now at Windsor:  I have not yet seen him.  He is privately blamed by his own friends for want of conduct.  He called a council of war, and therein it was determined to come back.  But they say a general should not do that, because the officers will always give their opinion for returning, since the blame will not lie upon them, but the general.  I pity him heartily.  Bernage received his commission to-day.

13.  I dined to-day with Colonel Crowe,[8] late Governor of Barbadoes; he is a great acquaintance of your friend Sterne, to whom I trusted the box.  Lord Treasurer has refused Sterne’s business, and I doubt he is a rake; Jemmy Leigh stays for him, and nobody knows where to find him.  I am so busy now I have hardly time to spare to write to our little MD, but in a fortnight I hope it will be over.  I am going now to be busy, etc.

14.  I was going to dine with Dr. Cockburn, but Sir Andrew Fountaine met me, and carried me to Mrs. Van’s, where I drank the last bottle of Raymond’s wine, admirable good, better than any I get among the Ministry.  I must pick up time to answer this letter of MD’s; I’ll do it in a day or two for certain.—­I am glad I am not at Windsor, for it is very cold, and I won’t have a fire till November.  I am contriving how to stop up my grate with bricks.  Patrick was drunk last night; but did not come to me, else I should have given him t’other cuff.  I sat this evening with Mrs. Barton; it is the first day of her seeing company; but I made her merry enough, and we were three hours disputing upon Whig and Tory.  She grieved for her brother only for form, and he was a sad dog.  Is Stella well enough to go to church, pray? no numbings left? no darkness in your eyes? do you walk and exercise?  Your exercise is ombre.—­ People are coming up to town:  the Queen will be at Hampton Court in a week.  Lady Betty Germaine, I hear, is come; and Lord Pembroke is coming:  his wife[9] is as big with child as she can tumble.

15.  I sat at home till four this afternoon to-day writing, and ate a roll and butter; then visited Will Congreve an hour or two, and supped with Lord Treasurer, who came from Windsor to-day, and brought Prior with him.  The Queen has thanked Prior for his good service in France, and promised to make him a Commissioner of the Customs.  Several of that Commission are to be out; among the rest, my friend Sir Matthew Dudley.  I can do nothing for him, he is so hated by the Ministry.  Lord Treasurer kept me till twelve, so I need not tell you it is now late.

16.  I dined to-day with Mr. Secretary at Dr. Coatesworth’s,[10] where he now lodges till his house be got ready in Golden Square.  One Boyer,[11] a French dog, has abused me in a pamphlet, and I have got him up in a messenger’s hands:  the Secretary promises me to swinge him.  Lord Treasurer told me last night that he had the honour to be abused with me in a pamphlet.  I must make that rogue an example, for warning to others.