wicklow.  In his
+Short Character of Thomas, Earl of Wharton, 1710, Swift speaks of Whartons
+"barbarous injustice to. . . poor Will Crowe."
+
+18 See Letter 3, note 10.
+
+19 See Letter 3, note 35.
+
+20 See Letter 1, note 15.
+
+21 Richard Tighe, M.P. for Belturbet, was a Whig, much disliked by Swift.  He
+became a Privy Councillor under George I.
+
+22 Dryden Leach, of the Old Bailey, formerly an actor, was son of Francis
+Leach.  Swift recommended Harrison to employ Leach in printing the
+continuation of the Tatler; but Harrison discarded him.  (See Journal, Jan.
+16, 1710-11, and Timperley's Literary Anecdotes, 600, 631).
+
+23 The Postman, which appeared three days in the week, written by M. Fonvive,
+a French Protestant, whom Dunton calls "the glory and mirror of news writers,
+a very grave, learned, orthodox man."  Fonvive had a universal system of
+intelligence, at home and abroad, and "as his news is early and good, so his
+style is excellent."
+
+24 Sir William Temple left Esther Johnson the lease of some property in
+Ireland.
+
+25 See Letter 5, note 23.
+
+26 An out-of-the-way or obscure house.  So Pepys (Diary, Oct. 15, 1661) "To
+St. Paul's Churchyard to a blind place where Mr. Goldsborough was to meet me."
+
+27 Sir Richard Temple, Bart., of Stowe, a Lieutenant-General who saw much
+service in Flanders, was dismissed in 1713 owing to his Whig views, but on the
+accession of George I. was raised to the peerage, and was created Viscount
+Cobham in 1718.  He died in 1749.  Congreve wrote in praise of him, and he was
+the "brave Cobham" of Pope's first Moral Essay.
+
+28 Richard Estcourt, the actor, died in August 1712, when his abilities on the
+stage and as a talker were celebrated by Steele to No. 468 of the Spectator.
+See also Tatler, Aug. 6, 17O9, and Spectator, May 5, 1712.  Estcourt was
+"providore" of the Beef-Steak Club, and a few months before his death opened
+the Bumper Tavern in James Street, Covent Garden.
+
+29 See Letter 5, note 49.
+
+30 Poor, mean.  Elsewhere Swift speaks of "the corrector of a hedge press in
+Little Britain," and "a little hedge vicar."
+
+31 Thomas Herbert, eighth Earl of Pembroke, was Lord Lieutenant from April
+17O7 to December 17O8.  A nobleman of taste and learning, he was, like Swift,
+very fond of punning, and they had been great friends in Ireland.
+
+32 See Letter 3, note 11.
+
+33 See Letter 3, note 18.
+
+34 A small town and fortress in what is now the Pas de Calais.
+
+35 Richard Stewart, third son of the first Lord Mountjoy (see Letter 1, note
+11), was M.P. at various times for Castlebar, Strabane, and County Tyrone.  He
+died in 1728.
+
+Letter 8.
+
+1 See Letter 3, note 1.
+
+2 Swift, Esther Johnson, and Mrs. Dingley seem to have begun their financial
+year on the 1st of November.  Swift refers to "MD's allowance" in the Journal
+for April 23, 1713.
+
+3 Samuel Dopping, an Irish friend of Stella's, who was probably related to
+Anthony Dopping, Bishop of Meath (died 1697), and to his son Anthony (died
+1743), who became Bishop of Ossory.
+
+4 See Letter 2, note 17.
+
+5 The wife of Alderman Stoyte, afterwards Lord Mayor of Dublin.  Mrs. Stoyte
+and her sister Catherine; the Walls; Isaac Manley and his wife; Dean Sterne,
+Esther Johnson and Mrs. Dingley, and Swift, were the principal members of a
+card club which met at each other's houses for a number of years.
+
+6 See Letter 1, note 12.
+
+7 "This cypher stands for Presto, Stella, and Dingley; as much as to say, it
+looks like us three quite retired from all the rest of the world" (Deane
+Swift).
+
+8 Steele's "dear Prue," Mary Scurlock, whom he married as his second wife in
+17O7, was a lady of property and a "cried-up beauty."  She was somewhat of a
+prude, and did not hesitate to complain to her husband, in and out of season,
+of his extravagance and other weaknesses.  The other lady to whom Swift
+alludes is probably the Duchess of Marlborough.
+
+9 See Letter 7, note 7.
+
+10 Remembers:  an Irish expression.
+
+11 This new Commission, signed by Narcissus Marsh, Archbishop of Armagh, and
+William King, was dated Oct. 24, 1710.  In this document Swift was begged to
+take the full management of the business of the First-Fruits into his hands,
+the Bishops of Ossory and Killala--who were to have joined with him in the
+negotiations--having left London before Swift arrived.  But before this
+commission was despatched the Queen had granted the First-Fruits and Twentieth
+Parts to the Irish clergy.
+
+12 Lady Mountjoy, wife of the second Viscount Mountjoy (see Letter 1), was
+Anne, youngest daughter of Murrough Boyle, first Viscount Blessington, by his
+second wife, Anne, daughter of Charles Coote, second Earl of Mountrath.  After
+Lord Mountjoy's death she married John Farquharson, and she died in 1741.
+
+13 Forster suggests that Swift wrote "Frond " or "Frowde" and there is every
+reason to believe that this was the case.  No Colonel Proud appears in
+Dalton's Army Lists.  A Colonel William Frowde, apparently third son of Sir
+Philip Frowde, Knight, by his third wife, Margaret, daughter of Sir John
+Ashburnham, was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in Colonel Farrington's (see note
+18) Regiment of Foot in 1694.  He resigned his commission on his appointment
+to the First Life Guards in 17O2, and he was in this latter regiment in 17O4.
+In November and December 1711 Swift wrote of Philip Frowde the elder (Colonel
+William Frowde's brother) as "an old fool," in monetary difficulties.  It is
+probable that Swift's Colonel Proud (? Frowde) was not Colonel William Frowde,
+but his nephew, Philip Frowde, junior, who was Addison's friend at Oxford, and
+the author of two tragedies and various poems.  Nothing seems known of Philip
+Frowde's connection with the army, but he is certainly called "Colonel" by
+Swift, Addison, and Pope (see Forster's Swift, 159; Addison's Works, v. 324;
+Pope's Works, v. 177, vi. 227).  Swift wrote to Ambrose Philips in 17O5, "Col.
+Frond is just as he was, very friendly and grand reveur et distrait.  He has
+brought his poems almost to perfection."  It will be observed that when Swift
+met Colonel "Proud" he was in company with Addison, as was also the case when
+he was with Colonel "Freind" (see Letter 3, note 25).
+
+14 Charles Davenant, LL.D., educated at Balliol College, Oxford, was the
+eldest son of Sir William Davenant, author of Gondibert.  In Parliament he
+attacked Ministerial abuses with great bitterness until, in 17O3, he was made
+secretary to the Commissioners appointed to treat for a union with Scotland.
+To this post was added, in 17O5, an Inspector-Generalship of Exports and
+Imports, which he retained until his death in 1714.  Tom Double, a satire on
+his change of front after obtaining his place, was published in 17O4.  In a
+Note on Macky's character of Davenant, Swift says, "He ruined his estate,
+which put him under a necessity to comply with the times." Davenant's True
+Picture of a Modern Whig, in Two Parts, appeared in 17O1-2; in 17O7 he
+published "The True Picture of a Modern Whig revived, set forth in a third
+dialogue between Whiglove and Double," which seems to be the piece mentioned
+in the text, though Swift speaks of the pamphlet as "lately put out."
+
+15 Hugh Chamberlen, the younger (1664-1728), was a Fellow of the College of
+Physicians and Censor in 17O7, 1717, and 1721.  Atterbury and the Duchess of
+Buckingham and Normanby were among his fashionable patients.  His father, Hugh
+Chamberlen, M.D., was the author of the Land Bank Scheme of 1693-94.
+
+16 Sir John Holland (see Letter 3, note 28).
+
+17 Swift may mean either rambling or gambolling.
+
+18 Thomas Farrington was appointed Colonel of the newly raised 29th Regiment
+of Foot in 17O2.  He was a subscriber for a copy of the Tatler on royal paper
+(Aitken, Life of Steele, i. 329, 33O).
+
+19 In The History of Vanbrugh's House, Swift described everyone as hunting for
+it up and down the river banks, and unable to find it, until at length they--
+
+     "-- in the rubbish spy
+      A thing resembling a goose pie."
+
+Sir John Vanbrugh was more successful as a dramatist than as an architect,
+though his work at Blenheim and elsewhere has many merits.
+
+20 For the successes of the last campaign.
+
+21 John Sheffield, third Earl of Mulgrave, was created Duke of Buckingham and
+Normanby in 17O3, and died in 1721.  On Queen Anne's accession he became Lord
+Privy Seal, and on the return of the Tories to power in 1710 he was Lord
+Steward, and afterward (June 1710) Lord President of the Council.  The Duke
+was a poet, as well as a soldier and statesman, his best known work being the
+Essay on Poetry.  He was Dryden's patron, and Pope prepared a collected
+edition of his works.
+
+22 Laurence Hyde, created Earl of Rochester in 1682, died in 1711.  He was the
+Hushai of Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel, "the friend of David in distress."
+In 1684 he was made Lord President of the Council, and on the accession of
+James II., Lord Treasurer; he was, however, dismissed in 1687.  Under William
+III. Rochester was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, an office he resigned in 17O3;
+and in September 1710 he again became Lord President.  His imperious temper
+always stood in the way of popularity or real success.
+
+23 Sir Thomas Osborne, Charles II.'s famous Minister, was elevated to the
+peerage in 1673, and afterwards was made successively Earl of Danby, Marquis
+of Caermarthen, and Duke of Leeds.  On Nov. 29, 1710, a few days after this
+reference to him, the Duke was granted a pension of 3500 pounds a year out of
+the Post Office revenues.  He died in July 1712, aged eighty-one, and soon
+afterwards his grandson married Lord Oxford's daughter.
+
+24 This is, of course, a joke; Swift was never introduced at Court.
+
+25 Captain Delaval (see Letter 5, note 6).
+
+26 Admiral Sir Charles Wager (1666-1743) served in the West Indies from 17O7
+to 17O9, and gained great wealth from the prizes he took.  Under George I. he
+was Comptroller of the Navy, and in 1733 he became First Lord of the
+Admiralty, a post which he held until 1742.
+
+27 See Letter 7, note 27.
+
+28 See Letter 5, note 13.
+
+29 Isaac Bickerstaff's "valentine" sent him a nightcap, finely wrought by a
+maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth (Tatler, No. 141).  The "nightcap" was a
+periwig with a short tie and small round head, and embroidered nightcaps were
+worn chiefly by members of the graver professions.
+
+30 Tatler, No. 237.
+
+31 Tatler, No. 23O.
+
+32 "Returning home at night, you'll find the sink
+    Strike your offended sense with double stink."
+    ("Description of a City Shower, 11. 5, 6.)
+
+33 Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
+
+34 See Letter 1, note 3.
+
+35 See Letter 8, note 5.
+
+36 See Letter 6, note 4.
+
+37 See Letter 1, note 11.
+
+38 The bellman's accents.  Cf. Pepys' Diary, Jan. 16, 1659-60:  "I staid up
+till the bellman came by with his bell just under my window as I was writing
+of this very line, and cried, 'Past one of the clock, and a cold, frosty,
+windy morning.'"
+
+
+
+Letter 9.
+
+1 John Freind, M.D. (1675-1728), was a younger brother of the Robert Freind,
+of Westminster School, mentioned elsewhere in the Journal.  Educated under Dr.
+Busby at Westminster, he was in 1694 elected a student of Christ Church, where
+he made the acquaintance of Atterbury, and supported Boyle against Bentley in
+the dispute as to the authorship of the letters of Phalaris.  In 1705 he
+attended the Earl of Peterborough to Spain, and in the following year wrote a
+defence of that commander (Account of the Earl of Peterborough's Conduct in
+Spain).  A steady Tory, he took a share in the defence of Dr. Sacheverell; and
+in 1723, when M.P. for Launceston, he fell under the suspicion of the
+Government, and was sent to the Tower.  On the accession of George II.,
+however, he came into favour with the Court, and died Physician to the Queen.
+
+2 See Letter 8, note 19.
+
+3 St. John was thirty-two in October 1710.  He had been Secretary at War six
+years before, resigning with Harley in 1707.  Swift repeats this comparison
+elsewhere.  Temple was forty-six when he refused a Secretaryship of State in
+1674.
+
+4 Sir Henry St. John seems to have continued a gay man to the end of his life.
+In his youth he was tried and convicted for the murder of Sir William Estcourt
+in a duel (Scott).  In 1716, after his son had been attainted, he was made
+Viscount St. John.  He died in 1742, aged ninety.
+
+5 "Swift delighted to let his pen run into such rhymes as these, which he
+generally passes off as old proverbs" (Scott).  Many of the charming scraps of
+"Old Ballads" and "Old Plays" at the head of Scott's own chapters are in
+reality the result of his own imagination.
+
+6 See Letter 3, note 18.
+
+7 Sir Richard Levinge, Bart., had been Solicitor-General for Ireland from 1704
+to 1709, and was Attorney-General from 1711 to 1714.  Afterwards he was
+Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas in
+Ireland.
+
+8 See Letter 2, note 18.
+
+9 Thomas Belasyse, second Viscount Fauconberg, or Falconbridge (died 1700), a
+nobleman of hereditary loyalty, married, in 1657, the Protector's youngest
+daughter, Mary Cromwell, who is represented as a lady of high talent and
+spirit.  She died on March 14, 1712.  Burnet describes her as "a wise and
+worthy woman," who would have had a better prospect of maintaining her
+father's post than either of her brothers.
+
+10 Richard Freeman, Chief Baron, was Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1707
+until his death in November 1710.
+
+11 See Letter 7, note 17.
+
+12 Sir Richard Cox, Bart. (1650-1733), was Lord Chancellor of Ireland from
+1703 to 1707.  In 1711 he was appointed Chief-Justice of the Queen's Bench,
+but he was removed from office on the death of Queen Anne.  His zealous
+Protestantism sometimes caused his views to be warped, but he was honest and
+well-principled.
+
+13 Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bart. (1676-1746), succeeded Bromley as Speaker in 1714.
+In February 1713 Swift said, "He is the most considerable man in the House of
+Commons."  His edition of Shakespeare was published by the University of
+Oxford in 1743-44.  Pope called it "pompous," and sneered at Hanmer's
+"superior air" (Dunciad, iv. 105).
+
+14 See Letter 5, note 8.
+
+15 Elliot was keeper of the St. James's Coffee-house (see Letter 1).
+
+16 Forster suggested that the true reading is "writhing."  If so, it is not
+necessary to suppose that Lady Giffard was the cause of it.  Perhaps it is the
+word "tiger" that is corrupt.
+
+17 The Hon. Charles Boyle (1676-1731), of the Boyle and Bentley controversy,
+succeeded to the peerage as Lord Orrery in 1703.  When he settled in London he
+became the centre of a Christ Church set, a strong adherent of Harley's party,
+and a member of Swift's "club."  His son John, fifth Earl of Orrery, published
+Remarks on the Life and Writings of Jonathan Swift in 1751.
+
+18 William Domville, a landed proprietor in County Dublin, whom Swift called
+"perfectly as fine a gentleman as I know."
+
+19 On May 16, 1711, Swift wrote, "There will be an old to do."  The word is
+found in Elizabethan writers in the sense of "more than enough."  Cf. Macbeth,
+ii. 3:  "If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the
+key."
+
+20 See Letter 3, note 10. Clements was related to Pratt, the Deputy Vice-
+Treasurer, and was probably the Robert Clements who became Deputy Vice-
+Treasurer, and whose grandson Robert was created Earl of Leitrim in 1795.
+
+21 Letter 5, note 11.
+
+22 Swift's sister Jane, who had married a currier in Bride Street, named
+Joseph Fenton, a match to which Swift strongly objected.  Deane Swift says
+that Swift never saw his sister again after the marriage; he had offered her
+500 pounds if she would show a "proper disdain" of Fenton.  On her husband's
+dying bankrupt, however, Swift paid her an annuity until 1738, when she died
+in the same lodging with Esther Johnson's mother, Mrs. Bridget Mose, at
+Farnham (Forster's Swift, pp. 118-19).
+
+23 Welbore Ellis, appointed Bishop of Kildare in 1705.  He was translated to
+Meath in 1731, and died three years later.
+
+24 The expression of the Archbishop is, "I am not to conceal from you that
+some expressed a little jealously, that you would not be acceptable to the
+present courtiers; intimating that you were under the reputation of being a
+favourite of the late party in power" (King to Swift, Nov. 2, 1710).
+
+25 This indignant letter is dated Nov. 23, 1710.  It produced an apologetic
+reply from the Archbishop (Nov. 30, 1710), who represented that the letter to
+Southwell was a snare laid in his way, since if he declined signing it, it
+might have been interpreted into disrespect to the Duke of Ormond.  Of the
+bishops King said, "You cannot do yourself a greater service than to bring
+this to a good issue, to their shame and conviction."
+
+
+
+Letter 10.
+
+1 William Bromley (died 1732) was M.P. for the University of Oxford.  A good
+debater and a strong High Churchman, he was Secretary of State from August
+1713 until the Queen's death in the following year.
+
+2 Colonel, afterwards Major-General, John Hill (died 1735) was younger brother
+of Mrs. Masham, the Queen's favourite, and a poor relation of the Duchess of
+Marlborough.  He was wounded at Mons in 1709, and in 1711 was sent on an
+unsuccessful expedition to attack the French settlements in North America.  In
+1713 he was appointed to command the troops at Dunkirk.
+
+3 "The footmen in attendance at the Houses of Parliament used at this time to
+form themselves into a deliberative body, and usually debated the same points
+with their masters.  It was jocularly said that several questions were lost by
+the Court party in the menial House of Lords which were carried triumphantly
+in the real assembly; which was at length explained by a discovery that the
+Scottish peers whose votes were sometimes decisive of a question had but few
+representatives in the convocation of lacqueys.  The sable attendant mentioned
+by Swift, being an appendage of the brother of Mrs. Masham, the reigning
+favourite, had a title to the chair, the Court and Tory interest being exerted
+in his favour" (Scott).  Steele alludes to the "Footmen's Parliament" in No.
+88 of the Spectator.
+
+4 See Letter 1, note 3.
+
+5 A Court of Equity abolished in the reign of Charles I.  It met in the Camera
+Alba, or Whitehall, and the room appears to have retained the name of the old
+Court.
+
+6 See Letter 6, note 2.
+
+7 Swift's first contribution to the Examiner (No. 13) is dated Nov. 2, 1710.
+
+8 Seduced, induced.  Dryden (Spanish Friar) has "To debauch a king to break
+his laws."
+
+9 Freeman (see Letter 9, note 10).
+
+10 "To make this intelligible, it is necessary to observe, that the words
+'this fortnight', in the preceding sentence, were first written in what he
+calls their little language, and afterwards scratched out and written plain.
+It must be confessed this little language, which passed current between Swift
+and Stella, has occasioned infinite trouble in the revisal of these papers"
+(Deane Swift).
+
+11 Trim.  An attack upon the liberties of this corporation is among the
+political offences of Wharton's Lieutenancy of Ireland set forth in Swift's
+Short Character of the Earl of Wharton.
+
+12 Apologies.
+
+13 "A Description of the Morning," in No. 9 of the Tatler.
+
+14 See Letter 6, note 19.
+
+15 William Palliser (died 1726).
+
+16 See Letter 4, note 15.
+
+17 "Here he writ with his eyes shut; and the writing is somewhat crooked,
+although as well in other respects as if his eyes had been open" (Deane
+Swift).
+
+18 Tatler, No. 249; cf. p. 93.  During this visit to London Swift contributed
+to only three Tatlers, viz. Nos. 230, 238, and 258.
+
+19 St. Andrew's Day.
+
+20 No. 241.
+
+21 Tatler, No. 258.
+
+22 Lieutenant-General Philip Bragg, Colonel of the 28th Regiment of Foot, and
+M.P. for Armagh, died in 1759.
+
+23 James Cecil, fifth Earl of Salisbury, who died in 1728.
+
+24 See Letter 2, note 13.
+
+25 See Letter 8, note 22.
+
+26 Kneller seems never to have painted Swift's portrait.
+
+27 On Nov. 25 and 28.
+
+28 Arthur Annesley, M.P. for Cambridge University, had recently become fifth
+Earl of Anglesea, on the death of his brother (see Letter 3, note 35).  Under
+George I. he was Joint Treasurer of Ireland, and Treasurer at War.
+
+29 A Short Character of the Earl of Wharton, by Swift himself, though the
+authorship was not suspected at the time.  "Archbishop King," says Scott,
+"would have hardly otherwise ventured to mention it to Swift in his letter of
+Jan. 9, 1710, as 'a wound given in the dark.'" Elsewhere, however, in a note,
+Swift hints that Archbishop King was really aware of the authorship of the
+pamphlet.
+
+30 A false report. (See Letter 11, note 4.)
+
+31 None of these Commissioners of Revenue lost their places at this time.
+Samuel Ogle was Commissioner from 1699 to 1714; John South from 1696 until his
+death in 1711; and Sir William St. Quintin, Bart., from 1706 to 1713.  Stephen
+Ludlow succeeded South in September 1711.
+
+32 See Letter 7, note 35.
+
+33 James Hamilton, sixth Earl of Abercorn (1656-1734), a Scotch peer who had
+strongly supported the Union of 1706.
+
+
+
+Letter 11.
+
+1 L'Estrange speaks of "insipid twittle twattles." Johnson calls this "a vile
+word."
+
+2 A cousin of Swift's; probably a son of William Swift.
+
+3 Nicholas Sankey (died 1722) succeeded Lord Lovelace as Colonel of a Regiment
+of Foot in Ireland in 1689.  He became Brigadier-General in 1704, Major-
+General 1707, and Lieutenant-General 1710.  He served in Spain, and was taken
+prisoner at the battle of the Caya in 1709.
+
+4 See Letter 10, note 30.
+
+5 The Earl of Abercorn (see Letter 10, note 33) married, in 1686, Elizabeth,
+only child of Sir Robert Reading, Bart., of Dublin, by Jane, Dowager Countess
+of Mountrath.  Lady Abercorn survived her husband twenty years, dying in 1754,
+aged eighty-six.
+
+6 Charles Lennox, first Duke of Richmond and Gordon (1672-1723), was the
+illegitimate son of Charles II. by Madame de Querouaille.
+
+7 Sir Robert Raymond, afterwards Lord Raymond (1673-1733), M.P. for Bishop's
+Castle, Shropshire, was appointed Solicitor-General in May 1710, and was
+knighted in October.  He was removed from office on the accession of George
+I., but was made Attorney-General in 1720, and in 1724 became a judge of the
+King's Bench.  In the following year he was made Lord Chief-Justice, and was
+distinguished both for his learning and his impartiality.
+
+8 Lynn-Regis.
+
+9 Richard Savage, fourth Earl Rivers, the father of Richard Savage, the poet.
+Under the Whigs Lord Rivers was Envoy to Hanover; and after his conversion by
+Harley, he was Constable of the Tower under the Tories.  He died in 1712.
+
+10 Chancellor of the Exchequer in Ireland from 1695 until his death in 1717.
+
+11 Lord Shelburne's clever sister, Anne, only daughter of Sir William Petty,
+and wife of Thomas Fitzmaurice, Lord of Kerry, afterwards created first Earl
+of Kerry.
+
+12 Mrs. Pratt, an Irish friend of Lady Kerry, lodged at Lord Shelburne's
+during her visit to London.  The reference to Clements (see Letter 9, note
+20), Pratt's relative, in the Journal for April 14, 1711, makes it clear that
+Mrs. Pratt was the wife of the Deputy Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, to whom Swift
+often alludes (see Letter 3, note 10).
+
+13 Lieutenant-General Thomas Meredith, Major-General Maccartney, and Brigadier
+Philip Honeywood.  They alleged that their offence only amounted to drinking a
+health to the Duke of Marlborough, and confusion to his enemies.  But the
+Government said that an example must be made, because various officers had
+dropped dangerous expressions about standing by their General, Marlborough,
+who was believed to be aiming at being made Captain General for life.  For
+Maccartney see the Journal for Nov. 15, 1712, seq.  Meredith, who was
+appointed Adjutant-General of the Forces in 1701, was made a Lieutenant-
+General in 1708.  He saw much service under William III., and Marlborough, and
+was elected M.P. for Midhurst in 1709.  He died in 1719 (Dalton's Army Lists,
+III. 181).  Honeywood entered the army in 1694; was at Namur; and was made a
+Brigadier-General before 1711.  After the accession of George I. he became
+Colonel of a Regiment of Dragoons, and commanded a division at Dettingen.  At
+his death in 1752 he was acting as Governor of Portsmouth, with the rank of
+General (Dalton, iv. 30).
