5.  Lady Masham has miscarried; but is well almost again.  I have many visits to-day.  I met Blith at the Duke of Ormond’s; and he begged me to carry him to the Duchess of Hamilton, to beg her pardon again.  I did on purpose to see how the blunderbuss behaved himself; but I begged the Duchess to use him mercifully, for she is the devil of a teaser.  The good of it is, she ought to beg his pardon, for he meant no harm; yet she would not allow him to put in an advertisement to clear himself from hers, though hers was all a lie.  He appealed to me, and I gravely gave it against him.  I was at Court to-day, and the foreign Ministers have got a trick of employing me to speak for them to Lord Treasurer and Lord Bolingbroke; which I do when the case is reasonable.  The College[11] need not fear; I will not be their Governor.  I dined with Sir Thomas Hanmer and his Duchess.[12] The Duke of Ormond was there, but we parted soon, and I went to visit Lord Pembroke for the first time; but it was to see some curious books.  Lord Cholmondeley[13] came in; but I would not talk to him, though he made many advances.  I hate the scoundrel for all he is your Griffith’s friend.—­Yes, yes, I am abused enough, if that be all.  Nite sollahs.

6.  I was to-day at an auction of pictures with Pratt,[14] and laid out two pound five shillings for a picture of Titian, and if it were a Titian it would be worth twice as many pounds.  If I am cheated, I’ll part with it to Lord Masham:  if it be a bargain, I’ll keep it to myself.  That’s my conscience.  But I made Pratt buy several pictures for Lord Masham.  Pratt is a great virtuoso that way.  I dined with Lord Treasurer, but made him go to Court at eight.  I always tease him to be gone.  I thought to have made Parnell dine with him, but he was ill; his head is out of order like mine, but more constant, poor boy!—­I was at Lord Treasurer’s levee with the Provost, to ask a book for the College.—­I never go to his levee, unless to present somebody.  For all oor rallying, saucy[15] Ppt, as hope saved, I expected they would have decided about me long ago; and as hope saved, as soon as ever things are given away and I not provided for, I will be gone with the very first opportunity, and put up bag and baggage.  But people are slower than can be thought.  Nite MD.

7.  Yes, I hope Leigh will soon be gone, a p—­ on him!  I met him once, and he talked gravely to me of not seeing the Irish bishops here, and the Irish gentlemen; but I believe my answers fretted him enough.  I would not dine with Lord Treasurer to-day, though it was Saturday (for he has engaged me for to-morrow), but went and dined with Lord Masham, and played at ombre, sixpenny running ombre, for three hours.  There were three voles[16] against me, and I was once a great loser, but came off for three shillings and sixpence.  One may easily lose five guineas at it.  Lady Orkney is gone out of town to-day, and I could not see her for laziness,