LONDON, _Jan._ 4, 1712–13.
I ENDED my last with the melancholy news of poor Lady Ashburnham’s death.
The Bishop of Clogher and Dr. Pratt made me dine with them to-day at Lord
Mountjoy’s, pursuant to an engagement, which I had forgot. Lady Mountjoy
told me that Maccartney was got safe out of our clutches, for she had
spoke with one who had a letter from him from Holland. Others say the
same thing. ’Tis hard such a dog should escape.—As I left Lord
Mountjoy’s I saw the Duke d’Aumont, the French Ambassador, going from
Lord Bolingbroke’s, where he dined, to have a private audience of the
Queen. I followed, and went up to Court, where there was a great crowd.
I was talking with the Duke of Argyle by the fireside in the bed-chamber,
when the Ambassador came out from the Queen. Argyle presented me to him,
and Lord Bolingbroke and we talked together a while. He is a fine
gentleman, something like the Duke of Ormond, and just such an expensive
man. After church to-day I showed the Bishop of Clogher, at Court, who
was who. Nite my two dee logues, and . . . {487b}
5. Our frost is broke, but it is bloody cold. Lord Treasurer is
recovered, and went out this evening to the Queen. I dined with Lady
Oxford, and then sat with Lord Treasurer while he went out. He gave me a
letter from an unknown hand, relating to Dr. Brown, {488a} Bishop of
Cork, recommending him to a better bishopric, as a person who opposed
Lord Wharton, and was made a bishop on that account, celebrating him for
a great politician, etc.: in short, all directly contrary to his
character, which I made bold to explain. What dogs there are in the
world! I was to see the poor Duke and Duchess of Ormond this morning.
The Duke was in his public room, with Mr. Southwell {488b} and two more
gentlemen. When Southwell and I were alone with him, he talked something
of Lord Ashburnham, that he was afraid the Whigs would get him again. He
bore up as well as he could, but something falling accidentally in
discourse, the tears were just falling out of his eyes, and I looked off
to give him an opportunity (which he took) of wiping them with his
handkerchief. I never saw anything so moving, nor such a mixture of
greatness of mind, and tenderness, and discretion. Nite MD.
6. Lord Bolingbroke and Parnell and I dined, by invitation, with my
friend Darteneuf, {488c} whom you have heard me talk of. Lord
Bolingbroke likes Parnell mightily; and it is pleasant to see that one
who hardly passed for anything in Ireland makes his way here with a
little friendly forwarding. It is scurvy rainy weather, and I have
hardly been abroad to-day, nor know anything that passes.—Lord Treasurer
is quite recovered, and I hope will be careful to keep himself well. The
Duchess of Marlborough is leaving England to go to her Duke, and makes
presents of rings to several friends, they say worth two hundred pounds
apiece. I am sure she ought to give me one, though the Duke pretended to
think me his greatest enemy, and got people to tell me so, and very
mildly to let me know how gladly he would have me softened toward him. I
bid a lady of his acquaintance and mine let him know that I had hindered
many a bitter thing against him; not for his own sake, but because I
thought it looked base; and I desired everything should be left him,
except power. Nite MD.
7. I dined with Lord and Lady Masham to-day, and this evening played at
ombre with Mrs. Vanhom, merely for amusement. The Ministers have got my
papers, and will neither read them nor give them to me; and I can hardly
do anything. Very warm slabby weather, but I made a shift to get a walk;
yet I lost half of it, by shaking off Lord Rochester, {489a} who is a
good, civil, simple man. The Bishop of Ossory will not be Bishop of
Hereford, {489b} to the great grief of himself and his wife. And hat is
MD doing now, I wonder? Playing at cards with the Dean and Mrs. Walls?
I think it is not certain yet that Maccartney is escaped. I am plagued
with bad authors, verse and prose, who send me their books and poems, the
vilest trash I ever saw; but I have given their names to my man, never to
let them see me. I have got new ink, and ’tis very white; and I don’t
see that it turns black at all. I’ll go to seep; ’tis past twelve.—Nite,
MD.
