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.
