somewhat better for this month past, and talks of returning to the Bath in a few weeks.  Our peace goes on but slowly; the Dutch are playing tricks, and we do not push it strongly as we ought.  The fault of our Court is delay, of which the Queen has a great deal; and Lord Treasurer is not without his share.  But pay richar MD ret us know a little of your life and tonvelsasens.[3] Do you play at ombre, or visit the Dean, and Goody Walls and Stoytes and Manleys, as usual?  I must have a letter from oo, to fill the other side of this sheet.  Let me know what you do.  Is my aunt alive yet?

Oh, pray, now I think of it, be so kind to step to my aunt, and take notice of my great-grandfather’s picture; you know he has a ring on his finger, with a seal of an anchor and dolphin about it; but I think there is besides, at the bottom of the picture, the same coat of arms quartered with another, which I suppose was my great-grandmother’s.  If this be so, it is a stronger argument than the seal.  And pray see whether you think that coat of arms was drawn at the same time with the picture, or whether it be of a later hand; and ask my aunt what she knows about it.  But perhaps there is no such coat of arms on the picture, and I only dreamed it.  My reason is, because I would ask some herald here, whether I should choose that coat, or one in Guillim’s large folio of heraldry,[4] where my uncle Godwin is named with another coat of arms of three stags.  This is sad stuff to rite; so nite, MD.

25.  I was this morning again with the Secretary, and we were two hours busy; and then went together to the Park, Hyde Park, I mean; and he walked to cure his cold, and we were looking at two Arabian horses sent some time ago to Lord Treasurer.[5] The Duke of Marlborough’s coach overtook us, with his Grace and Lord Godolphin in it; but they did not see us, to our great satisfaction; for neither of us desired that either of those two lords should see us together.  There was half a dozen ladies riding like cavaliers to take the air.  My head is better to-day.  I dined with the Secretary; but we did no business after dinner, and at six I walked into the fields; the days are grown pure and long; then I went to visit Perceval[6] and his family, whom I had seen but twice since they came to town.  They too are going to the Bath next month.  Countess Doll of Meath[7] is such an owl that, wherever I visit, people are asking me whether I know such an Irish lady, and her figure and her foppery?  I came home early, and have been amusing myself with looking into one of Rymer’s volumes of the Records of the Tower, and am mighty easy to think I have no urgent business upon my hands.  My third cold is not yet off; I sometimes cough, and am not right with it in the morning.  Did I tell you that I believe it is Lady Masham’s hot room that gives it me?  I never knew such a stove; and in my conscience I believe both my lord and she, my Lord Treasurer, Mr. Secretary, and myself have all suffered by it.  We have all had colds together, but I walk home on foot.  Nite dee logues.