+
+14 Or "malkin"; a counterfeit, or scarecrow.
+
+15 William Cadogan, Lieutenant-General and afterwards Earl Cadogan (1675-
+1726), a great friend of Marlborough, was Envoy to the United Provinces and
+Spanish Flanders.  Cadogan retained the post of Lieutenant to the Tower until
+1715.
+
+16 Earl Cadogan's father, Henry Cadogan, barrister, married Bridget, daughter
+of Sir Hardresse Waller, and sister of Elizabeth, Baroness Shelburne in her
+own right.
+
+17 See Letter 5, note 30.
+
+18 Cadogan married Margaretta, daughter of William Munter, Counsellor of the
+Court of Holland.
+
+19 Presumably the eldest son, William, who succeeded his father as second Earl
+of Kerry in 1741, and died in 1747.  He was at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford,
+and was afterwards a Colonel in the Coldstream Guards.
+
+20 Henry Petty, third Lord Shelburne, who became Earl of Shelburne in 1719.
+His son predeceased him, without issue, and on Lord Shelburne's death, in
+1751, his honours became extinct.  His daughter Anne also died without issue.
+
+21 The menagerie, which had been one of the sights of London, was removed from
+the Tower in 1834.  In his account of the Tory Fox Hunter in No. 47 of the
+Freeholder, Addison says, "Our first visit was to the lions."
+
+22 Bethlehem Hospital, for lunatics, in Moorfields, was a popular "sight" in
+the eighteenth century.  Cf. the Tatler, No. 30:  "On Tuesday last I took
+three lads, who are under my guardianship, a rambling, in a hackney coach, to
+show them the town:  as the lions, the tombs, Bedlam."
+
+23 The Royal Society met at Gresham College from 1660 to 1710.  The professors
+of the College lectured on divinity, civil law, astronomy, music, geometry,
+rhetoric, and physic.
+
+24 The most important of the puppet-shows was Powell's, in the Little Piazza,
+Covent Garden, which is frequently mentioned in the Tatler.
+
+25 The precise nature this negligent costume is not known, but it is always
+decried by popular writers of the time.
+
+26 Retched.  Bacon has "Patients must not keck at them at the first."
+
+27 Swift was born on November 30.
+
+28 Mrs. De la Riviere Manley, daughter of Sir Roger Manley, and cousin of John
+Manley, M.P., and Isaac Manley (see Letter 3, note 3), wrote poems and plays,
+but is best known for her "Secret Memoirs and Manners of Several Persons of
+Quality, of both sexes.  From the New Atalantis, 1709," a book abounding in
+scandalous references to her contemporaries.  She was arrested in October, but
+was discharged in Feb. 1710.  In May 1710 she brought out a continuation of
+the New Atalantis, called "Memoirs of Europe towards the Close of the Eighth
+Century."  In June 1711 she became editress of the Tory Examiner, and wrote
+political pamphlets with Swift's assistance.  Afterwards she lived with
+Alderman Barber, the printer, at whose office she died in 1724.  In her will
+she mentioned her "much honoured friend, the Dean of St. Patrick, Dr. Swift."
+
+29 "He seems to have written these words in a whim; for the sake of what
+follows" (Deane Swift).
+
+30 See Letter 8, note 33.
+
+31 No. 249 (see Letter 10, note 18).
+
+32 See Letter 5, note 34.
+
+33 In a letter to the Rev. Dr. Tisdall, of Dec. 16, 1703, Swift said:  "I'll
+teach you a way to outwit Mrs. Johnson:  it is a new-fashioned way of being
+witty, and they call it a bite.  You must ask a bantering question, or tell
+some damned lie in a serious manner, and then she will answer or speak as if
+you were in earnest; and then cry you, 'Madam, there's a bite!'  I would not
+have you undervalue this, for it is the constant amusement in Court, and
+everywhere else among the great people."  See, too, the Tatler, No. 12, and
+Spectator, Nos. 47, 504:  "In a word, a Biter is one who thinks you a fool,
+because you do not think him a knave."
+
+34 See Letter 9, note 4.
+
+35 "As I hope to be saved;" a favourite phrase in the Journal.
+
+36 See Letter 7, note 12.
+
+37 This statement receives some confirmation from a pamphlet published in
+September 1710, called "A Condoling Letter to the Tatler:  On Account of the
+Misfortunes of Isaac Bickerstaf Esq., a Prisoner in the ---- on Suspicion of
+Debt."
+
+38 Dr. Lambert, chaplain to Lord Wharton, was censured in Convocation for
+being the author of a libellous letter.
+
+39 Probably the same person as Dr. Griffith, spoken of in the Journal for
+March 3, 1713,--when he was ill,--as having been "very tender of" Stella.
+
+40 See Letter 9, note 22.
+
+41 Vexed, offended.  Elsewhere Swift wrote, "I am apt to grate the ears of
+more than I could wish."
+
+42 Ambrose Philips, whose Pastorals had been published in the same volume of
+Tonson's Miscellany as Pope's.  Two years later Swift wrote, "I should
+certainly have provided for him had he not run party mad."  In 1712 his play,
+The Distrest Mother, received flattering notice in the Spectator, and in 1713,
+to Pope's annoyance, Philips' Pastorals were praised in the Guardian.  His
+pretty poems to children led Henry Carey to nickname him "Namby Pamby."
+
+43 An equestrian statue of William III., in College Green, Dublin.  It was
+common, in the days of party, for students of the University of Dublin to play
+tricks with this statue.
+
+44 Lieutenant-General Richard Ingoldsby (died 1712) was Commander of the
+Forces in Ireland, and one of the Lords Justices in the absence of the Lord
+Lieutenant.
+
+45 This seems to have been a mistake; cf. Journal for July 13, 1711, Alan
+Brodrick, afterwards Viscount Midleton, a Whig politician and lawyer, was made
+Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench in Ireland in 1709, but was removed from
+office in June 1711, when Sir Richard Cox succeeded him.  On the accession of
+George I. he was appointed Lord Chancellor for Ireland.  Afterwards he
+declined to accept the dedication to him of Swift's Drapiers Letters, and
+supported the prosecution of the author.  He died in 1728.
+
+46 Robert Doyne was appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland in 1695,
+and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in 1703.  This appointment was revoked
+on the accession of George I.
+
+47 See Letter 9, note 12.
+
+48 Of the University of Dublin.
+
+49 See Letter 2, note 18 and Letter 3, note 4.  Sir Thomas Frankland's eldest
+son, Thomas, who afterwards succeeded to the baronetcy, acquired a fortune
+with his first wife, Dinah, daughter of Francis Topham, of Agelthorpe,
+Yorkshire.  He died in 1747.
+
+50 See Letter 8, note 21.
+
+51 see Letter 4, note 15.
+
+52 Mary, daughter of Sir John Williams, Bart., and widow of Charles Petty,
+second Lord Shelburne, who died in 1696.  She had married, as her second
+husband, Major-General Conyngham, and, as her third husband, Colonel Dallway.
+
+53 Dr. John Vesey became Bishop of Limerick in 1672, and Archbishop of Tuam in
+1678.  He died in 1716.
+
+54 See Letter 3, note 39.
+
+55 Sex.
+
+56 Toby Caulfeild, third son of the fifth Lord Charlemont.  In 1689 he was
+Colonel to the Earl of Drogheda's Regiment of Foot, and about 1705 he
+succeeded to the command of Lord Skerrin's Regiment of Foot.  After serving in
+Spain his regiment was reduced, having lost most of its men (Luttrell, vi.
+158).
+
+57 John Campbell, second Duke of Argyle (1680-1743), was installed a Knight of
+the Garter in December 1710, after he had successfully opposed a vote of
+thanks to Marlborough, with whom he had quarrelled.  It was of this nobleman
+that Pope wrote--
+     "Argyle, the State's whole thunder born to wield,
+      And shake alike the senate and the field."
+In a note to Macky's Memoirs, Swift describes the Duke as an "ambitious,
+covetous, cunning Scot, who had no principle but his own interests and
+greatness."
+
+58 Harley's second wife, Sarah, daughter of Simon Middleton, of Edmonton, and
+sister of Sir Hugh Middleton, Bart.  She died, without issue, in 1737.
+
+59 Elizabeth Harley, then unmarried, the daughter of Harley's first wife,
+Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Foley, of Whitley Court, Worcestershire.  She
+subsequently married the Marquis of Caermarthen, afterwards Duke of Leeds.
+
+60 Harcourt (see Letter 3, note 24).
+
+61 William Stawel, the third baron, who succeeded to the title in 1692, was
+half-brother to the second Baron Stawel.  The brother here referred to was
+Edward, who succeeded to the title as fourth baron in 1742.
+
+
+
+Letter 12.
+
+1 Charles Finch, third Earl of Winchelsea, son of Lord Maidstone, and grandson
+of Heneage, second Earl of Winchelsea.  On his death in 1712 Swift spoke of
+him as "a worthy honest gentleman, and particular friend of mine."
+
+2 Vedeau was a shopkeeper, who abandoned his trade for the army (Journal,
+March 28, April 4, 1711).  Swift calls him "a lieutenant, who is now broke,
+and upon half pay" (Journal, Nov. 18, 1712)
+
+3 Sir Edmund Bacon, Bart. (died 1721), of Herringflat, Suffolk, succeeded his
+father in the baronetcy in 1686.
+
+4 The reverse at Brihuega.
+
+5 See Letter 8, note 12.
+
+6 John Barber, a printer, became Lord Mayor of London in 1732, and died in
+1741.  Mrs. Manley was his mistress, and died at his printing office.  Swift
+speaks of Barber as his "very good and old friend."
+
+7 Bernage was an officer serving under Colonel Fielding.  In August 1710 a
+difficulty arose through Arbuthnot trying to get his brother George made
+Captain over Bernage's head; but ultimately Arbuthnot waived the business,
+because he would not wrong a friend of Swift's.
+
+8 See Letter 1, note 52.
+
+9 George Smalridge (1663-1719), the High Church divine and popular preacher,
+was made Dean of Carlisle in 1711, and Bishop of Bristol in 1714.  Steele
+spoke of him in the Tatler (Nos. 73, 114) as "abounding in that sort of virtue
+and knowledge which makes religion beautiful."
+
+10 St. Albans Street, Pall Mall, was removed in 1815 to make way for Waterloo
+Place.  It was named after Henry Jermyn, Earl of St. Albans.
+
+11 Ben Portlack, the Duke of Ormond's secretary.
+
+12 Algernon Seymour, Earl of Hertford (1684-1750), only son of Charles
+Seymour, Duke of Somerset.  Lord Hertford succeeded to the dukedom in 1748.
+From 1708 to 1722 he was M.P. for Northumberland, and from 1708 to 1713 he
+took an active part in the war in Flanders.
+
+13 See Letter 4.
+
+14 A Short Character of the Earl of Wharton (see Letter 10. note 29).
+
+15 See Letter 9.
+
+16 Henry Herbert, the last Baron Herbert of Cherbury, succeeded to the peerage
+in 1709, and soon afterwards married a sister of the Earl of Portsmouth.  A
+ruined man, he committed suicide in 1738.
+
+17 Nos. 257, 260.
+
+18 See Letter 6, note 12.
+
+19 "AFTER is interlined" (Deane Swift).
+
+20 With this account may be compared what Pope says, as recorded in Spence's
+Anecdotes, p. 223:  "Lord Peterborough could dictate letters to nine
+amanuenses together, as I was assured by a gentleman who saw him do it when
+Ambassador at Turin.  He walked round the room, and told each of them in his
+turn what he was to write.  One perhaps was a letter to the emperor, another
+to an old friend, a third to a mistress, a fourth to a statesman, and so on:
+yet he carried so many and so different connections in his head, all at the
+same time."
+
+21 Francis Atterbury, Dean of Carlisle, had taken an active part in the
+defence of Dr. Sacheverell.  After a long period of suspense he received the
+appointment of Dean of Christ Church, and in 1713 he was made Bishop of
+Rochester and Dean of Westminster.  Atterbury was on intimate terms with
+Swift, Pope, and other writers on the Tory side, and Addison--at whose funeral
+the Bishop officiated--described him as "one of the greatest geniuses of his
+age."
+
+22 John Carteret, second Baron Carteret, afterwards to be well known as a
+statesman, succeeded to the peerage in 1695, and became Earl Granville and
+Viscount Carteret on the death of his brother in 1744.  He died in 1763.  In
+October 1710, when twenty years of age, he had married Frances, only daughter
+of Sir Robert Worsley, Bart., of Appuldurcombe, Isle of Wight.
+
+23 Dillon Ashe, D.D., Vicar of Finglas, and brother of the Bishop of Clogher.
+In 1704 he was made Archdeacon of Clogher, and in 1706 Chancellor of Armagh.
+He seems to have been too fond of drink.
+
+24 Henley (see Letter 6, note 15) married Mary, daughter of Peregrine Bertie,
+the second son of Montagu, Earl of Lindsey, and with her obtained a fortune of
+30,000 pounds.  After Henley's death his widow married her relative, Henry
+Bertie, third son of James, Earl of Abingdon.
+
+25 Hebrews v. 6.
+
+
+
+Letter 13.
+
+1 Probably Mrs. Manley and John Barber (see Letter 11, note 28 and Letter 12,
+note 6).
+
+2 Sir Andrew Fountaine's (see Letter 5, note 28) father, Andrew Fountaine,
+M.P., married Sarah, daughter of Sir Thomas Chicheley, Master of the Ordnance.
+Sir Andrew's sister, Elizabeth, married Colonel Edward Clent.  The "scoundrel
+brother," Brig, died in 1746, aged sixty-four (Blomefield's Norfolk, vi. 233-
+36).
+
+3 Dame Overdo, the justice's wife in Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair.
+
+4 See Letter 3, note 5.
+
+5 Atterbury, who had recently been elected Prolocutor to the Lower House of
+Convocation.
+
+6 Dr. Sterne, Dean of St. Patrick's, was not married.
+
+7 January 6 was Twelfth-night.
+
+8 Garraway's Coffee-house, in Change Alley, was founded by Thomas Garway, the
+first coffee-man who sold and retailed tea.  A room upstairs was used for
+sales of wine "by the candle."
+
+9 Sir Constantine Phipps, who had taken an active part in Sacheverell's
+defence.  Phipps' interference in elections in the Tory interest made him very
+unpopular in Dublin, and he was recalled on the death of Queen Anne.
+
+10 Joseph Trapp, one of the seven poets alluded to in the distich:--
+     "Alma novem genuit celebres Rhedycina poetas,
+      Bubb, Stubb, Grubb, Crabb, Trapp, Young, Carey, Tickell, Evans."
+Trapp wrote a tragedy in 1704, and in 1708 was chosen the first Professor of
+Poetry at Oxford.  In 1710 he published pamphlets on behalf of Sacheverell,
+and in 1712 Swift secured for him the post of chaplain to Bolingbroke.  During
+his latter years he held several good livings.  Elsewhere Swift calls him a
+"coxcomb."
+
+11 See Letter 7, note 21.
+
+12 The extreme Tories, who afterwards formed the October Club.
+
+13 Crowd.  A Jacobean writer speaks of "the lurry of lawyers," and "a lurry
+and rabble of poor friars."
+
+14 See Letter 5, note 10.
+
+15 St. John's first wife was Frances, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Henry
+Winchcombe, Bart., of Berkshire, and in her right St. John enjoyed the estates
+of Bucklebury, which on her death in 1718 passed to her sister.  In April 1711
+Swift said that "poor Mrs. St. John" was growing a great favourite of his; she
+was going to Bath owing to ill-health, and begged him to take care of her
+husband.  She "said she had none to trust but me, and the poor creature's
+tears came fresh in her eyes."  Though the marriage was, naturally enough,
+unhappy, she did not leave St. John's house until 1713, and she returned to
+him when he fell from power.  There are letters from her to Swift as late as
+1716, not only doing her best to defend his honour, but speaking of him with
+tenderness.
+
+16 "Battoon" means (1) a truncheon; (2) a staff of office.  Luttrell, in 1704,
+speaks of "a battoon set with diamonds sent him from the French king."
+
+17 Edward Harley, second son of Sir Edward Harley, was M.P. for Leominster and
+Recorder of the same town.  In 1702 he was appointed Auditor of the Imposts, a
+post which he held until his death in 1735.  His wife, Sarah, daughter of
+Thomas Foley, was a sister of Robert Harley's wife, and his eldest son
+eventually became third Earl of Oxford.  Harley published several books on
+biblical subjects.
+
+18 See Letter 6, note 12.  The last number of Steele's Tatler appeared on Jan.
+2, 1711; Harrison's paper reached to fifty-two numbers.
+
+19 Dryden Leach (see Letter 7, note 22).
+
+20 Cf. Letter 7, October 28th.
+
+21 Published by John Baker and John Morphew.  See Aitken's Life of Steele, i.
+299-301.
+
+22 In No. 224 of the Tatler, Addison, speaking of polemical advertisements,
+says:  "The inventors of Strops for Razors have written against one another
+this way for several years, and that with great bitterness."  See also
+Spectator, Nos. 428, 509, and the Postman for March 23, 1703:  "The so much
+famed strops for setting razors, etc., are only to be had at Jacob's Coffee-
+house. . . .  Beware of counterfeits, for such are abroad."
+
+23 Sir John Holland (see Letter 3, note 28).
+
+24 Addison speaks of a fine flaxen long wig costing thirty guineas (Guardian,
+No. 97), and Duumvir's fair wig, which Phillis threw into the fire, cost forty
+guineas (Tatler, No. 54)
+
+25 Swift's mother, Abigail Erick, was of a Leicestershire family, and after
+her husband's death she spent much of her time with her friends near her old
+home.  Mr. Worrall, vicar of St. Patrick's, with whom Swift was on terms of
+intimacy in 1728-29, was evidently a relative of the Worralls where Mrs. Swift
+had lodged, and we may reasonably suppose that he owed the living to Swift's
+interest in the family.
+
+26 The title of a humorous poem by Lydgate.  A "lickpenny" is a greedy or
+grasping person.
+
+27 Small wooden blocks used for lighting fires.  See Swift ("Description of
+the Morning"),
+     "The small-coal man was heard with cadence deep,
+      Till drowned in shriller notes of chimney-sweep;" and Gay (Trivia, ii.
+35),
+     "When small-coal murmurs in the hoarser throat,
+      From smutty dangers guard thy threatened coat."
+
+28 The Tory Ministers.
+
+
+
+Letter 14.
+
+1 See Letter 7, note 22.
+
+2 Thomas Southerne's play of Oroonoko, based on Mrs. Aphra Behn's novel of the
+same name, was first acted in 1696.
+
+3 "Mrs." Cross created the part of Mrs. Clerimont in Steele's Tender Husband
+in 1705.
+
+4 See Letter 12, note 7.
+
+5 George Granville, afterwards Lord Lansdowne, was M.P. for Cornwall, and
+Secretary at War.  In December 1711 he was raised to the peerage, and in 1712
+was appointed Comptroller of the Household.  He died in 1735, when the title
+became extinct.  Granville wrote plays and poems, and was a patron of both
+Dryden and Pope.  Pope called him "Granville the polite."  His Works in Verse
+and Prose appeared in 1732.
+
+6 Samuel Masham, son of Sir Francis Masham, Bart., had been a page to the
+Queen while Princess of Denmark, and an equerry and gentleman of the bed-
+chamber to Prince George.  He married Abigail Hill (see Letter 16, note 7),
+daughter of Francis Hill, a Turkey merchant, and sister of General John Hill,
+and through that lady's influence with the Queen he was raised to the peerage
+as Baron Masham, in January 1712.  Under George I. he was Remembrancer of the
+Exchequer.  He died in 1758.
+
+7 A roughly printed pamphlet, The Honourable Descent, Life, and True Character
+of the . . . Earl of Wharton, appeared early in 1711, in reply to Swift's
+Short Character; but that can hardly be the pamphlet referred to here, because
+it is directed against libellers and backbiters, and cannot be described as
+"pretty civil."
+
+8 "In that word (the seven last words of the sentence huddled into one) there
+were some puzzling characters" (Deane Swift).
+
+9 Sir Robert Worsley, Bart., married, in 1690, Frances, only daughter of the
+first Viscount Weymouth.  Their daughter Frances married Lord Carteret (see
+Letter 12, note 22) in 1710.  In a letter to Colonel Hunter in March 1709
+Swift spoke of Lady (then Mrs.) Worsley as one of the principal beauties in
+town.  See, too, Swift's letter to her of April 19, 1730:  "My Lady Carteret
+has been the best queen we have known in Ireland these many years; yet is she
+mortally hated by all the young girls, because (and it is your fault) she is
+handsomer than all of them together."
+
+10 See Letter 3, note 1.
+
+11 See Letter 5, note 17.
+
+12 William Stratford, son of Nicholas Stratford, Bishop of Chester, was
+Archdeacon of Richmond and Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, until his death in
+1729.
+
+13 See Letter 3, note 22.
+
+14 James, third Earl of Berkeley (168O-1736), whom Swift calls a "young rake"
+(see Letter 16, note 15).  The young Countess of Berkeley was only sixteen on
+her marriage.  In 1714 she was appointed a lady of the bed-chamber to
+Caroline, Princess of Wales, and she died of smallpox in 1717, aged twenty-
+two.  The Earl was an Admiral, and saw much service between 1701 and 1710;
+under George I. he was First Lord of the Admiralty.
+
+15 Edward Wettenhall was Bishop of Kilmore from 1699 to 1713.
+
+16 In the Dedication to The Tale of a Tub Swift had addressed Somers in very
+different terms:  "There is no virtue, either in public or private life, which
+some circumstances of your own have not often produced upon the stage of the
+world."
+
+17 Their lodgings, opposite to St. Mary's Church in Stafford Street, Dublin.
+
+
+
+Letter 15.
+
+1 The Stamp Act was not passed until June 1712:  see the Journal for Aug. 7,
+1712.
+
+2 Both in St. James's Park.  The Canal was formed by Charles II. from several
+small ponds, and Rosamond's Pond was a sheet of water in the south-west corner
+of the Park, "long consecrated," as Warburton said, "to disastrous love and
+elegiac poetry."  It is often mentioned as a place of assignation in
+Restoration plays.  Evelyn (Diary, Dec. 1, 1662) describes the "scheets" used
+on the Canal.
+
+3 Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+4 The first direct mention of Hester Vanhomrigh.  She is referred to only in
+two other places in the Journal (Feb. 14, 1710-11, and Aug, 14, 1711).
+
+5 See Letter 3, note 17.
+
+6 No. 27, by Swift himself.
+
+7 No. 7 of Harrison's series.
+
+8 The printers of the original Tatler.
+
+9 Harley had forwarded to Swift a banknote for fifty pounds (see Journal,
+March 7, 1710-11).
+
+10 At Moor Park.
+
+11 Scott says that Swift here alludes to some unidentified pamphlet of which
+he was the real or supposed author.
+
+12 See Letter 11, note 13.
+
+13 The Examiner.
+
+14 See Letter 6, note 43.
+
+15 Mistaken.
+
+16 Mrs. De Caudres, "over against St.  Mary's Church, near Capel Street,"
+where Stella now lodged.
+
+17 "A crease in the sheet" (Deane Swift).
+
+18 "In the original it was, good mallows, little sollahs.  But in these words,
+and many others, he writes constantly ll for rr" (Deane Swift).
+
+19 See Letter 4, note 19.
+
+20 "Those letters which are in italics in the original are of a monstrous
+size, which occasioned his calling himself a loggerhead" (Deane Swift).
+[Italics replaced by capitals for the transcription of this etext.]
+
+21 I.e., to ask whether.
+
+
+
+Letter 16.
+
+1 Harcourt.
+
+2 "A shilling passes for thirteenpence in Ireland" (Deane Swift).
+
+3 Robert Cope, a gentleman of learning with whom Swift corresponded.
+
+4 Archdeacon Morris is not mentioned in Cotton's Fasti Ecclesiae Hiberniae.
