10.  This son of a b——­ Patrick is out of the way, and I can do nothing; am forced to borrow coals:  ’tis now six o’clock, and I am come home after a pure walk in the park; delicate weather, begun only to-day.  A terrible storm last night:  we hear one of your packet-boats is cast away, and young Beau Swift[2] in it, and General Sankey:[3] I know not the truth; you will before me.  Raymond talks of leaving the town in a few days, and going in a month to Ireland, for fear his wife should be too far gone, and forced to be brought to bed here.  I think he is in the right; but perhaps this packet-boat will fright him.  He has no relish for London; and I do not wonder at it.  He has got some Templars from Ireland that show him the town.  I do not let him see me above twice a week, and that only while I am dressing in the morning.—­So, now the puppy’s come in, and I have got my own ink, but a new pen; and so now you are rogues and sauceboxes till I go to bed; for I must go study, sirrahs.  Now I think of it, tell the Bishop of Clogher, he shall not cheat me of one inch of my bell metal.  You know it is nothing but to save the town money; and Enniskillen can afford it better than Laracor:  he shall have but one thousand five hundred weight.  I have been reading, etc., as usual, and am now going to bed; and I find this day’s article is long enough:  so get you gone till to-morrow, and then.  I dined with Sir Matthew Dudley.

11.  I am come home again as yesterday, and the puppy had again locked up my ink, notwithstanding all I said to him yesterday; but he came home a little after me, so all is well:  they are lighting my fire, and I’ll go study.  The fair weather is gone again, and it has rained all day.  I do not like this open weather, though some say it is healthy.  They say it is a false report about the plague at Newcastle.[4] I have no news to-day:  I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, to desire them to buy me a scarf; and Lady Abercorn[5] is to buy me another, to see who does best:  mine is all in rags.  I saw the Duke of Richmond[6] yesterday at Court again, but would not speak to him:  I believe we are fallen out.  I am now in bed; and it has rained all this evening, like wildfire:  have you so much rain in your town?  Raymond was in a fright, as I expected, upon the news of this shipwreck; but I persuaded him, and he leaves this town in a week.  I got him acquainted with Sir Robert Raymond,[7] the Solicitor-General, who owns him to be of his family; and I believe it may do him a kindness, by being recommended to your new Lord Chancellor.—­I had a letter from Mrs. Long, that has quite turned my stomach against her:  no less than two nasty jests in it, with dashes to suppose them.  She is corrupted in that country town[8] with vile conversation.—­I will not answer your letter till I have leisure:  so let this go on as it will, what care I? what cares saucy Presto?