26. I forgot to finish this letter this morning, and am come home so late I must give it to the bellman; but I would have it go to−night, lest you should think there is anything in the story of my being arrested in an action of twenty thousand pounds by Lord Marlborough, which I hear is in Dyer’s Letter,[18] and, consequently, I suppose, gone to Ireland. Farewell, dearest MD, etc. etc.
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LETTER 40.
LONDON, Jan. 26, 1711−12.
I have no gilt paper left of this size, so you must be content with plain. Our Society dined together today, for it was put off, as I told you, upon Lord Marlborough’s business on Thursday. The Duke of Ormond dined with us to−day, the first time: we were thirteen at table; and Lord Lansdowne came in after dinner, so that we wanted but three. The Secretary proposed the Duke of Beaufort, who desires to be one of our Society; but I stopped it, because the Duke of Ormond doubts a little about it; and he was gone before it was proposed. I left them at seven, and sat this evening with poor Mrs. Wesley, who has been mightily ill to−day with a fainting fit; she has often convulsions, too: she takes a mixture with asafoetida, which I have now in my nose, and everything smells of it. I never smelt it before; ’tis abominable. We have eight packets, they say, due from Ireland.
27. I could not see Prince Eugene at Court to−day, the crowd was so great. The Whigs contrive to have a crowd always about him, and employ the rabble to give the word, when he sets out from any place. When the Duchess of Hamilton came from the Queen after church, she whispered me that she was going to pay me a visit. I went to Lady Oglethorpe’s, the place appointed; for ladies always visit me in third places; and she kept me till near four: she talks too much, is a plaguy detractor, and I believe I shall not much like her. I was engaged to dine with Lord Masham: they stayed as long as they could, yet had almost dined, and were going in anger to pull down the brass peg for my hat, but Lady Masham saved it. At eight I went again to Lord Masham’s; Lord Treasurer is generally there at night: we sat up till almost two. Lord Treasurer has engaged me to contrive some way to keep the Archbishop of York[1] from being seduced by Lord Nottingham. I will do what I can in it to− morrow. ‘Tis very late, so I must go sleep.
28. Poor Mrs. Manley, the author, is very ill of a dropsy and sore leg: the printer tells me he is afraid she cannot live long. I am heartily sorry for her: she has very generous principles for one of her sort, and a great deal of good sense and invention: she is about forty, very homely, and very fat. Mrs. Van made me dine with her to−day. I was this morning with the Duke of Ormond and the Prolocutor about what Lord Treasurer spoke to me yesterday; I know not what will be the issue. There is but a slender majority in the House of Lords, and we want more. We are sadly mortified at the news of the French taking the town in Brazil from the Portuguese. The sixth edition of three thousand of the Conduct of the Allies is sold, and the printer talks of a seventh: eleven thousand of them have been sold, which is a most prodigious run. The little twopenny Letter of Advice to the October Club does not sell: I know not the reason, for it is finely written, I assure you; and, like a true author, I grow fond of it, because it does not sell: you know that it is usual to writers to condemn the judgment of the world: if I had hinted it to be mine, everybody would have bought it, but it is a great secret.
29. I borrowed one or two idle books of Contes des Fees,[2] and have been reading them these two days, although I have much business upon my hands. I loitered till one at home; then went to Mr. Lewis at his office; and the Vice− Chamberlain told me that Lady Rialton[3] had yesterday resigned her employment of lady of the bed−chamber, and that Lady Jane Hyde,[4] Lord Rochester’s daughter, a mighty pretty girl, is to succeed. He said, too, that Lady Sunderland would resign in a day or two. I dined with Lewis, and then went to see Mrs. Wesley, who is better to−day. But you must know that Mr. Lewis gave me two letters, one from the Bishop of Cloyne, with an enclosed from Lord Inchiquin[5] to Lord Treasurer, which he desires I would deliver and recommend. I am told that lord was much in with Lord Wharton, and I remember he was to have been one of the Lords Justices by his recommendation; yet the Bishop recommends him as a great friend to the Church, etc. I’ll do what I think proper. T’other letter was from little saucy MD, N.26. O Lord, never saw the like, under a cover, too, and by way of journal; we shall never have done. Sirrahs, how durst you write so soon, sirrahs? I won’t answer it yet.
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30. I was this morning with the Secretary, who was sick, and out of humour: he would needs drink champagne some days ago, on purpose to spite me, because I advised him against it, and now he pays for it.
Stella used to do such tricks formerly; he put me in mind of her. Lady Sunderland has resigned her place too.
It is Lady Catherine Hyde[6] that succeeds Lady Rialton, and not Lady Jane. Lady Catherine is the late Earl of Rochester’s daughter. I dined with the Secretary, then visited his lady; and sat this evening with Lady Masham: the Secretary came to us; but Lord Treasurer did not; he dined with the Master of the Rolls,[7] and stayed late with him. Our Society does not meet till to−morrow se’nnight, because we think the Parliament will be very busy to−morrow upon the state of the war, and the Secretary, who is to treat as President, must be in the House. I fancy my talking of persons and things here must be very tedious to you, because you know nothing of them, and I talk as if you did. You know Kevin’s Street, and Werburgh Street, and (what do you call the street where Mrs. Walls lives?) and Ingoldsby,[8] and Higgins,[9] and Lord Santry;[10] but what care you for Lady Catherine Hyde? Why do you say nothing of your health, sirrah? I hope it is well.
31. Trimnel, Bishop of Norwich,[11] who was with this Lord Sunderland at Moor Park in their travels, preached yesterday before the House of Lords; and to− day the question was put to thank him, and print his sermon; but passed against him; for it was a terrible Whig sermon. The Bill to repeal the Act for naturalising Protestant foreigners passed the House of Lords to−day by a majority of twenty, though the Scotch lords went out, and would vote neither way, in discontent about the Duke of Hamilton’s patent, if you know anything of it. A poem is come out to−day inscribed to me, by way of a flirt;[12] for it is a Whiggish poem, and good for nothing. They plagued me with it in the Court of Requests. I dined with Lord Treasurer at five alone, only with one Dutchman. Prior is now a Commissioner of the Customs. I told you so before, I suppose. When I came home to−night, I found a letter from Dr. Sacheverell, thanking me for recommending his brother to Lord Treasurer and Mr. Secretary for a place. Lord Treasurer sent to him about it: so good a solicitor was I, although I once hardly thought I should be a solicitor for Sacheverell.
Feb. 1. Has not your Dean of St. Patrick received my letter? you say nothing of it, although I writ above a month ago. My printer has got the gout, and I was forced to go to him to−day, and there I dined. It was a most delicious day: why don’t you observe whether the same days be fine with you? To−night, at six, Dr.
Atterbury, and Prior, and I, and Dr. Freind, met at Dr. Robert Freind’s[13] house at Westminster, who is master of the school: there we sat till one, and were good enough company. I here take leave to tell politic Dingley that the passage in the Conduct of the Allies is so far from being blamable that the Secretary designs to insist upon it in the House of Commons, when the Treaty of Barrier[14] is debated there, as it now shortly will, for they have ordered it to be laid before them. The pamphlet of Advice to the October Club begins now to sell; but I believe its fame will hardly reach Ireland: ’tis finely written, I assure you. I long to answer your letter, but won’t yet; you know, ’tis late, etc.