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 LETTER 57.[1]
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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 LETTER 58.[1]
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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]