LETTER 60.[1]
LONDON, Feb. 15 [1712-13].
I dined to-day with Mr. Rowe[2] and a projector, who has been teasing me with
twenty schemes to get grants; and I don't like one of them; and, besides, I
was out of humour for the loss of poor Harrison. At ten this night I was at
his funeral, which I ordered to be as private as possible. We had but one
coach with four of us; and when it was carrying us home after the funeral, the
braces broke; and we were forced to sit in it, and have it held up, till my
man went for chairs,[3] at eleven at night in terrible rain. I am come home
very melancholy, and will go to bed. Nite. . . MD.[4]
16. I dined to-day with Lord Dupplin and some company to divert me; but left
them early, and have been reading a foolish book for amusement. I shall never
have courage again to care for making anybody's fortune. The Parliament meets
to-morrow, and will be prorogued another fortnight, at which several of both
parties were angry; but it cannot be helped, though everything about the peace
is past all danger. I never saw such a continuance of rainy weather. We have
not had two fair days together these ten weeks. I have not dined with Lord
Treasurer these four days, nor can I till Saturday; for I have several
engagements till then, and he will chide me to some purpose. I am perplexed
with this hundred pounds of poor Harrison's, what to do with it. I cannot pay
his relations till they administer, for he is much in debt;[5] but I will have
the staff in my own hands, and venture nothing. Nite poo dee MD.
17. Lady Jersey and I dined by appointment to-day with Lord Bolingbroke. He
is sending his brother[6] to succeed Mr.[7] Harrison. It is the prettiest
post in Europe for a young gentleman. I lose my money at ombre sadly; I make
a thousand blunders. I play but[8] threepenny ombre; but it is what you call
running ombre. Lady Clarges,[9] and a drab I hate, won a dozen shillings of
me last night. The Parliament was prorogued to-day; and people grumble; and
the good of it is the peace cannot be finished by the time they meet, there
are so many fiddling things to do. Is Ppt an ombre lady yet? You know all
the tricks of it now, I suppose. I reckon you have all your cards from
France, for ours pay sixpence a pack taxes, which goes deep to the box. I
have given away all my Spa water, and take some nasty steel drops, and my head
has been better this week past. I send every day to see how Miss Ashe does:
she is very full, they say, but in no danger. I fear she will lose some of
her beauty. The son lies out of the house. I wish he had them too, while he
is so young.--Nite MD.
18. The Earl of Abingdon[10] has been teasing me these three months to dine
with him; and this day was appointed about a week ago, and I named my company;
Lord Stawel,[11] Colonel Disney,[12] and Dr. Arbuthnot; but the two last
slipped out their necks, and left Stawell and me to dine there. We did not
dine till seven, because it is Ash Wednesday. We had nothing but fish, which
Lord Stawell could not eat, and got a broiled leg of a turkey. Our wine was
poison; yet the puppy has twelve thousand pound a year. His carps were raw,
and his candles tallow. He[13] shall not catch me in haste again, and
everybody has laughed at me for dining with him. I was to-day to let
Harrison's mother know I could not pay till she administers; which she will
do. I believe she is an old bawd,[14] and her daughter a -----. There were
more Whigs to-day at Court than Tories. I believe they think the peace must
be made, and so come to please the Queen. She is still lame with the gout.
Nite MD.
19. I was at Court to-day, to speak to Lord Bolingbroke to look over
Parnell's poem since it is corrected; and Parnell and I dined with him, and he
has shown him three or four more places to alter a little. Lady Bolingbroke
came down to us while we were at dinner, and Parnell stared at her as if she
were a goddess. I thought she was like Parnell's wife, and he thought so too.
Parnell is much pleased with Lord Bolingbroke's favour to him, and I hope it
may one day turn to his advantage. His poem will be printed in a few days.
Our weather continues as fresh raining as if it had not rained at all. I sat
to-night at Lady Masham's, where Lord Treasurer came and scolded me for not
dining with him. I told him I could not till Saturday. I have stayed there
till past twelve. So nite dee sollahs, nite.
20. Lady Jersey, Lady Catherine Hyde,[15] the Spanish Ambassador, the Duke
d'Atree,[16] another Spaniard, and I, dined to-day by appointment with Lord
Bolingbroke; but they fell a drinking so many Spanish healths in champagne
that I stole away to the ladies, and drank tea till eight; and then went and
lost my money at ombre with Sir Andrew Fountaine, who has a very bad leg.
