17. Lady Jersey and I dined by appointment to−day with Lord Bolingbroke. He is sending his brother[6] to succeed Mr.[7] Harrison. It is the prettiest post in Europe for a young gentleman. I lose my money at ombre sadly; I make a thousand blunders. I play but[8] threepenny ombre; but it is what you call running ombre.
Lady Clarges,[9] and a drab I hate, won a dozen shillings of me last night. The Parliament was prorogued to−day; and people grumble; and the good of it is the peace cannot be finished by the time they meet, there are so many fiddling things to do. Is Ppt an ombre lady yet? You know all the tricks of it now, I suppose. I reckon you have all your cards from France, for ours pay sixpence a pack taxes, which goes deep to the box. I have given away all my Spa water, and take some nasty steel drops, and my head has been better this week past. I send every day to see how Miss Ashe does: she is very full, they say, but in no danger. I fear she will LETTER 60.[1]
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lose some of her beauty. The son lies out of the house. I wish he had them too, while he is so young.Nite MD.
18. The Earl of Abingdon[10] has been teasing me these three months to dine with him; and this day was appointed about a week ago, and I named my company; Lord Stawel,[11] Colonel Disney,[12] and Dr.
Arbuthnot; but the two last slipped out their necks, and left Stawell and me to dine there. We did not dine till seven, because it is Ash Wednesday. We had nothing but fish, which Lord Stawell could not eat, and got a broiled leg of a turkey. Our wine was poison; yet the puppy has twelve thousand pound a year. His carps were raw, and his candles tallow. He[13] shall not catch me in haste again, and everybody has laughed at me for dining with him. I was to−day to let Harrison’s mother know I could not pay till she administers; which she will do. I believe she is an old bawd,[14] and her daughter a −. There were more Whigs to−day at Court than Tories. I believe they think the peace must be made, and so come to please the Queen. She is still lame with the gout. Nite MD.
19. I was at Court to−day, to speak to Lord Bolingbroke to look over Parnell’s poem since it is corrected; and Parnell and I dined with him, and he has shown him three or four more places to alter a little. Lady Bolingbroke came down to us while we were at dinner, and Parnell stared at her as if she were a goddess. I thought she was like Parnell’s wife, and he thought so too. Parnell is much pleased with Lord Bolingbroke’s favour to him, and I hope it may one day turn to his advantage. His poem will be printed in a few days. Our weather continues as fresh raining as if it had not rained at all. I sat to−night at Lady Masham’s, where Lord Treasurer came and scolded me for not dining with him. I told him I could not till Saturday. I have stayed there till past twelve. So nite dee sollahs, nite.
20. Lady Jersey, Lady Catherine Hyde,[15] the Spanish Ambassador, the Duke d’Atree,[16] another Spaniard, and I, dined to−day by appointment with Lord Bolingbroke; but they fell a drinking so many Spanish healths in champagne that I stole away to the ladies, and drank tea till eight; and then went and lost my money at ombre with Sir Andrew Fountaine, who has a very bad leg. Miss Ashe is past all danger; and her eye, which was lately bad (I suppose one effect of her distemper), is now better. I do not let the Bishop see me, nor shall this good while. Good luck! when I came home, I warrant, I found a letter from MD, No.38; and oo write so small nowadays, I hope oo poor eyes are better. Well, this shall go to−morrow se’nnight, with a bill for MD. I will speak to Mr. Griffin[17] to−morrow about Ppt’s brother Filby, and desire, whether he deserves or no, that his employment may be mended; that is to say, if I can see Griffin; otherwise not; and I’ll answer oo rettle hen I Pdfr think fit. Nite MD.
21. Methinks I writ a little saucy last night. I mean the last. . . [18] I saw Griffin at Court. He says he knows nothing of a salt−work at Recton; but that he will give Filby a better employment, and desires Filby will write to him. If I knew how to write to Filby, I would; but pray do you. Bid him make no mention of you; but only let Mr. Griffin know that he has the honour to be recommended by Dr. S, etc.; that he will endeavour to deserve, etc.; and if you dictated a whole letter for him, it would be better; I hope he can write and spell well.
I’ll inquire for a direction to Griffin before I finish this. I dined with Lord Treasurer and seven lords to−day.
You know Saturday is his great day, but I sat with them alone till eight, and then came home, and have been writing a letter to Mrs. Davis, at York. She took care to have a letter delivered for me at Lord Treasurer’s; for I would not own one she sent by post. She reproaches me for not writing to her these four years; and I have honestly told her it was my way never to write to those whom I am never likely to see, unless I can serve them, which I cannot her, etc. Davis the schoolmaster’s widow. Nite MD.
22. I dined to−day at Lord Orkney’s, with the Duke of Ormond and Sir Thomas Hanmer.[19] Have you ever heard of the latter? He married the Duchess of Grafton in his youth (she dined with us too). He is the most considerable man in the House of Commons. He went last spring to Flanders, with the Duke of Ormond; from thence to France, and was going to Italy; but the Ministry sent for him, and he has been come over about ten days. He is much out of humour with things: he thinks the peace is kept off too long, and is full of fears LETTER 60.[1]
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and doubts. It is thought he is designed for Secretary of State, instead of Lord Dartmouth. We have been acquainted these two years; and I intend, in a day or two, to have an hour’s talk with him on affairs. I saw the Bishop of Clogher at Court; Miss is recovering. I know not how much she will be marked. The Queen is slowly mending of her gout, and intends to be brought in a chair to Parliament when it meets, which will be March 3; for I suppose they will prorogue no more; yet the peace will not be signed then, and we apprehend the Tories themselves will many of them be discontented. Nite dee MD.
23. It was ill weather to−day, and I dined with Sir Andrew Fountaine, and in the evening played at ombre with him and the Provost, and won twenty−five shillings; so I have recovered myself pretty well. Dilly has been dunning me to see Fanny Manley; but I have not yet been able to do it. Miss Ashe is now quite out of danger; and hope will not be much marked. I cannot tell how to direct to Griffin; and think he lives in Bury Street, near St. James’s Street, hard by me; but I suppose your brother may direct to him to the Salt Office, and, as I remember, he knows his Christian name, because he sent it me in the list of the Commissioners. Nite dee MD.
24. I walked this morning to Chelsea, to see Dr. Atterbury, Dean of Christ Church. I had business with him about entering Mr. Fitzmaurice,[20] my Lord Kerry’s son, into his College; and Lady Kerry[21] is a great favourite of mine. Lord Harley, Lord Dupplin, young Bromley[22] the Speaker’s son, and I, dined with Dr.
Stratford[23] and some other clergymen; but I left them at seven to go to Lady Jersey, to see Monteleon the Spanish Ambassador play at ombre. Lady Jersey was abroad, and I chid the servants, and made a rattle; but since I came home she sent me a message that I was mistaken, and that the meeting is to be to−morrow. I have a worse memory than when I left you, and every day forget appointments; but here my memory was by chance too good. But I’ll go to−morrow; for Lady Catherine Hyde and Lady Bolingbroke are to be there by appointment, and I listed[24] up my periwig, and all, to make a figure. Well, who can help it? Not I, vow to. .