+
+5 See Letter 14, note 6.
+
+6 See Letter 10, note 2.
+
+7 Abigail Hill, afterwards Lady Masham, had been introduced into the Queens
+service as bed-chamber woman by the Duchess of Marlborough.  Her High Church
+and Tory views recommended her to Queen Anne, and in 17O7 she was privately
+married to Mr. Samuel Masham, a gentleman in the service of Prince George (see
+Letter 14, note 6).  The Duchess of Marlborough discovered that Mrs. Masham's
+cousin, Harley, was using her influence to further his own interests with the
+Queen; and in spite of her violence the Duchess found herself gradually
+supplanted.  From 1710 Mrs. Masham's only rival in the royal favour was the
+Duchess of Somerset.  Afterwards she quarrelled with Harley and joined the
+Bolingbroke faction.
+
+8 See Letter 4, note 16.
+
+9 No. 14 of Harrison's series.
+
+10 See Letter 15, note 4.
+
+11 Richard Duke, a minor poet and friend of Dryden's, entered the Church about
+1685.  In July 1710 he was presented by the Bishop of Winchester to the living
+of Witney, Oxfordshire, which was worth 700 pounds a year.
+
+12 Sir Jonathan Trelawney, one of the seven bishops committed to the Tower in
+1688, was translated to Winchester in 17O7, when he appointed Duke to be his
+chaplain.
+
+13 See Letter 4, note 3.
+
+14 See Letter 3, note 39.
+
+15 See Letter 14, note 14.
+
+16 See Letter 7, note 28.
+
+17 Cf. Feb. 22, 1711.
+
+18 Esther Johnson lodged opposite St. Mary's in Dublin.
+
+19 This famous Tory club began with the meeting together of a few extreme
+Tories at the Bell in Westminster.  The password to the Club--"October"--was
+one easy of remembrance to a country gentleman who loved his ale.
+
+20 "Duke" Disney, "not an old man, but an old rake," died in 1731.  Gay calls
+him "facetious Disney," and Swift says that all the members of the Club "love
+him mightily."  Lady M. W. Montagu speaks of his
+     "Broad plump face, pert eyes, and ruddy skin,
+      Which showed the stupid joke which lurked within."
+Disney was a French Huguenot refugee, and his real name was Desaulnais.  He
+commanded an Irish regiment, and took part in General Hill's expedition to
+Canada in 1711 (Kingsford's Canada, ii. 465).  By his will (Wentworth papers,
+109) he "left nothing to his poor relations, but very handsome to his bottle
+companions."
+
+21 There were several Colonel Fieldings in the first half of the eighteenth
+century, and it is not clear which is the one referred to by Swift.  Possibly
+he was the Edmund Fielding--grandson of the first Earl of Denbigh--who died a
+Lieutenant-General in 1741, at the age of sixty-three, but is best known as
+the father of Henry Fielding, the novelist.
+
+22 Cf. Feb. 17, 1711.
+
+23 See Letter 3, note 37.
+
+24 "It is a measured mile round the outer wall; and far beyond any the finest
+square in London" (Deane Swift).
+
+25 "The common fare for a set-down in Dublin" (ib.).
+
+26 "Mrs. Stoyte lived at Donnybrook, the road to which from Stephen's Green
+ran into the country about a mile from the south-east corner" (ib.).
+
+27 "Those words in italics are written in a very large hand, and so is the
+word large" (ib.). [Italics replaced by capitals for the transcription of this
+etext.]
+
+28 Deane Swift alters "lele" to "there," but in a note states how he here
+altered Swift's "cypher way of writing."  No doubt "lele" and other favourite
+words occurred frequently in the MS., as they do in the later letters.
+
+
+
+Letter 17.
+
+1 Sir Thomas Mansel, Bart., Comptroller of the Household to Queen Anne, and a
+Lord of the Treasury, was raised to the peerage in December 1711 as Baron
+Mansel of Margam.  He died in 1723.
+
+2 Lady Betty Butler and Lady Betty Germaine (see Letter 3, note 40 and Letter
+4, note 3).
+
+3 James Eckershall, "second clerk of the Queen's Privy Kitchen."  Chamberlayne
+(Magnae Britanniae Notitia, 171O, p. 536) says that his wages were 11 pounds,
+8 shillings and a penny-ha'penny, and board-wages 138 pounds, 11 shillings and
+tenpence-ha'penny, making 150 pounds in all.  Afterwards Eckershall was
+gentleman usher to Queen Anne; he died at Drayton in 1753, aged seventy-four.
+Pope was in correspondence with him in 172O on the subject of contemplated
+speculations in South Sea and other stocks.
+
+4 In October 1710 (see Letter 6, note 44) Swift wrote as if he knew about the
+preparation of these Miscellanies.  The volume was published by Morphew
+instead of Tooke, and it is frequently referred to in the Journal.
+
+5 In 1685 the Duke of Ormond (see Letter 2, note 10) married, as his second
+wife, Lady Mary Somerset, eldest surviving daughter of Henry, first Duke of
+Beaufort.
+
+6 Arthur Moore, M.P., was a Commissioner of Trade and Plantations from 1710
+until his death in 1730.  Gay calls him "grave," and Pope ("Prologue to the
+Satires," 23) says that Moore blamed him for the way in which his "giddy son,"
+James Moore Smythe, neglected the law.
+
+7 James, Lord Paisley, who succeeded his father (see Letter 10, note 33) as
+seventh Earl of Abercorn in 1734, married, in 1711, Anne, eldest daughter of
+Colonel John Plumer, of Blakesware, Herts.
+
+8 Harley's ill-health was partly due to his drinking habits.
+
+9 Crowd or confusion.
+
+10 The first wife of Charles Seymour, sixth Duke of Somerset, was Lady
+Elizabeth Percy, only daughter of Joscelyn, eleventh Earl of Northumberland,
+and heiress of the house of Percy.  She married the Duke, her third husband,
+at the age of eighteen.
+
+11 John Richardson, D.D., rector of Armagh, Cavan, and afterwards chaplain to
+the Duke of Ormond.  In 1711 he published a Proposal for the Conversion of the
+Popish Natives of Ireland to the Established Religion, and in 1712 a Short
+History of the Attempts to Convert the Popish Natives of Ireland.  In 17O9 the
+Lower House of Convocation in Ireland had passed resolutions for printing the
+Bible and liturgy in Irish, providing Irish preachers, etc.  In 1711 Thomas
+Parnell, the poet, headed a deputation to the Queen on the subject, when an
+address was presented; but nothing came of the proposals, owing to fears that
+the English interest in Ireland might be injured.  In 1731 Richardson was
+given the small deanery of Kilmacluagh.
+
+12 See Feb. 27, 1711.
+
+13 Harley.
+
+14 "Bank bill for fifty pound," taking the alternate letters (see Letter 15,
+note 9).
+
+15 See Letter 5, note 17.
+
+16 See Nos. 27 and 29, by Swift himself.
+
+17 "Print cannot do justice to whims of this kind, as they depend wholly upon
+the awkward shape of the letters" (Deane Swift).
+
+18 See Letter 8, note 2.
+
+19 "Here is just one specimen given of his way of writing to Stella in these
+journals.  The reader, I hope, will excuse my omitting it in all other places
+where it occurs.  The meaning of this pretty language is:  'And you must cry
+There, and Here, and Here again.  Must you imitate Presto, pray?  Yes, and so
+you shall.  And so there's for your letter.  Good-morrow'" (Deane Swift).
+What Swift really wrote was probably as follows:  "Oo must cly Lele and Lele
+and Lele aden.  Must oo mimitate Pdfr, pay?  Iss, and so oo sall.  And so
+lele's fol oo rettle.  Dood-mallow."
+
+20 Lady Catherine Morice (died 1716) was the eldest daughter of Thomas
+Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and wife of Sir Nicholas Morice, Bart., M.P. for
+Newport.
+
+21 Perhaps Henry Arundell, who succeeded his father as fifth Baron Arundell of
+Wardour in 1712, and died in 1726.
+
+22 Antoine, Abbe de Bourlie and Marquis de Guiscard, was a cadet of a
+distinguished family of the south of France.  He joined the Church, but having
+been driven from France in consequence of his licentious excesses, he came to
+England, after many adventures in Europe, with a recommendation from the Duke
+of Savoy.  Godolphin gave him the command of a regiment of refugees, and
+employed him in projects for effecting a landing in France.  These schemes
+proving abortive, Guiscard's regiment was disbanded, and he was discharged
+with a pension of 500 pounds a year.  Soon after the Tories came to power
+Guiscard came to the conclusion that there was no hope of employment for him,
+and little chance of receiving his pension; and he began a treacherous
+correspondence with the French.  When this was detected he was brought before
+the Privy Council, and finding that everything was known, and wishing a better
+death than hanging, he stabbed Harley in the breast.  Mrs. Manley, under
+Swift's directions, wrote a Narrative of Guiscard's Examination, and the
+incident greatly added to the security of Harley's position, and to the
+strength of the Government.
+
+23 Harley's surgeon, Mr. Green.
+
+24 See Letter 9, note 20.
+
+25 Mrs. Walls' baby (see Feb 5, 1711).
+
+26 The phrase had its origin in the sharp practices in the horse and cattle
+markets.  Writing to Arbuthnot in 1727, Swift said that Gay "had made a pretty
+good bargain (that is a Smithfield) for a little place in the Custom House."
+
+27 "There."
+
+
+
+Letter 18.
+
+1 See Swift's paper in the Examiner, No. 32, and Mrs. Manley's pamphlet,
+already mentioned.
+
+2 Presumably Mrs. Johnson's palsy-water (see Letter 5, note 17).
+
+3 Thomas Wentworth, Baron Raby (1672-1739), was created Viscount Wentworth and
+Earl of Strafford in June 1711.  Lord Raby was Envoy and Ambassador at Berlin
+for some years, and was appointed Ambassador at the Hague in March 1711.  In
+November he was nominated as joint Plenipotentiary with the Bishop of Bristol
+to negotiate the terms of peace.  He objected to Prior as a colleague; Swift
+says he was "as proud as hell."  In 1715 it was proposed to impeach Strafford,
+but the proceedings were dropped.  In his later years he was, according to
+Lord Hervey, a loquacious and illiterate, but constant, speaker in the House
+of Lords.
+
+4 A beauty, to whom Swift addressed verses in 17O8.  During the frost of
+January 17O9 Swift wrote:  "Mrs. Floyd looked out with both her eyes, and we
+had one day's thaw; but she drew in her head, and it now freezes as hard as
+ever."  She was a great friend of Lady Betty Germaine's.
+
+5 Swift never had the smallpox.
+
+6 See Letter 12, note 22.
+
+7 Heart.
+
+8 The first number of the Spectator appeared on March 1, 1711.
+
+9 In one of his poems Swift speaks of Stella "sossing in an easy-chair."
+
+10 See Letter 4, note 20.
+
+11 "It is reasonable to suppose that Swift's acquaintance with Arbuthnot
+commenced just about this time; for in the original letter Swift misspells his
+name, and writes it Arthbuthnet, in a clear large hand, that MD might not
+mistake any of the letters" (Deane Swift).  Dr. John Arbuthnot had been made
+Physician in Ordinary to the Queen; he was one of Swift's dearest friends.
+
+12 Clobery Bromley, M.P. for Coventry, son of William Bromley, M.P. (see
+Letter 10, note 1), died on March 2O, 1711, and Boyer (Political State, i.
+255) says that the House, "out of respect to the father, and to give him time,
+both to perform the funeral rites and to indulge his just affliction,"
+adjourned until the 26th.
+
+13 See Letter 5, note 4.
+
+14 See Letter 17, note 11.
+
+15 Sir John Perceval, Bart. (died 1748), was created Baron Perceval 1715,
+Viscount Perceval 1722, and Earl of Egmont 1733, all in the Irish peerage.  He
+married, in 1710, Catherine, eldest daughter of Sir Philip Parker A'Morley,
+Bart., of Erwarton, Suffolk; and his son (born Feb. 27, 1710-11) was made
+Baron Perceval and Holland, in the English peerage, in 1762.
+
+16 This report was false.  The Old Pretender did not marry until 1718, when he
+was united to the Princess Clementina Maria, daughter of Prince James
+Sobieski.
+
+
+Letter 19.
+
+1 John Hartstonge, D.D. (died 1717), was Bishop of Ossory from 1693 to 1714,
+when he was translated to Derry.
+
+2 See Letter 15, note 16.
+
+3 Thomas Proby was Chirurgeon-General in Ireland from 1699 until his death in
+1761.  In his Short Character of Thomas, Earl of Wharton, Swift speaks of him
+as "a person universally esteemed," who had been badly treated by Lord
+Wharton.  In 1724 Proby's son, a captain in the army, was accused of popery,
+and Swift wrote to Lord Carteret that the charge was generally believed to be
+false:  "The father is the most universally beloved of any man I ever knew in
+his station. . . .  You cannot do any personal thing more acceptable to the
+people of Ireland than in inclining towards lenity to Mr. Proby and his
+family."  Proby was probably a near relative of Sir Thomas Proby, Bart., M.P.,
+of Elton, Hunts, at whose death in 1689 the baronetcy expired.  Mrs. Proby
+seems to have been a Miss Spencer.
+
+4 Meliora, daughter of Thomas Coningsby, Baron of Clanbrassil and Earl of
+Coningsby, and wife of Sir Thomas Southwell, afterwards Baron Southwell, one
+of the Commissioners of Revenue in Ireland, and a member of the Irish Privy
+Council.  Lady Southwell died in 1736.
+
+5 Lady Betty Rochfort was the daughter of Henry Moore, third Earl of Drogheda.
+Her husband, George Rochfort, M.P. for Westmeath, was son of Robert Rochfort,
+an Irish judge, and brother of Robert Rochford, M.P., to whose wife Swift
+addressed his Advice to a very Young Lady on her Marriage.  Lady Betty's son
+Robert was created Earl of Belvedere in 1757.
+
+6 See Letter 17, note 23.  Mr. Bussiere, of Suffolk Street, had been called in
+directly after the outrage, but Radcliffe would not consult him.
+
+7 The letter from Dr. King dated March 17, 1711, commenting on Guiscard's
+attack upon Harley.
+
+8 See Feb. 10, 1710-11.
+
+9 The word "trangram" or "tangram" ordinarily means a toy or gimcrack, or
+trumpery article.  Cf. Wycherley (Plain Dealer, iii. 1), "But go, thou
+trangram, and carry back those trangrams which thou hast stolen or purloined."
+Apparently "trangum" here means a tally.
+
+10 See Letter 12, note 2.
+
+11 Swift means Godolphin, the late Lord Treasurer.
+
+12 Sir John Holland (see Letter 3, note 28).
+
+13 "It caused a violent daub on the paper, which still continues much
+discoloured in the original"  (Deane Swift).
+
+14 "He forgot here to say, 'At night.'  See what goes before" (Deane Swift).
+
+15 See Letter 17, note 1.
+
+16 Irishman.  "Teague" was a term of contempt for an Irishman.
+
+17 To "Mr. Harley, wounded by Guiscard."  In this piece Prior said, "Britain
+with tears shall bathe thy glorious wound," a wound which could not have been
+inflicted by any but a stranger to our land.
+
+18 Sir Thomas Mansel married Martha, daughter and heiress of Francis
+Millington, a London merchant.
+
+19 Slatterning, consuming carelessly.
+
+20 "The candle grease mentioned before, which soaked through, deformed this
+part of the paper on the second page" (Deane Swift).
+
+21 Harcourt.
+
+22 William Rollinson, formerly a wine merchant, settled afterwards in
+Oxfordshire, where he died at a great age.  He was a friend of Pope,
+Bolingbroke, and Gay.
+
+23 In relation to the banknote (see Letter 17, note 14).
+
+24 "Swift was, at this time, their great support and champion" (Deane Swift).
+
+25 See Letter 14, note 15.
+
+26 See Letter 17, note 25.
+
+27 "Stella, with all her wit and good sense, spelled very ill; and Dr. Swift
+insisted greatly upon women spelling well" (Deane Swift).
+
+28 "The slope of the letters in the words THIS WAY, THIS WAY, is to the left
+hand, but the slope of the words THAT WAY, THAT WAY, is to the right hand"
+(Deane Swift).
+
+29 See Letter 17, note 24.
+
+30 See Letter 5, note 11 and Letter 10, note 28.
+
+
+
+Letter 20.
+
+1 By the Act 9 Anne, cap. 23, the number of hackney coaches was increased to
+800, and it was provided that they were to go a mile and a half for one
+shilling, two miles for one shilling and sixpence, and so on.
+
+2 See Letter 11, note 39.
+
+3 In a letter to Swift, of March 17, 1711, King said that it might have been
+thought that Guiscard's attack would have convinced the world that Harley was
+not in the French interest; but it did not have that effect with all, for some
+whispered the case of Fenius Rufus and Scevinus in the 15th book of Tacitus:
+"Accensis indicibus ad prodendum Fenium Rufum, quem eundem conscium et
+inquisitorem non tolerabant."  Next month Swift told King that it was reported
+that the Archbishop had applied this passage in a speech made to his clergy,
+and explained at some length the steps he had taken to prevent the story being
+published in the Postboy.  King thanked Swift for this action, explaining that
+he had been arguing on Harley's behalf when someone instanced the story of
+Rufus.
+
+4 A Tory paper, published thrice weekly by Abel Roper.
+
+5 Sir Charles Duncombe, banker, died on April 9, 1711.  The first wife of the
+Duke of Argyle (see Letter 11, note 57) was Duncombe's niece, Mary Browne,
+daughter of Ursula Duncombe and Thomas Browne, of St. Margaret's, Westminster.
+Duncombe was elected Lord Mayor in 1700, and was the richest commoner in
+England.
+
+6 The Rev. Dillon Ashe (see Letter 12, note 23).
+
+7 John, fourth Baron Poulett, was created Earl Poulett in 17O6, after serving
+as one of the Commissioners for the Treaty of Union with Scotland.  From
+August 1710 to May 1711 he was First Lord of the Treasury, and from June 1711
+to August 1714 he was Lord Steward of the Household.
+
+8 Lost or stupid person.
+
+9 Sir William Read, a quack who advertised largely in the Tatler and other
+papers.  He was satirised in No. 547 of the Spectator.  In 17O5 he was
+knighted for his services in curing many seamen and soldiers of blindness
+gratis, and he was appointed Oculist in Ordinary to the Queen.  Read died in
+1715, but his business was continued by his widow.
+
+10 General John Webb was not on good terms with Marlborough.  He was a Tory,
+and had gained distinction in the war at Wynendale (17O8), though the Duke's
+secretary gave the credit, in the despatch, to Cadogan.  There is a well-known
+account of Webb in Thackeray's Esmond.  He was severely wounded at Malplaquet
+in 17O9, and in 1710 was given the governorship of the Isle of Wight.  He died
+in 1724.
+
+11 Henry Campion, M.P. for Penryn, is mentioned in the Political State for
+February 1712 as one of the leading men of the October Club.  Campion seems to
+have been Member, not for Penryn, but for Bossiney.
+
+12 See Letter 3, note 32.
+
+13 Sir George Beaumont, Bart., M.P. for Leicester, and an acquaintance of
+Swift's mother, was made a Commissioner of the Privy Seal in 1712, and one of
+the Lords of the Admiralty in 1714.  He died in 1737.
+
+14 Heneage Finch, afterwards second Earl of Aylesford, was the son of Heneage
+Finch, the chief counsel for the seven bishops, who was created Baron Guernsey
+in 1703, and Earl of Aylesford in 1714.
+
+15 James, Lord Compton, afterwards fifth Earl of Northampton, was the eldest
+son of George, the fourth Earl.  He was summoned to the House of Lords in
+December 1711, and died in 1754.
+
+16 See Letter 11, note 12.
+
+
+
+Letter 21.
+
+1 In 1670 Temple thanked the Grand Duke of Tuscany for "an entire vintage of
+the finest wines of Italy" (Temple's Works, 1814, ii. 155-56).
+
+2 Mrs. Manley (see Letter 17, note 22).
+
+3 Charles Caesar, M.P. for Hertford, was appointed Treasurer of the Navy in
+June 1711, in the room of Robert Walpole.
+
+4 Joseph I.  His successor was his brother Charles, the King of Spain
+recognised by England.
+
+5 Simon Harcourt, M.P. for Wallingford.  He married Elizabeth, sister of Sir
+John Evelyn, Bart., and died in 1720, aged thirty-five, before his father.  He
+was secretary to the society of "Brothers," wrote verses, and was a friend of
+the poets.  His son Simon was created Earl Harcourt in 1749, and was Lord
+Lieutenant of Ireland.
+
+6 Doiley, a seventeenth-century linen-draper,--probably "Thomas Doyley, at the
+Nun, in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden,"--invented stuffs which "might at
+once be cheap and genteel" (Spectator, No. 283).
+
+7 A special envoy.  The Resident from Venice in 1710 was Signor Bianchi.
+
+8 See Letter 17, note 5.
+
+9 Nanfan Coote, second Earl of Bellamont, who died in 1708, married, in 1705,
+Lucia Anna, daughter of Henry de Nassau, Lord of Auverquerque, and sister of
+Henry, first Earl of Grantham.  She died in 1744.
+
+10 "Farnese" (Deane Swift).
+
+11 See Letter 20, note 3.
+
+12 Swift's changes of residence during the period covered by the Journal were
+numerous.  On Sept. 20, 1710, he moved from Pall Mall to Bury Street, "where I
+suppose I shall continue while in London."  But on Dec. 28 he went to new
+lodgings in St. Albans Street, Haymarket.  On April 26, 1711, he moved to
+Chelsea, and from there to Suffolk Street, to be near the Vanhomrighs.  He
+next moved to St. Martins Street, Leicester Fields; and a month later to
+Panton Street, Haymarket.  In 1712 he lodged for a time at Kensington Gravel
+Pits.
+
+13 At raffling for books.
+
+14 James Brydges, Paymaster-General, and afterwards Duke of Chandos (see
+Letter 3, note 31).
+
+15 Thomas Foley, M.P. for Worcestershire, was created Baron Foley in December
+1711, and died in 1733.
+
+16 See 25th April, 1711 and Letter 20, note 3.
+
+17 See Letter 19, note 3.
+
+18 Charles Dering, second son of Sir Edward Dering, Bart., M.P. for Kent, was
+Auditor of the Exchequer in Ireland, and M.P. for Carlingford.
+
+19 See Letter 11, note 44.
+
+20 See Letter 17, note 4.
+
+21 A Whig paper, for the most part by Mainwaring and Oldmixon, in opposition
+to the Examiner.  It appeared weekly from October 1710 to August 1711.
+
+22 See Letter 17, note 22.
+
+23 See Spectator, No. 50, by Addison.
+
+24 In all probability a mistake for "Wesley" (see Letter 1, note 12).
+
+
+
+Letter 22.
+
+1 Lord Paisley (see Letter 17, note 7).
+
+2 See Letter 11, note 5.
+
+3 Sir Hovenden Walker.  The "man midwife" was Sir Chamberlen Walker, his
+younger brother.  The "secret expedition" against Quebec conveyed upwards of
+5000 soldiers, under the command of General John Hill (see Letter 10, note 2),
+but owing to the want of due preparations and the severe weather encountered,
+the fleet was compelled to return to England without accomplishing anything.
+
+4 Robert Freind, elder brother of John Freind, M.D. (see Letter 9, note 1),
+became headmaster of Westminster School in 1711, and held the appointment
+until 1733.  He was Rector of Witney, and afterwards Canon of Windsor,
+Prebendary of Westminster, and Canon of Christ Church.  He died in 1751, aged
+eighty-four.
+
+5 Christopher Musgrave was Clerk of the Ordnance.
+
+6 Atterbury's wife, Katherine Osborn, has been described as "the inspiration
+of his youth and the solace of his riper years."
+
+7 The original Chelsea Bun House, in Jew's Row, was pulled down in 1839.  Sir
+R. Philips, writing in 1817, said, "Those buns have afforded a competency, and
+even wealth, to four generations of the same family; and it is singular that
+their delicate flavour, lightness, and richness have never been successfully
+imitated."
+
+8 See Letter 8, note 22.  King wrote to Swift (May 15, 1711), "The death of
+the Earl of Rochester is a great blow to all good men, and even his enemies
+cannot but do justice to his character.  What influence it will have on public
+affairs God only knows."
+
+9 See Letter 11, note 11.
+
+10 See Letter 17, note 6.
+
+11 See Letter 18, note 4.
