but to-morrow I am to have an answer, and am promised an effectual one.  I suppose I have said enough in this and a former letter how I stand with new people; ten times better than ever I did with the old; forty times more caressed.  I am to dine to-morrow at Mr. Harley’s; and if he continues as he has begun, no man has been ever better treated by another.  What you say about Stella’s mother, I have spoken enough to it already.  I believe she is not in town; for I have not yet seen her.  My lampoon is cried up to the skies; but nobody suspects me for it, except Sir Andrew Fountaine:  at least they say nothing of it to me.  Did not I tell you of a great man who received me very coldly?[27] That’s he; but say nothing; ’twas only a little revenge.  I will remember to bring it over.  The Bishop of Clogher has smoked my Tatler,[28] about shortening of words, etc.  But, God So![29] etc.

15.  I will write plainer if I can remember it; for Stella must not spoil her eyes, and Dingley can’t read my hand very well; and I am afraid my letters are too long:  then you must suppose one to be two, and read them at twice.  I dined to-day with Mr. Harley:  Mr. Prior[30] dined with us.  He has left my memorial with the Queen, who has consented to give the First-Fruits and Twentieth Parts,[31] and will, we hope, declare it to-morrow in the Cabinet.  But I beg you to tell it to no person alive; for so I am ordered, till in public:  and I hope to get something of greater value.  After dinner came in Lord Peterborow:[32] we renewed our acquaintance, and he grew mightily fond of me.  They began to talk of a paper of verses called “Sid Hamet.”  Mr. Harley repeated part, and then pulled them out, and gave them to a gentleman at the table to read, though they had all read them often.  Lord Peterborow would let nobody read them but himself:  so he did; and Mr. Harley bobbed[33] me at every line, to take notice of the beauties.  Prior rallied Lord Peterborow for author of them; and Lord Peterborow said he knew them to be his; and Prior then turned it upon me, and I on him.  I am not guessed at all in town to be the author; yet so it is:  but that is a secret only to you.[34] Ten to one whether you see them in Ireland; yet here they run prodigiously.  Harley presented me to Lord President of Scotland,[35] and Mr. Benson,[36] Lord of the Treasury.  Prior and I came away at nine, and sat at the Smyrna[37] till eleven, receiving acquaintance.

16.  This morning early I went in a chair, and Patrick before it, to Mr. Harley, to give him another copy of my memorial, as he desired; but he was full of business, going to the Queen, and I could not see him; but he desired I would send up the paper, and excused himself upon his hurry.  I was a little baulked; but they tell me it is nothing.  I shall judge by next visit.  I tipped his porter with half a crown; and so I am well there for a time at least.  I dined at Stratford’s in the City,