LONDON, _Jan._ 12, 1711–12.
WHEN I sealed up my letter this morning, I looked upon myself to be not
worth a groat in the world. Last night, after Mr. Ford and I left
Domville, Ford desired me to go with him for a minute upon earnest
business, and then told me that both he and I were ruined; for he had
trusted Stratford with five hundred pounds for tickets for the lottery,
and he had been with Stratford, who confessed he had lost fifteen
thousand pounds by Sir Stephen Evans, {381} who broke last week; that he
concluded Stratford must break too; that he could not get his tickets,
but Stratford made him several excuses, which seemed very blind ones,
etc. And Stratford had near four hundred pounds of mine, to buy me five
hundred pounds in the South Sea Company. I came home reflecting a
little; nothing concerned me but MD. I called all my philosophy and
religion up; and, I thank God, it did not keep me awake beyond my usual
time above a quarter of an hour. This morning I sent for Tooke, whom I
had employed to buy the stock of Stratford, and settle things with him.
He told me I was secure; for Stratford had transferred it to me in form
in the South Sea House, and he had accepted it for me, and all was done
on stamped parchment. However, he would be further informed; and at
night sent me a note to confirm me. However, I am not yet secure; and,
besides, am in pain for Ford, whom I first brought acquainted with
Stratford. I dined in the City.
13. Domville and I dined with Ford to-day by appointment: the Lord
Mansel told me at Court to-day that I was engaged to him; but Stratford
had promised Ford to meet him and me to-night at Ford’s lodgings. He did
so; said he had hopes to save himself in his affair with Evans. Ford
asked him for his tickets: he said he would send them to-morrow; but
looking in his pocket-book, said he believed he had some of them about
him, and gave him as many as came to two hundred pounds, which rejoiced
us much; besides, he talked so frankly, that we might think there is no
danger. I asked him, Was there any more to be settled between us in my
affair? He said, No; and answered my questions just as Tooke had got
them from others; so I hope I am safe. This has been a scurvy affair. I
believe Stella would have half laughed at me, to see a suspicious fellow
like me overreached. I saw Prince Eugene to-day at Court: I don’t think
him an ugly-faced fellow, but well enough, and a good shape.
14. The Parliament was to sit to-day, and met; but were adjourned by the
Queen’s directions till Thursday. She designs to make some important
speech then. She pretended illness; but I believe they were not ready,
and they expect some opposition: and the Scotch lords are angry, {382}
and must be pacified. I was this morning to invite the Duke of Ormond to
our Society on Thursday, where he is then to be introduced. He has
appointed me at twelve to-morrow about some business: I would fain have
his help to impeach a certain lord; but I doubt we shall make nothing of
it. I intended to have dined with Lord Treasurer, but I was told he
would be busy: so I dined with Mrs. Van; and at night I sat with Lord
Masham till one. Lord Treasurer was there, and chid me for not dining
with him: he was in very good humour. I brought home two flasks of
burgundy in my chair: I wish MD had them. You see it is very late; so
I’ll go to bed, and bid MD good night.
15. This morning I presented my printer and bookseller to Lord Rivers,
to be stationers to the Ordnance; stationers, that’s the word; I did not
write it plain at first. I believe it will be worth three hundred pounds
a year between them. This is the third employment I have got for them.
Rivers told them the Doctor commanded him, and he durst not refuse it. I
would have dined with Lord Treasurer to-day again, but Lord Mansel would
not let me, and forced me home with him. I was very deep with the Duke
of Ormond to-day at the Cockpit, where we met to be private; but I doubt
I cannot do the mischief I intended. My friend Penn came there, Will
Penn the Quaker, at the head of his brethren, to thank the Duke for his
kindness to their people in Ireland. To see a dozen scoundrels with
their hats on, and the Duke complimenting with his off, was a good sight
enough. I sat this evening with Sir William Robinson, {383} who has
mighty often invited me to a bottle of wine: and it is past twelve.
16. This being fast-day, Dr. Freind and I went into the City to dine
late, like good fasters. My printer and bookseller want me to hook in
another employment for them in the Tower, because it was enjoyed before
by a stationer, although it be to serve the Ordnance with oil, tallow,
etc., and is worth four hundred pounds per annum more: I will try what I
can do. They are resolved to ask several other employments of the same
nature to other offices; and I will then grease fat sows, and see whether
it be possible to satisfy them. Why am not I a stationer? The
Parliament sits to-morrow, and Walpole, late Secretary at War, is to be
swinged for bribery, and the Queen is to communicate something of great
importance to the two Houses, at least they say so. But I must think of
answering your letter in a day or two.
17. I went this morning to the Duke of Ormond about some business, and
he told me he could not dine with us to-day, being to dine with Prince
Eugene. Those of our Society of the House of Commons could not be with
us, the House sitting late on Walpole. I left them at nine, and they
were not come. We kept some dinner for them. I hope Walpole will be
sent to the Tower, and expelled the House; but this afternoon the members
I spoke with in the Court of Requests talked dubiously of it. It will be
a leading card to maul the Duke of Marlborough for the same crime, or at
least to censure him. The Queen’s message was only to give them notice
of the peace she is treating, and to desire they will make some law to
prevent libels against the Government; so farewell to Grub Street.