+
+12 See Letter 20, note 13.
+
+13 Swift's curate at Laracor.
+
+14 Queen Anne was the last sovereign who exercised the supposed royal gift of
+healing by touch.  Dr. Johnson was touched by her, but without effect.
+
+15 Richard Thornhill was tried at the Old Bailey on May 18, 1711, for the
+murder of Sir Cholmley Dering, M.P. for Kent, and found guilty of manslaughter
+only; but he was shortly afterwards assassinated (see Journal for Aug. 21,
+1711; Spectator, No. 84).  The quarrel began on April 27, when they fell to
+blows, and Thornhill being knocked down, had some teeth struck out by Sir C.
+Dering stamping on him.  The spectators then interfered, and Dering expressed
+himself as ready to beg pardon; but Thornhill not thinking this was sufficient
+satisfaction, gave Dering the lie, and on May 9 sent him a challenge.
+
+16 Tothill Fields, Westminster, was a favourite place for duels in the
+seventeenth century.
+
+17 See Letter 13, note 17.
+
+18 Benjamin Burton, a Dublin banker, and brother-in-law of Swift's friend
+Stratford (see Letter 3, note 22).  Swift says he hated this "rogue."
+
+
+
+Letter 23.
+
+1 The day on which the Club met.  See letter from Swift to St. John, May 11,
+1711.
+
+2 Henry Barry, fourth Lord Barry of Santry (1680-1734), was an Irish Privy
+Councillor, and Governor of Derry.  In 1702 he married Bridget, daughter of
+Sir Thomas Domville, Bart., and in an undated letter (about 1735) to Lady
+Santry Swift spoke of his esteem for her, "although I had hardly the least
+acquaintance with your lord, nor was at all desirous to cultivate it, because
+I did not at all approve of his conduct."  Lord Santry's only son and heir,
+who was born in 1710, was condemned to death for the murder of a footman in
+1739, when the barony became extinct by forfeiture.  See B. W. Adams's History
+of Santry.
+
+3 Probably Captain Cammock, of the Speedwell, of 28 guns and 125 men
+(Luttrell, vi. 331), who met on July 13, 1708, off Scotland, two French
+privateers, one of 16, the other of 18 guns, and fought them several hours.
+The first privateer got off, much shattered; the other was brought into
+Carrickfergus.
+
+4 See Letter 7, note 21.
+
+5 See Letter 13, note 10.
+
+6 This valuable pamphlet is signed "J.G.," and is believed to be by John Gay.
+
+7 Edmund Curll's collection of Swift's Miscellanies, published in 1711, was an
+expansion of a pamphlet of 1710, "A Meditation upon a Broomstick, and somewhat
+beside, of the same Author's."
+
+8 "In this passage DD signifies both Dingley and Stella" (Deane Swift).
+
+9 Sir Henry Craik's reading.  The old editions have, "It  would do:  DD goes
+as well as Presto," which is obviously corrupt.
+
+10 Cf. Journal, June 17, 1712.
+
+11 Cf. "old doings" (see Letter 9, note 19.)
+
+12 See Letter 17, note 11.
+
+13 Rymer's Foedera, in three volumes, which Swift obtained for Trinity
+College, Dublin.
+
+14 See Letter 6, note 43 and 9th Feb. 1710-11.
+
+15 Stephen Colledge, "the Protestant joiner," was hanged in 1681.  He had
+published attacks on the Roman Catholics, and had advocated resistance to
+Charles II.
+
+16 See Letter 3, note 39.
+
+17 Mitford Crowe was appointed Governor of Barbados in 1706, and before his
+departure for that island went to Spain, "to settle the accounts of our army
+there, of which he is paymaster" (Luttrell, vi. 104).  In 1710 charges of
+bribery brought against him by merchants were inquired into by the Privy
+Council, but he seems to have cleared himself, for in June 1711 Swift speaks
+of him as Governor of Jamaica.  He died in 1719.
+
+18 See Letter 8, note 21.
+
+19 Swift's uncle Adam "lived and died in Ireland," and left no son.  Another
+daughter of his became Mrs. Whiteway.
+
+20 William Lowndes, M.P., secretary to the Treasury, whom Walpole called "as
+able and honest a servant as ever the Crown had."
+
+21 The Lord Treasurer's staff:  since the dismissal of Godolphin, the
+Treasurership had been held in commission.
+
+22 "As I hope to be saved."
+
+23 Stella's maid.
+
+24 See letter from King to Swift, May 15, 1711.  Alderman Constantine, a High
+Churchman, indignant at being passed over by a junior in the contest for the
+mayoralty, brought the matter before the Council Board, and produced an old
+by-law by which aldermen, according to their ancientry, were required to keep
+their mayoralty.  King took the side of the city, but the majority was for the
+by-law, and disapproved of the election; whereupon the citizens repealed the
+by-law and re-elected the same alderman as before.
+
+
+
+Letter 24.
+
+1 The Lord Treasurer's staff.
+
+2 Swift's "little parson cousin," the resident chaplain at Moor Park.  He
+pretended to have had some part in The Tale of a Tub, and Swift always
+professed great contempt for him.  Thomas Swift was son of an Oxford uncle of
+Swift's, of the same name, and was at school and college with Swift.  He
+became Rector of Puttenham, Surrey, and died in 1752, aged eighty-seven.
+
+3 The Duke of Ormond's daughter, Lady Mary Butler (see Letter 7, notes 2 and
+3.)
+
+4 Thomas Harley, the Lord Treasurer's cousin, was secretary to the Treasury.
+
+5 Lord Oxford's daughter Elizabeth married, in 1712, the Marquis of
+Caermarthen.
+
+6 Henry Tenison, M.P. for County Louth, was one of the Commissioners of the
+Revenue in Ireland from 1704 until his death in 1709 (Luttrell, v. 381, vi.
+523).  Probably he was related to Dr. Tenison, Bishop of Meath, who died in
+1705.
+
+7 Anne Finch (died 1720), daughter of Sir William Kingsmill, and wife of
+Heneage Finch, who became fourth Earl of Winchelsea in 1712.  Lady Winchelsea
+published a volume of poems in 1713, and was a friend of Pope and Rowe.
+Wordsworth recognised the advance in the growth of attention to "external
+nature" shown in her writings.
+
+8 See Letter 23, note 24 and Letter 30, note 13.
+
+9 This was a mistake.  Charles Hickman, D.D., Bishop of Derry, died in
+November 1713.
+
+10 "These words in italics are written in a large round hand" (Deane Swift).
+[Italics replaced by capitals for the transcription of this etext.]
+
+11 "This entry is interlined in the original" (Deane Swift).
+
+12 Colonel James Graham (1649-1730) held various offices under James II., and
+was granted a lease of a lodge in Bagshot Park.  Like his brother, Viscount
+Preston, he was suspected of treasonable practices in 1691, and he was
+arrested in 1692 and 1696.  Under Queen Anne and George I., Colonel Graham was
+M.P. for Appleby and Westmorland.
+
+13 Mr. Leslie Stephen has pointed out that this is the name of an inn (now the
+Jolly Farmer) near Frimley, on the hill between Bagshot and Farnborough.  This
+inn is still called the Golden Farmer on the Ordnance map.
+
+14 "Soley" is probably a misreading for "sollah," a form often used by Swift
+for "sirrah," and "figgarkick" may be "pilgarlick" (a poor creature) in
+Swift's "little language" (cf. 20th Oct. 1711).
+
+15 See Letter 14, note 14.
+
+16 Probably a misprint for "Bertie."  This Mr. Bertie may have been the Hon.
+James Bertie, second son of the first Earl of Abingdon, and M.P. for
+Middlesex.
+
+17 Evelyn Pierrepont, fifth Earl of Kingston, was made Marquis of Dorchester
+in 1706.  He became Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull in 1715, and died in 1726.
+Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was his daughter.
+
+18 See Letter 12, note 22.
+
+19 Sir Thomas Thynne, first Viscount Weymouth, who died in 1714, aged seventy-
+four, married Frances, daughter of Heneage Finch, second Earl of Winchelsea.
+
+20 See Letter 7, note 31.
+
+21 Swift is referring to St. John's defence of Brydges (see Letter 21, note
+14.)
+
+22 "He does not mean smoking, which he never practised, but snuffing up cut-
+and-dry tobacco, which sometimes was just coloured with Spanish snuff; and
+this he used all his life, but would not own that he took snuff" (Deane
+Swift).
+
+23 Beaumont (see Letter 1, note 2).
+
+24 Sir Alexander Cairnes, M.P. for Monaghan, a banker, was created a baronet
+in 1706, and died in 1732.
+
+25 See Letter 6, note 44 and Letter 17, note 4.
+
+26 Isaac Manley (see Letter 3, note 3.)
+
+27 Sir Thomas Frankland.
+
+28 See Letter 5, note 8.
+
+29 Hockley-in-the-Hole, Clerkenwell, a place of public diversion, was famous
+for its bear and bull baitings.
+
+30 Sir William Seymour, second son of Sir Edward Seymour, Bart., of Berry
+Pomeroy, retired from the army in 1717, and died in 1728 (Dalton's Army
+Lists).  He was wounded at Landen and Vigo, and saw much service between his
+appointment as a Captain of Fusiliers in 1686 and his promotion to the rank of
+Lieutenant-General in 1707.
+
+31 No. 45.
+
+32 "And now I conceive the main design I had in writing these papers is fully
+executed.  A great majority of the nation is at length thoroughly convinced
+that the Queen proceeded with the highest wisdom, in changing her Ministry and
+Parliament" (Examiner, No. 45).
+
+33 Edward Harley (see Letter 13, note 17).
+
+34 See Letter 24, note 2.
+
+35 Tom Ashe was an elder brother of the Bishop of Clogher.  He had an estate
+of more than 1000 pounds a year in County Meath, and Nichols describes him as
+of droll appearance, thick and short in person:  "a facetious, pleasant
+companion, but the most eternal unwearied punster that ever lived."
+
+36 "Even Joseph Beaumont, the son, was at this time an old man, whose grey
+locks were venerable; yet his father lived until about 1719" (Deane Swift).
+
+
+Letter 25.
+
+1 Sir William Wyndham, Bart. (1687-174O), was M.P. for Somerset.  He was a
+close partisan of Bolingbroke's, and in 1713 introduced the Schism Bill, which
+drove Oxford from office.  Wyndham became Chancellor of the Exchequer, and was
+afterwards a leading opponent of Walpole.  His wife, Lady Catherine Seymour
+(died 1713), was the second daughter of Charles, Duke of Somerset (see Letter
+28, note 8).
+
+2 Swift was afterwards President of this Club, which is better known as "the
+Society."
+
+3 Perhaps Daniel Reading, M.P. for Newcastle, Co. Dublin.
+
+4 Afterwards Congreve formed a friendship with the Whigs; or, as Swift put it,
+     "Took proper principles to thrive,
+      And so might every dunce alive."
+
+5 Atterbury.
+
+6 This pamphlet, published in February 1712, was called "A Proposal for
+Correcting, Improving, and Ascertaining the English Tongue, in a Letter to
+the. . .  Lord High Treasurer."
+
+7 No. 47
+
+8 Francis Gastrell, Canon of Christ Church, was made Bishop of Chester in
+1713.  His valuable Notitia Cestriensis was published in 1845-50.
+
+9 Near Fulham.
+
+10 See Letter 12, note 21.
+
+11 The daughters of Meinhardt Schomberg, Duke of Leinster, in Ireland, and
+third Duke of Schomberg.  Lady Mary married Count Dagenfeldt, and Lady
+Frederica married, first, the Earl of Holderness, and, secondly, Earl Fitz
+Walter.
+
+12 Thomas Harley.
+
+13 See Letter 19, note 3.
+
+
+
+Letter 26.
+
+1 The widow of Sir John Lyndon, who was appointed a justice of the Court of
+King's Bench in Ireland in 1682, and died in 1699.
+
+2 "Marmaduke Coghill, LL.D., was judge of the Prerogative Court in Ireland.
+About this time he courted a lady, and was soon to have been married to her;
+but unfortunately a cause was brought to trial before him, wherein a man was
+sued for beating his wife.  When the matter was agitated, the Doctor gave his
+opinion, 'That although a man had no right to beat his wife unmercifully, yet
+that, with such a little cane or switch as he then held in his hand, a husband
+was at liberty, and was invested with a power, to give his wife moderate
+correction'; which opinion determined the lady against having the Doctor.  He
+died an old man and a bachelor" (Deane Swift).  See also Lascelles, Liber
+Muner. Hibern., part ii. p. 80.
+
+3 This was a common exclamation of the time, but the spelling varies in
+different writers.  It seems to be a corruption of "God so," or "God ho," but
+there may have been a confusion with "cat-so," derived from the Italian
+"cazzo."
+
+4 See Letter 9, note 28.  Mrs. Manley was now editing the Examiner.
+
+5 Sir Henry Belasyse was sent to Spain as Commissioner to inquire into the
+state of the English forces in that country.  The son of Sir Richard Belasyse,
+Knight of Ludworth, Durham, Sir Henry finished a chequered career in 1717,
+when he was buried in Westminster Abbey (Dalton's Army Lists, ii. 228).  In
+his earlier years he served under the United Provinces, and after the
+accession of William was made a Brigadier-General in the English army, and in
+1694, Lieutenant-General.  In 1702 he was second in command of the expedition
+to Cadiz, but he was dismissed the service in consequence of the looting of
+Port St. Mary.  Subsequently he was elected M.P. for Durham, and in 1713 was
+appointed Governor of Berwick.
+
+6 Atterbury.
+
+7 See Letter 3, note 20.
+
+8 Sir John Powell, a Judge of the Queen's Bench, died in 1713, aged sixty-
+eight.  He was a kindly as well as able judge.
+
+9 See June 7th, 1711.
+
+10 This Tisdall has been described as a Dublin merchant; but in all
+probability he was Richard Tisdall, Registrar of the Irish Court of Chancery,
+and M.P. for Dundalk (1707-1713) and County Louth (1713-1727).  He married
+Marian, daughter of Richard Boyle, M.P., and died in 1742.  Richard Tisdall
+was a relative of Stella's suitor, the Rev. William Tisdall, and years
+afterwards Swift took an interest in his son Philip, who became a Secretary of
+State and Leader of the Irish House of Commons.
+
+11 "In Ireland there are not public paths from place to place, as in England"
+(Deane Swift).
+
+12 See Letter 24, note 6.
+
+13 Probably a son of John Manley, M.P.  (see Letter 5, note 8).
+
+14 See Letter 11, note 45.
+
+15 Dr. George Stanhope, who was Vicar of Lewisham as well as of Deptford.  He
+was a popular preacher and a translator of Thomas a Kempis and other religious
+writers.
+
+16 See Letter 3, note 17.
+
+17 A favourite word with Swift, when he wished to indicate anything obscure or
+humble.
+
+18 See Letter 17, note 11.
+
+19 See June 7th, 1711 and notes.
+
+20 See Letter 17, note 23.
+
+21 Thomas Mills (1671-174O) was made Bishop of Waterford and Lismore in 17O8.
+A man of learning and a liberal contributor to the cost of church
+restorations, he is charged by Archbishop King with giving all the valuable
+livings in his gift to his non-resident relatives.
+
+22 Tooke was appointed printer of the London Gazette in 1711 (see Letter 3,
+note 8).
+
+23 See Letter 5, note 10
+
+24 Lady Jane Hyde, the elder daughter of Henry Hyde, Earl of Rochester (see
+Letter 5, note 11), married William Capel, third Earl of Essex.  Her daughter
+Charlotte's husband, the son of the Earl of Jersey, was created Earl of
+Clarendon in 1776.  Lady Jane's younger sister, Catherine, who became the
+famous Duchess of Queensberry, Gay's patroness, is represented by Prior, in
+The Female Phaeton, as jealous, when a young girl, of her sister, "Lady
+Jenny," who went to balls, and "brought home hearts by dozens."
+
+25 See Letter 3, note 2.
+
+26 John Holles, Duke of Newcastle, had held the Privy Seal from 17O5, and was
+regarded by the Ministers as a possible plenipotentiary in the event of their
+negotiations for a peace being successful.  He married Lady Margaret
+Cavendish, daughter and co-heiress of Henry Cavendish, second Duke of
+Newcastle, and was one of the richest nobles in England.  His death, on July
+15, 1711, was the result of a fall while stag-hunting.  The Duke's only
+daughter married, in 1713, Edward, Lord Harley, the Earl of Oxford's son.
+
+
+
+Letter 27.
+
+1 Alexander Forbes, fourth Lord Forbes, who was afterwards attainted for his
+share in the Rebellion of 1745.
+
+2 Obscure (cf. Letter 7, note 30).
+
+3 Jacob Tonson the elder, who died in 1736, outlived his nephew, Jacob Tonson
+the younger, by a few months.  The elder Tonson, the secretary of the Kit-Cat
+Club, published many of Dryden's works, and the firm continued to be the chief
+publishers of the time during the greater part of the eighteenth century.
+
+4 John Barber.
+
+5 By his will Swift left to Deane Swift his "large silver standish, consisting
+of a large silver plate, an ink-pot, and a sand-box."
+
+6 I.e., we are only three hours in getting there.
+
+7 Cf. Letter 15, note 9.
+
+8 The Examiner was revived in December 1711, under Oldisworth's editorship,
+and was continued by him until 1714.
+
+9 James Douglas, fourth Duke of Hamilton, was created Duke of Brandon in the
+English peerage in September 1711, and was killed by Lord Mohun in a duel in
+1712.  Swift calls him "a worthy good-natured person, very generous, but of a
+middle understanding."  He married, in 1698, as his second wife, Elizabeth,
+daughter and heiress of Digby, Lord Gerard, a lady to whom Swift often refers
+in the Journal.  She outlived the Duke thirty-two years.
+
+10 See August 27th, 1711.
+
+11 William Fitzmaurice (see Letter 11, note 19).
+
+12 The Duke of Shrewsbury (see Letter 3, note 32) married an Italian lady,
+Adelhida, daughter of the Marquis of Paliotti, of Bologna, descended
+maternally from Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Queen Elizabeth's favourite.
+Lady Cowper (Diary, pp. 8, 9) says that the Duchess "had a wonderful art of
+entertaining and diverting people, though she would sometimes exceed the
+bounds of decency; . . . but then, with all her prate and noise, she was the
+most cunning, designing woman alive, obliging to people in prosperity, and a
+great party-woman."  As regards the name "Presto," see Letter 2, note 11.
+
+13 Probably a cousin.
+
+14 Presumptuous:  claiming much.
+
+15 See Letter 13, note 15.  John Winchcombe, a weaver of Newbury, marched with
+a hundred of his workmen, at his own expenses, against the Scots in 1513.
+
+16 Thomas Coke, M.P., of Derbyshire, was appointed a Teller of the Exchequer
+in 1704, and Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen in 1706.  In 1706 he married--as
+his second wife--Mrs. Hale, one of the maids of honour (Luttrell, v. 411, 423;
+vi. 113, 462; Lady Cowper's Diary, 15, 16), a lady whose "piercing" beauty it
+was, apparently, that Steele described under the name of Chloe, in No. 4 of
+the Tatler.  Jervas painted her as a country girl, "with a liveliness that
+shows she is conscious, but not affected, of her perfections."  Coke was the
+Sir Plume of Pope's Rape of the Lock.
+
+17 The committee of management of the Royal household.
+
+18 Francesca Margherita de l'Epine, the famous singer, and principal rival of
+Mrs. Tofts, came to England in 1692, and constantly sang in opera until her
+retirement in 1718, when she married Dr. Pepusch.  She died in 1746.  Her
+sister, Maria Gallia, also a singer, did not attain the same popularity.
+
+19 Charles Scarborow and Sir William Foster were the Clerks of the Board of
+Green Cloth.
+
+20 See Letter 27, note 16 on Thomas Coke.
+
+21 The Earl of Sunderland's second wife, Lady Anne Churchill, who died in
+1716, aged twenty-eight.  She was the favourite daughter of the Duke of
+Marlborough, and was called "the little Whig."  Verses were written in honour
+of her beauty and talent by Charles Montagu, Earl of Halifax, Dr. Watts and
+others, and her portrait was painted by Lely and Kneller.
+
+22 Mary, daughter of Sir William Forester, of Dothill, Shropshire.  In 1700,
+at the age of thirteen, she had been secretly married to her cousin, George
+Downing, a lad of fifteen.  Three years later, Downing, on his return from
+abroad, refused to acknowledge his wife, and in 1715 both parties petitioned
+the House of Lords for leave to bring in a Bill declaring the marriage to be
+void; but leave was refused (Lords' Journals, xx. 41, 45).  Downing had become
+Sir George Downing, Bart., in 1711, and had been elected M.P. for Dunwich; he
+died without issue in 1749, and was the founder of Downing College, Cambridge.
+
+23 In a discussion upon what would be the result if beards became the fashion,
+Budgell (Spectator, No. 331) says, "Besides, we are not certain that the
+ladies would not come into the mode, when they take the air on horseback.
+They already appear in hats and feathers, coats and periwigs."
+
+
+
+Letter 28.
+
+1 Horse-racing was much encouraged by Charles II., who, as Strutt tells us,
+appointed races to be made in Datchet Mead, when he was residing at Windsor.
+By Queen Anne's time horse-racing was becoming a regular institution:  see
+Spectator, No. 173.
+
+2 John Montagu, second Duke of Montagu, married Lady Mary Churchill, youngest
+daughter of the Duke of Marlborough.
+
+3 Of Clogher.
+
+4 John Adams, Prebendary of Canterbury and Canon of Windsor.  He was made
+Provost of King's College, Cambridge, in 1712, and died in 1720.
+
+5 The Hon. and Rev. George Verney, Canon of Windsor (died 1728), became fourth
+Lord Willoughby de Broke on the death of his father (Sir Richard Verney, the
+third Baron), in July 1711.  Lord Willoughby became Dean of Windsor in 1713.
+
+6 Thomas Hare, Under Secretary of State in Bolingbroke's office.
+
+7 Richard Sutton was the second son of Robert Sutton, the nephew of the Robert
+Sutton who was created Viscount Lexington by Charles I.  Sutton served under
+William III.  and Marlborough in Flanders, and was made a Brigadier-General in
+1710, in which year also he was elected M.P. for Newark.  In 1711 he was
+appointed Governor of Hull, and he died, a Lieutenant-General, in 1737
+(Dalton's Army Lists, iii. 153)
+
+8 Charles Seymour, sixth Duke of Somerset (1662-1748), known as "the proud
+Duke of Somerset."  Through the influence which his wife--afterwards Mistress
+of the Robes (see Letter 17, note 10)--had obtained over the Queen, he bore no
+small part in bringing about the changes of 1710.  His intrigues during this
+period were, however, mainly actuated by jealousy of Marlborough, and he had
+really no sympathies with the Tories.  His intrigues with the Whigs caused the
+utmost alarm to St. John and to Swift.
+
+9 The third and last reference to Vanessa in the Journal.
+
+10 "Pray God preserve her life, which is of great importance" (Swift to
+Archbishop King, Aug. 15, 1711).  St. John was at this moment very anxious to
+conciliate Mrs. Masham, as he felt that she was the only person capable of
+counteracting the intrigues of the Duchess of Somerset with the Queen.
+
+11 Pontack, of Abchurch Lane, son of Arnaud de Pontac, President of the
+Parliament of Bordeaux, was proprietor of the most fashionable eating-house in
+London.  There the Royal Society met annually at dinner until 1746.  Several
+writers speak of the dinners at a guinea a head and upwards served at
+Pontack's, and Swift comments on the price of the wine.
+
+12 "His name was Read" (Scott).
+
+13 Up to the end of 1709 the warrants for the payment of the works at Blenheim
+had been regularly issued by Godolphin and paid at the Treasury; over 200,000
+pounds was expended in this manner.  But after the dismissal of the Whigs the
+Queen drew tight the purse-strings.  The 20,000 pounds mentioned by Swift was
+paid in 1711, but on June 1, 1712, Anne gave positive orders that nothing
+further should be allowed for Blenheim, though 12,000 pounds remained due to
+the contractors.
+
+14 The piercing of the lines before Bouchain, which Villars had declared to be
+the non plus ultra of the Allies, one of the most striking proofs of
+Marlborough's military genius.
+
+15 See Letter 22, note 15.
+
+16 A fashionable gaming-house in St. James's Street.
