LONDON, _Dec._ 18, 1712.
OUR Society was to meet to-day; but Lord Harley, who was President this
week, could not attend, being gone to Wimbledon with his new
brother-in-law, the young Marquis of Caermarthen, who married Lady Betty
Harley on Monday last; and Lord Treasurer is at Wimbledon too. However,
half a dozen of us met, and I propose our meetings should be once a
fortnight; for, between you and me, we do no good. It cost me nineteen
shillings to-day for my Club at dinner; I don’t like it, fais. We have
terrible snowy slobbery weather. Lord Abercorn is come to town, and will
see me, whether I will or no. You know he has a pretence to a dukedom in
France, which the Duke of Hamilton was soliciting for; but Abercorn
resolves to spoil their title, if they will not allow him a fourth part;
and I have advised the Duchess to compound with him, and have made the
Ministry of my opinion. Night, dee sollahs, MD, MD.
19. Ay mally zis is sumsing rike, {477a} for Pdfr to write journals
again! ’Tis as natural as mother’s milk, now I am got into it. Lord
Treasurer is returned from Wimbledon (’tis not above eight miles off),
and sent for me to dine with him at five; but I had the grace to be
abroad, and dined with some others, with honest Ben Tooke, by invitation.
The Duchess of Ormond promised me her picture, and coming home to-night,
I found hers and the Duke’s both in my chamber. Was not that a pretty
civil surprise? Yes, and they are in fine gilded frames, too. I am
writing a letter to thank her, which I will send to-morrow morning. I’ll
tell her she is such a prude that she will not let so much as her picture
be alone in a room with _a man_, unless the Duke’s be with it; and so
forth. {477b} We are full of snow, and dabbling. Lady Masham has come
abroad these three days, and seen the Queen. I dined with her t’other
day at her sister Hill’s. I hope she will remove in a few days to her
new lodgings at St. James’s from Kensington. Nite, dee logues MD.
20. I lodge [up] two pair of stairs, have but one room, and deny myself
to everybody almost, yet I cannot be quiet; and all my mornings are lost
with people, who will not take answers below stairs; such as Dilly, and
the Bishop, and Provost, etc. Lady Orkney invited me to dinner to-day,
which hindered me from dining with Lord Treasurer. This is his day that
his chief friends in the Ministry dine with him. However, I went there
about six, and sat with them till past nine, when they all went off; but
he kept me back, and told me the circumstances of Lady Betty’s match.
The young fellow has £60,000 ready money, three great houses furnished,
£7,000 a year at present, and about five more after his father and mother
die. I think Lady Betty’s portion is not above £8,000. I remember
either Tisdall writ to me in somebody’s letter, or you did it for him,
that I should mention him on occasion to Lord Anglesea, with whom, he
said, he had some little acquaintance. Lord Anglesea was with me
to-night at Lord Treasurer’s; and then I asked him about Tisdall, and
described him. He said he never saw him, but that he had sent him his
book. {478a} See what it is to be a puppy. Pray tell Mr. Walls that
Lord Anglesea thanked me for recommending Clements {478b} to him; that he
says he is £20,000 the better for knowing Clements. But pray don’t let
Clements go and write a letter of thanks, and tell my lord that he hears
so and so, etc. Why, ’tis but like an Irish understanding to do so. Sad
weather; two shillings in coaches to-day, and yet I am dirty. I am now
going to read over something and correct it. So, nite.
21. Puppies have got a new way of plaguing me. I find letters directed
for me at Lord Treasurer’s, sometimes with enclosed ones to him, and
sometimes with projects, and some times with libels. I usually keep them
three or four days without opening. I was at Court to-day, as I always
am on Sundays, instead of a coffee-house, to see my acquaintance. This
day se’nnight, after I had been talking at Court with Sir William
Wyndham, the Spanish Ambassador {478c} came to him and said he heard that
was Dr. Swift, and desired him to tell me that his master, and the King
of France, and the Queen, were more obliged to me than any man in Europe;
so we bowed, and shook hands, etc. I took it very well of him. I dined
with Lord Treasurer, and must again to-morrow, though I had rather not
(as DD says); but now the Queen is in town, he does not keep me so late.
I have not had time to see Fanny Manley since she came, but intend it one
of these days. Her uncle, Jack Manley, {479a} I hear, cannot live a
month, which will be a great loss to her father in Ireland, for I believe
he is one of his chief supports. Our peace now will soon be determined;
for Lord Bolingbroke tells me this morning that four provinces of Holland
{479b} have complied with the Queen, and we expect the rest will do so
immediately. Nite MD.
