29. Now for your saucy, good dear letter: let me see, what does it say? come then. I dined to-day with Ford, and went home early; he debauched(8) me to his chamber again with a bottle of wine till twelve: so good-night. I cannot write an answer now, you rogues.
30. To-day I have been visiting, which I had long neglected; and I dined with Mrs. Barton alone; and sauntered at the Coffee-house till past eight, and have been busy till eleven, and now I"ll answer your letter, saucebox. Well, let me see now again. My wax candle"s almost out, but however I"ll begin. Well then, do not be so tedious, Mr. Presto; what can you say to MD"s letter? Make haste, have done with your preambles--Why, I say I am glad you are so often abroad; your mother thinks it is want of exercise hurts you, and so do I. (She called here to-night, but I was not within, that"s by the bye.) Sure you do not deceive me, Stella, when you say you are in better health than you were these three weeks; for Dr. Raymond told me yesterday, that Smyth of the Blind Quay had been telling Mr. Leigh that he left you extremely ill; and in short, spoke so, that he almost put poor Leigh into tears, and would have made me run distracted; though your letter is dated the 11th instant, and I saw Smyth in the city above a fortnight ago, as I pa.s.sed by in a coach. Pray, pray, don"t write, Stella, until you are mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty well in your eyes, and are sure it won"t do you the least hurt. Or come, I"ll tell you what; you, Mistress Stella, shall write your share at five or six sittings, one sitting a day; and then comes Dingley all together, and then Stella a little crumb towards the end, to let us see she remembers Presto; and then conclude with something handsome and genteel, as your most humblec.u.mdumble, or, etc.
O Lord! does Patrick write word of my not coming till spring? Insolent man! he know my secrets? No; as my Lord Mayor said, No; if I thought my shirt knew, etc. Faith, I will come as soon as it is any way proper for me to come; but, to say the truth, I am at present a little involved with the present Ministry in some certain things (which I tell you as a secret); and soon as ever I can clear my hands, I will stay no longer; for I hope the First-Fruit business will be soon over in all its forms.
But, to say the truth, the present Ministry have a difficult task, and want me, etc. Perhaps they may be just as grateful as others: but, according to the best judgment I have, they are pursuing the true interest of the public; and therefore I am glad to contribute what is in my power. For G.o.d"s sake, not a word of this to any alive.--Your Chancellor?(9) Why, madam, I can tell you he has been dead this fortnight. Faith, I could hardly forbear our little language about a nasty dead Chancellor, as you may see by the blot.(10) Ploughing? A pox plough them; they"ll plough me to nothing. But have you got your money, both the ten pounds? How durst he pay you the second so soon? Pray be good huswifes. Ay, well, and Joe, why, I had a letter lately from Joe, desiring I would take some care of their poor town,(11) who, he says, will lose their liberties. To which I desired Dr. Raymond would return answer, that the town had behaved themselves so ill to me, so little regarded the advice I gave them, and disagreed so much among themselves, that I was resolved never to have more to do with them; but that whatever personal kindness I could do to Joe, should be done. Pray, when you happen to see Joe, tell him this, lest Raymond should have blundered or forgotten--Poor Mrs. Wesley!--Why these poligyes(12) for being abroad? Why should you be at home at all, until Stella is quite well?--So, here is Mistress Stella again, with her two eggs, etc. My "Shower" admired with you; why, the Bishop of Clogher says, he has seen something of mine of the same sort, better than the "Shower." I suppose he means "The Morning";(13) but it is not half so good. I want your judgment of things, and not your country"s. How does MD like it? and do they taste it ALL? etc. I am glad Dean Bolton(14) has paid the twenty pounds. Why should not I chide the Bishop of Clogher for writing to the Archbishop of Cashel,(15) without sending the letter first to me? It does not signify a ----; for he has no credit at Court. Stuff--they are all puppies. I will break your head in good earnest, young woman, for your nasty jest about Mrs. Barton.