20.  There was a world of people to-day at Court to see Prince Eugene, but all bit, for he did not come.  I saw the Duchess of Somerset talking with the Duke of Buckingham; she looked a little down, but was extremely courteous.  The Queen has the gout, but is not in much pain.  Must I fill this line too?[6] well then, so let it be.  The Duke of Beaufort[7] has a mighty mind to come into our Society; shall we let him?  I spoke to the Duke of Ormond about it, and he doubts a little whether to let him in or no.  They say the Duke of Somerset is advised by his friends to let his wife stay with the Queen; I am sorry for it.  I dined with the Secretary to-day, with mixed company; I don’t love it.  Our Society does not meet till Friday, because Thursday will be a busy day in the House of Commons, for then the Duke of Marlborough’s bribery is to be examined into about the pension paid him by those that furnished bread to the army.

21.  I have been five times with the Duke of Ormond about a perfect trifle, and he forgets it:  I used him like a dog this morning for it.  I was asked to-day by several in the Court of Requests whether it was true that the author of the Examiner was taken up in an action of twenty thousand pounds by the Duke of Marlborough?[8] I dined in the City, where my printer showed me a pamphlet, called Advice to the October Club, which he said was sent him by an unknown hand:  I commended it mightily; he never suspected me; ’tis a twopenny pamphlet.  I came home and got timely to bed; but about eleven one of the Secretary’s servants came to me to let me know that Lord Treasurer would immediately speak to me at Lord Masham’s upon earnest business, and that, if I was abed, I should rise and come.  I did so:  Lord Treasurer was above with the Queen; and when he came down he laughed, and said it was not he that sent for me:  the business was of no great importance, only to give me a paper, which might have been done to-morrow.  I stayed with them till past one, and then got to bed again.  Pize[9] take their frolics.  I thought to have answered your letter.

22.  Dr. Gastrell was to see me this morning:  he is an eminent divine, one of the canons of Christ Church, and one I love very well:  he said he was glad to find I was not with James Broad.  I asked what he meant.  “Why,” says he, “have you not seen the Grub Street paper, that says Dr. Swift was taken up as author of the Examiner, on an action of twenty thousand pounds, and was now at James Broad’s?” who, I suppose, is some bailiff.  I knew of this; but at the Court of Requests twenty people told me they heard I had been taken up.  Lord Lansdowne observed to the Secretary and me that the Whigs spread three lies yesterday; that about me; and another, that Maccartney, who was turned out last summer,[10] is again restored to his places in the army; and the third, that Jack Hill’s commission for Lieutenant of the Tower is stopped, and that Cadogan is to continue.