22. Lord Keeper promised me yesterday the first convenient living to
poor Mr. Gery, {479c} who is married, and wants some addition to what he
has. He is a very worthy creature. I had a letter some weeks ago from
Elwick, {479d} who married Betty Gery. It seems the poor woman died some
time last summer. Elwick grows rich, and purchases lands. I dined with
Lord Treasurer to-day, who has engaged me to come again to-morrow. I
gave Lord Bolingbroke a poem of Parnell’s. {479e} I made Parnell insert
some compliments in it to his lordship. He is extremely pleased with it,
and read some parts of it to-day to Lord Treasurer, who liked it as much.
And indeed he outdoes all our poets here a bar’s length. Lord
Bolingbroke has ordered me to bring him to dinner on Christmas Day, and I
made Lord Treasurer promise to see him; and it may one day do Parnell a
kindness. You know Parnell. I believe I have told you of that poem.
Nite, deel MD.
23. This morning I presented one Diaper, {479f} a poet, to Lord
Bolingbroke, with a new poem, which is a very good one; and I am to give
him a sum of money from my lord; and I have contrived to make a parson of
him, for he is half one already, being in deacon’s orders, and serves a
small cure in the country; but has a sword at his a— here in town. ’Tis
a poor little short wretch, but will do best in a gown, and we will make
Lord Keeper give him a living. Lord Bolingbroke writ to Lord Treasurer
to excuse me to-day; so I dined with the former, and Monteleon, the
Spanish Ambassador, who made me many compliments. I stayed till nine,
and now it is past ten, and my man has locked me up, and I have just
called to mind that I shall be in disgrace with Tom Leigh. {480a} That
coxcomb had got into acquaintance with one Eckershall, {480b} Clerk of
the Kitchen to the Queen, who was civil to him at Windsor on my account;
for I had done some service to Eckershall. Leigh teases me to pass an
evening at his lodgings with Eckershall. I put it off several times, but
was forced at last to promise I would come to-night; and it never was in
my head till I was locked up, and I have called and called, but my man is
gone to bed; so I will write an excuse to-morrow. I detest that Tom
Leigh, and am as formal to him as I can when I happen to meet him in the
Park. The rogue frets me, if he knew it. He asked me why I did not wait
on the Bishop of Dromore. {480c} I answered I had not the honour to be
acquainted with him, and would not presume, etc. He takes me seriously,
and says the Bishop is no proud man, etc. He tells me of a judge in
Ireland that has done ill things. I ask why he is not out? Says he, “I
think the bishops, and you, and I, and the rest of the clergy, should
meet and consult about it.” I beg his pardon, and say, “I cannot be
serviceable that way.” He answers, “Yes, everybody may help
something.”—Don’t you see how curiously he contrives to vex me; for the
dog knows that with half a word I could do more than all of them
together. But he only does it from the pride and envy of his own heart,
and not out of a humorous design of teasing. He is one of those that
would rather a service should not be done, than done by a private man,
and of his own country. You take all this, don’t you? Nite dee sollahs,
I’ll go seep a dozey.
24. I dined to-day with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in order to
look over some of my papers; but nothing was done. I have been also
mediating between the Hamilton family and Lord Abercorn, to have them
compound with him; and I believe they will do it. Lord Selkirk, {480d}
the late Duke’s brother, is to be in town, in order to go to France, to
make the demands; and the Ministry are of opinion they will get some
satisfaction, and they empowered me to advise the Hamilton side to agree
with Abercorn, who asks a fourth part, and will go to France and spoil
all if they won’t yield it. Nite sollahs.
25. All melly Titmasses—melly Titmasses—I said it first—I wish it a
souzand [times] zoth with halt {481a} and soul. {481b} I carried Parnell
to dine at Lord Bolingbroke’s, and he behaved himself very well; and Lord
Bolingbroke is mightily pleased with him. I was at St. James’s Chapel by
eight this morning; and church and sacrament were done by ten. The Queen
has the gout in her hand, and did not come to church to-day; and I stayed
so long in my chamber that I missed going to Court. Did I tell you that
the Queen designs to have a Drawing-room and company every day? Nite dee
logues.
26. I was to wish the Duke of Ormond a happy Christmas, and give half a
crown to his porter. It will cost me a dozen half-crowns among such
fellows. I dined with Lord Treasurer, who chid me for being absent three
days. Mighty kind, with a p—; less of civility, and more of his
interest! We hear Maccartney is gone over to Ireland. Was it not
comical for a gentleman to be set upon by highwaymen, and to tell them he
was Maccartney? Upon which they brought him to a justice of peace, in
hopes of the reward, {481c} and the rogues were sent to gaol. Was it not
great presence of mind? But maybe you heard this already; for there was
a Grub Street of it. Lord Bolingbroke told me I must walk away to-day
when dinner was done, because Lord Treasurer, and he, and another, were
to enter upon business; but I said it was as fit I should know their
business as anybody, for I was to justify [it]. {482} So the rest went,
and I stayed, and it was so important, I was like to sleep over it. I
left them at nine, and it is now twelve. Nite, MD.
