I have sent a noble haunch of venison this afternoon to Mrs. Vanhomrigh; I wish you had it sirrahs.  I dined gravely with my landlord, the Secretary.  The queen was abroad to-day to hunt; but finding it disposed to rain, she kept in her coach, which she drives herself, and drives furiously, like Jehu, and is a mighty hunter, like Nimrod.  Dingley has heard of Nimrod, but not Stella, for it is in the Bible.  Mr. Secretary has given me a warrant for a buck; I can’t sent it to MD.  It is a sad thing, faith, considering how Presto loves MD, and how MD would love Presto’s venison for Presto’s sake.  God bless the two dear Wexford girls!

There was a drawing-room to-day at Court; but so few company, that the queen sent for us into her bedchamber, where we made our bows, and stood about twenty of us round the room, while she looked at us round with her fan in her mouth, and once a minute said about three words to some that were nearest to her, and then she was told dinner was ready, and went out.

LONDON, Dec. 1, 1711.

To-morrow is the fatal day for the Parliament meeting, and we are full of hopes and fears.  We reckon we have a majority of ten on our side in the House of Lords; yet I observe Mrs. Masham a little uneasy.  The Duke of Marlborough has not seen the queen for some days past; Mrs. Masham is glad of it, because she says he tells a hundred lies to his friends of what she says to him:  he is one day humble, and the next day on the high ropes.

This being the day Parliament was to meet, and the great question to be determined, I went with Dr. Freind to dine in the City, on purpose to be out of the way, and we sent our printer to see what was our fate; but he gave us a most melancholy account of things.  The Earl of Nottingham began and spoke against a peace, and desired that in their address they might put in a clause to advise the queen not to make a peace without Spain; which was debated, and carried by the Whigs by about six voices:  and this has happened entirely by my Lord Treasurer’s neglect, who did not take timely care to make up his strength, although every one of us gave him caution enough.  Nottingham has certainly been bribed.  The question is yet only carried in the Committee of the whole House, and we hope when it is reported to the House to-morrow, we shall have a majority.

This is a day that may produce great alterations and hazard the ruin of England.  The Whigs are all in triumph; they foretold how all this would be, but we thought it boasting.  Nay, they said the Parliament should be dissolved before Christmas, and perhaps it may:  this is all your d——­d Duchess of Somerset’s doings.  I warned them of this nine months ago, and a hundred times since.  I told Lord Treasurer I should have the advantage of him; for he would lose his head, and I should only be hanged, and so carry my body entire to the grave.