6.  I never dined with the chaplains till to-day; but my friend Gastrell and the Dean of Rochester[18] had often invited me, and I happened to be disengaged:  it is the worst provided table at Court.  We ate on pewter:  every chaplain, when he is made a dean, gives a piece of plate, and so they have got a little, some of it very old.  One who was made Dean of Peterborough (a small deanery) said he would give no plate; he was only Dean of Pewterborough.  The news of Mr. Hill’s miscarriage in his expedition[19] came to-day, and I went to visit Mrs. Masham and Mrs. Hill, his two sisters, to condole with them.  I advised them by all means to go to the music-meeting to-night, to show they were not cast down, etc., and they thought my advice was right, and went.  I doubt Mr. Hill and his admiral made wrong steps; however, we lay it all to a storm, etc.  I sat with the Secretary at supper; then we both went to Lord Treasurer’s supper, and sat till twelve.  The Secretary is much mortified about Hill, because this expedition was of his contriving, and he counted much upon it; but Lord Treasurer was just as merry as usual, and old laughing at Sir John Walter and me falling out.  I said nothing grieved me but that they would take example, and perhaps presume upon it, and get out of my government; but that I thought I was not obliged to govern bears, though I governed men.  They promise to be as obedient as ever, and so we laughed; and so I go to bed; for it is colder still, and you have a fire now, and are at cards at home.

7.  Lord Harley and I dined privately to-day with Mrs. Masham and Mrs. Hill, and my brother Masham.  I saw Lord Halifax at Court, and we joined and talked; and the Duchess of Shrewsbury came up and reproached me for not dining with her.  I said that was not so soon done, for I expected more advances from ladies, especially duchesses:  she promised to comply with any demands I pleased; and I agreed to dine with her to-morrow, if I did not go to London too soon, as I believe I shall before dinner.  Lady Oglethorpe brought me and the Duchess of Hamilton[20] together to-day in the drawing-room, and I have given her some encouragement, but not much.  Everybody has been teasing Walter.  He told Lord Treasurer that he took his company from him that were to dine with him:  my lord said, “I will send you Dr. Swift:”  Lord Keeper bid him take care what he did; “for,” said he, “Dr. Swift is not only all our favourite, but our governor.”  The old company supped with Lord Treasurer, and got away by twelve.

London, 8.  I believe I shall go no more to Windsor, for we expect the Queen will come in ten days to Hampton Court.  It was frost last night, and cruel cold to-day.  I could not dine with the Duchess, for I left Windsor half an hour after one with Lord Treasurer, and we called at Kensington, where Mrs. Masham was got to see her children for two days.  I dined, or rather supped, with Lord Treasurer, and stayed