LETTER 62.[1]
LONDON, March 21, 1712-13.
I gave your letter in this night. I dined with Lord Treasurer to-day, and
find he has been at a meeting at Lord Halifax's house, with four principal
Whigs; but he is resolved to begin a speech against them when the Parliament
sits; and I have begged that the Ministers may have a meeting on purpose to
settle that matter, and let us be the attackers; and I believe it will come to
something, for the Whigs intend to attack the Ministers: and if, instead of
that, the Ministers attack the Whigs, it will be better: and farther, I
believe we shall attack them on those very points they intend to attack us.
The Parliament will be again prorogued for a fortnight, because of Passion
Week. I forgot to tell you that Mr. Griffin has given Ppt's brother[2] a new
employment, about ten pounds a year better than his former; but more remote,
and consequently cheaper. I wish I could have done better, and hope oo will
take what can be done in good part, and that oo brother will not dislike it.--
Nite own dear. . . MD.
22. I dined to-day with Lord Steward.[3] There Frank Annesley[4] (a
Parliament-man) told me he had heard that I had wrote to my friends in Ireland
to keep firm to the Whig interest; for that Lord Treasurer would certainly
declare for it after the peace. Annesley said twenty people had told him
this. You must know this is what they endeavour to report of Lord Treasurer,
that he designs to declare for the Whigs; and a Scotch fellow has wrote the
same to Scotland; and his meeting with those lords gives occasion to such
reports. Let me henceforth call Lord Treasurer Eltee, because possibly my
letters may be opened. Pray remember Eltee. You know the reason; L.T. and
Eltee pronounced the same way. Stay, 'tis five weeks since I had a letter
from MD. I allow you six. You see why I cannot come over the beginning of
April; whoever has to do with this Ministry can fix no time: but as[5] hope
saved, it is not Pdfr's fault. Pay don't blame poo Pdfr. Nite deelest logues
MD.[6]
23. I dined to-day at Sir Thomas Hanmer's, by an old appointment: there was
the Duke of Ormond, and Lord and Lady Orkney. I left them at six. Everybody
is as sour as vinegar. I endeavour to keep a firm friendship between the Duke
of Ormond and Eltee. (Oo know who Eltee is, or have oo fordot already?) I
have great designs, if I can compass them; but delay is rooted in Eltee's
heart; yet the fault is not altogether there, that things are no better. Here
is the cursedest libel in verse come out that ever was seen, called The
Ambassadress;[7] it is very dull, too; it has been printed three or four
different ways, and is handed about, but not sold. It abuses the Queen
horribly. The Examiner has cleared me to-day of being author of his paper,
and done it with great civilities to me.[8] I hope it will stop people's
mouths; if not, they must go on and be hanged, I care not. 'Tis terribly
rainy weather, I'll go sleep. Nite deelest MD.
24. It rained all this day, and ruined me in coach-hire. I went to Colonel
Disney, who is past danger. Then I visited Lord Keeper, who was at dinner;
but I would not dine with him, but drove to Lord Treasurer (Eltee I mean),
paid the coachman, and went in; but he dined abroad: so I was forced to call
the coachman again, and went to Lord Bolingbroke's. He dined abroad too; and
at Lord Dupplin's I alighted, and by good luck got a dinner there, and then
went to the Latin play at Westminster School, acted by the boys; and Lord
Treasurer (Eltee I mean again) honoured them with his presence. Lady Masham's
eldest son, about two years old, is ill, and I am afraid will not live: she
is full of grief, and I pity and am angry with her. Four shillings to-day in
coach-hire; fais, it won't do. Our peace will certainly be ready by Thursday
fortnight; but our Plenipotentiaries were to blame that it was not done
already. They thought their powers were not full enough to sign the peace,
unless every Prince was ready, which cannot yet be; for Spain has no Minister
yet at Utrecht; but now ours have new orders. Nite MD.