18. I heard to-day that the commoners of our Society did not leave the
Parliament till eleven at night, then went to those I left, and stayed
till three in the morning. Walpole is expelled, and sent to the Tower.
I was this morning again with Lord Rivers, and have made him give the
other employment to my printer and bookseller; ’tis worth a great deal.
I dined with my friend Lewis privately, to talk over affairs. We want to
have this Duke of Somerset out, and he apprehends it will not be, but I
hope better. They are going now at last to change the Commissioners of
the Customs; my friend Sir Matthew Dudley will be out, and three more,
and Prior will be in. I have made Ford copy out a small pamphlet, and
sent it to the press, that I might not be known for author; ’tis _A
Letter to the October Club_, {384} if ever you heard of such a
thing.—Methinks this letter goes on but slowly for almost a week: I want
some little conversation with MD, and to know what they are doing just
now. I am sick of politics. I have not dined with Lord Treasurer these
three weeks: he chides me, but I don’t care: I don’t.
19. I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer: this is his day of choice
company, where they sometimes admit me, but pretend to grumble. And
to-day they met on some extraordinary business; the Keeper, Steward, both
Secretaries, Lord Rivers, and Lord Anglesea: I left them at seven, and
came away, and have been writing to the Bishop of Clogher. I forgot to
know where to direct to him since Sir George St. George’s death, {385a}
but I have directed to the same house: you must tell me better, for the
letter is sent by the bellman. Don’t write to me again till this is
gone, I charge you, for I won’t answer two letters together. The Duke of
Somerset is out, and was with his yellow liveries at Parliament to-day.
You know he had the same with the Queen, when he was Master of the Horse:
we hope the Duchess will follow, or that he will take her away in spite.
Lord Treasurer, I hope, has now saved his head. Has the Dean received my
letter? ask him at cards to-night.
20. There was a world of people to-day at Court to see Prince Eugene,
but all bit, for he did not come. I saw the Duchess of Somerset talking
with the Duke of Buckingham; she looked a little down, but was extremely
courteous. The Queen has the gout, but is not in much pain. Must I fill
this line too? {385b} well then, so let it be. The Duke of Beaufort
{385c} has a mighty mind to come into our Society; shall we let him? I
spoke to the Duke of Ormond about it, and he doubts a little whether to
let him in or no. They say the Duke of Somerset is advised by his
friends to let his wife stay with the Queen; I am sorry for it. I dined
with the Secretary to-day, with mixed company; I don’t love it. Our
Society does not meet till Friday, because Thursday will be a busy day in
the House of Commons, for then the Duke of Marlborough’s bribery is to be
examined into about the pension paid him by those that furnished bread to
the army.
21. I have been five times with the Duke of Ormond about a perfect
trifle, and he forgets it: I used him like a dog this morning for it. I
was asked to-day by several in the Court of Requests whether it was true
that the author of the _Examiner_ was taken up in an action of twenty
thousand pounds by the Duke of Marlborough? {386a} I dined in the City,
where my printer showed me a pamphlet, called _Advice to the October
Club_, which he said was sent him by an unknown hand: I commended it
mightily; he never suspected me; ’tis a twopenny pamphlet. I came home
and got timely to bed; but about eleven one of the Secretary’s servants
came to me to let me know that Lord Treasurer would immediately speak to
me at Lord Masham’s upon earnest business, and that, if I was abed, I
should rise and come. I did so: Lord Treasurer was above with the Queen;
and when he came down he laughed, and said it was not he that sent for
me: the business was of no great importance, only to give me a paper,
which might have been done to-morrow. I stayed with them till past one,
and then got to bed again. Pize {386b} take their frolics. I thought to
have answered your letter.
22. Dr. Gastrell was to see me this morning: he is an eminent divine,
one of the canons of Christ Church, and one I love very well: he said he
was glad to find I was not with James Broad. I asked what he meant.
“Why,” says he, “have you not seen the Grub Street paper, that says Dr.
Swift was taken up as author of the _Examiner_, on an action of twenty
thousand pounds, and was now at James Broad’s?” who, I suppose, is some
bailiff. I knew of this; but at the Court of Requests twenty people told
me they heard I had been taken up. Lord Lansdowne observed to the
Secretary and me that the Whigs spread three lies yesterday; that about
me; and another, that Maccartney, who was turned out last summer, {387a}
is again restored to his places in the army; and the third, that Jack
Hill’s commission for Lieutenant of the Tower is stopped, and that
Cadogan is to continue. Lansdowne thinks they have some design by these
reports; I cannot guess it. Did I tell you that Sacheverell has desired
mightily to come and see me? but I have put it off: he has heard that I
have spoken to the Secretary in behalf of a brother whom he maintains,
and who desires an employment. {387b} T’other day at the Court of
Requests Dr. Yalden {387c} saluted me by name: Sacheverell, who was just
by, came up to me, and made me many acknowledgment and compliments. Last
night I desired Lord Treasurer to do something for that brother of
Sacheverell’s: he said he never knew he had a brother, but thanked me for
telling him, and immediately put his name in his table-book. {387d} I
will let Sacheverell know this, that he may take his measures
accordingly, but he shall be none of my acquaintance. I dined to-day
privately with the Secretary, left him at six, paid a visit or two, and
came home.