27. I dined to-day with General Hill, Governor of Dunkirk. Lady Masham
and Mrs. Hill, his two sisters, were of the company, and there have I
been sitting this evening till eleven, looking over others at play; for I
have left off loving play myself; and I think Ppt is now a great
gamester. I have a great cold on me, not quite at its height. I have
them seldom, and therefore ought to be patient. I met Mr. Addison and
Pastoral Philips on the Mall to-day, and took a turn with them; but they
both looked terrible dry and cold. A curse of party! And do you know I
have taken more pains to recommend the Whig wits to the favour and mercy
of the Ministers than any other people. Steele I have kept in his place.
Congreve I have got to be used kindly, and secured. Rowe I have
recommended, and got a promise of a place. Philips I could certainly
have provided for, if he had not run party mad, and made me withdraw my
recommendation; and I set Addison so right at first that he might have
been employed, and have partly secured him the place he has; yet I am
worse used by that faction than any man. Well, go to cards, sollah Ppt,
and dress the wine and olange, sollah MD, and I’ll go seep. ’Tis rate.
Nite MD.
28. My cold is so bad that I could not go to church to-day, nor to
Court; but I was engaged to Lord Orkney’s with the Duke of Ormond, at
dinner; and ventured, because I could cough and spit there as I pleased.
The Duke and Lord Arran left us, and I have been sitting ever since with
Lord and Lady Orkney till past eleven: and my cold is worse, and makes me
giddy. I hope it is only my cold. Oh, says Ppt, everybody is giddy with
a cold; I hope it is no more; but I’ll go to bed, for the fellow has
bawled “Past twelve.” Night, deels.
29. I got out early to-day, and escaped all my duns. I went to see Lord
Bolingbroke about some business, and truly he was gone out too. I dined
in the City upon the broiled leg of a goose and a bit of brawn, with my
printer. Did I tell you that I forbear printing what I have in hand,
till the Court decides something about me? I will contract no more
enemies, at least I will not embitter worse those I have already, till I
have got under shelter; and the Ministers know my resolution, so that you
may be disappointed in seeing this thing as soon as you expected. I hear
Lord Treasurer is out of order. My cold is very bad. Every[body] has
one. Nite two dee logues.
30. I suppose this will be full by Saturday; zen {483a} it sall go.
Duke of Ormond, Lord Arran, and I, dined privately to-day at an old
servant’s house of his. The Council made us part at six. One Mrs.
Ramsay dined with us; an old lady of about fifty-five, that we are all
very fond of. I called this evening at Lord Treasurer’s, and sat with
him two hours. He has been cupped for a cold, and has been very ill. He
cannot dine with Parnell and me at Lord Bolingbroke’s to-morrow, but says
he will see Parnell some other time. I hoise {483b} up Parnell partly to
spite the envious Irish folks here, particularly Tom Leigh. I saw the
Bishop of Clogher’s family to-day; Miss is mighty ill of a cold, coughs
incessantly. {483c} Nite MD.
31. To-day Parnell and I dined with Lord Bolingbroke, to correct
Parnell’s poem. I made him show all the places he disliked; and when
Parnell has corrected it fully he shall print it. I went this evening to
sit with Lord Treasurer. He is better, and will be out in a day or two.
I sat with him while the young folks went to supper; and then went down,
and there were the young folks merry together, having turned Lady Oxford
up to my lord, and I stayed with them till twelve. There was the young
couple, Lord and Lady Caermarthen, and Lord and Lady Dupplin, and Lord
Harley and I; and the old folks were together above. It looked like what
I have formerly done so often; stealing together from the old folks,
though indeed it was not from poor Lord Treasurer, who is as young a
fellow as any of us: but Lady Oxford is a silly mere old woman. {484a}
My cold is still so bad that I have not the least smelling. I am just
got home, and ’tis past twelve; and I’ll go to bed, and settle my head,
heavy as lead. Nite MD.
Jan. 1, 1712–13. A sousand melly new eels {484b} to deelest richar MD.