8. Oo must understand that I am in my geers, and have got a
chocolate-pot, a present from Mrs. Ashe of Clogher, and some chocolate
from my brother Ormond, and I treat folks sometimes. I dined with Lord
Treasurer at five o’clock to-day, and was by while he and Lord
Bolingbroke were at business; for it is fit I should know all that passes
now, because, etc. The Duke of Ormond employed me to speak to Lord
Treasurer to-day about an affair, and I did so; and the Duke had spoke
himself two hours before, which vexed me, and I will chide the Duke about
it. I’ll tell you a good thing; there is not one of the Ministry but
what will employ me as gravely to speak for them to Lord Treasurer as if
I were their brother or his; and I do it as gravely: though I know they
do it only because they will not make themselves uneasy, or had rather I
should be denied than they. I believe our peace will not be finished
these two months; for I think we must have a return from Spain by a
messenger, who will not go till Sunday next. Lord Treasurer has invited
me to dine with him again to-morrow. Your Commissioner, Keatley, {490a}
is to be there. Nite dee richar MD. {490b}
9. Dr. Pratt drank chocolate with me this morning, and then we walked.
I was yesterday with him to see Lady Betty Butler, grieving for her
sister Ashburnham. The jade was in bed in form, and she did so cant, she
made me sick. I meet Tom Leigh every day in the Park, to preserve his
health. He is as ruddy as a rose, and tells me his Bishop of Dromore
{490c} recovers very much. That Bishop has been very near dying. This
day’s _Examiner_ talks of the play of “What is it like?” {490d} and you
will think it to be mine, and be bit; for I have no hand in these papers
at all. I dined with Lord Treasurer, and shall again to-morrow, which is
his day when all the Ministers dine with him. He calls it whipping-day.
It is always on Saturday, and we do indeed usually rally him about his
faults on that day. I was of the original Club, when only poor Lord
Rivers, Lord Keeper, and Lord Bolingbroke came; but now Ormond, Anglesea,
Lord Steward, {490e} Dartmouth, and other rabble intrude, and I scold at
it; but now they pretend as good a title as I; and, indeed, many
Saturdays I am not there. The company being too many, I don’t love it.
Nite MD.
10. At seven this evening, as we sat after dinner at Lord Treasurer’s, a
servant said Lord Peterborow was at the door. Lord Treasurer and Lord
Bolingbroke went out to meet him, and brought him in. He was just
returned from abroad, where he has been above a year. Soon as he saw me,
he left the Duke of Ormond and other lords, and ran and kissed me before
he spoke to them; but chid me terribly for not writing to him, which I
never did this last time he was abroad, not knowing where he was; and he
changed places so often, it was impossible a letter should overtake him.
He left England with a bruise, by his coach overturning, that made him
spit blood, and was so ill, we expected every post to hear of his death;
but he outrode it or outdrank it, or something, and is come home lustier
than ever. He is at least sixty, and has more spirits than any young
fellow I know in England. He has got the old Oxford regiment of horse,
and I believe will have a Garter. I love the hang-dog dearly. Nite dee
MD.
11. The Court was crammed to-day to see {491a} the French Ambassador;
but he did not come. Did I never tell you that I go to Court on Sundays
as to a coffee-house, to see acquaintance, whom I should otherwise not
see twice a year? The Provost {491b} and I dined with Ned Southwell, by
appointment, in order to settle your kingdom, if my scheme can be
followed; but I doubt our Ministry will be too tedious. You must
certainly have a new Parliament; but they would have that a secret yet.
Our Parliament here will be prorogued for three weeks. Those puppies the
Dutch will not yet come in, though they pretend to submit to the Queen in
everything; but they would fain try first how our session begins, in
hopes to embroil us in the House of Lords: and if my advice had been
taken, the session should have begun, and we would have trusted the
Parliament to approve the steps already made toward the peace, and had an
Address perhaps from them to conclude without the Dutch, if they would
not agree.—Others are of my mind, but it is not reckoned so safe, it
seems; yet I doubt whether the peace will be ready so soon as three
weeks, but that is a secret. Nite MD.
12. Pratt and I walked into the City to one Bateman’s, {491c} a famous
bookseller, for old books. There I laid out four pounds like a fool, and
we dined at a hedge ale-house, for two shillings and twopence, like
emperors. Let me see, I bought Plutarch, two volumes, for thirty
shillings, etc. Well, I’ll tell you no more; oo don’t understand Greek.
{492a} We have no news, and I have nothing more to say to-day, and I
can’t finish my work. These Ministers will not find time to do what I
would have them. So nite, nown dee dallars.
13. I was to have dined to-day with Lord Keeper, but would not, because
that brute Sir John Walter {492b} was to be one of the company. You may
remember he railed at me last summer was twelvemonth at Windsor, and has
never begged my pardon, though he promised to do it; and Lord Mansel, who
was one of the company, would certainly have set us together by the ears,
out of pure roguish mischief. So I dined with Lord Treasurer, where
there was none but Lord Bolingbroke. I stayed till eight, and then went
to Lady Orkney’s, who has been sick, and sat with her till twelve, from
whence you may consider it is late, sollahs. The Parliament was
prorogued to-day, as I told you, for three weeks. Our weather is very
bad and slobbery, and I shall spoil my new hat (I have bought a new hat),
or empty my pockets. Does Hawkshaw pay the interest he owes? Lord
Abercorn plagues me to death. I have now not above six people to provide
for, and about as many to do good offices to; and thrice as many that I
will do nothing for; nor can I if I would. Nite dee MD.