23. I dined again to-day with the Secretary, but could not despatch some
business I had with him, he has so much besides upon his hands at this
juncture, and preparing against the great business to-morrow, which we
are top full of. The Minister’s design is that the Duke of Marlborough
shall be censured as gently as possible, provided his friends will not
make head to defend him, but if they do, it may end in some severer
votes. A gentleman, who was just now with him, tells me he is much cast
down, and fallen away; but he is positive, if he has but ten friends in
the House, that they shall defend him to the utmost, and endeavour to
prevent the least censure upon him, which I think cannot be, since the
bribery is manifest. Sir Solomon Medina {388a} paid him six thousand
pounds a year to have the employment of providing bread for the army, and
the Duke owns it in his letter to the Commissioners of Accounts. I was
to-night at Lord Masham’s: Lord Dupplin took out my new little pamphlet,
and the Secretary read a great deal of it to Lord Treasurer: they all
commended it to the skies, and so did I, and they began a health to the
author. But I doubt Lord Treasurer suspected; for he said, “This is Mr.
Davenant’s style,” which is his cant when he suspects me. {388b} But I
carried the matter very well. Lord Treasurer put the pamphlet in his
pocket to read at home. I’ll answer your letter to-morrow.
24. The Secretary made me promise to dine with him to-day, after the
Parliament was up: I said I would come; but I dined at my usual time,
knowing the House would sit late on this great affair. I dined at a
tavern with Mr. Domville and another gentleman; I have not done so before
these many months. At ten this evening I went to the Secretary, but he
was not come home: I sat with his lady till twelve, then came away; and
he just came as I was gone, and he sent to my lodgings, but I would not
go back; and so I know not how things have passed, but hope all is well;
and I will tell you to-morrow day. It is late, etc.
25. The Secretary sent to me this morning to know whether we should dine
together. I went to him, and there I learned that the question went
against the Duke of Marlborough, by a majority of a hundred; so the
Ministry is mighty well satisfied, and the Duke will now be able to do no
hurt. The Secretary and I, and Lord Masham, etc., dined with
Lieutenant-General Withers, {389a} who is just going to look after the
army in Flanders: the Secretary and I left them a little after seven, and
I am come home, and will now answer your letter, because this goes
to-morrow: let me see—The box at Chester; oh, burn that box, and hang
that Sterne; I have desired one to inquire for it who went toward Ireland
last Monday, but I am in utter despair of it. No, I was not splenetic;
you see what plunges the Court has been at to set all right again. And
that Duchess is not out yet, and may one day cause more mischief.
Somerset shows all about a letter from the Queen, desiring him to let his
wife continue with her. Is not that rare! I find Dingley smelled a rat;
because the Whigs are _upish_; but if ever I hear that word again, I’ll
_uppish_ you. I am glad you got your rasp safe and sound; does Stella
like her apron? Your critics about guarantees of succession are puppies;
that’s an answer to the objection. The answerers here made the same
objection, but it is wholly wrong. I am of your opinion that Lord
Marlborough is used too hardly: I have often scratched out passages from
papers and pamphlets sent me, before they were printed, because I thought
them too severe. But he is certainly a vile man, and has no sort of
merit beside the military. The _Examiners_ are good for little: I would
fain have hindered the severity of the two or three last, but could not.
I will either bring your papers over, or leave them with Tooke, for whose
honesty I will engage. And I think it is best not to venture them with
me at sea. Stella is a prophet, by foretelling so very positively that
all would be well. Duke of Ormond speak against peace? No, simpleton,
he is one of the staunchest we have for the Ministry. Neither trouble
yourself about the printer: he appeared the first day of the term, and is
to appear when summoned again; but nothing else will come of it. Lord
Chief-Justice {389b} is cooled since this new settlement. No; I will not
split my journals in half; I will write but once a fortnight: but you may
do as you will; which is, read only half at once, and t’other half next
week. So now your letter is answered. (P— on these blots.) What must I
say more? I will set out in March, if there be a fit of fine weather;
unless the Ministry desire me to stay till the end of the session, which
may be a month longer; but I believe they will not: for I suppose the
peace will be made, and they will have no further service for me. I must
make my canal fine this summer, as fine as I can. I am afraid I shall
see great neglects among my quicksets. I hope the cherry-trees on the
river walk are fine things now. But no more of this.
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, {390} and, consequently, I suppose, gone to Ireland.
Farewell, dearest MD, etc. etc.