11.  Morning.  I must rise and go see my Lord Keeper,[1] which will cost me two shillings in coach-hire.  Don’t you call them two thirteens?[2]—­At night.  It has rained all day, and there was no walking.  I read prayers to Sir Andrew Fountaine in the forenoon, and I dined with three Irishmen, at one Mr. Cope’s[3] lodgings; the other two were one Morris an archdeacon,[4] and Mr. Ford.  When I came home this evening, I expected that little jackanapes Harrison would have come to get help about his Tatler for Tuesday:  I have fixed two evenings in the week which I allow him to come.  The toad never came, and I expecting him fell a reading, and left off other business.—­Come, what are you doing?  How do you pass your time this ugly weather?  Gaming and drinking, I suppose:  fine diversions for young ladies, truly!  I wish you had some of our Seville oranges, and we some of your wine.  We have the finest oranges for twopence apiece, and the basest wine for six shillings a bottle.  They tell me wine grows cheap with you.  I am resolved to have half a hogshead when I get to Ireland, if it be good and cheap, as it used to be; and I will treat MD at my table in an evening, oh hoa, and laugh at great Ministers of State.

12.   The days are grown fine and long, ----- be thanked.   O, faith, you forget
all our little sayings, and I am angry.   I dined to-day with Mr. Secretary St.
John:   I went to the Court of Requests at noon, and sent Mr. Harley into the
House to call the Secretary, to let him know I would not dine with him if he
dined late.   By good luck the Duke of Argyle was at the lobby of the House
too, and I kept him in talk till the Secretary came out; then told them I was
glad to meet them together, and that I had a request to the Duke, which the
Secretary must second, and his Grace must grant.   The Duke said he was sure it
was something insignificant, and wished it was ten times greater.   At the
Secretary’s house I writ a memorial, and gave it to the Secretary to give the
Duke, and shall see that he does it.   It is, that his Grace will please to
take Mr. Bernage into his protection; and if he finds Bernage answers my
character, to give him all encouragement.   Colonel Masham[5] and Colonel
Hill[6] (Mrs. Masham’s[7] brother tell me my request is reasonable, and they
will second it heartily to the Duke too:   so I reckon Bernage is on a very
good foot when he goes to Spain.   Pray tell him this, though perhaps I will
write to him before he goes; yet where shall I direct? for I suppose he has
left Connolly’s.[8]

13.  I have left off Lady Kerry’s bitter, and got another box of pills.  I have no fits of giddiness, but only some little disorders towards it; and I walk as much as I can.  Lady Kerry is just as I am, only a great deal worse:  I dined to-day at Lord Shelburne’s, where she is, and we con ailments, which makes us very fond of each other.  I have taken Mr. Harley into favour again, and called to see him, but he was not within; I will