LETTER 3.
LONDON, Sept. 9, 1710.
After seeing the Duke of Ormond, dining with Dr. Cockburn,[1] passing some
part of the afternoon with Sir Matthew Dudley[2] and Will Frankland, the rest
at St. James's Coffee-house, I came home, and writ to the Archbishop of
Dublin and MD, and am going to bed. I forgot to tell you, that I begged Will
Frankland to stand Manley's[3] friend with his father in this shaking season
for places. He told me, his father was in danger to be out; that several were
now soliciting for Manley's place; that he was accused of opening letters;
that Sir Thomas Frankland[4] would sacrifice everything to save himself; and
in that, I fear, Manley is undone, etc.
l0. To-day I dined with Lord Mountjoy at Kensington; saw my mistress, Ophy
Butler's[5] wife, who is grown a little charmless. I sat till ten in the
evening with Addison and Steele: Steele will certainly lose his Gazetteer's
place, all the world detesting his engaging in parties.[6] At ten I went to
the Coffee-house, hoping to find Lord Radnor,[7] whom I had not seen. He was
there; and for an hour and a half we talked treason heartily against the
Whigs, their baseness and ingratitude. And I am come home, rolling
resentments in my mind, and framing schemes of revenge: full of which (having
written down some hints) I go to bed. I am afraid MD dined at home, because
it is Sunday; and there was the little half-pint of wine: for God's sake, be
good girls, and all will be well. Ben Tooke[8] was with me this morning.
11. Seven, morning. I am rising to go to Jervas to finish my picture, and
'tis shaving-day, so good-morrow MD; but don't keep me now, for I can't stay;
and pray dine with the Dean, but don't lose your money. I long to hear from
you, etc.--Ten at night. I sat four hours this morning to Jervas, who has
given my picture quite another turn, and now approves it entirely; but we must
have the approbation of the town. If I were rich enough, I would get a copy
of it, and bring it over. Mr. Addison and I dined together at his lodgings,
and I sat with him part of this evening; and I am now come home to write an
hour. Patrick[9] observes, that the rabble here are much more inquisitive in
politics than in Ireland. Every day we expect changes, and the Parliament to
be dissolved. Lord Wharton expects every day to be out: he is working like a
horse for elections; and, in short, I never saw so great a ferment among all
sorts of people. I had a miserable letter from Joe last Saturday, telling me
Mr. Pratt[10] refuses payment of his money. I have told it Mr. Addison, and
will to Lord Wharton; but I fear with no success. However, I will do all I
can.
12. To-day I presented Mr. Ford[11] to the Duke of Ormond; and paid my first
visit to Lord President,[12] with whom I had much discourse; but put him
always off when he began to talk of Lord Wharton in relation to me, till he
urged it: then I said, he knew I never expected anything from Lord Wharton,
and that Lord Wharton knew that I understood it so. He said that he had
written twice to Lord Wharton about me, who both times said nothing at all to
that part of his letter. I am advised not to meddle in the affair of the
First-Fruits, till this hurry is a little over, which still depends, and we
are all in the dark. Lord President told me he expects every day to be out,
and has done so these two months. I protest, upon my life, I am heartily
weary of this town, and wish I had never stirred.
13. I went this morning to the city, to see Mr. Stratford the Hamburg
merchant, my old schoolfellow;[13] but calling at Bull's[14] on Ludgate Hill,
he forced me to his house at Hampstead to dinner among a great deal of ill
company; among the rest Mr. Hoadley,[15] the Whig clergyman, so famous for
acting the contrary part to Sacheverell:[16] but tomorrow I design again to
see Stratford. I was glad, however, to be at Hampstead, where I saw Lady
Lucy[17] and Moll Stanhope. I hear very unfortunate news of Mrs. Long;[18]
she and her comrade[19] have broke up house, and she is broke for good and
all, and is gone to the country: I should be extremely sorry if this be true.
14. To-day, I saw Patty Rolt,[20] who heard I was in town; and I dined with
Stratford at a merchant's in the city, where I drank the first Tokay wine I
ever saw; and it is admirable, yet not to the degree I expected. Stratford is
worth a plum,[21] and is now lending the Government forty thousand pounds; yet
we were educated together at the same school and university.[22] We hear the
Chancellor[23] is to be suddenly out, and Sir Simon Harcourt[24] to succeed
him: I am come early home, not caring for the Coffee-house.
15. To-day Mr. Addison, Colonel Freind,[25] and I, went to see the million
lottery[26] drawn at Guildhall. The jackanapes of bluecoat boys gave
themselves such airs in pulling out the tickets, and showed white hands open
to the company, to let us see there was no cheat. We dined at a country-house
near Chelsea, where Mr. Addison often retires; and to-night, at the Coffee-
house, we hear Sir Simon Harcourt is made Lord Keeper; so that now we expect
every moment the Parliament will be dissolved; but I forgot that this letter
will not go in three or four days, and that my news will be stale, which I
should therefore put in the last paragraph. Shall I send this letter before I
hear from MD, or shall I keep it to lengthen? I have not yet seen Stella's
mother, because I will not see Lady Giffard; but I will contrive to go there
when Lady Giffard is abroad. I forgot to mark my two former letters; but I
remember this is Number 3, and I have not yet had Number 1 from MD; but I
shall by Monday, which I reckon will be just a fortnight after you had my
first. I am resolved to bring over a great deal of china. I loved it
mightily to-day.[27] What shall I bring?
