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 to-day, 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 {391} 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 Fées_, {392a} 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 {392b} had
yesterday resigned her employment of lady of the bed-chamber, and that
Lady Jane Hyde, {392c} 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 {392d} 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.
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 {393a}
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, {393b} 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, {393c} and Higgins, {393d} and Lord Santry; {393e} 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, {393f} 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; {394a} 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 {394b} 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 {394c} 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.
2. This ends Christmas, {395a} and what care I? I have neither seen,
nor felt, nor heard any Christmas this year. I passed a lazy dull day.
I was this morning with Lord Treasurer, to get some papers from him,
which he will remember as much as a cat, although it be his own business.
It threatened rain, but did not much; and Prior and I walked an hour in
the Park, which quite put me out of my measures. I dined with a friend
hard by; and in the evening sat with Lord Masham till twelve. Lord
Treasurer did not come; this is an idle dining-day usually with him. We
want to hear from Holland how our peace goes on; for we are afraid of
those scoundrels the Dutch, lest they should play us tricks. Lord Mar,
{395b} a Scotch earl, was with us at Lord Masham’s: I was arguing with
him about the stubbornness and folly of his countrymen; they are so angry
about the affair of the Duke of Hamilton, whom the Queen has made a duke
of England, and the House of Lords will not admit him. He swears he
would vote for us, but dare not, because all Scotland would detest him if
he did: he should never be chosen again, nor be able to live there.
3. I was at Court to-day to look for a dinner, but did not like any that
were offered me; and I dined with Lord Mountjoy. The Queen has the gout
in her knee, and was not at chapel. I hear we have a Dutch mail, but I
know not what news, although I was with the Secretary this morning. He
showed me a letter from the Hanover Envoy, Mr. Bothmar, complaining that
the Barrier Treaty is laid before the House of Commons; and desiring that
no infringement may be made in the guarantee of the succession; but the
Secretary has written him a peppering answer. I fancy you understand all
this, and are able states-girls, since you have read the _Conduct of the
Allies_. We are all preparing against the Birthday; I think it is
Wednesday next. If the Queen’s gout increases, it will spoil sport.
Prince Eugene has two fine suits made against it; and the Queen is to
give him a sword worth four thousand pounds, the diamonds set
transparent.
4. I was this morning soliciting at the House of Commons’ door for Mr.
Vesey, a son of the Archbishop of Tuam, {396} who has petitioned for a
Bill to relieve him in some difficulty about his estate: I secured him
above fifty members. I dined with Lady Masham. We have no packet from
Holland, as I was told yesterday: and this wind will hinder many people
from appearing at the Birthday, who expected clothes from Holland. I
appointed to meet a gentleman at the Secretary’s to-night, and they both
failed. The House of Commons have this day made many severe votes about
our being abused by our Allies. Those who spoke drew all their arguments
from my book, and their votes confirm all I writ; the Court had a
majority of a hundred and fifty: all agree that it was my book that
spirited them to these resolutions; I long to see them in print. My head
has not been as well as I could wish it for some days past, but I have
not had any giddy fit, and I hope it will go over.
5. The Secretary turned me out of his room this morning, and showed me
fifty guineas rolled up, which he was going to give some French spy. I
dined with four Irishmen at a tavern to-day: I thought I had resolved
against it before, but I broke it. I played at cards this evening at
Lady Masham’s, but I only played for her while she was waiting; and I won
her a pool, and supped there. Lord Treasurer was with us, but went away
before twelve. The ladies and lords have all their clothes ready against
to-morrow: I saw several mighty fine, and I hope there will be a great
appearance, in spite of that spiteful French fashion of the Whiggish
ladies not to come, which they have all resolved to a woman; and I hope
it will more spirit the Queen against them for ever.
6. I went to dine at Lord Masham’s at three, and met all the company
just coming out of Court; a mighty crowd: they stayed long for their
coaches: I had an opportunity of seeing several lords and ladies of my
acquaintance in their fineries. Lady Ashburnham {397a} looked the best
in my eyes. They say the Court was never fuller nor finer. Lord
Treasurer, his lady, and two daughters and Mrs. Hill, dined with Lord and
Lady Masham; the five ladies were monstrous fine. The Queen gave Prince
Eugene the diamond sword to-day; but nobody was by when she gave it
except my Lord Chamberlain. There was an entertainment of opera songs at
night, and the Queen was at all the entertainment, and is very well after
it. I saw Lady Wharton, {397b} as ugly as the devil, coming out in the
crowd all in an undress; she has been with the Marlborough daughters
{397c} and Lady Bridgewater {397d} in St. James’s, looking out of the
window all undressed to see the sight. I do not hear that one Whig lady
was there, except those of the bed-chamber. Nothing has made so great a
noise as one Kelson’s chariot, that cost nine hundred and thirty pounds,
the finest was ever seen. The rabble huzzaed him as much as they did
Prince Eugene. This is Birthday chat.
