and had Burgundy and Tokay:  came back afoot like a scoundrel:  then went with Mr. Addison and supped with Lord Mountjoy, which made me sick all night.  I forgot that I bought six pounds of chocolate for Stella, and a little wooden box; and I have a great piece of Brazil tobacco for Dingley,[38] and a bottle of palsy-water[39] for Stella:  all which, with the two handkerchiefs that Mr. Sterne has bought, and you must pay him for, will be put in the box, directed to Mrs. Curry’s, and sent by Dr. Hawkshaw,[40] whom I have not seen; but Sterne has undertaken it.  The chocolate is a present, madam, for Stella.  Don’t read this, you little rogue, with your little eyes; but give it to Dingley, pray now; and I will write as plain as the skies:  and let Dingley write Stella’s part, and Stella dictate to her, when she apprehends her eyes, etc.

17.  This letter should have gone this post, if I had not been taken up with business, and two nights being late out; so it must stay till Thursday.  I dined to-day with your Mr. Sterne,[41] by invitation, and drank Irish wine;[42] but, before we parted, there came in the prince of puppies, Colonel Edgworth;[43] so I went away.  This day came out the Tatler, made up wholly of my “Shower,” and a preface to it.  They say it is the best thing I ever writ, and I think so too.  I suppose the Bishop of Clogher will show it you.  Pray tell me how you like it.  Tooke is going on with my Miscellany.[44] I’d give a penny the letter to the Bishop of Killaloe[45] was in it:  ’twould do him honour.  Could not you contrive to say, you hear they are printing my things together; and that you with the bookseller had that letter among the rest:  but don’t say anything of it as from me.  I forget whether it was good or no; but only having heard it much commended, perhaps it may deserve it.  Well, I have to-morrow to finish this letter in, and then I will send it next day.  I am so vexed that you should write your third to me, when you had but my second, and I had written five, which now I hope you have all:  and so I tell you, you are saucy, little, pretty, dear rogues, etc.

18.  To-day I dined, by invitation, with Stratford and others, at a young merchant’s in the City, with Hermitage and Tokay, and stayed till nine, and am now come home.  And that dog Patrick is abroad, and drinking, and I cannot I get my night-gown.  I have a mind to turn that puppy away:  he has been drunk ten times in three weeks.  But I han’t time to say more; so good-night, etc.

19.  I am come home from dining in the city with Mr. Addison, at a merchant’s; and just now, at the Coffee-house, we have notice that the Duke of Ormond was this day declared Lord Lieutenant at Hampton Court, in Council.  I have not seen Mr. Harley since; but hope the affair is done about First-Fruits.  I will see him, if possible, to-morrow morning; but this goes to-night.  I have sent a box to Mr. Sterne, to send to you by some friend:  I have directed it for Mr. Curry, at his house; so you have warning when it comes, as I hope it will soon.  The handkerchiefs will be put in some friend’s pocket, not to pay custom.  And so here ends my sixth, sent when I had but three of MD’s:  now I am beforehand, and will keep so; and God Almighty bless dearest MD, etc.