Pray God Almighty bless you, and send you ever happy! I forgot to tell
you that yesterday Lord Abercorn was here, teasing me about his French
duchy, and suspecting my partiality to the Hamilton family in such a
whimsical manner that Dr. Pratt, who was by, thought he was mad. He was
no sooner gone but Lord Orkney sent to know whether he might come and sit
with me half an hour upon some business. I returned answer that I would
wait on him; which I did. We discoursed a while, and he left me with
Lady Orkney; and in came the Earl of Selkirk, whom I had never seen
before. He is another brother of the Duke of Hamilton, and is going to
France, by a power from his mother, the old Duchess, {484c} to negotiate
their pretensions to the duchy of Chatelherault. He teased me for two
hours in spite of my teeth, and held my hand when I offered to stir;
would have had me engage the Ministry to favour him against Lord
Abercorn, and to convince them that Lord Abercorn had no pretensions; and
desired I would also convince Lord Abercorn himself so; and concluded he
was sorry I was a greater friend to Abercorn than Hamilton. I had no
patience, and used him with some plainness. Am not I purely handled
between a couple of puppies? Ay, says Ppt, you must be meddling in other
folks’ affairs. I appeal to the Bishop of Clogher whether Abercorn did
not complain that I would not let him see me last year, and that he swore
he would take no denial from my servant when he came again. The
Ministers gave me leave to tell the Hamilton family it was their opinion
that they ought to agree with Abercorn. Lord Anglesea was then by, and
told Abercorn; upon which he gravely tells me I was commissioned by the
Ministers, and ought to perform my commission, etc.—But I’ll have done
with them. I have warned Lord Treasurer and Lord Bolingbroke to beware
of Selkirk’s teasing, —x on him! Yet Abercorn vexes me more. The whelp
owes to me all the kind receptions he has had from the Ministry. I dined
to-day at Lord Treasurer’s with the young folks, and sat with Lord
Treasurer till nine, and then was forced to Lady Masham’s, and sat there
till twelve, talking of affairs, till I am out of humour, as everyone
must that knows them inwardly. A thousand things wrong, most of them
easy to mend; yet our schemes availing at best but little, and sometimes
nothing at all. One evil, which I twice patched up with the hazard of
all the credit I had, is now spread more than ever. {485a} But burn
politics, and send me from Courts and Ministers! Nite deelest richar MD.
2. I sauntered about this morning, and went with Dr. Pratt to a picture
auction, where I had like to be drawn in to buy a picture that I was fond
of, but, it seems, was good for nothing. Pratt was there to buy some
pictures for the Bishop of Clogher, who resolves to lay out ten pounds to
furnish his house with curious pieces. We dined with the Bishop, I being
by chance disengaged. And this evening I sat with the Bishop of Ossory,
{485b} who is laid up with the gout. The French Ambassador, Duke
d’Aumont, {485c} came to town to-night; and the rabble conducted him home
with shouts. I cannot smell yet, though my cold begins to break. It
continues cruel hard frosty weather. Go and be melly, . . . sollahs.
{486a}
3. Lord Dupplin and I went with Lord and Lady Orkney this morning at ten
to Wimbledon, six miles off, to see Lord and Lady Caermarthen. It is
much the finest place about this town. Did oo never see it? I was once
there before, about five years ago. You know Lady Caermarthen is Lord
Treasurer’s daughter, married about three weeks ago. I hope the young
fellow will be a good husband.—I must send this away now. I came back
just by nightfall, cruel cold weather; I have no smell yet, but my cold
something better. Nite (?) sollahs; I’ll take my reeve. I forget how
MD’s accounts are. Pray let me know always timely before MD wants; and
pray give the bill on t’other side to Mrs. Brent as usual. I believe I
have not paid her this great while. Go, play cards, and . . . rove Pdfr.
Nite richar MD . . . roves Pdfr. FW lele . . . MD MD MD MD MD FW FW FW
FW MD MD Lele . . . {486b}
The six odd shillings, tell Mrs. Brent, are for her new year’s gift.
* * * * *
I {486c} am just now told that poor dear Lady Ashburnham, {486d} the Duke
of Ormond’s daughter, died yesterday at her country house. The poor
creature was with child. She was my greatest favourite, and I am in
excessive concern for her loss. I hardly knew a more valuable person on
all accounts. You must have heard me talk of her. I am afraid to see
the Duke and Duchess. She was naturally very healthy; I am afraid she
has been thrown away for want of care. Pray condole with me. ’Tis
extremely moving. Her lord’s a puppy; and I shall never think it worth
my while to be troubled with him, now he has lost all that was valuable
in his possession; yet I think he used her pretty well. I hate life when
I think it exposed to such accidents; and to see so many thousand
wretches burdening the earth, while such as her die, makes me think God
did never intend life for a blessing. Farewell.