Miss Ashe is past all danger; and her eye, which was lately bad (I suppose one
effect of her distemper), is now better. I do not let the Bishop see me, nor
shall this good while. Good luck! when I came home, I warrant, I found a
letter from MD, No.38; and oo write so small nowadays, I hope oo poor eyes are
better. Well, this shall go to-morrow se'nnight, with a bill for MD. I will
speak to Mr. Griffin[17] to-morrow about Ppt's brother Filby, and desire,
whether he deserves or no, that his employment may be mended; that is to say,
if I can see Griffin; otherwise not; and I'll answer oo rettle hen I Pdfr
think fit. Nite MD.
21. Methinks I writ a little saucy last night. I mean the last. . . [18] I
saw Griffin at Court. He says he knows nothing of a salt-work at Recton; but
that he will give Filby a better employment, and desires Filby will write to
him. If I knew how to write to Filby, I would; but pray do you. Bid him make
no mention of you; but only let Mr. Griffin know that he has the honour to be
recommended by Dr. S----, etc.; that he will endeavour to deserve, etc.; and
if you dictated a whole letter for him, it would be better; I hope he can
write and spell well. I'll inquire for a direction to Griffin before I finish
this. I dined with Lord Treasurer and seven lords to-day. You know Saturday
is his great day, but I sat with them alone till eight, and then came home,
and have been writing a letter to Mrs. Davis, at York. She took care to have
a letter delivered for me at Lord Treasurer's; for I would not own one she
sent by post. She reproaches me for not writing to her these four years; and
I have honestly told her it was my way never to write to those whom I am never
likely to see, unless I can serve them, which I cannot her, etc. Davis the
schoolmaster's widow. Nite MD.
22. I dined to-day at Lord Orkney's, with the Duke of Ormond and Sir Thomas
Hanmer.[19] Have you ever heard of the latter? He married the Duchess of
Grafton in his youth (she dined with us too). He is the most considerable man
in the House of Commons. He went last spring to Flanders, with the Duke of
Ormond; from thence to France, and was going to Italy; but the Ministry sent
for him, and he has been come over about ten days. He is much out of humour
with things: he thinks the peace is kept off too long, and is full of fears
and doubts. It is thought he is designed for Secretary of State, instead of
Lord Dartmouth. We have been acquainted these two years; and I intend, in a
day or two, to have an hour's talk with him on affairs. I saw the Bishop of
Clogher at Court; Miss is recovering. I know not how much she will be marked.
The Queen is slowly mending of her gout, and intends to be brought in a chair
to Parliament when it meets, which will be March 3; for I suppose they will
prorogue no more; yet the peace will not be signed then, and we apprehend the
Tories themselves will many of them be discontented. Nite dee MD.
23. It was ill weather to-day, and I dined with Sir Andrew Fountaine, and in
the evening played at ombre with him and the Provost, and won twenty-five
shillings; so I have recovered myself pretty well. Dilly has been dunning me
to see Fanny Manley; but I have not yet been able to do it. Miss Ashe is now
quite out of danger; and hope will not be much marked. I cannot tell how to
direct to Griffin; and think he lives in Bury Street, near St. James's Street,
hard by me; but I suppose your brother may direct to him to the Salt Office,
and, as I remember, he knows his Christian name, because he sent it me in the
list of the Commissioners. Nite dee MD.
24. I walked this morning to Chelsea, to see Dr. Atterbury, Dean of Christ
Church. I had business with him about entering Mr. Fitzmaurice,[20] my Lord
Kerry's son, into his College; and Lady Kerry[21] is a great favourite of
mine. Lord Harley, Lord Dupplin, young Bromley[22] the Speaker's son, and I,
dined with Dr. Stratford[23] and some other clergymen; but I left them at
seven to go to Lady Jersey, to see Monteleon the Spanish Ambassador play at
ombre. Lady Jersey was abroad, and I chid the servants, and made a rattle;
but since I came home she sent me a message that I was mistaken, and that the
meeting is to be to-morrow. I have a worse memory than when I left you, and
every day forget appointments; but here my memory was by chance too good. But
I'll go to-morrow; for Lady Catherine Hyde and Lady Bolingbroke are to be
there by appointment, and I listed[24] up my periwig, and all, to make a
figure. Well, who can help it? Not I, vow to. . . ![25] Nite MD.