16. Morning. Sir John Holland,[28] Comptroller of the Household, has sent to
desire my acquaintance: I have a mind to refuse him, because he is a Whig,
and will, I suppose, be out among the rest; but he is a man of worth and
learning. Tell me, do you like this journal way of writing? Is it not
tedious and dull?
Night. I dined to-day with a cousin, a printer,[29] where Patty Rolt lodges,
and then came home, after a visit or two; and it has been a very insipid day.
Mrs. Long's misfortune is confirmed to me; bailiffs were in her house; she
retired to private lodgings; thence to the country, nobody knows where: her
friends leave letters at some inn, and they are carried to her; and she writes
answers without dating them from any place. I swear, it grieves me to the
soul.
17. To-day I dined six miles out of town, with Will Pate,[30] the learned
woollen-draper; Mr. Stratford went with me; six miles here is nothing: we
left Pate after sunset, and were here before it was dark. This letter shall
go on Tuesday, whether I hear from MD or no. My health continues pretty well;
pray God Stella may give me a good account of hers! and I hope you are now at
Trim, or soon designing it. I was disappointed to-night: the fellow gave me
a letter, and I hoped to see little MD's hand; and it was only to invite me to
a venison pasty to-day: so I lost my pasty into the bargain. Pox on these
declining courtiers! Here is Mr. Brydges,[31] the Paymaster-General, desiring
my acquaintance; but I hear the Queen sent Lord Shrewsbury[32] to assure him
he may keep his place; and he promises me great assistance in the affair of
the First-Fruits. Well, I must turn over this leaf to-night, though the side
would hold another line; but pray consider this is a whole sheet; it holds a
plaguy deal, and you must be content to be weary; but I'll do so no more. Sir
Simon Harcourt is made Attorney-General, and not Lord Keeper.
18. To-day I dined with Mr. Stratford at Mr. Addison's retirement near
Chelsea; then came to town; got home early, and began a letter to the
Tatler,[33] about the corruptions of style and writing, etc., and, having not
heard from you, am resolved this letter shall go to-night. Lord Wharton was
sent for to town in mighty haste, by the Duke of Devonshire:[34] they have
some project in hand; but it will not do, for every hour we expect a thorough
revolution, and that the Parliament will be dissolved. When you see Joe, tell
him Lord Wharton is too busy to mind any of his affairs; but I will get what
good offices I can from Mr. Addison, and will write to-day to Mr. Pratt; and
bid Joe not to be discouraged, for I am confident he will get the money under
any Government; but he must have patience.
19. I have been scribbling this morning, and I believe shall hardly fill this
side to-day, but send it as it is; and it is good enough for naughty girls
that won't write to a body, and to a good boy like Presto. I thought to have
sent this to-night, but was kept by company, and could not; and, to say the
truth, I had a little mind to expect one post more for a letter from MD.
Yesterday at noon died the Earl of Anglesea,[35] the great support of the
Tories; so that employment of Vice-Treasurer of Ireland is again vacant. We
were to have been great friends, and I could hardly have a loss that could
grieve me more. The Bishop of Durham[36] died the same day. The Duke of
Ormond's daughter[37] was to visit me to-day at a third place by way of
advance,[38] and I am to return it to-morrow. I have had a letter from Lady
Berkeley, begging me for charity to come to Berkeley Castle, for company to my
lord,[39] who has been ill of a dropsy; but I cannot go, and must send my
excuse to-morrow. I am told that in a few hours there will be more removals.
20. To-day I returned my visits to the Duke's daughters;[40] the insolent
drabs came up to my very mouth to salute me. Then I heard the report
confirmed of removals; my Lord President Somers; the Duke of Devonshire, Lord
Steward; and Mr. Boyle,[41] Secretary of State, are all turned out to-day. I
never remember such bold steps taken by a Court: I am almost shocked at it,
though I did not care if they were all hanged. We are astonished why the
Parliament is not yet dissolved, and why they keep a matter of that importance
to the last. We shall have a strange winter here, between the struggles of a
cunning provoked discarded party, and the triumphs of one in power; of both
which I shall be an indifferent spectator, and return very peaceably to
Ireland, when I have done my part in the affair I am entrusted with, whether
it succeeds or no. To-morrow I change my lodgings in Pall Mall for one in
Bury Street,[42] where I suppose I shall continue while I stay in London. If
anything happens tomorrow, I will add it.--Robin's Coffee-house.[43] We have
great news just now from Spain; Madrid taken, and Pampeluna. I am here ever
interrupted.
21. I have just received your letter, which I will not answer now; God be
thanked all things are so well. I find you have not yet had my second: I had
a letter from Parvisol, who tells me he gave Mrs. Walls a bill of twenty
pounds for me, to be given to you; but you have not sent it. This night the
Parliament is dissolved: great news from Spain; King Charles and Stanhope are
at Madrid, and Count Staremberg has taken Pampeluna. Farewell. This is from
St. James's Coffee-house. I will begin my answer to your letter to-night, but
not send it this week. Pray tell me whether you like this journal way of
writing.--I don't like your reasons for not going to Trim. Parvisol tells me
he can sell your horse. Sell it, with a pox? Pray let him know that he shall
sell his soul as soon. What? sell anything that Stella loves, and may
sometimes ride? It is hers, and let her do as she pleases: pray let him know
this by the first that you know goes to Trim. Let him sell my grey, and be
hanged.
