se'ennight: I suppose they will be with you long before this. I was to-night drinking very good wine in scurvy company, at least some of them; I was drawn in, but will be more cautious for the future; 'tis late, &c. * 15. Morning. They say the Occasional Bill is brought to-day into the House of Lords; but I know not. I will now put an end to my letter, and give it into the post-house myself. This will be a memorable letter, and I shall sigh to see it some years hence. Here are the first steps toward the ruin of an excellent ministry; for I look upon them as certainly ruined; and God knows what may be the consequences.-I now bid my dearest MD farewell; for company is coming, and I must be at Lord Dartmouth's office by noon. Farewell, dearest MD; I wish you a merry Christmas; I believe you will have this about that time. Love Presto, who loves MD above all things a thousand times. Farewell again, dearest MD, &c. LETTER XXXVII. London, December 15, 1711. I PUT in my letter this evening myself. I was to-day inquiring at the secretary's office of Mr Lewis how things went I there met Prior, who told me he gave all for gone, &c. and was of opinion the whole ministry would give up their places next week: Lewis thinks * The bill against occasional conformity, i. e. against those who took the sacramental test, merely for the sake of qualification for temporal offices.-See History of John Bull, Chap. XIV. they will not till spring, when the session is over; both of them entirely despair. I went to see Mrs Masham, who invited me to dinner; but I was engaged to Lewis. At four I went to Masham's. He came and whispered me, that he had it from a very good hand, that all would be well, and I found them both very cheerful. The company was going to the opera, but desired I would come and sup with them. I did so at ten, and lord-treasurer was there, and sat with us till past twelve, and was more cheerful than I have seen him these ten days. Mrs Masham told me, he was mightily cast down some days ago, and he could not indeed hide it from me. Arbuthnot is in good hopes that the queen has not betrayed us; but only has been frightened, and flattered, &c. But I cannot yet be of his opinion, whether my reasons are better, or that my fears are greater. I do resolve, if they give up, or are turned out soon, to retire for some months, and I have pitched upon the place already: but I will take methods for hearing from MD, and writing to them. But I would be out of the way upon the first of the ferment; for they lay all things on me, even some I have never read. 16. I took courage to-day, and went to court with a very cheerful countenance. It was mightily crowded; both parties coming to observe each other's faces. I have avoided Lord Halifax's bow till he forced it on me ; but we did not talk together. I could not make less than fourscore bows, of which about twenty might be to Whigs. The Duke of Somerset is gone to Petworth, and, I hear the duchess too, of which I shall be very glad. Prince Eugene, who was expected here some days ago, we are now told, will not come at all. The Whigs designed to have met him with forty thousand horse. Lord-treasurer told me some days ago of his discourse with the emperor's resident, that puppy Hoffman, about Prince Eugene's coming; by which I found my lord would hinder it, if he could; and we shall be all glad if he does not come, and think it a good point gained. Sir Andrew Fountaine, Ford, and I, dined to-day with Mrs Van, by invitation. 17. I have mistaken the day of the month, and been forced to mend it thrice. I dined to-day with Mr Masham and his lady, by invitation. Lord-treasurer was to be there, but came not. It was to entertain Buys, the Dutch envoy, who speaks English well enough: he was plaguily politic, telling a thousand lies, of which none passed upon any of us. We are still in the condition of suspense, and I think have little hopes. The Duchess of Somerset is not gone to Petworth; only the duke, and that is a poor sacrifice. * I believe the queen certainly designs to change the ministry; but perhaps may put it off till the session is over and I think they had better give up now, if she will not deal openly; and then they * "In a consultation," says Boyer, who seems generally well informed, "held about the middle of December, it was likewise resolved to remove the Duke of Somerset from his place of master of the horse; but the queen having a great affection for his duchess, who was groom of the stole to her majesty, and first lady of the bed-chamber, whose conjugal love, it was thought, would not suffer her to remain at court if her consort were in disgrace, the resolution of removing her lay dormant for a while.”—Annals, Vol. X. p. 301. The truth seems to be, that experience of the Duchess of Marlborough's tyranny had taught the queen the danger of having an unrivalled favourite; and therefore she indulged her partiality to the Duchess of Somerset just so far as to induce Mrs Masham to doubt of the extent of her own influence. need not answer for the consequences of a peace, when it is in other hands, and may yet be broken. They say, my lord privy-seal sets out for Holland this week: so the peace goes on. : 18. It has rained hard from morning till night, and cost me three shillings in coach hire. We have had abundance of wet weather. I dined in the city, and was with the printer, who has now a fifth edition of the Conduct, &c. it is in small, and sold for sixpence; they have printed as many as three editions, because they are to be sent in numbers into the country by great men, &c. who subscribe for hundreds. It has been sent a fortnight ago to Ireland: I suppose you will print it there. The Tory lords and commons in parliament argue all from it; and all agree, that never any thing of that kind was of so great consequence, or made so many converts. By the time I have sent this letter, I expect to hear from little MD it will be a month, two days hence, since I had your last, and I will allow ten days for accidents. I cannot get rid of the leavings of a cold I got a month ago, or else it is a new one. I have been writing letters all this evening till I am weary, and I am sending out another little thing, which I hope to finish this week, and design to send to the printer in an unknown hand. There was printed a Grub Street speech of Lord Nottingham; and he was such an owl to complain of it in the House of Lords, who have taken up the printer for it. I heard at court, that Walpole * (a great Whig member) said, that I and my whimsical club writ it at one of our meetings, and that I should pay for it. He will find he lies : and I shall let him know by a third hand my thoughts * The celebrated Sir Robert Walpole. of him. He is to be secretary of state, if the ministry changes; but he has lately had a bribe proved against him in parliament, while he was secretary at war. is one of the Whigs' chief speakers. He 19. Sad dismal weather. I went to the secretary's office, and Lewis made me dine with him. I intended to have dined with lord.treasurer. I have not seen the secretary this week. Things do not mend at all. Lord Dartmouth despairs, and is for giving up; Lewis is of the same mind; but lord-treasurer only says, Poh, poh, all will be well. I am come home early to finish something I am doing; but I find I want heart and humour; and would read any idle book that came in my way. I have just sent away a penny paper to make a little mischief. Patrick is gone to the burial of an Irish footman, who was Dr King's servant; he died of a consumption, a fit death for a poor starving wit's footman. The Irish servants always club to bury a countryman. 20. I was with the secretary this morning, and, for aught I can see, we shall have a languishing death: I can know nothing, nor themselves neither. I dined, you know, with our society, and that odious secretary would make me president next week; so I must entertain them this day se'ennight at the Thatched House Tavern, where we dined to-day; it will cost me five or six pounds; yet the secretary says he will give me wine. I found a letter when I came home from the Bishop of Clogher. 21. This is the first time I ever got a new cold before the old one was going; it came yesterday, and appeared in all due forms, eyes and nose running, &c. and is * Dr King the civilian, a lively minor poet, and a keen Tory, of whom more hereafter. |