House of Lords, and we want more.  We are sadly mortified at the news of the French taking the town in Brazil from the Portuguese.  The sixth edition of three thousand of the Conduct of the Allies is sold, and the printer talks of a seventh:  eleven thousand of them have been sold, which is a most prodigious run.  The little twopenny Letter of Advice to the October Club does not sell:  I know not the reason, for it is finely written, I assure you; and, like a true author, I grow fond of it, because it does not sell:  you know that it is usual to writers to condemn the judgment of the world:  if I had hinted it to be mine, everybody would have bought it, but it is a great secret.

29.  I borrowed one or two idle books of Contes des Fees,[2] and have been reading them these two days, although I have much business upon my hands.  I loitered till one at home; then went to Mr. Lewis at his office; and the Vice-Chamberlain told me that Lady Rialton[3] had yesterday resigned her employment of lady of the bed-chamber, and that Lady Jane Hyde,[4] Lord Rochester’s daughter, a mighty pretty girl, is to succeed.  He said, too, that Lady Sunderland would resign in a day or two.  I dined with Lewis, and then went to see Mrs. Wesley, who is better to-day.  But you must know that Mr. Lewis gave me two letters, one from the Bishop of Cloyne, with an enclosed from Lord Inchiquin[5] to Lord Treasurer, which he desires I would deliver and recommend.  I am told that lord was much in with Lord Wharton, and I remember he was to have been one of the Lords Justices by his recommendation; yet the Bishop recommends him as a great friend to the Church, etc.  I’ll do what I think proper.  T’other letter was from little saucy MD, N.26.  O Lord, never saw the like, under a cover, too, and by way of journal; we shall never have done.  Sirrahs, how durst you write so soon, sirrahs?  I won’t answer it yet.

30.  I was this morning with the Secretary, who was sick, and out of humour:  he would needs drink champagne some days ago, on purpose to spite me, because I advised him against it, and now he pays for it.  Stella used to do such tricks formerly; he put me in mind of her.  Lady Sunderland has resigned her place too.  It is Lady Catherine Hyde[6] that succeeds Lady Rialton, and not Lady Jane.  Lady Catherine is the late Earl of Rochester’s daughter.  I dined with the Secretary, then visited his lady; and sat this evening with Lady Masham:  the Secretary came to us; but Lord Treasurer did not; he dined with the Master of the Rolls,[7] and stayed late with him.  Our Society does not meet till to-morrow se’nnight, because we think the Parliament will be very busy to-morrow upon the state of the war, and the Secretary, who is to treat as President, must be in the House.  I fancy my talking of persons and things here must be very tedious to you, because you know nothing of them, and I talk as if you did.  You know Kevin’s Street, and Werburgh Street, and (what do you call the street where Mrs. Walls lives?) and Ingoldsby,[8] and Higgins,[9] and Lord Santry;[10] but what care you for Lady Catherine Hyde?  Why do you say nothing of your health, sirrah?  I hope it is well.