24.  This morning I recommended Newcomb again to the Duke of Ormond, and left Dick Stewart[4] to do it further.  Then I went to visit the Duchess of Hamilton, who was not awake.  So I went to the Duchess of Shrewsbury, and sat an hour at her toilet.  I talked to her about the Duke’s being Lord Lieutenant.  She said she knew nothing of it; but I rallied her out of that, and she resolves not to stay behind the Duke.  I intend to recommend the Bishop of Clogher to her for an acquaintance.  He will like her very well:  she is, indeed, a most agreeable woman, and a great favourite of mine.  I know not whether the ladies in Ireland will like her.  I was at the Court of Requests, to get some lords to be at a committee to-morrow, about a friend’s Bill:  and then the Duke of Beaufort gave me a poem, finely bound in folio, printed at Stamford, and writ by a country squire.  Lord Exeter[5] desired the Duke to give it the Queen, because the author is his friend; but the Duke desired I would let him know whether it was good for anything.  I brought it home, and will return it to-morrow, as the dullest thing I ever read; and advise the Duke not to present it.  I dined with Domville at his lodgings, by invitation; for he goes in a few days for Ireland.  Nite dee MD.

25.  There is a mighty feast at a Tory sheriff’s to-day in the City:  twelve hundred dishes of meat.—­Above five lords, and several hundred gentlemen, will be there, and give four or five guineas apiece, according to custom.  Dr. Coghill and I dined, by invitation, at Mrs. Van’s.  It has rained or mizzled all day, as my pockets feel.  There are two new answers come out to the Conduct of the Allies.  The last year’s Examiners, printed together in a small volume, go off but slowly.  The printer over-printed himself by at least a thousand; so soon out of fashion are party papers, however so well writ.  The Medleys are coming out in the same volume, and perhaps may sell better.  Our news about a cessation of arms begins to flag, and I have not these three days seen anybody in business to ask them about it.  We had a terrible fire last night in Drury Lane, or thereabouts, and three or four people destroyed.  One of the maids of honour has the smallpox; but the best is, she can lose no beauty; and we have one new handsome maid of honour.  Nite MD.

26.  I forgot to tell you that on Sunday last, about seven at night, it lightened above fifty times as I walked the Mall, which I think is extraordinary at this time of the year, and the weather was very hot.  Had you anything of this in Dublin?  I intended to dine with Lord Treasurer to-day; but Lord Mansel and Mr. Lewis made me dine with them at Kit Musgrave’s.[6] I sat the evening with Mrs. Wesley, who goes to-morrow morning to the Bath.  She is much better than she was.  The news of the French desiring a cessation of arms, etc., was but town talk.  We shall know in a few days, as I am told, whether there will be a peace or not.