25. Lord Treasurer met me last night at Lord Masham's, and thanked me for my
company in a jeer, because I had not dined with him in three days. He chides
me if I stay away but two days together. What will this come to? Nothing.
My grandmother used to say, "More of your lining, and less of your dining."
However, I dined with him, and could hardly leave him at eight, to go to Lady
Jersey's, where five or six foreign Ministers were, and as many ladies.
Monteleon played like the English, and cried "gacco," and knocked his knuckles
for trump, and played at small games like Ppt. Lady Jersey whispered me to
stay and sup with the ladies when the fellows were gone; but they played till
eleven, and I would not stay. I think this letter must go on Saturday; that's
certain; and it is not half full yet. Lady Catherine Hyde had a mighty mind I
should be acquainted with Lady Dalkeith,[26] her sister, the Duke of
Monmouth's eldest son's widow, who was of the company to-night; but I did not
like her; she paints too much. Nite MD.
26. This day our Society met at the Duke of Ormond's, but I had business that
called me another way; so I sent my excuses, and dined privately with a
friend. Besides, Sir Thomas Hanmer whispered me last night at Lady Jersey's
that I must attend Lord Treasurer and Duke of Ormond at supper at his house
to-night; which I did at eleven, and stayed till one, so oo may be sure 'tis
late enough. There was the Duchess of Grafton, and the Duke her son; nine of
us in all. The Duke of Ormond chid me for not being at the Society to-day,
and said sixteen were there. I said I never knew sixteen people good company
in my life; no, fais, nor eight either. We have no news in this town at all.
I wonder why I don't write you news. I know less of what passes than anybody,
because I go to[27] no coffee-house, nor see any but Ministers, and such
people; and Ministers never talk politics in conversation. The Whigs are
forming great schemes against the meeting of Parliament, which will be next
Tuesday, I still think, without fail; and we hope to hear by then that the
peace is ready to sign. The Queen's gout mends daily. Nite MD.
27. I passed a very insipid day, and dined privately with a friend in the
neighbourhood. Did I tell you that I have a very fine picture of Lady
Orkney,[28] an original, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, three-quarters length? I
have it now at home, with a fine frame. Lord Bolingbroke and Lady Masham have
promised to sit for me; but I despair of Lord Treasurer; only I hope he will
give me a copy, and then I shall have all the pictures of those I really love
here; just half a dozen; only I'll make Lord Keeper give me his print in a
frame. This letter must go to-morrow, because of sending ME a bill; else it
should not till next week, I assure oo. I have little to do now with my pen;
for my grand business stops till they are more pressing, and till something or
other happens; and I believe I shall return with disgust to finish it, it is
so very laborious. Sir Thomas Hanmer has my papers now. And hat is MD doing
now? Oh, at ombre with the Dean always on Friday night, with Mrs. Walls.
Pray don't play at small games. I stood by, t'other night, while the Duke
d'Atree[29] lost six times with manilio, basto, and three small trumps; and
Lady Jersey won above twenty pounds. Nite dee richar[30] MD.
28. I was at Court to-day, when the Abbe Gaultier whispered me that a courier
was just come with an account that the French King had consented to all the
Queen's demands, and his consent was carried to Utrecht, and the peace will be
signed in a few days. I suppose the general peace cannot be so soon ready;
but that is no matter. The news presently ran about the Court. I saw the
Queen carried out in her chair, to take the air in the garden. I met Griffin
at Court, and he told me that orders were sent to examine Filby; and, if he be
fit, to make him (I think he called it) an assistant; I don't know what,
Supervisor, I think; but it is some employment a good deal better than his
own. The Parliament will have another short prorogation, though it is not
known yet. I dined with Lord Treasurer and his Saturday company, and left him
at eight to put this in the post-office time enough. And now I must bid oo
farewell, deelest richar Ppt. God bless oo ever, and rove Pdfr. Farewell MD
MD MD FW FW FW FW ME ME ME Lele Lele.