+
+17 See Letter 6, note 15.  The Grange, near Alresford, Hampshire, was Henley's
+seat.  His wife (see Letter 12, note 24) was the daughter of Peregrine Bertie,
+son of Montagu Bertie, second Earl of Lindsey; and Earl Poulett (see Letter
+20, note 7) married Bridget, an elder daughter of Bertie's.
+
+18 William Henry Hyde, Earl of Danby, grandson of the first Duke of Leeds (see
+Letter 8, note 22), and eldest son of Peregrine Osborne, Baron Osborne and
+Viscount Dunblane, who succeeded to the dukedom in 1712.  Owing to this young
+man's death (at the age of twenty-one), his brother, Peregrine Hyde, Marquis
+of Caermarthen, who married Harley's daughter Elizabeth, afterwards became
+third Duke of Leeds.
+
+19 See Letter 8, note 2.
+
+20 See Letter 3, note 7.
+
+21 William Gregg was a clerk in Harley's office when the latter was Secretary
+of State under the Whig Administration.  In 1707-8 he was in treasonable
+correspondence with M. de Chamillart, the French Secretary of State.  When he
+was detected he was tried for high treason, and hanged on April 28.  The Lords
+who examined Gregg did their utmost to establish Harley's complicity, which
+Gregg, however, with his dying breath solemnly denied.
+
+22 By Swift himself.  The title was, Some Remarks upon a Pamphlet entitled, A
+Letter to the Seven Lords of the Committee appointed to examine Gregg.
+
+23 See Letter 13, note 10.  There is no copy in the British Museum.
+
+24 Thomas Parnell, the poet, married, in 1706, Anne, daughter of Thomas
+Minchin, of Tipperary.  In 1711 Parnell was thirty-two years of age, and was
+Archdeacon of Clogher and Vicar of Clontibret.  Swift took much trouble to
+obtain for Parnell the friendship of Bolingbroke and other persons of note,
+and Parnell became a member of the Scriblerus Club.  In 1716 he was made Vicar
+of Finglas, and after his death in 1718 Pope prepared an edition of his poems.
+The fits of depression to which Parnell was liable became more marked after
+his wife's death, and he seems to have to some extent given way to drink.  His
+sincerity and charm of manner made him welcome with men of both parties.
+
+25 Dr. Henry Compton had been Bishop of London since 1675.  He was dangerously
+ill early in 1711, but he lived until 1713, when he was eighty-one.
+
+26 See Letter 26, note 10.
+
+27 See Letter 7, note 21.
+
+28 L'Estrange speaks of "a whiffling fop" and Swift says, "Every whiffler in a
+laced coat, who frequents the chocolate-house, shall talk of the
+Constitution."
+
+29 Prior's first visit to France with a view to the secret negotiations with
+that country which the Ministers were now bent on carrying through, had been
+made in July, when he and Gaultier reached Calais in a fishing-boat and
+proceeded to Fontainbleau under assumed names.  He returned to England in
+August, but was recognised at Dover, whence the news spread all over London,
+to the great annoyance of the Ministers.  The officer who recognised Prior was
+John Macky, reputed author of those Characters upon which Swift wrote
+comments.  Formerly a secret service agent under William III., Macky had been
+given the direction of the Ostend mail packets by Marlborough, to whom he
+communicated the news of Prior's journey.  Bolingbroke threatened to hang
+Macky, and he was thrown into prison; but the accession of George I.  again
+brought him favour and employment.
+
+30 See Letter 12, note 7.
+
+
+
+Letter 29.
+
+1 See Letter 3, note 4.
+
+2 See Letter 6, note 4.
+
+3 Edward Villiers (1656-1711), created Viscount Villiers in 1691, was made
+Earl of Jersey in 1697.  Under William III. he was Lord Chamberlain and
+Secretary of State, but he was dismissed from office in 1704.  When he died he
+had been nominated as a plenipotentiary at the Congress of Utrecht, and was
+about to receive the appointment of Lord Privy Seal.  Lord Jersey married, in
+1681, when she was eighteen, Barbara, daughter of William Chiffinch, closet-
+keeper to Charles II.; she died in 1735.
+
+4 Lord Paisley was the Earl of Abercorn's eldest surviving son (see Letter 17,
+note 7).
+
+5 The Hon. John Hamilton, the Earl's second surviving son, died in 1714.
+
+6 Dr. John Robinson (1650-1723) had gone out as chaplain to the Embassy at the
+Court of Sweden in 1682, and had returned in 1708 with the double reputation
+of being a thorough Churchman and a sound diplomatist.  He was soon made Dean
+of Windsor, and afterwards Bishop of Bristol.  He was now introduced to the
+Council Board, and it was made known to those in the confidence of Ministers
+that he would be one of the English plenipotentiaries at the coming Peace
+Congress.  In 1713 Dr. Robinson was made Bishop of London.
+
+7 John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675-1732), who was attainted for his part in the
+Rebellion of 1715.  His first wife, Lady Margaret Hay, was a daughter of Lord
+Kinnoull.
+
+8 Thomas Hay, sixth Earl of Kinnoull (died 1719), a Commissioner for the
+Treaty of Union between England and Scotland, and one of the Scotch
+representative peers in the first Parliament of Great Britain.  His son and
+heir, Viscount Dupplin, afterwards Baron Hay (see Letter 5, note 34), who
+married Harley's daughter Abigail, is often mentioned in the Journal.
+
+9 See Letter 3, note 5.
+
+10 The title of the pamphlet was, "A New Journey to Paris, together with some
+Secret Transactions between the French King and an English Gentleman.  By the
+Sieur du Baudrier.  Translated from the French."
+
+11 See Letter 11, note 44.
+
+12 See Letter 28, note 6.
+
+13 The Earl of Strafford (see Letter 18, note 3) married, on Sept. 6, 1711,
+Anne, only daughter and heiress of Sir Henry Johnson, of Bradenham,
+Buckinghamshire, a wealthy shipbuilder.  Many of Lady Strafford's letters to
+her husband are given in the Wentworth Papers, 1883.
+
+14 Samuel Pratt, who was also Clerk of the Closet.
+
+15 Alice Hill, woman of the bed-chamber to the Queen, died in 1762.
+
+16 Enniscorthy, the name of a town in the county of Wexford.
+
+17 Scrambling.
+
+18 "These words in italics are written in strange, misshapen letters,
+inclining to the right hand, in imitation of Stella's writing" (Deane Swift).
+[Italics replaced by capitals for the transcription of this etext.]
+
+19 Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin.
+
+20 John Pooley, appointed Bishop of Raphoe in 1702.
+
+21 "These words in italics are miserably scrawled, in imitation of Stella's
+hand (Deane Swift).  [Italics replaced by capitals for the transcription of
+this etext.]
+
+22 See Letter 8, note 2.
+
+
+
+Letter 30.
+
+1 See Letter 25, note 1.
+
+2 See Letter 9, note 22.
+
+3 See Letter 29, note 10.
+
+4 Cf. the entry on the 11th (note 3 above).
+
+5 See Letter 6, note 4.
+
+6 William, Lord Villiers, second Earl of Jersey (died 1721), a strong
+Jacobite, had been M.P. for Kent before his father's death.  He married, in
+1704, Judith, only daughter of a City merchant, Frederick Herne, son of Sir
+Nathaniel Herne, Alderman; she died in 1735.  Lord Jersey, one of "the
+prettiest young peers in England," was a companion of Bolingbroke, and stories
+in the Wentworth Papers (pp. 149, 230, 395, 445), show that he had a bad
+reputation.
+
+7 See Letter 28, note 4.
+
+8 The name of Arbuthnot's wife is not known:  she died in 1730.
+
+9 James Lovet, one of the "Yeomen Porters" at Court.
+
+10 Richard Jones, Earl of Ranelagh, who died without male issue in January
+1712.  Writing to Archbishop King on Jan. 8, Swift said, "Lord Ranelagh died
+on Sunday morning; he was very poor and needy, and could hardly support
+himself for want of a pension which used to be paid him."
+
+11 Arabella Churchill, maid of honour to the Duchess of York, and mistress of
+James II., afterwards married Colonel Charles Godfrey, Clerk Comptroller of
+the Green Cloth and Master of the Jewel Office.  Her second son by James II.
+was created Duke of Albemarle.
+
+12 See Letter 28, note 4.
+
+13 The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of Dublin, elected in August 1711, "not being
+approved of by the Government, the City was obliged to proceed to another
+election, which occasioned a great ferment among the vulgar sort" (Boyer,
+Political State, 1711, p. 500).  After two other persons had been elected and
+disapproved of, Alderman Gore was elected Lord Mayor, and approved (ib. pp.
+612-17).
+
+14 "These words in italics are written enormously large" (Deane Swift).
+[Italics replaced by capitals for the transcription of this etext.]
+
+15 See Letter 3, note 39.
+
+16 Henry Lowman, First Clerk of the Kitchen.
+
+17 "The Doctor was always a bad reckoner, either of money or anything else;
+and this is one of his rapid computations.  For, as Stella was seven days in
+journey, although Dr. Swift says only six, she might well have spent four days
+at Inish-Corthy, and two nights at Mrs. Proby's mother's, the distance from
+Wexford to Dublin being but two easy days' journey" (Deane Swift).
+
+18 Mrs. Fenton.
+
+
+
+Letter 31.
+
+1 See Letter 10, note 31.
+
+2 Charles Paulet, second Duke of Bolton, was appointed Lord Lieutenant of
+Ireland in 1717, and died in 1722.  In a note on Macky's character of the
+Duke, Swift calls him "a great booby"; and Lady Cowper (Diary, p. 154) says
+that he was generally to be seen with his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
+
+3 Stella's maid.
+
+4 See Letter 12, note 7.
+
+5 Colonel Fielding (see Letter 16, note 21).
+
+6 The envoys were Menager and the Abbe du Bois; the priest was the Abbe
+Gaultier.
+
+7 See Letter 18, note 3.
+
+8 Sir Theophilus Oglethorpe, General, who died in 1702, married Eleanor,
+daughter of Richard Wall, of Rogane, Tipperary.  She died in 1732, and Swift
+described her as so "cunning a devil that she had great influence as a
+reconciler of the differences at Court."  One of her sons was General James
+Oglethorpe, the philanthropist, and friend of Dr. Johnson.
+
+9 "Worrit," trouble, tease.
+
+10 Sir John Walter, Bart. (died 1722), was M.P. for the city of Oxford.  He
+and Charles Godfrey (see Letter 30, note 11) were the Clerks Comptrollers of
+the Green Cloth.
+
+11 See Letter 17, note 3.
+
+12 No doubt one of the daughters of Mervyn Tuchet, fourth Earl of Castlehaven,
+who died in 1686.
+
+13 Henrietta Maria, daughter of Charles Scarborow (see Letter 27, note 19).
+She married, in 1712, Sir Robert Jenkinson, Bart., M.P. for Oxfordshire, who
+died without issue in 1717.  See Wentworth Papers, 244.
+
+14 In July 1712 a Commission passed empowering Conyers Darcy and George
+Fielding (an equerry to the Queen) to execute the office of Master of the
+Horse.
+
+15 At Killibride, about four miles from Trim.
+
+16 Swift's "mistress," Lady Hyde (see Letter 5, note 11), whose husband had
+become Earl of Rochester in May 1711.  She was forty-one in 1711.
+
+17 See Sept. 19, 1711.
+
+18 See Letter 29, note 14.
+
+19 See Letter 22, note 3.
+
+20 See Letter 27, note 9.
+
+21 See Letter 26, note 10.
+
+22 "This happens to be the only single line written upon the margin of any of
+his journals.  By some accident there was a margin about as broad as the back
+of a razor, and therefore he made this use of it" (Deane Swift).
+
+
+
+Letter 32.
+
+1 Lieutenant-Colonel Barton, of Colonel Kane's regiment.
+
+2 A nickname for the High Church party.
+
+3 See Letter 29, note 10.
+
+4 "From this pleasantry of my Lord Oxford, the appellative Martinus Scriblerus
+took its rise" (Deane Swift).
+
+5 Cf. the Imitation of the Sixth Satire of the Second Book of Horace, 1714,
+where Swift says that, during their drives together, Harley would
+          "gravely try to read the lines
+      Writ underneath the country signs."
+
+6 See Letter 23, note 15.
+
+7 See Letter 18, note 4.
+
+8 See Letter 23, note 17.
+
+9 Lord Pembroke (see Letter 7, note 31) married, in 1708, as his second wife,
+Barbara, Dowager Baroness Arundell of Trerice, formerly widow of Sir Richard
+Mauleverer, and daughter of Sir Thomas Slingsby.  She died in 1722.
+
+10 Caleb Coatesworth, who died in 1741, leaving a large fortune.
+
+11 Abel Boyer, Whig journalist and historian, attacked Swift in his pamphlet,
+An Account of the State and Progress of the Present Negotiations for Peace.
+Boyer says that he was released from custody by Harley; and in the Political
+State for 1711 (p. 646) he speaks of Swift as "a shameless and most
+contemptible ecclesiastical turncoat, whose tongue is as swift to revile as
+his mind is swift to change."  The Postboy said that Boyer would "be
+prosecuted with the utmost severity of the law" for this attack.
+
+12 The "Edgar."  Four hundred men were killed.
+
+13 William Bretton, or Britton, was made Lieutenant-Colonel in 1702, Colonel
+of a new Regiment of Foot 1705, Brigadier-General 1710, and Colonel of the
+King's Own Borderers in April 1711 (Dalton, Army Lists, iii. 238).  In
+December 1711 he was appointed Envoy Extraordinary to the King of Prussia
+(Postboy, Jan. 1, 1712), and he died in December 1714 or January 1715.
+
+14 See Letter 24, note 14.
+
+15 It is not clear which of several Lady Gores is here referred to.  It may be
+(1) the wife of Sir William Gore, Bart., of Manor Gore, and Custos Rotulorum,
+County Leitrim, who married Hannah, eldest daughter and co-heir of James
+Hamilton, Esq., son of Sir Frederick Hamilton, and niece of Gustavus Hamilton,
+created Viscount Boyne.  She died 1733.  Or (2) the wife of Sir Ralph Gore,
+Bart. (died 1732), M.P. for County Donegal, and afterwards Speaker of the
+Irish House of Commons.  He married Miss Colville, daughter of Sir Robert
+Colville, of Newtown, Leitrim, and, as his second wife, Elizabeth, only
+daughter of Dr. Ashe, Bishop of Clogher.  Or (3) the wife of Sir Arthur Gore,
+Bart. (died 1727), of Newtown Gore, Mayo, who married Eleanor, daughter of Sir
+George St. George, Bart., of Carrick, Leitrim, and was ancestor of the Earls
+of Arran.
+
+16 "Modern usage has sanctioned Stella's spelling" (Scott).  Swift's spelling
+was "wast."
+
+17 Mrs. Manley.
+
+18 Swift's own lines, "Mrs. Frances Harris's Petition."
+
+19 Thomas Coote was a justice of the Court of Queen's Bench, in Ireland, from
+1692 until his removal in 1715.
+
+20 Probably a relative of Robert Echlin, Dean of Tuam, who was killed by some
+of his own servants in April 1712, at the age of seventy-three.  His son John
+became Prebendary and Vicar-General of Tuam, and died in 1764, aged eighty-
+three.  In August 1731 Bolingbroke sent Swift a letter by the hands of "Mr.
+Echlin," who would, he said, tell Swift of the general state of things in
+England.
+
+21 "This column of words, as they are corrected, is in Stella's hand" (Deane
+Swift).
+
+
+
+Letter 33.
+
+1 Swift's verses, "The Description of a Salamander," are a scurrilous attack
+on John, Lord Cutts (died 1707), who was famous for his bravery.  Joanna
+Cutts, the sister who complained of Swift's abuse, died unmarried.
+
+2 See Letter 6, note 5.
+
+3 Fourteen printers or publishers were arrested, under warrants signed by St.
+John, for publishing pamphlets directed against the Government.  They appeared
+at the Court of Queens Bench on Oct. 23, and were continued on their own
+recognisances till the end of the term.
+
+4 Robert Benson (see Letter 6, note 36).
+
+5 "The South Sea Whim," printed in Scott's Swift, ii. 398.
+
+6 See Letter 21, Apr. 24, 1711, Letter 22, Apr. 28, 1711, and Letter 34, 17
+Nov. 1711.
+
+7 Count Gallas was dismissed with a message that he might depart from the
+kingdom when he thought fit.  He published the preliminaries of peace in the
+Daily Courant.
+
+8 William, second Viscount Hatton, who died without issue in 1760.  His half-
+sister Anne married Daniel Finch, second Earl of Nottingham, and Lord Hatton
+was therefore uncle to his fellow-guest, Mr. Finch.
+
+9 Crinkle or contract.  Gay writes:  "Showers soon drench the camblet's
+cockled grain."
+
+10 The Countess of Jersey (see Letter 30, note 6), like her husband, was a
+friend of Bolingbroke's.  Lady Strafford speaks of her having lately (November
+1711) "been in pickle for her sins," at which she was not surprised.  Before
+the Earl succeeded to the title, Lady Wentworth wrote to her son:  "It's said
+Lord Villors Lady was worth fower scoar thoussand pd; you might have got her,
+as wel as Lord Villors. . . .  He [Lord Jersey) has not don well by his son,
+the young lady is not yoused well as I hear amongst them, which in my openion
+is not well."  Wentworth Papers (pp. 214, 234).
+
+11 Cf. Letter 9, Nov. 11, 1710, and Letter 9, note 3.
+
+12 Charles Crow, appointed Bishop of Cloyne in 1702.
+
+13 Swift.
+
+14 Mrs. Manley.
+
+15 The titles of these pamphlets are as follows:  (1) A True Narrative of . .
+. the Examination of the Marquis de Guiscard; (2) Some Remarks upon a Pamphlet
+entitled, A Letter to the Seven Lords; (3) A New Journey to Paris; (4) The
+Duke of Marlborough's Vindication; (5) A Learned Comment on Dr. Hare's Sermon.
+
+16 See the pun this day above.
+
+
+
+Letter 34.
+
+1 See Letter 3, note 17.
+
+2 See Letter 11, note 44.
+
+3 Pratt (see Letter 2, note 14).
+
+4 Stella and Dingley.
+
+5 "Noah's Dove, an Exhortation to Peace, set forth in a Sermon preached on the
+Seventh of November, 1710, a Thanksgiving Day, by Thomas Swift, A.M., formerly
+Chaplain to Sir William Temple, now Rector of Puttenham in Surrey."  Thomas
+Swift was Swift's "little parson cousin" (see Letter 24, note 2).
+
+6 See Letter 6, note 11.  The book referred to is, apparently, An Impartial
+Enquiry into the Management of the War in Spain, post-dated 1712.
+
+7 Lord Harley (afterwards second Earl of Oxford) (see Letter 5, note 35)
+married, on Oct. 31, 1713, Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles, only daughter of
+John Holles, last Duke of Newcastle of that family (see Letter 26, note 26).
+
+8 Bolingbroke afterwards said that the great aim (at length accomplished) of
+Harley's administration was to marry his son to this young lady.  Swift wrote
+a poetical address to Lord Harley on his marriage.
+
+9 Thomas Pelham, first Baron Pelham, married, as his second wife, Lady Grace
+Holles, daughter of the Earl of Clare and sister of the Duke of Newcastle.
+Their eldest son, Thomas, who succeeded to the barony in 1712, was afterwards
+created Earl of Clare and Duke of Newcastle,
+
+10 Francis Higgins, Rector of Baldruddery, called "the Sacheverell of
+Ireland," was an extreme High Churchman, who had been charged with sedition on
+account of sermons preached in London in 1707.  In 1711 he was again
+prosecuted as "a disloyal subject and disturber of the public peace."  At that
+time he was Prebendary of Christ Church, Dublin; in 1725 he was made
+Archdeacon of Cashel.
+
+11 Swift's pamphlet, The Conduct of the Allies.
+
+12 Lord Oxford's daughter Abigail married, in 1709, Viscount Dupplin,
+afterwards seventh Earl of Kinnoull (see Letter 5, note 34).  She died in
+1750, and her husband in 1758, when the eldest son, Thomas, became Earl.  The
+second son, Robert, was made Archbishop of York in 1761.
+
+13 Kensington Gravel Pits was then a famous health resort.
+
+14 Draggled.  Pope has, "A puppy, daggled through the town."
+
+15 Writing of Peperharrow, Manning and Bray state (Surrey, ii. 32, 47) that
+Oxenford Grange was conveyed to Philip Froud (died 1736) in 1700, and was sold
+by him in 1713 to Alan Broderick, afterwards Viscount Midleton.  This Froud
+(Swift's "old Frowde") had been Deputy Postmaster-General; he was son of Sir
+Philip Frowde, who was knighted in 1665 (Le Neve's Knights, Harleian Society,
+p. 190), and his son Philip was Addison's friend (see Letter 8, note 13).
+
+16 Probably the Charles Child, Esq., of Farnham, whose death is recorded in
+the Gentleman's Magazine for 1754.
+
+17 Grace Spencer was probably Mrs. Proby's sister (see Letter 19, note 3).
+
+18 Cf. Shakespeare, As You Like It, v. 3:  "Shall we clap into 't roundly,
+without hawking or spitting, which are the only prologues to a bad voice?"
+
+19 In the "Verses on his own Death," 1731, Swift says
+
+     "When daily howd'y's come of course,
+      And servants answer, 'Worse and worse!'"
+
+Cf. Steele (Tatler, No. 109),
+
+"After so many howdies, you proceed to visit or not, as you like the run of
+each other's reputation or fortune,"
+
+and (Spectator, No. 143),
+
+     "the howd'ye servants of our women."
+
+
+
+Letter 35.
+
+1 See Letter 31, note 8.
+
+2 See Letter 14, note 9.
+
+3 The Tories alleged that the Duke of Marlborough, the Duke of Montagu,
+Steele, etc., were to take part in the procession (cf. Spectator, No. 269).
+Swift admits that the images seized were worth less than 40 pounds, and not
+1000 pounds, as he had said, and that the Devil was not like Harley; yet he
+employed someone to write a lying pamphlet, A True Relation of the Several
+Facts and Circumstances of the Intended Riot and Tumult, etc.
+
+4 A brother of Jemmy Leigh (see Letter 2, note 16), and one of Stella's card-
+playing acquaintances.
+
+5 Of The Conduct of the Allies (see Letter 34, Nov. 10, 1711, and Letter 35,
+Nov. 24, 1711).
+
+6 Sir Thomas Hanmer (see Letter 9, note 13) married, in 1698, Isabella, widow
+of the first Duke of Grafton, and only daughter and heiress of Henry, Earl of
+Arlington.  She died in 1723.
+
+7 James, Duke of Hamilton (see Letter 27, note 9), married, in 1698, as his
+second wife, Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of Digby, Lord Gerard.  She
+died in 1744.
+
+8 The Conduct of the Allies.
+
+9 See Letter 25, note 6.
+
+10 Sir Matthew Dudley (see Letter 3, note 2) married Lady Mary O'Bryen,
+youngest daughter of Henry, Earl of Thomond.
+
+11 See Letter 31, note 10.
+
+12 Sir John St. Leger (died 1743) was M.P. for Doneraile and a Baron of the
+Exchequer in Ireland from 1714 to 1741.  His elder brother, Arthur, was
+created Viscount Doneraile in 1703.
+
+13 "Relation of the Facts and Circumstances of the Intended Riot on Queen
+Elizabeth's Birthday."
+
+14 The Conduct of the Allies.
+
+15 See Letter 9, note 18.
+
+16 The first motto was "Partem tibi Gallia nostri eripuit," etc.  (Horace, 2
+Od. 17-24).
+
+17 See Plautus's Amphitrus, or Dryden's Amphitryon.
+
+18 It is not known whether or no this was Dr. William Savage, Master of
+Emmanuel College, Cambridge.  No copy of the sermon--if it was printed--has
+been found.  See Courtenay's Memoirs of Sir William Temple.
+
+19 Of The Conduct of the Allies, a pamphlet which had a very wide circulation.
+See a paper by Edward Solly in the Antiquarian Magazine, March 1885.
+
+20 Allen Bathurst, M.P. (1684-1775), created Baron Bathurst in December 1711,
+and Earl Bathurst in 1772.  His second and eldest surviving son was appointed
+Lord Chancellor in the year preceding the father's death.  Writing to her son
+in January 1711 (Wentworth Papers, 173), Lady Wentworth said of Bathurst, "He
+is, next to you, the finest gentleman and the best young man I know; I love
+him dearly."
