17th.  Early I went to Mr. Crew’s, and having given Mr. Edward money to give the servants, I took him into the coach that waited for us and carried him to my house, where the coach waited for me while I and the child went to Westminster Hall, and bought him some pictures.  In the Hall I met Mr. Woodfine, and took him to Will’s and drank with him.  Thence the child and I to the coach, where my wife was ready, and so we went towards Twickenham.  In our way, at Kensington we understood how that my Lord Chesterfield had killed another gentleman about half an hour before, and was fled.

[Philip Stanhope, second Earl of Chesterfield, ob. 1713, act. suae 80.  We learn, from the memoir prefixed to his “Printed Correspondence,” that he fought three duels, disarming and wounding his first and second antagonists, and killing the third.  The name of the unfortunate gentleman who fell on this occasion was Woolly.  Lord Chesterfield, absconding, went to Breda, where he obtained the royal pardon from Charles ii.  He acted a busy part in the eventful times in which he lived, and was remarkable for his steady adherence to the Stuarts.  Lord Chesterfield’s letter to Charles ii., and the King’s answer granting the royal pardon, occur in the Correspondence published by General Sir John Murray, in 1829.

“Jan. 17th, 1659.  The Earl of Chesterfield and Dr. Woolly’s son of Hammersmith, had a quarrel about a mare of eighteen pounds price; the quarrel would not be reconciled, insomuch that a challenge passed between them.  They fought a duel on the backside of Mr. Colby’s house at Kensington, where the Earl and he had several passes.  The Earl wounded him in two places, and would fain have then ended, but the stubbornness and pride of heart of Mr. Woolly would not give over, and the next pass [he] was killed on the spot.  The Earl fled to Chelsea, and there took water and escaped.  The jury found it chance-medley.”—­Rugge’s “Diurnal,” Addit MSS., British Museum.—­B.]

We went forward and came about one of the clock to Mr. Fuller’s, but he was out of town, so we had a dinner there, and I gave the child 40s. to give to the two ushers.  After that we parted and went homewards, it being market day at Brainford [Brentford].  I set my wife down and went with the coach to Mr. Crew’s, thinking to have spoke with Mr. Moore and Mrs. Jem, he having told me the reason of his melancholy was some unkindness from her after so great expressions of love, and how he had spoke to her friends and had their consent, and that he would desire me to take an occasion of speaking with her, but by no means not to heighten her discontent or distaste whatever it be, but to make it up if I can.  But he being out of doors, I went away and went to see Mrs. Jem, who was now very well again, and after a game or two at cards, I left her.  So I went to the Coffee Club, and heard very good discourse; it was in answer