LETTER 50.[1]

Kensington, July 17, 1712.

I am weary of living in this place, and glad to leave it soon.  The Queen goes on Tuesday to Windsor, and I shall follow in three or four days after.  I can do nothing here, going early to London, and coming late from it, and supping at Lady Masham’s.  I dined to-day with the Duke of Argyle at Cue [Kew], and would not go to the Court to-night, because of writing to MD.  The Bishop of Clogher has been here this fortnight:  I see him as often as I can.  Poor Master Ashe has a sad redness in his face; it is St. Anthony’s fire; his face all swelled, and will break in his cheek, but no danger.  Since Dunkirk has been in our hands, Grub Street has been very fruitful.  Pdfr has writ five or six Grub Street papers this last week.  Have you seen Toland’s Invitation to Dismal, or Hue and Cry after Dismal, or Ballad on Dunkirk, or Argument that Dunkirk is not in our Hands?  Poh! you have seen nothing.  I am dead here with the hot weather; yet I walk every night home, and believe it does me good:  but my shoulder is not yet right; itchings, and scratchings, and small achings.  Did I tell you I had made Ford Gazetteer, with two hundred pounds a year salary, beside perquisites?  I had a letter lately from Parvisol, who says my canal looks very finely; I long to see it; but no apples; all blasted again.  He tells me there will be a triennial visitation in August.  I must send Raymond another proxy.  So now I will answer oo rettle N.33,[2] dated June 17.  Ppt writes as well as ever, for all her waters.  I wish I had never come here, as often and as heartily as Ppt.  What had I to do here?  I have heard of the Bishop’s making me uneasy, but I did not think it was because I never writ to him.  A little would make me write to him, but I don’t know what to say.  I find I am obliged to the Provost for keeping the Bishop[3] from being impertinent.  Yes, Maram DD, but oo would not be content with letters flom Pdfr of six lines, or twelve either, fais.  I hope Ppt will have done with the waters soon, and find benefit by them.  I believe, if they were as far off as Wexford, they would do as much good; for I take the journey to contribute as much as anything.  I can assure you the Bishop of Clogher’s being here does not in the least affect my staying or going.  I never talked to Higgins but once in my life in the street, and I believe he and I shall hardly meet but by chance.  What care I whether my Letter to Lord Treasurer be commended there or no?  Why does not somebody among you answer it, as three or four have done here? (I am now sitting with nothing but my nightgown, for heat.) Ppt shall have a great Bible.  I have put it down in my memlandums[4] just now.  And DD shall be repaid her t’other book; but patience, all in good time:  you are so hasty, a dog would, etc.  So Ppt has neither won nor lost.  Why, mun, I play sometimes too