+
+21 See Letter 9, note 17.
+
+22 See Letter 16, note 20.
+
+23 Swift is alluding to the quarrel between Lord Santry (see Letter 23, note
+2) and Francis Higgins (see Letter 34, note 10), which led to Higgins's
+prosecution.  The matter is described at length in Boyer s Political State,
+1711, pp. 617 seq.
+
+24 See Letter 19, note 1.
+
+25 No doubt the same as Colonel Newburgh (see Journal, March 5, 1711-12).
+
+26 Beaumont (see Letter 1, note 2 and Letter 26, Jul. 6, 1711).
+
+27 See Letter 31, note 1.
+
+28 Cf. Letter 15, Feb. 9, 1710-11.
+
+29 See Letter 35, note 3.
+
+
+
+Letter 36.
+
+1 See Letter 34, note 15.  Debtors could not be arrested on Sunday.
+
+2 Sir George Pretyman, Bart., dissipated the fortune of the family.  The title
+became dormant in 1749.
+
+3 See the Introduction.
+
+4 For the Whites of Farnham, see Manning and Bray's Surrey, iii. 177.
+
+5 The Conduct of the Allies.
+
+6 The Percevals were among Swift's principal friends in the neighbourhood of
+Laracor.  In a letter to John Temple in 1706 (Forster's Life of Swift, 182)
+Swift alludes to Perceval; in spite of different views in politics, "I always
+loved him," says Swift, "very well as a man of very good understanding and
+humour."  Perceval was related to Sir John Perceval, afterwards Earl of Egmont
+(see Letter 18, note 15).
+
+7 See Letter 1, note 12.
+
+8 See Letter 8, note 14.
+
+9 The Examiner was resumed on Dec. 6, 1711, under Oldisworth's editorship, and
+was continued by him until July 1714.
+
+10 Daniel Finch, second Earl of Nottingham, a staunch Tory, had quarrelled
+with the Government and the Court.  On Dec. 7, 1711, he carried, by six votes,
+an amendment to the Address, to the effect that no peace would be acceptable
+which left Spain in the possession of the House of Bourbon.  Harley's counter-
+stroke was the creation of twelve new peers.  The Whigs rewarded Nottingham by
+withdrawing their opposition to the Occasional Conformity Bill:
+
+11 This "Song" begins:
+
+     "An orator dismal of Nottinghamshire,
+      Who had forty years let out his conscience for hire."
+
+12 The Conduct of the Allies.
+
+13 Robert Bertie, Lord Willoughby de Eresby, and fourth Earl of Lindsey, was
+created Marquis of Lindsay in 1706, and Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven in 1715.
+He died in 1723.
+
+14 Lady Sunderland (see Letter 27, note 21) and Lady Rialton, ladies of the
+bed-chamber to the Queen.
+
+15 Hugh Cholmondeley (died 1724), the second Viscount, was created Viscount
+Malpas and Earl of Cholmondeley in 1706, and in 1708 was appointed Treasurer
+of Her Majesty's Household, an office which he held until 1713, in spite of
+his Whig sympathies.  "Good for nothing, so far as ever I knew," Swift wrote
+of him.
+
+16 Prov. xxv. 3.
+
+17 See Letter 31, note 8.
+
+18 Thomas Parker, afterwards created Earl of Macclesfield, was appointed Lord
+Chief-Justice in March 1710.  In September 1711 he declined Harley's offer of
+the Lord Chancellorship, a post which he accepted under a Whig Government in
+the next reign.
+
+19 The Bill against Occasional Conformity.
+
+
+
+Letter 37.
+
+1 The proposed visit to London of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the renowned
+General, and friend of Marlborough, was viewed by the Government with
+considerable alarm.
+
+2 Swift's "An excellent new Song; being the intended Speech of a famous orator
+against Peace," a ballad "two degrees above Grub Street" (see Letter 36, note
+11).
+
+3 Robert Walpole was then M.P. for King's Lynn, and Leader of the Opposition
+in the House of Commons.  He had been Secretary at War from February 1708 to
+September 1710, and the Commissioners of Public Accounts having reported, on
+Dec. 21, 1711, that he had been guilty of venality and corruption, he was
+expelled from the House of Commons, and taken to the Tower.
+
+4 William King, D.C.L., author of the Journey to London in 1698, Dialogues of
+the Dead, The Art of Cookery, and other amusing works, was, at the end of the
+month, appointed Gazetteer, in succession to Steele, on Swift's
+recommendation.  Writing earlier in the year, Gay said that King deserved
+better than to "languish out the small remainder of his life in the Fleet
+Prison."  The duties of Gazetteer were too much for his easy-going nature and
+failing health, and he resigned the post in July 1712.  He died in the
+following December.
+
+5 At the bottom of St. James's Street, on the west side.
+
+6 The Rev. John Shower, pastor of the Presbyterian Congregation at Curriers'
+Hall, London Wall.
+
+7 The Windsor Prophecy, in which the Duchess of Somerset (see Letter 17, note
+10) is attacked as "Carrots from Northumberland."
+
+8 Merlin's Prophecy, 1709, written in pseudo-mediaeval English.
+
+9 See Letter 3, note 18.
+
+10 Dorothy, daughter of Sir Edward Leach, of Shipley, Derbyshire.
+
+11 Sir James Long, Bart. (died 1729), was at this time M.P. for Chippenham.
+
+12 The number containing this paragraph is not in the British Museum.
+
+13 Joseph Beaumont (see Letter 1, note 2, Letter 26, Jul. 6, 1711 and Letter
+35, note 26)
+
+14 See Letter 4, note 13.
+
+15 Apparently a misprint for "whether."
+
+16 See Letter 32, note 19.
+
+17 James Compton, afterwards fifth Earl of Northampton (died 1754), was
+summoned to the House of Lords as Baron Compton in December 1711.  Charles
+Bruce, who succeeded his father as third Earl of Aylesbury in 1741, was
+created Lord Bruce, of Whorlton, at the same time.
+
+18 James, Lord Compton, eldest son of the Earl of Northampton; Charles, Lord
+Bruce, eldest son of the Earl of Aylesbury; Henry Paget, son of Lord Paget;
+George Hay, Viscount Dupplin, the son-in-law of the Lord Treasurer, created
+Baron Hay; Viscount Windsor, created Baron Montjoy; Sir Thomas Mansel, Baron
+Mansel; Sir Thomas Willoughby, Baron Middleton; Sir Thomas Trevor, Baron
+Trevor; George Granville, Baron Lansdowne; Samuel Masham, Baron Masham; Thomas
+Foley, Baron Foley; and Allen Bathurst, Baron Bathurst.
+
+
+
+Letter 38.
+
+1 Juliana, widow of the second Earl of Burlington, and daughter of the Hon.
+Henry Noel, was Mistress of the Robes to Queen Anne.  She died in 1750, aged
+seventy-eight.
+
+2 Thomas Windsor, Viscount Windsor (died 1738), an Irish peer, who had served
+under William III. in Flanders, was created Baron Montjoy, of the Isle of
+Wight, in December 1711.  He married Charlotte, widow of John, Baron Jeffries,
+of Wem, and daughter of Philip Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.
+
+3 The Hon. Russell Robartes, brother of Lord Radnor (see Letter 3, note 7),
+was Teller of the Exchequer, and M.P. for Bodmin.  His son became third Earl
+of Radnor in 1723.
+
+4 Gay (Trivia, ii. 92) speaks of "the slabby pavement."
+
+5 See Letter 17, note 1.
+
+6 George Granville (see Letter 14, note 5), now Baron Lansdowne, married Lady
+Mary Thynne, widow of Thomas Thynne, and daughter of Edward, Earl of Jersey
+(see Letter 29, note 3).  In October 1710 Lady Wentworth wrote to her son,
+"Pray, my dear, why will you let Lady Mary Thynne go?  She is young, rich, and
+not unhandsome, some say she is pretty; and a virtuous lady, and of the
+nobility, and why will you not try to get her?"  (Wentworth papers, 149).
+
+7 See Letter 24, note 4.
+
+8 Harness.
+
+9 On his birthday Swift read the third chapter of Job.
+
+10 See Letter 33, note 12.
+
+11 Sir George St. George of Dunmore, Co. Galway, M.P. for Co. Leitrim from
+1661 to 1692, and afterwards for Co. Galway, died in December 1711.
+
+12 See Letter 35, note 11 and Letter 31, note 10.
+
+13 See Letter 4, note 16.
+
+14 Dr. Pratt (see Letter 2, note 14).
+
+15 King Henry VIII., act iv. sc. 2; "An old man broken with the storms," etc.
+
+16 "These words in the manuscript imitate Stella's writing, and are sloped the
+wrong way" (Deane Swift),
+
+17 Archibald Douglas, third Marquis of Douglas, was created Duke of Douglas in
+1703.  He died, without issue, in 1761.
+
+18 Arbuthnot and Freind.
+
+
+
+Letter 39.
+
+1 Sir Stephen Evance, goldsmith, was knighted in 1690.
+
+2 Because of the refusal of the House of Lords to allow the Duke of Hamilton
+(see Letter 27, note 9), a Scottish peer who had been raised to the peerage of
+Great Britain as Duke of Brandon, to sit under that title.  The Scottish peers
+discontinued their attendance at the House until the resolution was partially
+amended; and the Duke of Hamilton always sat as a representative Scottish
+peer.
+
+3 Sir William Robinson (1655-1736), created a baronet in 1689, was M.P. for
+York from 1697 to 1722.  His descendants include the late Earl De Grey and the
+Marquis of Ripon.
+
+4 See Letter 16, note 19.  The full title was, Some Advice humbly offered to
+the Members of the October Club, in a Letter from a Person of Honour.
+
+5 See Letter 38, note 11.
+
+6 "It is the last of the page, and written close to the edge of the paper"
+(Deane Swift).
+
+7 Henry Somerset, second Duke of Beaufort.  In September 1711 the Duke--who
+was then only twenty-seven--married, as his third wife, Mary, youngest
+daughter of the Duke of Leeds.  In the following January Lady Strafford wrote,
+"The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort are the fondest of one another in the world;
+I fear 'tis too hot to hold. . . .  I own I fancy people may love one another
+as well without making so great a rout"  (Wentworth Papers, 256).  The Duke
+died in 1714, at the age of thirty.
+
+8 "Upon the 10th and 17th of this month the Examiner was very severe upon the
+Duke of Marlborough, and in consequence of this report pursued him with
+greater virulence in the following course of his papers" (Deane Swift).
+
+9 A term of execration.  Scott (Kenilworth) has, "A pize on it."
+
+10 See Letter 11, note 13.
+
+11 In a letter to Swift of Jan. 31, 1712, Sacheverell, after expressing his
+indebtedness to St. John and Harley, said, "For yourself, good Doctor, who was
+the first spring to move it, I can never sufficiently acknowledge the
+obligation," and in a postscript he hinted that a place in the Custom House
+which he heard was vacant might suit his brother.
+
+12 Thomas Yalden, D.D., (1671-1736), Addison's college friend, succeeded
+Atterbury as preacher of Bridewell Hospital in 1713.  In 1723 he was arrested
+on suspicion of being involved in the Atterbury plot.
+
+13 Tablets.
+
+14 Sir Solomon de Medina, a Jew, was knighted in 1700.
+
+15 Davenant had been said to be the writer of papers which Swift contributed
+to the Examiner.
+
+16 Henry Withers, a friend of "Duke" Disney (see Letter 16, note 20), was
+appointed Lieutenant-General in 1707, and Major-General in 1712.  On his death
+in 1729 he was buried in Westminster Abbey.
+
+17 See Letter 36, note 18.
+
+18 Dyer's News Letter, the favourite reading of Sir Roger de Coverley
+(Spectator, No. 127), was the work of John Dyer, a Jacobite journalist.  In
+the Tatler (No. 18) Addison says that Dyer was "justly looked upon by all the
+fox-hunters in the nation as the greatest statesman our country has produced."
+Lord Chief-Justice Holt referred to the News Letter as "a little scandalous
+paper of a scandalous author" (Howell's State Trials, xiv. 1150).
+
+
+Letter 40.
+
+1 Dr. John Sharp, made Archbishop of York in 1691, was called by Swift "the
+harmless tool of others' hate."  Swift believed that Sharp, owing to his
+dislike of The Tale of a Tub, assisted in preventing the bishopric of Hereford
+being offered to him.  Sharp was an excellent preacher, with a taste for both
+poetry and science.
+
+2 An edition of the Countess d'Aulnoy's Les Contes des Fees appeared in 1710,
+in four volumes.
+
+3 Francis Godolphin, Viscount Rialton, the eldest son of Sidney, Earl of
+Godolphin, succeeded his father as second Earl on Sept. 15, 1712.  He held 3
+various offices, including that of Lord Privy Seal (1735-1740), and died in
+1766, aged eighty-eight.  He married, in 1698, Lady Henrietta Churchill, who
+afterwards was Duchess of Marlborough in her own right.  She died in 1733.
+
+4 See Letter 26, note 24.  Ladies of the bed-chamber received 1000 pounds a
+year.
+
+5 William O'Brien, third Earl of Inchiquin, succeeded his father in 1691, and
+died in 1719.
+
+6 Lady Catherine Hyde was an unmarried daughter of Laurence Hyde, first Earl
+of Rochester (see Letter 8, note 22).  Notwithstanding Swift's express
+statement that the lady to whom he here refers was the late Earl's daughter,
+and the allusion to her sister, Lady Dalkeith, in Letter 60, note 26, she has
+been confused by previous editors with her niece, Lady Catherine Hyde (see
+Letter 26, note 24), daughter of the second Earl, and afterwards Duchess of
+Queensberry.  That lady, not long afterwards to be celebrated by Prior, was a
+child under twelve when Swift wrote.
+
+7 Sir John Trevor (1637-1717), formerly Speaker of the House of Commons.
+
+8 See Letter 11, note 44.
+
+9 See Letter 34, note 10.
+
+10 See Letter 23, note 2.
+
+11 Charles Trimnel, made Bishop of Norwich in 1708, and Bishop of Winchester
+in 1721, was strongly opposed to High Church doctrines.
+
+12 Jibe or jest.
+
+13 See Letter 22, note 4.
+
+14 The treaty concluded with Holland in 1711.
+
+15 Feb. 2 is the Purification of the Virgin Mary.
+
+16 See Letter 29, note 7.
+
+17 See Letter 11, note 53.
+
+18 Lady Mary Butler (see Letter 7, note 2 and Letter 3, note 40), daughter of
+the Duke of Ormond, who married, in 1710, John, third Lord Ashburnham,
+afterwards Earl of Ashburnham.
+
+19 See Letter 2, note 5.
+
+20 See Letter 36, note 14.
+
+21 Scroop Egerton, fifth Earl and first Duke of Bridgewater, married, in 1703,
+Lady Elizabeth Churchill, third daughter of the Duke of Marlborough.  She died
+in 1714, aged twenty-six.
+
+22 See Letter 30, note 6.
+
+23 Heart.
+
+24 Edward Fowler, D.D., appointed Bishop of Gloucester in 1691, died in 1714.
+
+25 Isaac Manley (see Letter 3, note 3).
+
+
+
+Letter 41.
+
+1 This letter, the first of the series published by Hawkesworth, of which we
+have the originals (see Preface), was addressed "To Mrs. Johnson at her
+Lodgings over against St. Mary's Church, near Capell Street, Dublin, Ireland";
+and was endorsed by her "Recd. Mar. 1st."
+
+2 See Letter 10, note 28.
+
+3 See Letter 12, note 22.
+
+4 See Letter 23, note 2.
+
+5 Charles Ross, son of the eleventh Baron Ross, was Colonel of the Royal Irish
+Dragoons from 1695 to 1705.  He was a Lieutenant-General under the Duke of
+Ormond in Flanders, and died in 1732 (Dalton, ii. 212, iii. 34).
+
+6 Charles Paulet, Marquis of Winchester, succeeded his father (see Letter 31,
+note 2) as third Duke of Bolton in 1722.  He married, as his second wife,
+Lavinia Fenton, the actress who took the part of Polly Peacham in Gay's
+Beggars Opera in 1728, and he died in 1754.
+
+7 John Blith, or Bligh, son of the Right Hon. Thomas Bligh, M.P. of Rathmore,
+Co. Meath (see Letter 4, note 22).  In August 1713 he married Lady Theodosia
+Hyde, daughter of Edward, third Earl of Clarendon.  Lord Berkeley of Stratton
+wrote, "Lady Theodosia Hyde. . .  is married to an Irish Mr. Blythe, of a good
+estate, who will soon have enough of her, if I can give any guess" (Wentworth
+Papers, 353).  In 1715 Bligh was made Baron Clifton, of Rathmore, and Earl of
+Darnley in 1725.  He died in 1728.
+
+8 Obliterated.
+
+9 Word obliterated; probably "found."  Forster reads "oors, dee MD."
+
+10 Words obliterated.
+
+11 See Letter 31, note 1 and Letter 10, note 31.
+
+12 See Letter 20, Apr. 13-14, 1711 and Letter 9, note 20.
+
+13 Words obliterated.  Forster reads "fourth.  Euge, euge, euge."
+
+14 Words obliterated; one illegible.
+
+15 See Letter 2, note 14.
+
+16 See Letter 1, note 12.
+
+17 Service.
+
+18 "Aplon"--if this is the right word--means, of course, apron--the apron
+referred to on Letter 39, Jan. 25, 1711-12.
+
+19 Words obliterated.
+
+20 As the son of a "brother" of the Club.
+
+21 The Archbishop, Dr. King.
+
+22 See Tacitus, Annals, book ii.  Cn. Calpurnius Piso, who was said to have
+poisoned Germanicus, was found with his throat cut.
+
+23 This satire on Marlborough concludes--
+     "And Midas now neglected stands,
+      With asses' ears and dirty hands."
+
+24 Dr. Robinson, Bishop of Bristol.
+
+25 Some Remarks on the Barrier Treaty.
+
+26 Several words are obliterated.  Forster reads "MD MD, for we must always
+write to MD MD MD, awake or asleep;" but the passage is illegible.
+
+27 See Letter 11, note 39 and Letter 61, note 5.
+
+28 A long erasure.  Forster reads "Go to bed.  Help pdfr.  Rove pdfr.  MD MD.
+Nite darling rogues."
+
+29 Word obliterated.  Forster reads "saucy."
+
+30 Letter from.
+
+31 Words partially obliterated.
+
+32 Swift wrote by mistake, "On Europe Britain's safety lies"; the slip was
+pointed out by Hawkesworth.  All the verse is written in the MSS. as prose.
+
+33 "Them" (MS.).
+
+34 See Wyons Queen Anne, ii. 366-7.
+
+35 A Proposal for Correcting, Improving, and Ascertaining the English Tongue,
+in a Letter to the Most Honourable Robert, Earl of Oxford, 1712.
+
+36 "Help him to draw up the representation" (omitting every other letter).
+
+37 See Letter 23, note 13.
+
+38 Robert Benson.
+
+39 The Story of the St. Albans Ghost, 1712.
+
+40 "Usually" (MS.).
+
+41 These words are partially obliterated.
+
+42 This sentence is obliterated.  Forster reads, "Farewell, mine deelest rife
+deelest char Ppt, MD MD MD Ppt, FW, Lele MD, ME ME ME ME aden FW MD Lazy ones
+Lele Lele all a Lele."
+
+
+
+Letter 42.
+
+1 Endorsed by Stella "Recd. Mar. 19."
+
+2 "Would" (MS.).
+
+3 Conversation.
+
+4 John Guillim's Display of Heraldrie appeared first in 1610.  The edition to
+which Swift refers was probably that of 1679, which is wrongly described as
+the "fifth edition," instead of the seventh.
+
+5 "One of the horses here mentioned may have been the celebrated Godolphin
+Arabian from whom descends all the blue blood of the racecourse, and who was
+the grandfather of Eclipse" (Larwood's Story of the London Parks, 99).
+
+6 See Letter 36, note 6.
+
+7 Dorothea, daughter of James Stopford, of New Hall, County Meath, and sister
+of Lady Newtown-Butler, was the second wife of Edward, fourth Earl of Meath,
+who died without issue in 1707.  She afterwards married General Richard Gorges
+(see Journal, April 5, 1713), of Kilbrue, County Meath, and Swift wrote an
+epitaph on them--"Doll and Dickey."
+
+8 Here follow some obliterated words.
+
+9 Barber (see Letter 12, note 6).
+
+10 "The editors supposed Zinkerman (which they printed in capitals) to mean
+some outlandish or foreign distinction; but it is the little language for
+'gentleman'" (Forster).
+
+11 The Hon. Charles Butler, second son of Thomas, Earl of Ossory, eldest son
+of James, Duke of Ormond, was elevated to the peerage of Ireland in 1693 as
+Earl of Arran, and was also created a peer of England, as Baron Butler.  He
+held various offices under William III. and Queen Anne, and died without issue
+in 1759.
+
+12 "They" (MS.).
+
+13 See Letter 31, Jan. 12, 1711-12 and Letter 3, note 22.
+
+14 See Letter 11, note 13.
+
+15 Sir William Wyndham, Bart., of Orchard Wyndham, married Lady Catherine
+Seymour, daughter of the sixth Duke of Somerset (see Letter 25, note 1).
+Their eldest son, Charles, succeeded his uncle, the Duke of Somerset, as Earl
+of Egremont; and the second son, Percy, was afterwards created Earl of
+Thomond.  The Wyndhams' house was in Albemarle Street; the loss was over
+20,000 pounds; but they were "much more concerned for their servants than for
+all the other losses" (Wentworth Papers, 274).  The Duke of Ormond "worked as
+hard as any of the ordinary men, and gave many guineas about to encourage the
+men to work hard."  The Queen gave the Wyndhams temporary lodgings in "St.
+James's house."
+
+16 See Letter 3, note 31.
+
+17 What.
+
+18 Devil's.
+
+19 "To" (MS.).
+
+20 See Letter 35, note 25.
+
+21 See Letter 41, note 34.
+
+22 See Letter 12, Jan. 1, 1710-11.
+
+23 Peregrine Hyde Osborne, Earl of Danby, afterwards Marquis of Caermarthen
+and third Duke of Leeds (see Letter 56, note 6).  His sister Mary was married
+to the Duke of Beaufort (see Letter 39, note 7).
+
+24 See Letter 9, note 17.
+
+25 Several undecipherable words.  Forster reads, "Pidy Pdfr, deelest Sollahs."
+
+26 "K" (MS.).  It should, of course, be "Queen's."
+
+27 See Letter 22, note 18.
+
+
+
+Letter 43.
+
+1 Addressed "To Mrs. Johnson, at her lodgings over against St. Mary's Church,
+near Capel Street, Dublin, Ireland."  Endorsed "Mar. 30."
+
+2 See Letter 9, note 1.
+
+3 The Mohocks succeeded the Scowrers of William III.'s reign.  Gay (Trivia,
+iii. 325) says
+     "Who has not heard the Scowrers' midnight fame?
+      Who has not trembled at the Mohocks' name?"
+Lady Wentworth (Wentworth Papers, 277) says:  "They put an old woman into a
+hogshead, and rolled her down a hill; they cut off some noses, others' hands,
+and several barbarous tricks, without any provocation.  They are said to be
+young gentlemen; they never take any money from any."  See also the Spectator,
+Nos. 324, 332, and 347 (where Budgell alludes to "the late panic fear"), and
+Defoe's Review for March 15, 1712.  Swift was in considerable alarm about the
+Mohocks throughout March, and said that they were all Whigs.  The reports that
+numbers of persons, including men of figure, had joined together to commit
+assaults in the streets, made many fear to leave their houses at night.  A
+proclamation was issued for the suppressing of riots and the discovery of
+those guilty of the late outrages; but it seems probable that the disorders
+were not more frequent than might be expected from time to time in a great
+city.
+
+4 Henry Davenant, son of Charles Davenant (see Letter 8, note 14), was
+Resident at Frankfort.  Macky described him as "very giddy-headed, with some
+wit," to which Swift added, "He is not worth mentioning."
+
+5 Thomas Burnet, youngest son of Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury, was at
+this time a young man about town of no good reputation.  Afterwards he turned
+his attention to the law, and was appointed a judge of the Court of Common
+Pleas in 1741.  He was knighted in 1745, and died in 1753.
+
+6 By Arbuthnot, written to recommend the peace proposals of the Government.
+The full title was, Law is a Bottomless Pit.  Exemplified in the case of the
+Lord Strutt, John Bull, Nicholas Frog, and Lewis Baboon; who spent all they
+had in a Law Suit.
