5

on the 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, &c.

April 3, 1711. I was this morning to see Mrs Barton; I love her better than any one here, and see her seldomer. Why, really now, so it often happens in the world, that where one loves a body best-pshah,

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's at home, God help him, every night from six till bedtime, 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 happi- 10 pshah, you are so silly with your moral ness, 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 15 who should have two guineas apiece, ten

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

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,

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

hear now. And so then I answer; Ford and 20 virginity: so the poor woman lies still un

I were visiting Mr Lewis, and Mr Prior, and Prior has given me a fine Plautus, and then Ford would have me dine at his lodgings, and so I would not; and so I dined with him at an eating-house; which I have not 25 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.

buried, and so must do till the general resurrection. I called at Mr Secretary, to see what the dailed 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

too much of that in my life already (meaning Sir William Temple), that I expected every great minister, who honoured me with his acquaintance, if he heard or saw any

January 26-30, 1711.-I have been so 30 be treated like a schoolboy; that I had felt lazy and negligent these last four days, that I could not write to MD. My head is not in order, and yet it is not absolutely ill, but giddyish, and makes me listless. I walk every day, and take drops of Dr Cockburn, 35 thing to my disadvantage, would let me

know 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

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 40 head, and I thought no subject's favour was
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. 45 reason'; vowed 'nothing ailed him but sit-

I dined to-day with Lord Mountjoy, yester-
day 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 50
so lazy while I was well, that I could not
write. I thought to have sent this to-night,
but it is ten, and I will go to bed, and write

worth it; and that I designed to let my Lord Keeper and Mr Harley know the same thing, that they might use me accordingly.' He took all right; said 'I had

ting 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: you never heard of him before.

August 25, 1711.-I was with the Secre

tary 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

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 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

letter, and not send it by the bellman. Days 10 out: it does not look right; let me see, 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, 't is certain that 15 Prior has been in France; 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 20 to convince you that I never writ it before.

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,

O, 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

that, young women; and pray be merry, and good girls, and love Presto. There is now but one business the ministry wants me for; and when that is done, I will take my leave of them. I never got a penny from 25 House of Lords, no care is taken to prevent 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 30 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 min- 35 isters; and wish I were at Laracor; and if I could with honour come away this moment, I would. Bernage came to see me to-day; he is just landed from Portugal, and come

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. 'T is 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 tonight, then I will talk with them again.

March 27, 1713.- Parnell's poem is mightily esteemed; but poetry sells ill. I am plagued with that poor Harrison's mother; you would laugh to see how cau

to raise recruits; he looks very well, and 40 tious I am of paying her the £100 I received

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, &c., &c.

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. 45 Yet 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

December 1, 1711. 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 fort- 50 made the invitation to Mr. Lewis and me,

night after. Whenever you would have any money, send me word three weeks before, and in that time you will certainly have an

and has some design upon us, which we know very well. I went afterward to see a famous moving picture, and I never saw

anything so pretty. You see a sea ten inches wide, a town at the other end, and ships sailing in the sea and discharging their cannon. You see a great sky, with moon and stars, etc. I am a fool. Night, dear MD.

April 15, 1713. - Lord Bolingbroke made me dine with him to-day; I was as good company as ever; and [he] told me the Queen would determine something for me to-night.

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 5 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 preben

The dispute is, Windsor or St Patrick's. 10 dary 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

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. 15 says she will speak to the purpose to the Night, dear MD.

Queen to-morrow. Night, dear MD.

April 26, 1713. — I was at Court to-day, and a thousand people gave me joy; so I ran out. I dined with Lady Orkney. Yester

April 16, 1713.- 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 20 day I dined with Lord Treasurer and his SatQueen 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 25 given Tooke DD's note to prove she is went and dined with Dr Arbuthnot, with alive.

urday 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