27.  I passed a very insipid day, and dined privately with a friend in the neighbourhood.  Did I tell you that I have a very fine picture of Lady Orkney,[28] an original, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, three-quarters length?  I have it now at home, with a fine frame.  Lord Bolingbroke and Lady Masham have promised to sit for me; but I despair of Lord Treasurer; only I hope he will give me a copy, and then I shall have all the pictures of those I really love here; just half a dozen; only I’ll make Lord Keeper give me his print in a frame.  This letter must go to-morrow, because of sending me a bill; else it should not till next week, I assure oo.  I have little to do now with my pen; for my grand business stops till they are more pressing, and till something or other happens; and I believe I shall return with disgust to finish it, it is so very laborious.  Sir Thomas Hanmer has my papers now.  And hat is MD doing now?  Oh, at ombre with the Dean always on Friday night, with Mrs. Walls.  Pray don’t play at small games.  I stood by, t’other night, while the Duke d’Atree[29] lost six times with manilio, basto, and three small trumps; and Lady Jersey won above twenty pounds.  Nite dee richar[30] MD.

28.  I was at Court to-day, when the Abbe Gaultier whispered me that a courier was just come with an account that the French King had consented to all the Queen’s demands, and his consent was carried to Utrecht, and the peace will be signed in a few days.  I suppose the general peace cannot be so soon ready; but that is no matter.  The news presently ran about the Court.  I saw the Queen carried out in her chair, to take the air in the garden.  I met Griffin at Court, and he told me that orders were sent to examine Filby; and, if he be fit, to make him (I think he called it) an assistant; I don’t know what, Supervisor, I think; but it is some employment a good deal better than his own.  The Parliament will have another short prorogation, though it is not known yet.  I dined with Lord Treasurer and his Saturday company, and left him at eight to put this in the post-office time enough.  And now I must bid oo farewell, deelest richar Ppt.  God bless oo ever, and rove Pdfr.  Farewell MD MD MD FW FW FW FW me me me Lele Lele.

LETTER 61.[1]

London, March 1, 1712-13.

’Tis out of my head whether I answered all your letter in my last yesterday or no.  I think I was in haste, and could not:  but now I see I answered a good deal of it; no, only about your brother, and ME’s bill.  I dined with Lady Orkney, and we talked politics till eleven at night; and, as usual, found everything wrong, and put ourselves out of humour.  Yes, I have Lady Giffard’s picture sent me by your mother.  It is boxed up at a place where my other things are.  I have goods in two or three places; and when I leave a lodging, I box up the books I get (for I always get some), and come naked into a new lodging; and so on.  Talk not to me of deaneries; I know less of that than ever by much.  Nite MD.