14. To-day I took the circle of morning visits. I went to the Duchess
of Ormond, and there was she, and Lady Betty, and Lord Ashburnham
together: this was the first time the mother and daughter saw each other
since Lady Ashburnham’s death. They were both in tears, and I chid them
for being together, and made Lady Betty go to her own chamber; then sat a
while with the Duchess, and went after Lady Betty, and all was well.
There is something of farce in all these mournings, let them be ever so
serious. People will pretend to grieve more than they really do, and
that takes off from their true grief. I then went to the Duchess of
Hamilton, who never grieved, but raged, and stormed, and railed. {493a}
She is pretty quiet now, but has a diabolical temper. Lord Keeper and
his son, and their two ladies, and I, dined to-day with Mr. Cæsar, {493b}
Treasurer of the Navy, at his house in the City, where he keeps his
office. We happened to talk of Brutus, and I said something in his
praise, when it struck me immediately that I had made a blunder in doing
so; and, therefore, I recollected myself, and said, “Mr. Cæsar, I beg
your pardon.” So we laughed, etc. Nite, my own deelest richar logues,
MD.
15. I forgot to tell you that last night I had a present sent me (I
found it, when I came home, in my chamber) of the finest wild fowl I ever
saw, with the vilest letter, and from the vilest poet in the world, who
sent it me as a bribe to get him an employment. I knew not where the
scoundrel lived, so I could not send them back, and therefore I gave them
away as freely as I got them, and have ordered my man never to let up the
poet when he comes. The rogue should have kept the wings at least for
his muse. One of his fowls was a large capon pheasant, as fat as a
pullet. I ate share of it to-day with a friend. We have now a
Drawing-room every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at one o’clock. The
Queen does not come out; but all her Ministers, foreigners, and persons
of quality are at it. I was there to-day; and as Lord Treasurer came
towards me, I avoided him, and he hunted me thrice about the room. I
affect never to take notice of him at church or Court. He knows it, for
I have told him so; and to-night, at Lord Masham’s, he gave an account of
it to the company; but my reasons are, that people seeing me speak to him
causes a great deal of teasing. I tell you what comes into my head, that
I never knew whether MD were Whigs or Tories, and I value our
conversation the more that it never turned on that subject. I have a
fancy that Ppt is a Tory, and a violent one. I don’t know why; but
methinks she looks like one, and DD a sort of a Trimmer. Am I right? I
gave the Examiner a hint about this prorogation, and to praise the Queen
for her tenderness to the Dutch in giving them still more time to submit.
{494a} It fitted the occasions at present. Nite MD.
16. I was busy to-day at the Secretary’s office, and stayed till past
three. The Duke of Ormond and I were to dine at Lord Orkney’s. The Duke
was at the Committee, so I thought all was safe. When I went there, they
had almost dined; for the Duke had sent to excuse himself, which I never
knew. I came home at seven, and began a little whim, which just came
into my head; and will make a threepenny pamphlet. {494b} It shall be
finished and out in a week; and if it succeeds, you shall know what it
is; otherwise, not. I cannot send this to-morrow, and will put it off
till next Saturday, because I have much business. So my journals shall
be short, and Ppt must have patience. So nite, dee sollahs.
17. This rogue Parnell has not yet corrected his poem, and I would fain
have it out. I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer, and his Saturday
company, nine of us in all. They went away at seven, and Lord Treasurer
and I sat talking an hour after. After dinner he was talking to the
lords about the speech the Queen must make when the Parliament meets. He
asked me how I would make it. I was going to be serious, because it was
seriously put; but I turned it to a jest. And because they had been
speaking of the Duchess of Marlborough going to Flanders after the Duke,
I said the speech should begin thus: “My Lords and Gentlemen, In order to
my own quiet, and that of my subjects, I have thought fit to send the
Duchess of Marlborough abroad after the Duke.” This took well, and
turned off the discourse. I must tell you I do not at all like the
present situation of affairs, and remember I tell you so. Things must be
on another foot, or we are all undone. I hate this driving always to an
inch. Nite MD.