+
+7 See Letter 25, note 6 and Letter 41, note 35.
+
+8 Our little language.
+
+9 Forster reads, "two deelest nauty nown MD."
+
+10 See Letter 6, note 12.
+
+11 William Diaper, son of Joseph Diaper of Bridgewater, was sent to Balliol
+College, Oxford, in 1699, at the age of fourteen.  He entered the Church, and
+was curate at Brent, Somerset; but he died in 1717, aged twenty-nine.
+
+12 The Examiner (vol. ii. No. 15) complained of general bribery and oppression
+on the part of officials and underlings in the public service, especially in
+matters connected with the army; but the writer said that the head (Lord
+Lansdowne) was just and liberal in his nature, and easy in his fortune, and a
+man of honour and virtue.
+
+13 Sealed documents given to show that a merchant's goods are entered.
+
+14 Thomas Lawrence, First Physician to Queen Anne, and Physician-General to
+the Army, died in 1714 (Gentleman's Magazine, 1815, ii. 17).  His daughter
+Elizabeth was second wife to Lord Mohun.
+
+15 See Letter 17, note 11.
+
+16 See Letter 26, note 2.
+
+17 No officer named Newcomb appears in Dalton's Army Lists; but the allusion
+to General Ross, further on in Letter 43, adds to the probability that Swift
+was referring to one of the sons of Sir Thomas Newcomen, Bart., who was killed
+at the siege of Enniskillen.  Beverley Newcomen (Dalton, iii. 52, iv. 60), who
+was probably Swift's acquaintance, was described in a petition of 1706 as a
+Lieutenant who had served at Killiecrankie, and had been in Major-General
+Ross's regiment ever since 1695.
+
+18 Atterbury.
+
+19 Evidently a familiar quotation at the time.  Forster reads, incorrectly,
+"But the more I lite MD."
+
+20 See Letter 41, note 5.
+
+21 See Letter 12, note 1.
+
+22 In 1681, Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of John Ayres, of the City of
+London, then aged about twenty, became the fourth and last wife of Heneage
+Finch, Earl of Winchelsea, who died in 1689.  She lived until 1745.
+
+23 See Letter 23, note 17.
+
+24 Enoch Sterne (see Letter 4, note 17).
+
+25 Lieut.-Col. Robert Sterne was in Col. Frederick Hamilton's Regiment in
+1695.
+
+26 Letter.
+
+27 See Letter 13, note 10.
+
+28 The title was, John Bull in his Senses:  being the Second Part of Law is a
+Bottomless Pit.
+
+29 See Letter 36, note 6.
+
+30 Cf. note 9 above.  Forster reads "nautyas," when the words would mean "as
+naughty as nine," apparently.
+
+31 See note 19 above.
+
+32 In 1549, James, second Earl of Arran, was made Duke of Chatelherault by
+Henry II. of France.  His eldest son died without issue; the second, John,
+became first Marquis of Hamilton, and was great-grandfather of Lady Anne
+Hamilton (Duchess of Hamilton), mother of the Duke of Swift's Journal.  The
+Earl of Abercorn, on the other hand, was descended from Claud, third son of
+the Earl of Arran, but in the male line; and his claim was therefore the
+stronger, according to the French law of inheritance.
+
+33 Madams.
+
+34 This word is doubtful.  Forster reads "cobbled."
+
+35 A mistake, apparently, for "writing."  The letter was begun on March 8.
+
+36 Silly jade.
+
+37 O Lord, what a clutter.
+
+38 On the death of Dr. William Graham, Dean of Wells, it was reported that
+Swift was to be his successor.  Dr. Brailsford, however, received the
+appointment.
+
+39 Abel Roper (1665-1726), a Tory journalist, published, thrice weekly, the
+Postboy, to which Swift sometimes sent paragraphs.  Boyer (Political State,
+1711, p. 678) said that Roper was only the tool of a party; "there are men of
+figure and distinction behind the curtain, who furnish him with such
+scandalous reflections as they think proper to cast upon their antagonists."
+
+40 Joe Beaumont.
+
+41 Beg your pardon, Madams, I'm glad you like your apron (see Letter 41, note
+18).
+
+42 This word was smudged by Swift.
+
+43 I cannot find Somers in contemporary lists of officials.  Cf. Letter 30,
+note 16 and Letter 17, note 3.
+
+44 Obliterated and doubtful.
+
+45 Words obliterated and illegible.  Forster reads, conjecturally, "Pray send
+Pdfr the ME account that I may have time to write to Parvisol."
+
+
+
+Letter 44.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Apr. 14."
+
+2 "Is" (MS.).
+
+3 The words after "yet" are partially obliterated.
+
+4 See Letter 7, note 35.
+
+5 John Cecil, sixth Earl of Exeter (died 1721).
+
+6 See Letter 22, note 5.
+
+7 Arbuthnot.
+
+8 A resort of the Tories.
+
+9 Deane Swift, a son of Swift's uncle Godwin, was a merchant in Lisbon.
+
+10 Winces.  Lyly says, "Rubbe there no more, least I winch."
+
+11 Probably William Whiston, who was deprived of the Lucasian professorship at
+Cambridge in 1710 for his heterodox views.  Parliament having offered a reward
+for the discovery of means of finding the longitude, Whiston made several
+attempts (1714 and 1721).
+
+12 Word obliterated.
+
+13 Distilled water prepared with rosemary flowers.  In Fielding's Joseph
+Andrews, a lady gives up to a highway robber, in her fright, a silver bottle
+which, the ruffian said, contained some of the best brandy he had ever tasted;
+this she "afterwards assured the company was a mistake of her maid, for that
+she had ordered her to fill the bottle with Hungary water."
+
+14 As I hope to be saved.
+
+15 Added on the fourth page, as the letter was folded.
+
+
+Letter 45.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Johnson," etc.  Endorsed "May 1st."
+
+2 A kind of clover, used for soothing purposes.
+
+
+
+Letter 46.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "May 15."
+
+2 Madam Ayris.
+
+3 Simpleton.
+
+4 Robert Benson (see Letter 6, note 36).
+
+5 See Letter 41, note 35 and Letter 43, note 7.
+
+6 The title was, An Appendix to John Bull still in his Senses:  or, Law is a
+Bottomless Pit.
+
+7 Arbuthnot.
+
+8 Enquiries by servants.
+
+9 See Letter 17, note 5.
+
+10 Sick.
+
+11 Afterwards Rector of Letcombe, Berks.  It was to his house that Swift
+repaired a few weeks before the Queen's death.  On June 8, 1714, he wrote, "I
+am at a clergyman's house, whom I love very well, but he is such a melancholy,
+thoughtful man, partly from nature, and partly by a solitary life, that I
+shall soon catch the spleen from him.  His wife has been this month twenty
+miles off at her father's, and will not return these ten days, and perhaps the
+house will be worse when she comes."  Swift spells the name "Geree"; later on
+in the Journal he mentions two of Mr. Gery's sisters, Betty (Mrs. Elwick) and
+Moll (Mrs. Wigmore); probably he made the acquaintance of the family when he
+was living with the Temples at Moor Park (see Letter 59, note 11).
+
+12 Because she is a good girl in other things.
+
+
+
+Letter 47.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "June 5."
+
+2 Sice, the number six at dice.
+
+3 At Laracor Swift had "a canal and river-walk and willows."
+
+4 Splenetic fellow.
+
+5 One of them was by Oldmixon:  Reflections on Dr. Swift's Letter to the Earl
+of Oxford.
+
+6 Beg your pardon.
+
+7 See Letter 25, note 9.
+
+8 On May 28, Lord Halifax moved an Address to the Queen that the instructions
+given to the Duke of Ormond might be laid before the House, and that further
+orders might be issued to him to act offensively, in concert with the Allies.
+Wharton and Nottingham supported the motion, but it was negatived by 68 votes
+against 40.  A similar motion in the House of Commons was defeated by 203
+against 73.
+
+9 See Letter 34, note 10.
+
+10 See Letter 23, note 13.
+
+11 "Some Reasons to prove that no Person is obliged by his Principles, as a
+Whig, to oppose Her Majesty:  in a Letter to a Whig Lord."
+
+12 Several words obliterated.
+
+13 Several words obliterated.
+
+14 The bellman.
+
+15 This present writing.
+
+16 Please.
+
+
+
+Letter 48.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Rebecca Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "June 23d."
+
+2 Mr. Ryland reads "second."
+
+3 As I hope to be saved.
+
+4 See Letter 30, Sept. 18, 1711.
+
+5 Glad at heart.
+
+6 The threepenny pamphlet mentioned in Letter 47, note 11.
+
+7 I.e., for.
+
+
+
+Letter 49.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley."  Endorsed "July 8."
+
+2 See Letter 28, note 24.
+
+3 See Letter 10, note 2.
+
+4 See Letter 3, note 11.
+
+5 See Letter 48, note 4.
+
+6 Dr. William Lloyd--one of the Seven Bishops of 1688--was eighty-four years
+of age at this time; he died five years later.  He was a strong antipapist,
+and a great student of the Apocalypse, besides being a hard-working bishop.  A
+curious letter from him to Lord Oxford about a coming war of religion is given
+in the Welbeck Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.) v. 128.
+
+7 "Toland's Invitation to Dismal to dine with the Calf's Head Club."  The Earl
+of Nottingham (Dismal) had deserted the Tories, and Swift's imitation of
+Horace (Epist. I. v.) is an invitation from Toland to dine with "his trusty
+friends" in celebration of the execution of Charles I.  The Calf's Head Club
+was in the habit of toasting "confusion to the race of kings."
+
+8 Bolingbroke.
+
+9 George Fitzroy, Duke of Northumberland (died 1716), a natural son of Charles
+II., was also Viscount Falmouth and Baron of Pontefract.  See Notes and
+Queries, viii. i.  135.
+
+10 Enoch Sterne.
+
+11 Templeoag (see Letter 48, Jun. 17, 1712).
+
+12 Swift probably was only repeating an inaccurate rumour, for there is no
+evidence that Steele was arrested.  His gambling scheme was withdrawn directly
+an information was laid under the new Act of Parliament against gambling
+(Aitken's Life of Steele, i. 347).
+
+13 Dr. William Moreton (1641-1715), Swift's diocesan, was translated from the
+see of Kildare to that of Meath in 1705.
+
+14 Words obliterated.  Forster reads conjecturally, "when ME wants me to send.
+She ought to have it," etc.
+
+
+
+Letter 50.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "July 23."
+
+2 "N.33" seems a mistake.  Letter No. 32 was received after Swift had left
+Kensington and gone to Windsor; see Letter 51, Aug. 7, 1712 and Letter 52,
+Sept. 18, 1712 (Ryland).
+
+3 Dr. Moreton (see Letter 49, note 13).
+
+4 Memoranda.
+
+5 Again.
+
+6 O Lord, drunken slut.
+
+7 There's for you now, and there's for your letter, and every kind of thing.
+
+8 Bolingbroke.
+
+9 See Letter 13, note 10.
+
+10 Grub Street pamphlet.  The title was, A Supposed Letter from the Pretender
+to another Whig Lord.
+
+11 Arnold Joost Van Keppel, created Earl of Albemarle in 1697.  He died in
+1718.  The action referred to was at Denain, where the Dutch were defeated by
+Villars.
+
+
+
+Letter 51.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Aug. 14."
+
+2 Perhaps this was influenza.
+
+3 By the Stamp Act passed on June 10, 1712--which was repealed in 1859--a duty
+of one halfpenny was levied on all pamphlets and newspapers contained in half
+a sheet or less, and a duty of one penny on those of more than half but not
+exceeding a whole sheet.  Swift opposed the idea in January 1711 (see Letter
+15, note 1), and Defoe argued against the Bill in the Review for April 26,
+1712, and following numbers.  Addison, in the Spectator, No. 445, spoke of the
+mortality among authors resulting from the Stamp Act as "the fall of the
+leaf."
+
+4 The title is, "Lewis Baboon turned honest, and John Bull politician.  Being
+the Fourth Part of Law is a Bottomless Pit."  This pamphlet--really the fifth
+of the series--appeared on July 31, 1712.
+
+5 Poor Laracor.
+
+6 See Letter 12, note 1.
+
+7 On the death of the third Earl in 1712, the title of Earl of Winchelsea
+passed to his uncle, Heneage Finch, who had married Anne, daughter of Sir
+William Kingsmill (see Letter 24, note 7).
+
+
+
+Letter 52.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Oct. 1st.   At Portraune"
+[Portraine].
+
+2 Oxford and Bolingbroke.
+
+3 Including Hester Vanhomrigh.
+
+4 He died on Sept. 15, 1712.
+
+5 Elizabeth Villiers, eldest daughter of Sir Edward Villiers, Knight Marischal
+of England, and sister of the first Earl of Jersey.  In 1695 she married Lord
+George Hamilton (son of Lord William Douglas, afterwards Duke of Hamilton),
+who was raised to the peerage of Scotland in 1696 as Earl of Orkney.  William
+III. gave her an Irish estate worth 26,000 pounds a year.  Swift's opinion of
+her wisdom is confirmed by Lord Lansdowne, who speaks, in his Progress of
+Poetry, of
+     "Villiers, for wisdom and deep judgment famed,
+      Of a high race, victorious beauty brings
+      To grace our Courts, and captivate our Kings."
+The "beauty" seems a poetic licence; Swift says the lady squinted "like a
+dragon."
+
+6 Cliefden.
+
+7 See Letter 12, note 7.
+
+8 Swift's sister (see Letter 9, note 22).
+
+9 Forster reads "returned."
+
+10 See Swift's letter to General Hill of Aug. 12, 1712
+
+11 Swift's housekeeper at Laracor.
+
+12 I.e., be made freemen of the City.
+
+
+
+Letter 53.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Octr. 18.  At Portraune."
+
+2 "Sometimes, when better company was not to be had, he [Swift] was honoured
+by being invited to play at cards with his patron; and on such occasions Sir
+William was so generous as to give his antagonist a little silver to begin
+with" (Macaulay, History of England, chap. xix.).
+
+3 The History of the Works of the Learned, a quarto periodical, was published
+from 1699 to 1711.
+
+4 See Letter 35, note 4.
+
+5 See Letter 28, note 25.
+
+6 Lady Elizabeth Savage, daughter of Richard, fourth Earl Rivers (see Letter
+11, note 9), was the second wife of James Barry, fourth Earl of Barrymore.  Of
+Earl Rivers' illegitimate children, one, Bessy, married (1) Frederick Nassau,
+third Earl of Rochford, and (2) a clergyman named Carter; while another,
+Richard Savage, was the poet.  Earl Rivers' successor, John Savage, the fifth
+Earl, was a Roman Catholic priest, the grandson of John, first Earl Rivers.
+On his death in 1728 the title became extinct.
+
+7 No. 32.
+
+8 Very sick.
+
+9 From "but I" to "agreeable" is partially obliterated.
+
+10 Mrs. Swanton was the eldest daughter of Willoughby Swift, and therefore
+Swift's second cousin.  In her will Esther Johnson left to Swift "a bond of
+thirty pounds, due to me by Dr. Russell, in trust for the use of Mrs. Honoria
+Swanton."
+
+11 This sentence is partially obliterated.
+
+12 See Letter 51, note 2.
+
+13 See Letter 5, note 16.
+
+14 The latter half of this sentence is partially obliterated.
+
+15 Partly obliterated.
+
+16 See Letter 8, note 2.
+
+17 Wise.
+
+18 Partly obliterated.
+
+19 See Letter 6, note 45.
+
+20 This sentence is almost obliterated.
+
+
+
+Letter 54.
+
+1 The MS. of this letter has not been preserved.
+
+2 See Letter 26, note 2.
+
+3 Swift's friend, Dr. Pratt (see Letter 2, note 14), was then Provost of
+Trinity College, Dublin.
+
+4 Samuel Molyneux, then aged twenty-three, was the son of William Molyneux
+(1656-1698), M.P. for Dublin University, a writer on philosophical and
+scientific subjects, and the friend of Locke.  Samuel Molyneux took his M.A.
+degree in Dublin in 1710, and in 1712 visited England.  He was befriended by
+the Duke of Marlborough at Antwerp, and in 1714 was sent by the Duke on a
+mission to the Court of Hanover.  He held office under George I., but devoted
+most of his attention to astronomical research, until his death in 1728.
+
+5 Probably "The Case of Ireland's being bound by Acts of Parliament in England
+stated" (1698).
+
+6 Oxford and Bolingbroke.
+
+7 See Letter 36, note 18.
+
+8 See Letter 51, Aug. 7, 1712.
+
+9 George Ridpath (died 1726), a Whig journalist, of whom Pope (Dunciad, i.
+208) wrote--
+     "To Dulness Ridpath is as dear as Mist."
+He edited the Flying Post for some years, and also wrote for the Medley in
+1712.  In September William Hurt and Ridpath were arrested for libellous and
+seditious articles, but were released on bail.  On October 23 they appeared
+before the Court of Queen's Bench, and were continued on their recognizances.
+In February 1713 Ridpath was tried and, in spite of an able defence by leading
+Whig lawyers, was convicted.  Sentence was postponed, and when Ridpath failed
+to appear, as ordered, in April, his recognizances were escheated, and a
+reward offered for his discovery; but he had fled to Scotland, and from thence
+to Holland.
+
+10 See Letter 52, note 5.
+
+11 Lady Orkney's sister, Barbara Villiers, who married John Berkeley, fourth
+Viscount Fitz-Hardinge, had been governess to the Duke of Gloucester, Queen
+Anne's son.  She died in 1708, in her fifty-second year; and on her husband's
+death four years later the peerage became extinct.
+
+12 For the street criers, see the Spectator, No. 251.
+
+
+
+Letter 55.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley."  Endorsed "Nov. 26, just come from Portraine";
+and "The band-box plot--D:  Hamilton's murther."
+
+2 Charles Mohun, fifth Baron Mohun, had been twice arraigned of murder, but
+acquitted; and during his short but turbulent life he had taken part in many
+duels.  Even Burnet could say nothing in his favour.
+
+3 This duel between the Duke of Hamilton (see Letter 27, note 9) and Lord
+Mohun, who had married nieces of Lord Macclesfield, had its origin in a
+protracted dispute about some property.  The challenge came from Lord Mohun,
+and the combatants fought like "enraged lions."  Tory writers suggested that
+the duel was a Whig conspiracy to get rid of the Duke of Hamilton (Examiner,
+Nov. 20, 1712).  The whole subject is discussed from the Whig point of view in
+Boyer's Political State for 1712, pp. 297-326.
+
+4 "Will" (MS.).
+
+5 See Letter 27, note 9.
+
+6 George Maccartney (see Letter 11, note 13 and Letter 39, Jan. 22, 1711-12 )
+fought at Almanza, Malplaquet, and Douay.  After the duel, Maccartney escaped
+to Holland, but on the accession of George I. he returned to England, and was
+tried for murder (June 1716), when Colonel Hamilton gave evidence against him.
+Hamilton's evidence was discredited, and he found it necessary to sell his
+commission and leave the country.  Maccartney was found guilty as an
+accessory, and "burnt" in the hand.  Within a month he was given an
+appointment in the army; and promoted to be Lieutenant-General.  He died in
+1730.
+
+7 Colonel John Hamilton, of the Scots Guards.  He surrendered himself, and was
+tried at the Old Bailey on Dec. 12, 1712, when he was found guilty of
+manslaughter, on two indictments; and on the following day he was "burnt" in
+the hand.  Hamilton died in October 1716, soon after Maccartney's trial, from
+a sudden vomiting of blood.
+
+8 "That" (MS.).
+
+9 The story (as told in the Tory Postboy of Nov. 11 to 13) was that on Nov. 4
+a bandbox was sent to the Earl of Oxford by post. When he began to open it he
+saw a pistol, whereupon a gentleman present [Swift] asked for the box, and
+opening it, by the window, found powder, nails, etc., so arranged that, if
+opened in the ordinary way, the whole would have been fired, and two barrels
+discharged different ways.  No doubt a box so packed was received, but whether
+anything serious was intended, or whether it was a hoax, cannot be said with
+any certainty.  The Earl of Oxford is said to have met allusions to the
+subject with a smile, and Swift seems to have been annoyed at the reports
+which were put into circulation.
+
+10 "We have received a more particular account relating to the box sent to the
+Lord Treasurer, as mentioned in our last, which is as follows," etc.  (Evening
+News, Nov. 11 to 13, 1712).
+
+11 Either "A Letter to the People, to be left for them at the Booksellers,
+with a word or two of the Bandbox Plot" (by T. Burnet), 1712, or "An Account
+of the Duel. . ., with Previous Reflections on Sham Plots" (by A. Boyer),
+1712.  Swift's connection with the Bandbox Plot was ridiculed in the Flying
+Post for Nov. 20 to 22.
+
+12 Cf. Letter 16, Feb. 20, 1710-11.
+
+13 This sentence is partially obliterated.
+
+14 Part of this sentence has been obliterated.
+
+15 See Letter 43, note 39.  I have not been able to find a copy of the paper
+containing Swift's paragraph.
+
+16 This sentence is partially obliterated.
+
+17 See Letter 12, note 2.
+
+18 Apparently Humphrey Griffith, who was one of the Commissioners of Salt; but
+Swift gives the name as "Griffin" throughout.
+
+19 See Letter 53, note 13 and Letter 5, note 16.
+
+20 For these shorter letters Swift folded the folio sheet before writing.
+
+
+
+Letter 56.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Decr. 18."
+
+2 Vengeance.
+
+3 Charles Connor, scholar of Trinity College, Dublin, who took his B.A. degree
+in the same year as Swift (1686), and his M.A. degree in 1691.
+
+4 The History of the Peace of Utrecht.
+
+5 See Letter 55, note 7.
+
+6 Lord Oxford's daughter Elizabeth married, on Dec. 16, 1712, Peregrine Hyde,
+Marquis of Caermarthen, afterwards third Duke of Leeds (see Letter 42, note 23
+and Letter 24, note 5).  She died on Nov. 20, 1713, a few days after the birth
+of a son.  Swift called her "a friend I extremely loved."
+
+7 "Is" (MS.).
+
+8 Disorders.
+
+9 See Letter 34, note 10.
+
+10 John Francis, Rector of St. Mary's, Dublin, was made Dean of Leighlin in
+1705.
+
+11 See Letter 9, note 7.
+
+12 Possibly "have."
+
+13 See Letter 55, notes 9, 10, 11.
+
+14 This clause is omitted by Mr. Ryland.
+
+15 See Letter 31, note 6.
+
+16 See Letter 54, Oct. 30, 1712.
+
+17 Thomas Jones, Esq., was M.P. for Trim in the Parliament of 1713-4.
+
+18 A Dutch agent employed in the negotiations with Lewis XIV.
+
+19 When I come home.
+
+
+
+Letter 57.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Jan. 13."
+
+2 "Ay, marry, this is something like."  The earlier editions give, "How
+agreeable it is in a morning."  The words in the MS. are partially
+obliterated.
+
+3 In this letter (Dec. 20, 1712) Swift paid many compliments to the Duchess of
+Ormond (see Letter 17, note 5):  "All the accomplishments of your mind and
+person are so deeply printed in the heart, and represent you so lively to my
+imagination, that I should take it for a high affront if you believed it in
+the power of colours to refresh my memory."
+
+4 Tisdall's Conduct of the Dissenters in Ireland (see Letter 61, note 7).
+
+5 See Letter 9, note 20 and Letter 20, Apr. 13, 1711.
+
+6 Monteleon.
+
+7 See Letter 5, note 8 and Letter 3, note 3.
+
+8 Utrecht, North and South Holland, and West Frieseland.
+
+9 See Letter 46, note 11.
+
+10 See Letter 46, note 11.
+
+11 "On Queen Anne's Peace."
+
+12 See Letter 43, note 11.  The poem was "Dryades, or the Nymph's Prophecy."
+
+13 See Letter 35, note 4.
+
+14 See Letter 17, note 3.
+
+15 Dr. Tobias Pullen (1648-1713) was made Bishop of Dromore in 1695.
+
+16 Lord Charles Douglas, Earl of Selkirk, died unmarried in 1739.  When his
+father, William, first Earl of Selkirk, married Anne, Duchess of Hamilton, the
+Duchess obtained for her husband, in 1660, the title of Duke of Hamilton, for
+life.  James II. conferred the Earldom of Selkirk on his Grace's second and
+younger sons, primogenitively; and the second son having died without issue,
+the third, Charles, became Earl.  The fifth son, George, was created Earl of
+Orkney (see Letter 52, note 5).  The difference between Lord Selkirk and the
+Earl of Abercorn (see Letter 10, note 33) to which Swift alludes was in
+connection with the claim to the Dukedom of Chatelherault (see Letter 43, note
+32).