25. Weather worse than ever; terrible rain all day, but I was resolved I
would spend no more money. I went to an auction of pictures with Dr. Pratt,
and there met the Duke of Beaufort, who promised to come with me to Court, but
did not. So a coach I got, and went to Court, and did some little business
there, but was forced to go home; for oo must understand I take a little
physic over-night, which works me next day. Lady Orkney is my physician. It
is hiera picra,[9] two spoonfuls, devilish stuff! I thought to have dined
with Eltee, but would not, merely to save a shilling; but I dined privately
with a friend, and played at ombre, and won six shillings. Here are several
people of quality lately dead of the smallpox. I have not yet seen Miss Ashe,
but hear she is well. The Bishop of Clogher has bought abundance of pictures,
and Dr. Pratt has got him very good pennyworths.[10] I can get no walks, the
weather is so bad. Is it so with oo, sollahs?. . . [11]
26. Though it was shaving-day, head and beard, yet I was out early to see
Lord Bolingbroke, and talk over affairs with him; and then I went to the Duke
of Ormond's, and so to Court, where the Ministers did not come, because the
Parliament was prorogued till this day fortnight. We had terrible rain and
hail to-day. Our Society met this day, but I left them before seven, and went
to Sir A[ndrew] F[ountaine], and played at ombre with him and Sir Thomas
Clarges, till ten, and then went to Sir Thomas Hanmer. His wife, the Duchess
of Grafton, left us after a little while, and I stayed with him about an hour,
upon some affairs, etc. Lord Bolingbroke left us at the Society before I
went; for there is an express from Utrecht, but I know not yet what it
contains; only I know the Ministers expect the peace will be signed in a week,
which is a week before the session. Nite, MD.
27. Parnell's poem is mightily esteemed; but poetry sells ill. I am plagued
with that. . . [12] poor Harrison's mother; you would laugh to see how
cautious I am of paying her the 100 pounds I received for her son from the
Treasury. I have asked every creature I know whether I may do it safely, yet
durst not venture, till my Lord Keeper assured me there was no danger. I have
not paid her, but will in a day or two: though I have a great mind to stay
till Ppt sends me her opinion, because Ppt is a great lawyer. I dined to-day
with a mixture of people at a Scotchman's, who made the invitation to Mr.
Lewis and me, and has some design upon us, which we know very well. I went
afterwards to see a famous moving picture,[13] and I never saw anything so
pretty. You see a sea ten miles wide, a town on t'other end, and ships
sailing in the sea, and discharging their cannon. You see a great sky, with
moon and stars, etc. I'm a fool. Nite, dee MD.
28. I had a mighty levee to-day. I deny myself to everybody, except about
half a dozen, and they were all here, and Mr. Addison was one, and I had
chocolate twice, which I don't like. Our rainy weather continues. Coach-hire
goes deep. I dined with Eltee and his Saturday company, as usual, and could
not get away till nine. Lord Peterborow was making long harangues, and Eltee
kept me in spite. Then I went to see the Bishop of Ossory, who had engaged me
in the morning; he is going to Ireland. The Bishop of Killaloe[14] and Tom
Leigh was with us. The latter had wholly changed his style, by seeing how the
bishops behaved themselves, and he seemed to think me one of more importance
than I really am. I put the ill conduct of the bishops about the First-
Fruits, with relation to Eltee and me, strongly upon Killaloe, and showed how
it had hindered me from getting a better thing for them, called the Crown
rents, which the Queen had promised. He had nothing to say, but was humble,
and desired my interest in that and some other things. This letter is half
done in a week: I believe oo will have it next. Nite MD.
29. I have been employed in endeavouring to save one of your junior
Fellows,[15] who came over here for a dispensation from taking orders, and, in
soliciting it, has run out his time, and now his fellowship is void, if the
College pleases, unless the Queen suspends the execution, and gives him time
to take orders. I spoke to all the Ministers yesterday about it; but they say
the Queen is angry, and thought it was a trick to deceive her; and she is
positive, and so the man must be ruined, for I cannot help him. I never saw
him in my life; but the case was so hard, I could not forbear interposing.
Your Government recommended him to the Duke of Ormond, and he thought they
would grant it; and by the time it was refused, the fellowship by rigour is
forfeited. I dined with Dr. Arbuthnot (one of my brothers) at his lodgings in
Chelsea, and was there at chapel; and the altar put me in mind of Tisdall's
outlandish would[16] at your hospital for the soldiers. I was not at Court
to-day, and I hear the Queen was not at church. Perhaps the gout has seized
her again. Terrible rain all day. Have oo such weather? Nite MD.