18. We had a mighty full Court to-day. Dilly was with me at the French
church, and edified mightily. The Duke of Ormond and I dined at Lord
Orkney’s; but I left them at seven, and came home to my whim. I have
made a great progress. My large Treatise {495a} stands stock still.
Some think it too dangerous to publish, and would have me print only what
relates to the peace. I cannot tell what I shall do.—The Bishop of
Dromore is dying. They thought yesterday he could not live two hours;
yet he is still alive, but is utterly past all hopes. Go to cards,
sollahs, and nite.
19. I was this morning to see the Duke and Duchess of Ormond. The Duke
d’Aumont came in while I was with the Duke of Ormond, and we complimented
each other like dragons. A poor fellow called at the door where I lodge,
with a parcel of oranges for a present for me. I bid my man know what
his name was, and whence he came. He sent word his name was Bun, and
that I knew him very well. I bid my man tell him I was busy, and he
could not speak to me; and not to let him leave his oranges. I know no
more of it, but I am sure I never heard the name, and I shall take no
such presents from strangers. Perhaps he might be only some beggar, who
wanted a little money. Perhaps it might be something worse. Let them
keep their poison for their rats. I don’t love it. {495b} That blot is
a blunder. Nite dee MD. . . .
20. A Committee of our Society dined to-day with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer. Our Society does not meet now as usual, for which I am
blamed: but till Lord Treasurer will agree to give us money and
employments to bestow, I am averse to it; and he gives us nothing but
promises. The Bishop of Dromore is still alive, and that is all. We
expect every day he will die, and then Tom Leigh must go back, which is
one good thing to the town. I believe Pratt will drive at one of these
bishoprics. Our English bishopric {496a} is not yet disposed of. I
believe the peace will not be ready by the session. Nite MD.
21. I was to-day with my printer, to give him a little pamphlet I have
written, but not politics. It will be out by Monday. If it succeeds, I
will tell you of it; otherwise, not. We had a prodigious thaw to-day, as
bad as rain; yet I walked like a good boy all the way. The Bishop of
Dromore still draws breath, but cannot live two days longer. My large
book lies flat. Some people think a great part of it ought not to be now
printed. I believe I told you so before. This letter shall not go till
Saturday, which makes up the three weeks exactly; and I allow MD six
weeks, which are now almost out; so oo must know I expect a rettle vely
soon, and that MD is vely werr; {496b} and so nite, dee MD.
22. This is one of our Court days, and I was there. I told you there is
a Drawing-room, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The Hamiltons and
Abercorns have done teasing me. The latter, I hear, is actually going to
France. Lord Treasurer quarrelled with me at Court for being four days
without dining with him; so I dined there to-day, and he has at last
fallen in with my project (as he calls it) of coining halfpence and
farthings, with devices, like medals, in honour of the Queen, every year
changing the device. I wish it may be done. Nite MD.
23. The Duke of Ormond and I appointed to dine with Ned Southwell
to-day, to talk of settling your affairs of Parliament in Ireland, but
there was a mixture of company, and the Duke of Ormond was in haste, and
nothing was done. If your Parliament meets this summer, it must be a new
one; but I find some are of opinion there should be none at all these two
years. I will trouble myself no more about it. My design was to serve
the Duke of Ormond. Dr. Pratt and I sat this evening with the Bishop of
Clogher, and played at ombre for threepences. That, I suppose, is but
low with you. I found, at coming home, a letter from MD, N. 37. I shall
not answer it zis bout, but will the next. I am sorry for poo poo Ppt.
Pray walk hen oo can. I have got a terrible new cold before my old one
was quite gone, and don’t know how. Pay. . . . {497a} I shall have DD’s
money soon from the Exchequer. The Bishop of Dromore is dead now at
last. Nite, dee MD.
24. I was at Court to-day, and it was comical to see Lord Abercorn
bowing to me, but not speaking, and Lord Selkirk the same. {497b} I
dined with Lord Treasurer and his Saturday Club, and sat with him two
hours after the rest were gone, and spoke freer to him of affairs than I
am afraid others do, who might do more good. All his friends repine, and
shrug their shoulders; but will not deal with him so freely as they
ought. It is an odd business; the Parliament just going to sit, and no
employments given. They say they will give them in a few days. There is
a new bishop made of Hereford; {497c} so Ossory {497d} is disappointed.
I hinted so to his friends two months ago, to make him leave off deluding
himself, and being indiscreet, as he was. I have just time to send this,
without giving to the bellman. Nite deelest richar MD. . . . dee MD MD
MD FW FW FW ME ME ME Lele Lele Lele.
My second cold is better now. Lele lele lele lele.