Oct. 1.  Sir John Walter,[10] an honest drunken fellow, is now in waiting, and invited me to the Green Cloth to-day, that he might not be behindhand with Colonel Godfrey, who is a Whig.  I was engaged to the Mayor’s feast with Mr. Masham; but waiting to take leave of Lord Treasurer, I came too late, and so returned sneaking to the Green Cloth, and did not see my Lord Treasurer neither; but was resolved not to lose two dinners for him.  I took leave to-day of my friend and solicitor Lord Rivers, who is commanded by the Queen to set out for Hanover on Thursday.  The Secretary does not go to town till to-morrow; he and I, and two friends more, drank a sober bottle of wine here at home, and parted at twelve; he goes by seven to-morrow morning, so I shall not see him.  I have power over his cellar in his absence, and make little use of it.  Lord Dartmouth and my friend Lewis stay here this week; but I can never work out a dinner from Dartmouth.  Masham has promised to provide for me:  I squired his lady out of her chaise to-day, and must visit her in a day or two.  So you have had a long fit of the finest weather in the world; but I am every day in pain that it will go off.  I have done no business to-day; I am very idle.

2.  My friend Lewis and I, to avoid over much eating and great tables, dined with honest Jemmy Eckershall,[11] Clerk of the Kitchen, now in waiting, and I bespoke my dinner:  but the cur had your acquaintance Lovet, the gentleman porter, to be our company.  Lovet, towards the end of dinner, after twenty wrigglings, said he had the honour to see me formerly at Moor Park, and thought he remembered my face.  I said I thought I remembered him, and was glad to see him, etc., and I escaped for that much, for he was very pert.  It has rained all this day, and I doubt our good weather is gone.  I have been very idle this afternoon, playing at twelvepenny picquet with Lewis:  I won seven shillings, which is the only money I won this year:  I have not played above four times, and I think always at Windsor.  Cards are very dear:  there is a duty on them of sixpence a pack, which spoils small gamesters.

3.  Mr. Masham sent this morning to desire I would ride out with him, the weather growing again very fine.  I was very busy, and sent my excuses; but desired he would provide me a dinner.  I dined with him, his lady, and her sister, Mrs. Hill, who invites us to-morrow to dine with her, and we are to ride out in the morning.  I sat with Lady Oglethorpe till eight this evening, then was going home to write; looked about for the woman that keeps the key of the house:  she told me Patrick had it.  I cooled my heels in the cloisters till nine, then went in to the music-meeting, where I had been often desired to go; but was weary in half an hour of their fine stuff, and stole out so privately that everybody saw me; and cooled my heels in the cloisters again till after ten:  then came in Patrick.  I went up, shut the chamber door, and gave him two or three swinging cuffs on the ear, and I have strained the thumb of my left hand with pulling him, which I did not feel until he was gone.  He was plaguily afraid and humbled.