30. Morning. I was naming some time ago, to a certain person, another
certain person, that was very deserving, and poor and sickly; and t'other,
that first certain person, gave me a hundred pounds to give the other, which I
have not yet done. The person who is to have it never saw the giver, nor
expects one farthing, nor has the least knowledge or imagination of it; so I
believe it will be a very agreeable surprise; for I think it is a handsome
present enough. At night I dined in the City, at Pontack's,[17] with Lord
Dupplin, and some others. We were treated by one Colonel Cleland,[18] who has
a mind to be Governor of Barbados, and is laying these long traps for me and
others, to engage our interests for him. He is a true Scotchman. I paid the
hundred pounds this evening, and it was an agreeable surprise to the receiver.
We reckon the peace is now signed, and that we shall have it in three days. I
believe it is pretty sure. Nite MD.
31. I thought to-day on Ppt when she told me she suppose[d] I was acquainted
with the steward, when I was giving myself airs of being at some lord's house.
Sir Andrew Fountaine invited the Bishop of Clogher and me, and some others, to
dine where he did; and he carried us to the Duke of Kent's,[19] who was gone
out of town; but the steward treated us nobly, and showed us the fine
pictures, etc. I have not yet seen Miss Ashe. I wait till she has been
abroad, and taken the air. This evening Lady Masham, Dr. Arbuthnot, and I,
were contriving a lie for to-morrow, that Mr. Noble,[20] who was hanged last
Saturday, was recovered by his friends, and then seized again by the sheriff,
and is now in a messenger's hands at the Black Swan in Holborn. We are all to
send to our friends, to know whether they have heard anything of it, and so we
hope it will spread. However, we shall do our endeavours; nothing shall be
wanting on our parts, and leave the rest to fortune. Nite MD.
April 1. We had no success in our story, though I sent my man to several
houses, to inquire among the footmen, without letting him into the secret; but
I doubt my colleagues did not contribute as they ought. Parnell and I dined
with Darteneuf[21] to-day. You have heard of Darteneuf: I have told you of
Darteneuf. After dinner we all went to Lord Bolingbroke's, who had desired me
to dine with him; but I would not, because I heard it was to look over a dull
poem of one parson Trapp[22] upon the peace. The Swedish Envoy told me to-day
at Court that he was in great apprehensions about his master;[23] and indeed
we are afraid that prince has[24] died among those Turkish dogs. I prevailed
on Lord Bolingbroke to invite Mr. Addison to dine with him on Good Friday. I
suppose we shall be mighty mannerly. Addison is to have a play of his acted
on Friday in Easter Week: 'tis a tragedy, called Cato; I saw it unfinished
some years ago.[25] Did I tell you that Steele has begun a new daily paper,
called the Guardian?[26] they say good for nothing. I have not seen it. Nite
dee MD.
2. I was this morning with Lord Bolingbroke, and he tells me a Spanish
courier is just come, with the news that the King of Spain has agreed to
everything that the Queen desires; and the Duke d'Ossuna has left Paris in
order to his journey to Utrecht. I was prevailed on to come home with Trapp,
and read his poem and correct it; but it was good for nothing. While I was
thus employed, Sir Thomas Hanmer came up to my chamber, and balked me of a
journey he and I intended this week to Lord Orkney's at Cliffden;[27] but he
is not well, and his physician will not let him undertake such a journey. I
intended to dine with Lord Treasurer; but going to see Colonel Disney, who
lives with General Withers,[28] I liked the General's little dinner so well,
that I stayed and took share of it, and did not go to Lord Treasurer till six,
where I found Dr. Sacheverell, who told us that the bookseller had given him
100 pounds for his sermon,[29] preached last Sunday, and intended to print
30,000: I believe he will be confoundedly bit, and will hardly sell above
half. I have fires still, though April has begun, against my old maxim; but
the weather is wet and cold. I never saw such a long run of ill weather in my
life. Nite dee logues MD.
3. I was at the Queen's chapel to-day, but she was not there. Mr. St. John,
Lord Bolingbroke's brother, came this day at noon with an express from
Utrecht, that the peace is signed by all the Ministers there, but those of the
Emperor, who will likewise sign in a few days; so that now the great work is
in effect done, and I believe it will appear a most excellent peace for
Europe, particularly for England. Addison and I, and some others, dined with
Lord Bolingbroke, and sat with him till twelve. We were very civil, but yet
when we grew warm, we talked in a friendly manner of party. Addison raised
his objections, and Lord Bolingbroke answered them with great complaisance.
Addison began Lord Somers's health, which went about; but I bid him not name
Lord Wharton's, for I would not pledge it; and I told Lord Bolingbroke frankly
that Addison loved Lord Wharton as little as I did: so we laughed, etc.
