25.  The Secretary sent to me this morning to know whether we should dine together.  I went to him, and there I learned that the question went against the Duke of Marlborough, by a majority of a hundred; so the Ministry is mighty well satisfied, and the Duke will now be able to do no hurt.  The Secretary and I, and Lord Masham, etc., dined with Lieutenant-General Withers,[16] who is just going to look after the army in Flanders:  the Secretary and I left them a little after seven, and I am come home, and will now answer your letter, because this goes to-morrow:  let me see—­The box at Chester; oh, burn that box, and hang that Sterne; I have desired one to inquire for it who went toward Ireland last Monday, but I am in utter despair of it.  No, I was not splenetic; you see what plunges the Court has been at to set all right again.  And that Duchess is not out yet, and may one day cause more mischief.  Somerset shows all about a letter from the Queen, desiring him to let his wife continue with her.  Is not that rare!  I find Dingley smelled a rat; because the Whigs are UPISH; but if ever I hear that word again, I’ll uppish you.  I am glad you got your rasp safe and sound; does Stella like her apron?  Your critics about guarantees of succession are puppies; that’s an answer to the objection.  The answerers here made the same objection, but it is wholly wrong.  I am of your opinion that Lord Marlborough is used too hardly:  I have often scratched out passages from papers and pamphlets sent me, before they were printed, because I thought them too severe.  But he is certainly a vile man, and has no sort of merit beside the military.  The Examiners are good for little:  I would fain have hindered the severity of the two or three last, but could not.  I will either bring your papers over, or leave them with Tooke, for whose honesty I will engage.  And I think it is best not to venture them with me at sea.  Stella is a prophet, by foretelling so very positively that all would be well.  Duke of Ormond speak against peace?  No, simpleton, he is one of the staunchest we have for the Ministry.  Neither trouble yourself about the printer:  he appeared the first day of the term, and is to appear when summoned again; but nothing else will come of it.  Lord Chief-Justice[17] is cooled since this new settlement.  No; I will not split my journals in half; I will write but once a fortnight:  but you may do as you will; which is, read only half at once, and t’other half next week.  So now your letter is answered. (P—–­ on these blots.) What must I say more?  I will set out in March, if there be a fit of fine weather; unless the Ministry desire me to stay till the end of the session, which may be a month longer; but I believe they will not:  for I suppose the peace will be made, and they will have no further service for me.  I must make my canal fine this summer, as fine as I can.  I am afraid I shall see great neglects among my quicksets.  I hope the cherry-trees on the river walk are fine things now.  But no more of this.