31.  Our frost is broken since yesterday, and it is very slabbery;[4] yet I walked to the City and dined, and ordered some things with the printer.  I have settled Dr. King in the Gazette; it will be worth two hundred pounds a year to him.  Our new lords’ patents are passed:  I don’t like the expedient, if we could have found any other.  I see I have said this before.  I hear the Duke of Marlborough is turned out of all his employments:  I shall know to-morrow when I am to carry Dr. King to dine with the Secretary.—­These are strong remedies; pray God the patient is able to bear them.  The last Ministry people are utterly desperate.

Jan. 1.  Now I wish my dearest little MD many happy new years; yes, both Dingley and Stella, ay and Presto too, many happy new years.  I dined with the Secretary, and it is true that the Duke of Marlborough is turned out of all.  The Duke of Ormond has got his regiment of foot-guards, I know not who has the rest.  If the Ministry be not sure of a peace, I shall wonder at this step, and do not approve it at best.  The Queen and Lord Treasurer mortally hate the Duke of Marlborough, and to that he owes his fall, more than to his other faults:  unless he has been tampering too far with his party, of which I have not heard any particulars; however it be, the world abroad will blame us.  I confess my belief that he has not one good quality in the world beside that of a general, and even that I have heard denied by several great soldiers.  But we have had constant success in arms while he commanded.  Opinion is a mighty matter in war, and I doubt the French think it impossible to conquer an army that he leads, and our soldiers think the same; and how far even this step may encourage the French to play tricks with us, no man knows.  I do not love to see personal resentment mix with public affairs.

2.  This being the day the Lords meet, and the new peers to be introduced, I went to Westminster to see the sight; but the crowd was too great in the house.  So I only went into the robing-room, to give my four brothers joy, and Sir Thomas Mansel,[5] and Lord Windsor; the other six I am not acquainted with.  It was apprehended the Whigs would have raised some difficulties, but nothing happened.  I went to see Lady Masham at noon, and wish her joy of her new honour, and a happy new year.  I found her very well pleased; for peerage will be some sort of protection to her upon any turn of affairs.  She engaged me to come at night, and sup with her and Lord Treasurer:  I went at nine, and she was not at home, so I would not stay.—­No, no, I won’t answer your letter yet, young women.  I dined with a friend in the neighbourhood.  I see nothing here like Christmas, except brawn or mince-pies in places where I dine, and giving away my half-crowns like farthings to great men’s porters and butlers.  Yesterday I paid seven good guineas to the fellow at the tavern where I treated the Society.  I have a great mind to send you the bill.  I think I told you some articles.  I have not heard whether anything was done in the House of Lords after introducing the new ones.  Ford has been sitting with me till peeast tweeleve a clock.