+
+17 Heart.
+
+18 This sentence is almost illegible.
+
+19 A reward of 500 pounds was offered by the Crown for Maccartney's
+apprehension, and 200 pounds by the Duchess of Hamilton.
+
+20 In the proposed History of the Peace of Utrecht.
+
+21 Mr. Ryland's reading.  Forster has "Iss."  These words are obliterated.
+
+22 Hoist.  Cf."Hoised up the mainsail" (Acts xxvii. 40).
+
+23 It was afterwards found that Miss Ashe was suffering from smallpox.
+
+24 We are told in the Wentworth Papers, p.  268, that the Duchess of
+Shrewsbury remarked to Lady Oxford, "Madam, I and my Lord are so weary of
+talking politics; what are you and your Lord?" whereupon Lady Oxford sighed
+and said she knew no Lord but the Lord Jehovah.  The Duchess rejoined, "Oh,
+dear! Madam, who is that?  I believe 'tis one of the new titles, for I never
+heard of him before."
+
+25 A thousand merry new years.  The words are much obliterated.
+
+26 Lady Anne Hamilton, daughter of James, first Duke of Hamilton, became
+Duchess on the death of her uncle William, the second Duke, at the battle of
+Worcester.
+
+27 The quarrel between Oxford and Bolingbroke.
+
+28 See Letter 19, note 1.
+
+29 Burnet (History, iv. 382) says that the Duc d'Aumont was "a goodnatured and
+generous man, of profuse expense, throwing handfuls of money often out of his
+coach as he went about the streets.  He was not thought a man of business, and
+seemed to employ himself chiefly in maintaining the dignity of his character
+and making himself acceptable to the nation."
+
+30 Partially obliterated.
+
+31 For the most part illegible.  Forster reads, "Go, play cards, and be melly,
+deelest logues, and rove Pdfr.  Nite richar MD, FW oo roves Pdfr.  FW lele
+lele ME ME MD MD MD MD MD MD.  MD FW FW FW ME ME FW FW FW FW FW ME ME ME."
+
+32 On the third page of the paper.
+
+33 See Letter 7, note 3.
+
+
+
+Letter 58.
+
+1 To "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Feb. 4."
+
+2 This sentence is scribbled over.  Forster reads the last word as "lastalls,"
+i.e. rascals, but it seems rather to be "ledles."
+
+3 Dr. Peter Brown was appointed Bishop of Cork in 1709.
+
+4 See Letter 5, note 22.
+
+5 See Letter 5, note 3.
+
+6 See Letter 5, note 11.
+
+7 Dr. H. Humphreys, Bishop of Hereford, died on Nov. 20, 1712.  His successor
+was Dr. Philip Bisse (1667-1721), Bishop of St. David's (see Letter 3, note
+36).
+
+8 Thomas Keightley, a Commissioner of the Great Seal in Ireland.
+
+9 Nearly obliterated.  Mr. Ryland reads, "deelest MD."
+
+10 See Letter 57, note 14.
+
+11 In the Examiner for Jan. 5 to 9, 1712[-13], there is an account of the game
+of Similitudes.  One person thinks of a subject, and the others, not knowing
+what it is, name similitudes, and when the subject is proclaimed, must make
+good the comparisons.  On the occasion described, the subject chosen was
+Faction.  The prize was given to a Dutchman, who argued that Faction was like
+butter, because too much fire spoiled its consistency.
+
+12 Earl Poulett (see Letter 20, note 7).
+
+13 "Say" (MS.).
+
+14 Dr. Pratt.
+
+15 See Letter 13, Jan. 6, 1710-11.
+
+16 This sentence is partially obliterated.
+
+17 See Letter 31, note 10 and, in the same letter, Oct. 5, 1711.
+
+18 Cf. the account of Beatrix's feelings on the death of the Duke in "Esmond",
+book iii. chaps. 6 and 7.
+
+19 See Letter 21, note 3.
+
+20 "Her Majesty is all goodness and tenderness to her people and her Allies.
+She has now prorogued the best Parliament that ever assembled in her reign and
+respited her own glory, and the wishes, prayers, and wants of her people, only
+to give some of her Allies an opportunity to think of the returns they owe
+her, and try if there be such a thing as gratitude, justice, or humanity in
+Europe.  The conduct of Her Majesty is without parallel.  Never was so great a
+condescension made to the unreasonable clamours of an insolent faction now
+dwindled to the most contemptible circumstances."--Examiner, Jan. 12-16,
+1712[-13].
+
+21 Mr. Collins's "Discourse of Freethinking, put into plain English by way of
+Abstract, for the use of the Poor," an ironical pamphlet on Arthur Collins's
+Discourse of Freethinking, 1713.
+
+22 The History of the Peace of Utrecht.
+
+23 A line here has been erased.  Forster imagined that he read, "Nite dear MD,
+drowsy drowsy dear."
+
+24 Hereford.
+
+25 Very well.
+
+26 Sentence obliterated.  Forster professes to read, "Pay can oo walk oftener-
+-oftener still?"
+
+27 See Letter 57, note 15.
+
+28 Dr. Bisse, translated from St. David's.
+
+29 See Letter 58, note 7 and Letter 19, note 1.
+
+
+
+Letter 59.
+
+1 To "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Febr. 26."
+
+2 See Letter 58, note 21.
+
+3 See Letter 28, note 11.
+
+4 See Letter 55, note 9.
+
+5 A result of confusion between Erasmus Lewis and Henry Lewis, a Hamburg
+merchant.  See Swift's paper in the Examiner of Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, reprinted
+in his Works under the title, "A Complete Refutation of the Falsehoods alleged
+against Erasmus Lewis, Esq."
+
+6 Lord Dupplin (see Letter 5, note 34) had been created Baron Hay in December
+1711.
+
+7 A composition of inflammable materials.
+
+8 Assessors.
+
+9 See Letter 6, note 12.
+
+10 See Letter 59, note 5.
+
+11 See Letter 46, note 11.
+
+12 See Letter 3, notes 21 and 22, Letter 39, Jan. 12, 1711-12 and Letter 42,
+Mar. 1, 1711-12.
+
+13 Dr. Bisse.
+
+14 See Letter 33, note 10.
+
+15 Forster reads, "something."
+
+16 Hardly legible.
+
+17 See Letter 7, note 31.
+
+18 Stella's brother-in-law (See Letter 53, note 13, Letter 5, note 16 and
+Letter 55, Nov. 18, 1712).
+
+19 Forster guesses, "Oo are so 'recise; not to oor health."
+
+20 For "poo Ppt's."  Mr. Ryland reads, "people's."
+
+21 See Letter 57, 21 Dec. 1712.
+
+22 See Letter 57, note 23.
+
+23 See Letter 14, note 9.
+
+24 Obliterated; Forster's reading.
+
+25 Writing in October 1713, Lord Berkeley of Stratton told Lord Strafford of
+"a fine prank of the widow Lady Jersey" (see Letter 29, note 3).  "It is well
+known her lord died much in debt, and she, after taking upon her the
+administration, sold everything and made what money she could, and is run away
+into France without paying a farthing of the debts, with only one servant and
+unknown to all her friends, and hath taken her youngest son, as 'tis supposed
+to make herself a merit in breeding him a papist.  My Lord Bolingbroke sent
+after her, but too late, and they say the Queen hath writ a letter with her
+own hand to the King of France to send back the boy" (Wentworth Papers, p.
+357).  See also Letter 63, note 8.  I am not sure whether in the present
+passage Swift is referring to the widow or the younger Lady Jersey (see Letter
+33, note 10).
+
+26 Sir Thomas Clarges, Bart. (died 1759), M.P. for Lostwithiel, married
+Barbara, youngest daughter of John Berkeley, fourth Viscount Fitz-Hardinge,
+and of Barbara Villiers (see Letter 54, note 11), daughter of Sir Edward
+Villiers.
+
+27 See Letter 43, Mar. 21, 1711-12 and Letter 49, Jul. 1, 1712.
+
+28 Altered from "11" in the MS.  It is not certain where the error in the
+dates began; but the entry of the 6th must be correctly dated, because the
+Feb. 6 was the Queen's Birthday.
+
+29 See Letter 43, note 11 and Letter 57, note 12.
+
+
+Letter 60.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Mar. 7."
+
+2 See Letter 5, note 23.
+
+3 Sedan chairs were then comparatively novel (see Gay's Trivia).
+
+4 Some words obliterated.  Forster reads, "Nite MD, My own deelest MD."
+
+5 Peter Wentworth wrote to Lord Strafford, on Feb. 17, 1713, "Poor Mr.
+Harrison is very much lamented; he died last Saturday.  Dr. Swift told me that
+he had told him. . .  he owed about 300 pounds, and the Queen owed him 500
+pounds, and that if you or some of your people could send an account of his
+debts, that I might give it to him, he would undertake to solicit Lord
+Treasurer and get this 500 pounds, and give the remainder to his mother and
+sister" (Wentworth Papers, 320).
+
+6 George St. John (eldest son of Sir Harry St. John by his second marriage)
+was Secretary to the English Plenipotentiaries at Utrecht.  He died at Venice
+in 1716 (Lady Cowper's Diary, 65).
+
+7 Forster wrongly reads, "poor."
+
+8 "Putt" (MS.).
+
+9 See Letter 59, note 26.
+
+10 Montagu Bertie, second Earl of Abingdon (died 1743), was a strong Tory.
+
+11 See Letter 11, note 61.  These friends were together again on an expedition
+to Bath in 1715, when Jervas wrote to Pope (Aug. 12, 1715) that Arbuthnot,
+Disney, and he were to meet at Hyde Park Corner, proceed to Mr. Hill's at
+Egham, meet Pope next day, and then go to Lord Stawell's to lodge the night.
+Lord Stawell's seat, Aldermaston, was seventeen miles from Binfield.
+
+12 See Letter 16, note 20.
+
+13 "I" (MS.).
+
+14 Obliterated.  Forster reads, "devil," and Mr. Ryland, "bitch."
+
+15 See Letter 40, note 6.
+
+16 Victor Marie, duc d'Estrees, Marshal of France (died 1727).
+
+17 See Letter 55, note 18.
+
+18 Several words are obliterated.  Forster reads, "the last word, God 'give
+me"; but "'give me" is certainly wrong.
+
+19 See Letter 9, note 13.  Sir Thomas Hanmer married, in 1698, at the age of
+twenty-two, Isabella, Dowager Duchess of Grafton, daughter of Henry, Earl of
+Arlington, and Countess of Arlington in her own right.  Hanmer was not made
+Secretary of State, but he succeeded Bromley as Speaker of the House of
+Commons.
+
+20 William Fitzmaurice (see Letter 11, note 19 and Letter 27, note 11) entered
+Christ Church, Oxford, matriculating on March 10, 1712-13, at the age of
+eighteen.
+
+21 See Letter 11, note 11.
+
+22 William Bromley, second son of Bromley the Speaker (see Letter 10, note 1),
+was a boy of fourteen at this time.  In 1727 he was elected M.P. for Warwick,
+and he died in 1737, shortly after being elected Member for Oxford University.
+
+23 See Letter 14, note 12.
+
+24 Sometimes "list" means to border or edge; at others, to sew together, so as
+to make a variegated display, or to form a border.  Probably it here means the
+curling of the bottom of the wig.
+
+25 The last eight words have been much obliterated, and the reading is
+doubtful.
+
+26 Lady Henrietta Hyde, second daughter of Laurence Hyde, first Earl of
+Rochester (see Letter 8, note 22), married James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith, son
+of the Duke of Monmouth.  Lord Dalkeith died in 1705, leaving a son, who
+succeeded his grandmother (Monmouth's widow) as second Duke of Buccleuch.
+Lady Catherine Hyde (see Letter 40, note 6) was a younger sister of Lady
+Dalkeith.
+
+27 Swift first wrote "I frequent."
+
+28 See Letter 52, note 5.
+
+29 D'Estrees.
+
+30 Little (almost illegible).
+
+
+
+Letter 61.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Mar. 27."
+
+2 See Letter 3, note 20.
+
+3 Formerly Lady Rialton (see Letter 40, note 3).
+
+4 See Letter 58, note 8.
+
+5 See Letter 11, note 39 and Letter 41, note 27.
+
+6 Pun on "gambol."
+
+7 See Letter 57, note 4.
+
+8 See Letter 41, note 7.
+
+9 "Upon Tuesday last, the house where His Grace the late Duke of Hamilton and
+Brandon lived was hired for that day, where there was a fine ball and
+entertainment; and it is reported in town, that a great lady, lately gone to
+travel, left one hundred guineas, with orders that it should be spent in that
+manner, and in that house" (Postboy, Feb. 26-28, 1712-13).  The "great lady"
+was, presumably, the Duchess of Marlborough.
+
+10 See Letter 36, note 14 and Letter 40, note 21.
+
+11 Trinity College, Dublin.
+
+12 See Letter 60, note 19.
+
+13 See Letter 36, note 15.
+
+14 Dr. Pratt, Provost of Trinity College.
+
+15 Obliterated, and doubtful.
+
+16 A deal at cards, that draws the whole tricks.
+
+17 Previous editors have misread "Trevor" as "Treasurer." Thomas Trevor,
+Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas, was created Baron Trevor, of Bromham, in
+January 1712.  By commission of March 9, 1713, he occupied the woolsack during
+the illness of the Lord Keeper, Harcourt.
+
+18 This is the only reference to Pope in the Journal.  In his "Windsor Forest"
+the young poet assisted the Tories by his reference to the peace of Utrecht,
+then awaiting ratification.
+
+19 Several words have been obliterated.  Forster reads, "Rove Pdfr, poo Pdfr,
+Nite MD MD MD," but this is more than the space would contain.
+
+20 William Oldisworth (1680-1734), a Tory journalist and pamphleteer, who
+published various works, including a translation of the Iliad.  He died in a
+debtors' prison.
+
+21 Some words obliterated.  The reading is Forster's, and seems to be correct.
+
+22 Susan Armine, elder daughter of Sir William Armine, Bart., of Osgodby,
+Lincolnshire, was created a life peeress in 1674, as Baroness Belasyse of
+Osgodby.  She died March 6, 1713.  Her first husband was the Honourable Sir
+Henry Belasyse, son and heir of John, Baron Belasyse, of Worlaby; and her
+second, Mr. Fortney, of Chequers.
+
+23 See Letter 7, note 9.
+
+24 A word before "Ppt" is illegible.  Forster's reading, "yes," does not seem
+right.
+
+25 In November 1711 it was reported that Miss Kingdom was privately married to
+Lord Conway (Wentworth Papers, 207), but this was not the case.  Lord Conway
+was a widower in 1713, but he married an Irish lady named Bowden.
+
+26 Forster reads, "Nite, my own dee sollahs.  Pdfr roves MD"; but the last
+three words, at least, do not seem to be in the MS.
+
+27 Probably the Bishop of Raphoe's son (see Letter 29, note 20).
+
+28 What.
+
+29 As Master of the Savoy.
+
+30 William Burgh was Comptroller and Accountant-General for Ireland from 1694
+to 1717, when his patent was revoked.  He was succeeded by Eustace Budgell.
+
+31 William Paget, sixth Lord Paget, died in March 1713, aged seventy-six.  He
+spent a great part of his life as Ambassador at Vienna and Constantinople.
+
+32 Pocket.
+
+33 Forster reads, "Lele lele logues"; Mr. Ryland, "Lele lele. . . "
+
+
+
+Letter 62.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Apr. 13."
+
+2 Esther Johnson's brother-in-law, Filby (see Letter 55, note 19).
+
+3 Earl Poulett (see Letter 20, note 7).
+
+4 Francis Annesley, M.P. for Westbury.  His colleague in the representation of
+that borough was Henry Bertie (third son of James, Earl of Abingdon), who
+married Earl Poulett's sister-in-law, Anthony Henley's widow (see Letter 12,
+note 24).
+
+5 "Has" (MS.).
+
+6 A dozen words are erased.  The reading is Forster's, and appears to be
+correct.
+
+7 The British Ambassadress's Speech to the French King.  The printer was sent
+to the pillory and fined.
+
+8 The Examiner (vol. iii. No. 35) said that Swift--"a gentleman of the first
+character for learning, good sense, wit, and more virtues than even they can
+set off and illustrate"--was not the author of that periodical.  "Out of pure
+regard to justice, I strip myself of all the honour that lucky untruth did
+this paper."
+
+9 A purgative electuary.
+
+10 Bargains.
+
+11 Three or four words illegible.  Forster reads, "Nite, nite, own MD."
+
+12 Forster reads, "devil's brood "; probably the second word is "bawd:" Cf.
+Letter 60, note 14 and Feb. 18, 1712-13.
+
+13 Several "moving pictures," mostly brought from Germany, were on view in
+London at about this time.  See Tatler, No. 129, and Gay's Fables, No. 6.
+
+14 See Letter 6, note 45.
+
+15 "Mr. Charles Grattan, afterwards master of a free school at Enniskillen"
+(Scott).
+
+16 So given in the MS.  Forster suggests that it is a mistake for "wood."
+
+17 See Letter 28, note 11.
+
+18 It is probable that this is Pope's friend, William Cleland, who died in
+1741, aged sixty-seven.  William Cleland served in Spain under Lord Rivers,
+but was not a Colonel, though he seems to have been a Major.  Afterwards he
+was a Commissioner of Customs in Scotland and a Commissioner of the Land Tax
+in England.  Colonel Cleland cannot, as Scott suggested (Swift's Works, iii.
+142, xviii.  137-39, xix. 8), have been the son of the Colonel William
+Cleland, Covenanter and poet, who died in 1689, at the age of twenty-eight.
+William Cleland allowed his name to be appended to a letter of Pope's prefixed
+to the Dunciad, and Pope afterwards described him as "a person of universal
+learning, and an enlarged conversation; no man had a warmer heart for his
+friends, or a sincerer attachment to the constitution of his country."  Swift,
+referring to this letter, wrote to Pope, "Pray tell me whether your Colonel
+(sic) Cleland be a tall Scots gentleman, walking perpetually in the Mall, and
+fastening upon everybody he meets, as he has often done upon me?" (Pope's
+Works, iv. 48, vii. 214).
+
+19 Henry Grey, Lord Lucas (died 1741), who became twelfth Earl of Kent in
+1702, was made Duke of Kent in 1710.  He held various offices under George I.
+and George II.
+
+20 Forster found, among the MSS. at Narford, the "lie" thus prepared for All
+Fools' Day.  Richard Noble, an attorney, ran away with a lady who was the wife
+of John Sayer and daughter of Admiral Nevill; and he killed Sayer on the
+discovery of the intrigue.  The incident was made use of by Hogarth in the
+fifth scene of "Marriage a la Mode."
+
+21 See Letter 5, note 3.
+
+22 See Letter 13, note 10.
+
+23 Charles XII.
+
+24 "Is" (MS.).
+
+25 Cibber says that he saw four acts of Cato in 1703; the fifth act, according
+to Steele, was written in less than a week.  The famous first performance was
+on April 14, 1713.
+
+26 The first number of the Guardian appeared on March 12, and the paper was
+published daily until Oct. 1, 1713.  Pope, Addison, and Berkeley were among
+the contributors.
+
+27 See Letter 52, note 6.
+
+28 See Letter 39, note 16.
+
+29 The first preached after the period of his suspension by the House of
+Lords.  It was delivered at St. Saviour's, Southwark, before his installation
+at St. Andrew's, and was published with the title, "The Christian's Triumph,
+or the Duty of praying for our Enemies".
+
+30 Swift's curate at Laracor.
+
+31 Richard Gorges (died 1728) was eldest son and heir of Dr. Robert Gorges, of
+Kilbrue, County Meath, by Jane, daughter of Sir Arthur Loftus, and sister of
+Adam, Viscount Lisburne.  He was appointed Adjutant-General of the Forces in
+Ireland 1697, Colonel of a new Regiment of Foot 1703, Major-General of the
+Forces 1707, and Lieutenant-General 1710 (Dalton's Army Lists, iii. 75).
+
+32 See Letter 60, note 10.
+
+33 Mrs. Oldfield.
+
+34 See Letter 56, note 6.
+
+35 Never saw the like.
+
+36 See Letter 53, note 10.
+
+37 The remainder has been partially obliterated.
+
+
+
+Letter 63.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "May 4."
+
+2 Lord Cholmondeley (see Letter 36, note 15).
+
+3 Harcourt.
+
+4 Forster's reading; the last two words are doubtful.
+
+5 See Letter 7, note 27.
+
+6 Francis Palmes, who was wounded at Blenheim, was made a Lieutenant-General
+in 1709.  In 1707 he was elected M.P. for West Loo; in 1708 he was sent as
+Envoy Extraordinary to the Duke of Savoy, and in 1710 to Vienna.
+
+7 Apparently "so heed."
+
+8 Henry Villiers (died 1743), second son of the first Earl of Jersey and of
+Barbara, daughter of William Chiffinch (see Letter 29, note 3 and Letter 59,
+note 25).
+
+9 See Letter 61, Mar. 8, 1712-13.  The Speech and Address are in the Commons'
+Journals, xvii. 278, 28O.  For the draft Address, in Swift's handwriting, see
+the Portland Papers (1899), v. 276.
+
+10 Scoffed, jeered.
+
+11 Dr. Gastrell (see Letter 25, note 8).
+
+12 George Berkeley, afterwards Bishop of Cloyne, but then a young man of
+twenty-eight, came to London in January 1713.  He was already known by his
+"New Theory of Vision" and "Treatise on the Principles of Human Knowledge",
+and he brought with him his "Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous".
+Steele was among the first to welcome him, and he soon made the acquaintance
+of Addison, Pope, and Swift.  On March 27, Berkeley wrote to Sir John Perceval
+of the breach between Swift and the Whigs:  "Dr. Swift's wit is admired by
+both of them (Addison and Steele], and indeed by his greatest enemies, and. .
+.  I think him one of the best-matured and agreeable men in the world."  In
+November 1713 Swift procured for Berkeley the chaplaincy and secretaryship to
+Lord Peterborough, the new Envoy to Sicily.
+
+13 Forster reads, "all oo sawcy Ppt can say oo may see me"; but the words are
+illegible.
+
+14 Possibly "see," written in mistake for "say."
+
+15 "J" (MS.).
+
+16 Obliterated.  Forster imagined that he read, "Nite dee logues.  Poo Mr."
+
+17 There were two General Hamiltons at this time; probably Swift's
+acquaintance was Gustavus Hamilton (1639-1723), who was created Viscount Boyne
+in 1717.  Hamilton distinguished himself at the battle of the Boyne and the
+capture of Athlone, and was made Brigadier-General in 1696, and Major General
+in 1703.  He took part in the siege of Vigo, and was made a member of the
+Privy Council in 1710.
+
+18 See Letter 43, note 38.
+
+19 The History of the Peace of Utrecht.
+
+20 This is Forster's reading, and appears to be correct.  The last word, which
+he gives as "iss truly," is illegible.
+
+21 Belonging to Ireland.
+
+22 See Letter 40, note 1.
+
+23 Another excellent reading of Forster's.  I cannot decipher the last word,
+which he gives as "dee rogues."
+
+24 Sentence obliterated.
+
+25 The number at the beginning of each entry in the Journal.
+
+26 Mr. Ryland's reading.  Forster has "morning, dee."
+
+27 Dr. Thomas Lindsay (see Letter 6, note 45).
+
+28 I think the "MD" is right, though Forster gives "M."  The "Pr" is probably
+an abbreviation of "Pdfr."
+
+29 The last three lines have been obliterated.
+
+
+Letter 64.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "May 22."
+
+2 Illegible.  Forster reads, "and dee deelest Ppt."
+
+3 The last few words have been partially obliterated.
+
+4 Am very angry.  The last word is scribbled over.
+
+5 The History of the Peace of Utrecht.
+
+6 The signature has been cut off.
+
+
+Letter 65.
+
+1 Addressed to "Mrs. Dingley," etc.  Endorsed "Chester Letter."
+
+2 "Others" (MS.).
+
+3 See Letter 10, note 31 and Letter 31, note 1.
+
+4 See Letter 7, note 7.
+
+
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Journal to Stella
+by Jonathan Swift
+