about some things, that Lucifer could not understand him.  This wine is to be drunk with Harley’s brother[17] and Sir Robert Raymond, Solicitor-General, in order to recommend the Doctor to your new Lord Chancellor, who left this place on Monday; and Raymond says he is hasting to Chester, to go with him.—­I suppose he leaves his wife behind; for when he left London he had no thoughts of stirring till summer.  So I suppose he will be with you before this.  Ford came and desired I would dine with him, because it was Opera-day; which I did, and sent excuses to Lord Shelburne, who had invited me.

11.  I am setting up a new Tatler, little Harrison,[18] whom I have mentioned to you.  Others have put him on it, and I encourage him; and he was with me this morning and evening, showing me his first, which comes out on Saturday.  I doubt he will not succeed, for I do not much approve his manner; but the scheme is Mr. Secretary St. John’s and mine, and would have done well enough in good hands.  I recommended him to a printer,[19] whom I sent for, and settled the matter between them this evening.  Harrison has just left me, and I am tired with correcting his trash.

12.  I was this morning upon some business with Mr. Secretary St. John, and he made me promise to dine with him; which otherwise I would have done with Mr. Harley, whom I have not been with these ten days.  I cannot but think they have mighty difficulties upon them; yet I always find them as easy and disengaged as schoolboys on a holiday.  Harley has the procuring of five or six millions on his shoulders, and the Whigs will not lend a groat;[20] which is the only reason of the fall of stocks:  for they are like Quakers and fanatics, that will only deal among themselves, while all others deal indifferently with them.  Lady Marlborough offers, if they will let her keep her employments, never to come into the Queen’s presence.  The Whigs say the Duke of Marlborough will serve no more; but I hope and think otherwise.  I would to Heaven I were this minute with MD at Dublin; for I am weary of politics, that give me such melancholy prospects.

13.  O, faith, I had an ugly giddy fit last night in my chamber, and I have got a new box of pills to take, and hope I shall have no more this good while.  I would not tell you before, because it would vex you, little rogues; but now it is over.  I dined to-day with Lord Shelburne; and to-day little Harrison’s new Tatler came out:  there is not much in it, but I hope he will mend.  You must understand that, upon Steele’s leaving off, there were two or three scrub Tatlers[21] came out, and one of them holds on still, and to-day it advertised against Harrison’s; and so there must be disputes which are genuine, like the strops for razors.[22] I am afraid the little toad has not the true vein for it.  I will tell you a copy of verses.  When Mr. St. John was turned out from being Secretary at War, three years ago, he retired to the country:  there he was talking of something he would have written over his summer-house, and a gentleman gave him these verses—­