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 LETTER 41.[1]
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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]
LETTER 41.[1]
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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