Well, but you are glad of the peace, you Ppt the Trimmer, are not you? As for
DD I don't doubt her. Why, now, if I did not think Ppt had been a violent
Tory, and DD the greater Whig of the two! 'Tis late. Nite MD.
4. This Passion Week, people are so demure, especially this last day, that I
told Dilly, who called here, that I would dine with him, and so I did, faith;
and had a small shoulder of mutton of my own bespeaking. It rained all day.
I came home at seven, and have never stirred out, but have been reading
Sacheverell's long dull sermon, which he sent me. It is the first sermon
since his suspension is expired; but not a word in it upon the occasion,
except two or three remote hints. The Bishop of Clogher has been sadly bit by
Tom Ashe, who sent him a pun, which the Bishop had made, and designed to send
to him, but delayed it; and Lord Pembroke and I made Sir Andrew Fountaine
write it to Tom. I believe I told you of it in my last; it succeeded right,
and the Bishop was wondering to Lord Pembroke how he and his brother could hit
on the same thing. I'll go to bed soon, for I must be at church by eight to-
morrow, Easter Day. Nite dee MD.
5. Warburton[30] wrote to me two letters about a living of one Foulkes, who
is lately dead in the county of Meath. My answer is, that before I received
the first letter, General Gorges[31] had recommended a friend of his to the
Duke of Ormond, which was the first time I heard of its vacancy, and it was
the Provost told me of it. I believe verily that Foulkes was not dead when
Gorges recommended the other: for Warburton's last letter said that Foulkes
was dead the day before the date.--This has prevented me from serving
Warburton, as I would have done, if I had received early notice enough. Pray
say or write this to Warburton, to justify me to him. I was at church at
eight this morning, and dressed and shaved after I came back, but was too late
at Court; and Lord Abingdon[32] was like to have snapped me for dinner, and I
believe will fall out with me for refusing him; but I hate dining with them,
and I dined with a private friend, and took two or three good walks; for it
was a very fine day, the first we have had a great while. Remember, was
Easter Day a fine day with you? I have sat with Lady Worsley till now. Nite
dee MD.
6. I was this morning at ten at the rehearsal of Mr. Addison's play, called
Cato, which is to be acted on Friday. There were not above half a score of us
to see it. We stood on the stage, and it was foolish enough to see the actors
prompted every moment, and the poet directing them; and the drab that acts
Cato's daughter,[33] out in the midst of a passionate part, and then calling
out, "What's next?" The Bishop of Clogher was there too; but he stood
privately in a gallery. I went to dine with Lord Treasurer, but he was gone
to Wimbledon, his daughter Caermarthen's[34] country seat, seven miles off.
So I went back, and dined privately with Mr. Addison, whom I had left to go to
Lord Treasurer. I keep fires yet; I am very extravagant. I sat this evening
with Sir A. Fountaine, and we amused ourselves with making IFS for Dilly. It
is rainy weather again; nevle saw ze rike.[35] This letter shall go to-
morrow; remember, ung oomens, it is seven weeks since oor last, and I allow oo
but five weeks; but oo have been galloping into the country to Swanton's.[36]
O pray tell Swanton I had his letter, but cannot contrive how to serve him.
If a Governor were to go over, I would recommend him as far as lay in my
power, but I can do no more: and you know all employments in Ireland, at
least almost all, are engaged in reversions. If I were on the spot, and had
credit with a Lord Lieutenant, I would very heartily recommend him; but
employments here are no more in my power than the monarchy itself. Nite, dee
MD.
7. Morning. I have had a visitor here, that has taken up my time. I have
not been abroad, oo may be sure; so I can say nothing to-day, but that I rove
MD bettle zan ever, if possibbere. I will put this in the post-office; so I
say no more. I write by this post to the Dean, but it is not above two lines;
and one enclosed to you, but that enclosed to you is not above three lines;
and then one enclosed to the Dean, which he must not have but upon condition
of burning it immediately after reading, and that before your eyes; for there
are some things in it I would not have liable to accident. You shall only
know in general that it is an account of what I have done to serve him in his
pretensions on these vacancies, etc. But he must not know that you know so
much.[37] Does this perplex you? Hat care I? But rove Pdfr, saucy Pdfr.
Farewell, deelest MD MD MD FW FW FW,. . . ME, MD Lele.
