28.  I have the finest piece of Brazil tobacco for Dingley that ever was born.[14] You talk of Leigh; why, he won’t be in Dublin these two months:  he goes to the country, then returns to London, to see how the world goes here in Parliament.  Good-night, sirrahs; no, no, not night; I writ this in the morning, and looking carelessly I thought it had been of last night.  I dined to-day with Mrs. Barton[15] alone at her lodgings; where she told me for certain, that Lady S——­ was with child when she was last in England, and pretended a tympany, and saw everybody; then disappeared for three weeks, her tympany was gone, and she looked like a ghost, etc.  No wonder she married when she was so ill at containing.  Connolly[16] is out; and Mr. Roberts in his place, who loses a better here, but was formerly a Commissioner in Ireland.  That employment cost Connolly three thousand pounds to Lord Wharton; so he has made one ill bargain in his life.

29.  I wish MD a merry Michaelmas.  I dined with Mr. Addison, and Jervas the painter, at Addison’s country place; and then came home, and writ more to my lampoon.  I made a Tatler since I came:  guess which it is, and whether the Bishop of Clogher smokes it.  I saw Mr. Sterne[17] to-day:  he will do as you order, and I will give him chocolate for Stella’s health.  He goes not these three weeks.  I wish I could send it some other way.  So now to your letter, brave boys.  I don’t like your way of saving shillings:  nothing vexes me but that it does not make Stella a coward in a coach.[18] I don’t think any lady’s advice about my ear signifies twopence:  however I will, in compliance to you, ask Dr. Cockburn.  Radcliffe[19] I know not, and Barnard[20] I never see.  Walls will certainly be stingier for seven years, upon pretence of his robbery.  So Stella puns again; why, ’tis well enough; but I’ll not second it, though I could make a dozen:  I never thought of a pun since I left Ireland.—­ Bishop of Clogher’s bill?  Why, he paid it to me; do you think I was such a fool to go without it?  As for the four shillings, I will give you a bill on Parvisol for it on t’other side of this paper; and pray tear off the two letters I shall write to him and Joe, or let Dingley transcribe and send them; though that to Parvisol, I believe, he must have my hand for.  No, no, I’ll eat no grapes; I ate about six the other day at Sir John Holland’s; but would not give sixpence for a thousand, they are so bad this year.  Yes, faith, I hope in God Presto and MD will be together this time twelvemonth.  What then?  Last year I suppose I was at Laracor; but next I hope to eat my Michaelmas goose at my two little gooses’ lodgings.  I drink no aile (I suppose you mean ale); but yet good wine every day, of five and six shillings a bottle.  O Lord, how much Stella writes! pray don’t carry that too far, young women, but be temperate, to hold out.  To-morrow I go to Mr. Harley.[21] Why, small hopes from the