l0.  To-day I dined with Lord Mountjoy at Kensington; saw my mistress, Ophy Butler’s[5] wife, who is grown a little charmless.  I sat till ten in the evening with Addison and Steele:  Steele will certainly lose his Gazetteer’s place, all the world detesting his engaging in parties.[6] At ten I went to the Coffee-house, hoping to find Lord Radnor,[7] whom I had not seen.  He was there; and for an hour and a half we talked treason heartily against the Whigs, their baseness and ingratitude.  And I am come home, rolling resentments in my mind, and framing schemes of revenge:  full of which (having written down some hints) I go to bed.  I am afraid MD dined at home, because it is Sunday; and there was the little half-pint of wine:  for God’s sake, be good girls, and all will be well.  Ben Tooke[8] was with me this morning.

11.  Seven, morning.  I am rising to go to Jervas to finish my picture, and ’tis shaving-day, so good-morrow MD; but don’t keep me now, for I can’t stay; and pray dine with the Dean, but don’t lose your money.  I long to hear from you, etc.—­Ten at night.  I sat four hours this morning to Jervas, who has given my picture quite another turn, and now approves it entirely; but we must have the approbation of the town.  If I were rich enough, I would get a copy of it, and bring it over.  Mr. Addison and I dined together at his lodgings, and I sat with him part of this evening; and I am now come home to write an hour.  Patrick[9] observes, that the rabble here are much more inquisitive in politics than in Ireland.  Every day we expect changes, and the Parliament to be dissolved.  Lord Wharton expects every day to be out:  he is working like a horse for elections; and, in short, I never saw so great a ferment among all sorts of people.  I had a miserable letter from Joe last Saturday, telling me Mr. Pratt[10] refuses payment of his money.  I have told it Mr. Addison, and will to Lord Wharton; but I fear with no success.  However, I will do all I can.

12.  To-day I presented Mr. Ford[11] to the Duke of Ormond; and paid my first visit to Lord President,[12] with whom I had much discourse; but put him always off when he began to talk of Lord Wharton in relation to me, till he urged it:  then I said, he knew I never expected anything from Lord Wharton, and that Lord Wharton knew that I understood it so.  He said that he had written twice to Lord Wharton about me, who both times said nothing at all to that part of his letter.  I am advised not to meddle in the affair of the First-Fruits, till this hurry is a little over, which still depends, and we are all in the dark.  Lord President told me he expects every day to be out, and has done so these two months.  I protest, upon my life, I am heartily weary of this town, and wish I had never stirred.