8.  I was early this morning with the Secretary, and talked over this matter.  He hoped that when it was reported this day in the House of Lords, they would disagree with their Committee, and so the matter would go off, only with a little loss of reputation to the Lord Treasurer.  I dined with Mr. Cockburn, and after, a Scotch member came in, and told us that the clause was carried against the Court in the House of Lords almost two to one.  I went immediately to Mrs. Masham, and meeting Dr. Arbuthnot (the Queen’s favourite physician), we went together.  She was just come from waiting at the Queen’s dinner, and going to her own.  She had heard nothing of the thing being gone against us.  It seems Lord Treasurer had been so negligent that he was with the Queen while the question was put in the House:  I immediately told Mrs. Masham that either she and Lord Treasurer had joined with the Queen to betray us, or that they two were betrayed by the Queen:  she protested solemnly it was not the former, and I believed her; but she gave me some lights to suspect the Queen is changed.  For yesterday, when the Queen was going from the House, where she sat to hear the debate, the Duke of Shrewsbury, Lord Chamberlain, asked her whether he or the Great Chamberlain Lindsey[13] ought to lead her out; she answered short, “Neither of you,” and gave her hand to the Duke of Somerset, who was louder than any in the House for the clause against peace.  She gave me one or two more instances of this sort, which convince me that the Queen is false, or at least very much wavering.  Mr. Masham begged us to stay, because Lord Treasurer would call, and we were resolved to fall on him about his negligence in securing a majority.  He came, and appeared in good humour as usual, but I thought his countenance was much cast down.  I rallied him, and desired him to give me his staff, which he did:  I told him, if he would secure it me a week, I would set all right:  he asked how; I said I would immediately turn Lord Marlborough, his two daughters,[14] the Duke and Duchess of Somerset, and Lord Cholmondeley,[15] out of all their employments; and I believe he had not a friend but was of my opinion.  Arbuthnot asked how he came not to secure a majority.  He could answer nothing but that he could not help it, if people would lie and forswear.  A poor answer for a great Minister.  There fell from him a Scripture expression, that “the hearts of kings are unsearchable."[16] I told him it was what I feared, and was from him the worst news he could tell me.  I begged him to know what he had to trust to:  he stuck a little; but at last bid me not fear, for all would be well yet.  We would fain have had him eat a bit where he was, but he would go home, it was past six:  he made me go home with him.  There we found his brother and Mr. Secretary.  He made his son take a list of all in the House of Commons who had places, and yet voted against the Court, in such a manner as if