7. Our Society met to-day: the Duke of Ormond was not with us; we have
lessened our dinners, which were grown so extravagant that Lord Treasurer
and everybody else cried shame. I left them at seven, visited for an
hour, and then came home, like a good boy. The Queen is much better
after yesterday’s exercise: her friends wish she would use a little more.
I opposed Lord Jersey’s {397e} election into our Society, and he is
refused: I likewise opposed the Duke of Beaufort; but I believe he will
be chosen in spite of me: I don’t much care; I shall not be with them
above two months; for I resolve to set out for Ireland the beginning of
April next (before I treat them again), and see my willows.
8. I dined to-day in the City. This morning a scoundrel dog, one of the
Queen’s music, a German, whom I had never seen, got access to me in my
chamber by Patrick’s folly, and gravely desired me to get an employment
in the Customs for a friend of his, who would be very grateful; and
likewise to forward a project of his own, for raising ten thousand pounds
a year upon operas: I used him civiller than he deserved; but it vexed me
to the pluck. {398a} He was told I had a mighty interest with Lord
Treasurer, and one word of mine, etc. Well; I got home early on purpose
to answer MD’s letter, N. 26; for this goes to-morrow.—Well; I never saw
such a letter in all my life; so saucy, so journalish, so sanguine, so
pretending, so everything. I satisfied all your fears in my last: all is
gone well, as you say; yet you are an impudent slut to be so positive;
you will swagger so upon your sagacity that we shall never have done.
Pray don’t mislay your reply; I would certainly print it, if I had it
here: how long is it? I suppose half a sheet: was the answer written in
Ireland? Yes, yes, you shall have a letter when you come from Ballygall.
I need not tell you again who’s out and who’s in: we can never get out
the Duchess of Somerset.—So, they say Presto writ the _Conduct_, etc. Do
they like it? I don’t care whether they do or no; but the resolutions
printed t’other day in the Votes are almost quotations from it, and would
never have passed if that book had not been written. I will not meddle
with the Spectator, let him fair-sex it to the world’s end. My disorder
is over, but blood was not from the p-les.—Well, Madam Dingley, the
frost; why, we had a great frost, but I forget how long ago; it lasted
above a week or ten days: I believe about six weeks ago; but it did not
break so soon with us, I think, as December 29; yet I think it was about
that time, on second thoughts. MD can have no letter from Presto, says
you; and yet four days before you own you had my thirty-seventh,
unreasonable sluts! The Bishop of Gloucester is not dead, {398b} and I
am as likely to succeed the Duke of Marlborough as him if he were;
there’s enough for that now. It is not unlikely that the Duke of
Shrewsbury will be your Governor; at least I believe the Duke of Ormond
will not return.—Well, Stella again: why, really three editions of the
_Conduct_, etc., is very much for Ireland; it is a sign you have some
honest among you. Well; I will do Mr. Manley {399a} all the service I
can; but he will ruin himself. What business had he to engage at all
about the City? Can’t he wish his cause well, and be quiet, when he
finds that stirring will do it no good, and himself a great deal of hurt?
I cannot imagine who should open my letter: it must be done at your
side.—If I hear of any thoughts of turning out Mr. Manley, I will
endeavour to prevent it. I have already had all the gentlemen of Ireland
here upon my back often, for defending him. So now I have answered your
saucy letter. My humble service to Goody Stoyte and Catherine; I will
come soon for my dinner.
9. Morning. My cold goes off at last; but I think I have got a small
new one. I have no news since last. They say we hear by the way of
Calais, that peace is very near concluding. I hope it may be true. I’ll
go and seal up my letter, and give it myself to-night into the
post-office; and so I bid my dearest MD farewell till to-night. I
heartily wish myself with them, as hope saved. My willows, and
quicksets, and trees, will be finely improved, I hope, this year. It has
been fine hard frosty weather yesterday and to-day. Farewell, etc. etc.
etc.