you ever at Windsor? I was once a great while ago; but had quite forgotten it.

2. The queen has the gout, and did not come to chapel, nor stir out from her chamber, but received the sacrament there, as she always does the first Sunday in the month. Yet we had a great court, and among others, I saw your Ingoldsby, who, seeing me talk very familiarly with the keeper, treasurer, &c. came up and saluted me, and began a very impertinent discourse about the siege of Bouchain. I told him I could not answer his ques tions, but I would bring him one that should; so I went and fetched Sutton, (who brought over the express about a month ago,) and delivered him to the general, and bid him answer his questions; and so I left them together. Sutton, after some time, came back in rage; finds mė with Lord Rivers and Masham, and there complains of the trick I had played him, and swore he had been plagued to death with Ingoldsby's talk. But he told me, Ingoldsby asked him what I meant by bringing him ; so suppose he smoked me a little. So we laughed, &c. My Lord Willoughby, who is one of the chaplains, and Prebendary of Windsor, read prayers last night to the family; and the Bishop of Bristol, who is Dean of Windsor, officiated last night at the cathedral. This they do to be popular, and it pleases mightily. I dined with Mr Masham, because he lets me have a select company. For the court here have got by the end a good thing I said to the secretary some weeks ago. He showed me his bill of fare to tempt me to dine with him; poh, said I, I value not your bill of fare; give me your bill of company. Lord-treasurer was mightily pleased, and told it every body, as a notable thing. I reckon upon return

I

ing to-morrow; they say the bishop will then have the privy-seal delivered him at a great council.

3. Windsor still. The council was held so late today, that I do not go back to town till to morrow. The bishop was sworn privy-counsellor, and had the privyseal given him and now the patents are passed for those who were this long time to be made lords or earls. Lord Raby, who is Earl of Strafford, is on Thursday to marry a namesake of Stella's; the daughter of Sir H. Johnson in the city; he has threescore thousand pounds with her, ready money; beside the rest at the father's death. I have got my friend Stratford to be one of the directors of the South Sea Company, who were named to-day. My lord-treasurer did it for me a month ago : and one of those whom I got to be printer of the Gazette, I am recommending to be printer to the same company. He treated Mr Lewis and me to-day at dinner. I supped last night and this with lord-treasurer, keeper, &c. and took occasion to mention the printer. I said, it was the same printer, whom my lord-treasurer has appointed to print for the South Sea Company; he denied, and I insisted on it; and I got the laugh on my side.

Brentford in Lord with lord-treasurer;

London, 4. I came as far as Rivers's chariot, who had business then I went into lord-treasurer's we stopped at Kensington, where lord-treasurer went to see Mrs Masham, who is now what they call in the straw. We got to town by three, and I lighted at lord-treasurer's, who commanded me not to stir: but I was not well; and when he went up, I begged the young lord to excuse me, and so went into the city by water, where I could be easier, and dined with the printer, and dictated to

him some part of Prior's Journey to France. I walked from the city, for I take all occasions of exercise. Our journey was horrid dusty.

5. When I went out to-day, I found it had rained mightily in the night, and the streets were as dirty as winter; it is very refreshing after ten days dry.-I went into the city and dined with Stratford, thanked him for his books, gave him joy of his being director, of which he had the first notice by a letter from me. I ate sturgeon, and it lies on my stomach. I almost finished Prior's Journey at the printer's, and came home pretty late with Patrick at my heels.

7. Morning. But what shall we do about this letter of MD's, N. 19? not a word answered yet, and so much paper spent? I cannot do any thing in it, sweethearts, till night. At night, O Lord, O Lord, the greatest disgrace that ever was has happened to Presto. What do you think? but when I was going out this forenoon a letter came from MD, N. 20, dated at Dublin. O dear, O dear; O sad, O sad !-Now I have two letters together to answer here they are, lying together. But I will only answer the first; for I came in late. I dined with my friend Lewis at his lodgings, and walked at six to Kensington to Mr Masham's christening. It was very private; nobody there but my lord-treasurer, his son, and son-in-law, that is to say Lord Harley, and Lord Dupplin, and Lord Rivers, and I. The Dean of Rochester christened the child, but soon went away. Lordtreasurer and Lord Rivers were godfathers, and Mrs Hill, Mrs Masham's sister, godmother. The child roared like a bull, and I gave Mrs Masham joy of it; and she charged me to take care of my nephew, because Mr Masham being a brother of our society, his son you

know is consequently a nephew. Mrs Masham sat up dressed in bed, but not as they do in Ireland with all smooth about her, as if she was cut off in the middle; for you might see the counterpane (what d'ye call it ?) rise above her hips and body. There's another name of the counterpane, and you'll laugh now, sirrahs. George Granville came in at supper, and we staid till eleven, and lord-treasurer set me down at my lodgings in Suffolk Street. Did I ever tell you that lord-trea surer hears ill with the left ear, just as I do? He always turns the right; and his servants whisper him at that only. I dare not tell him that I am so too, for fear he should think 1 counterfeited, to make my court.

6. You must read this before the other; for I mistook, and forgot to write yesterday's journal, it was so insignificant: I dined with Dr Cockburn, and sat the evening with lord-treasurer, till ten o'clock. On Thursdays he has always a large select large select company, and expects me. So good night for last night, &c.

8. Morning. I go to Windsor with lord-treasurer today, and will leave this behind me to be sent to the post. And now let us hear what says the first letter, N. 19. You are still at Wexford, as you say, Madam Dingley. I think no letter from me ever yet miscarried. And so Inish-Corthy, * and the River Slainy; fine words those in a lady's mouth. Your hand like Dingley's? you scambling, scattering, sluttikin! Yes, mighty like indeed, is not it ? + Pisshh, don't talk of writing or reading till your eyes are well, and long well; only I would

* Enniscorthy, in the county of Wexford.

+ These words in Italics are written in strange mishapen letters, inclining to the right hand, in imitation of Stella's writing.

have Dingley read sometimes to you, that you may not quite lose the desire of it. God be thanked that the ugly numbing is gone. Pray use exercise when you go to town. What game is that ombra * which Dr Elwood and you play at ? is it the Spanish game ombre? Your card purse! you a card purse? you a fiddlestick. You have luck indeed; and luck in a bag. What a devil is that eight shilling tea-kettle? copper, or tin japanned ? It is like your Irish politeness, raffling for tea-kettles. What a splutter you keep to convince me that Walls has no taste? My head continues pretty well. Why do you write, dear sirrah Stella, when you find your eyes so weak that you cannot see? what comfort is there in reading what you write, when one knows that? So Dingley can't write because of the clutter of new company come to Wexford? I suppose the noise of their hundred horses disturbs you; or, do you lie in one gallery, as in an hospital? What, you are afraid of losing in Dublin the acquaintance you have got in Wexford; and chiefly the Bishop of Raphoe, an old, doating, perverse coxcomb? Twenty at a time at breakfast. That is like five pounds at a time, when it was never but once. I doubt, Madam Dingley, you are apt to lie in your travels, though not so bad as Stella; she tells thumpers, as I shall prove in my next, if I find this receives encouragement. So Dr Elwood t says, There are a world of pretty things in my works. A pox on his praises! an

* In Stella's spelling. "It is an odd thing," says a former editor, "that a woman of Stella's understanding should spell extremely ill;" as if her understanding and orthography had any the slightest natural connection.

+ Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and member of parliament for that university.