8.  Oo must understand that I am in my geers, and have got a chocolate-pot, a present from Mrs. Ashe of Clogher, and some chocolate from my brother Ormond, and I treat folks sometimes.  I dined with Lord Treasurer at five o’clock to-day, and was by while he and Lord Bolingbroke were at business; for it is fit I should know all that passes now, because, etc.  The Duke of Ormond employed me to speak to Lord Treasurer to-day about an affair, and I did so; and the Duke had spoke himself two hours before, which vexed me, and I will chide the Duke about it.  I’ll tell you a good thing; there is not one of the Ministry but what will employ me as gravely to speak for them to Lord Treasurer as if I were their brother or his; and I do it as gravely:  though I know they do it only because they will not make themselves uneasy, or had rather I should be denied than they.  I believe our peace will not be finished these two months; for I think we must have a return from Spain by a messenger, who will not go till Sunday next.  Lord Treasurer has invited me to dine with him again to-morrow.  Your Commissioner, Keatley,[8] is to be there.  Nite dee richar MD.[9]

9.  Dr. Pratt drank chocolate with me this morning, and then we walked.  I was yesterday with him to see Lady Betty Butler, grieving for her sister Ashburnham.  The jade was in bed in form, and she did so cant, she made me sick.  I meet Tom Leigh every day in the Park, to preserve his health.  He is as ruddy as a rose, and tells me his Bishop of Dromore[10] recovers very much.  That Bishop has been very near dying.  This day’s Examiner talks of the play of “What is it like?"[11] and you will think it to be mine, and be bit; for I have no hand in these papers at all.  I dined with Lord Treasurer, and shall again to-morrow, which is his day when all the Ministers dine with him.  He calls it whipping-day.  It is always on Saturday, and we do indeed usually rally him about his faults on that day.  I was of the original Club, when only poor Lord Rivers, Lord Keeper, and Lord Bolingbroke came; but now Ormond, Anglesea, Lord Steward,[12] Dartmouth, and other rabble intrude, and I scold at it; but now they pretend as good a title as I; and, indeed, many Saturdays I am not there.  The company being too many, I don’t love it.  Nite MD.

10.  At seven this evening, as we sat after dinner at Lord Treasurer’s, a servant said Lord Peterborow was at the door.  Lord Treasurer and Lord Bolingbroke went out to meet him, and brought him in.  He was just returned from abroad, where he has been above a year.  Soon as he saw me, he left the Duke of Ormond and other lords, and ran and kissed me before he spoke to them; but chid me terribly for not writing to him, which I never did this last time he was abroad, not knowing where he was; and he changed places so often, it was impossible a letter should overtake him.  He left England with a bruise, by his coach overturning, that made him spit blood, and was so ill, we expected every post to hear of his death; but he outrode it or outdrank it, or something, and is come home lustier than ever.  He is at least sixty, and has more spirits than any young fellow I know in England.  He has got the old Oxford regiment of horse, and I believe will have a Garter.  I love the hang-dog dearly.  Nite dee MD.