(16) Unlucky s.l.u.ttikin, what a word is there! Faith, I was thinking yesterday, when I was with her, whether she could break them or no, and it quite spoilt my imagination. "Mrs. Walls, does Stella win as she pretends?" "No indeed, Doctor; she loses always, and will play so VENTERSOMELY, how can she win?" See here now; an"t you an impudent lying s.l.u.t? Do, open Domville"s letter; what does it signify, if you have a mind? Yes, faith, you write smartly with your eyes shut; all was well but the _n_. See how I can do it; MADAM STELLA, YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT.(17) O, but one may look whether one goes crooked or no, and so write on. I will tell you what you may do; you may write with your eyes half shut, just as when one is going to sleep: I have done so for two or three lines now; it is but just seeing enough to go straight.--Now, Madam Dingley, I think I bid you tell Mr. Walls that, in case there be occasion, I will serve his friend as far as I can; but I hope there will be none. Yet I believe you will have a new Parliament; but I care not whether you have or no a better. You are mistaken in all your conjectures about the Tatlers. I have given him one or two hints, and you have heard me talk about the Shilling.(18) Faith, these answering letters are very long ones: you have taken up almost the room of a week in journals; and I will tell you what, I saw fellows wearing crosses to-day,(19) and I wondered what was the matter; but just this minute I recollect it is little Presto"s birthday; and I was resolved these three days to remember it when it came, but could not. Pray, drink my health to-day at dinner; do, you rogues. Do you like "Sid Hamet"s Rod"? Do you understand it all? Well, now at last I have done with your letter, and so I will lay me down to sleep, and about, fair maids; and I hope merry maids all.
Dec. 1. Morning. I wish Smyth were hanged. I was dreaming the most melancholy things in the world of poor Stella, and was grieving and crying all night.--Pshah, it is foolish: I will rise and divert myself; so good-morrow; and G.o.d of His infinite mercy keep and protect you!
The Bishop of Clogher"s letter is dated Nov. 21. He says you thought of going with him to Clogher. I am heartily glad of it, and wish you would ride there, and Dingley go in a coach. I have had no fit since my first, although sometimes my head is not quite in good order.--At night. I was this morning to visit Mr. Pratt, who is come over with poor, sick Lord Shelburne: they made me dine with them; and there I stayed, like a b.o.o.by, till eight, looking over them at ombre, and then came home. Lord Shelburne"s giddiness is turned into a colic, and he looks miserably.
2. Steele, the rogue, has done the imprudentest thing in the world: he said something in a Tatler,(20) that we ought to use the word Great Britain, and not England, in common conversation, as, "The finest lady in Great Britain," etc. Upon this, Rowe, Prior, and I sent him a letter, turning this into ridicule. He has to-day printed the letter,(21) and signed it J.S., M.P., and N.R., the first letters of all our names.
Congreve told me to-day, he smoked it immediately. Congreve and I, and Sir Charles Wager, dined to-day at Delaval"s, the Portugal Envoy; and I stayed there till eight, and came home, and am now writing to you before I do business, because that dog Patrick is not at home, and the fire is not made, and I am not in my gear. Pox take him!--I was looking by chance at the top of this side, and find I make plaguy mistakes in words; so that you must fence against that as well as bad writing.
Faith, I can"t nor won"t read what I have written. (Pox of this puppy!) Well, I"ll leave you till I am got to bed, and then I will say a word or two.--Well, "tis now almost twelve, and I have been busy ever since, by a fire too (I have my coals by half a bushel at a time, I"ll a.s.sure you), and now I am got to bed. Well, and what have you to say to Presto now he is abed? Come now, let us hear your speeches. No, "tis a lie; I an"t sleepy yet. Let us sit up a little longer, and talk. Well, where have you been to-day, that you are but just this minute come home in a coach? What have you lost? Pay the coachman, Stella. No, faith, not I, he"ll grumble.--What new acquaintance have you got? come, let us hear.
I have made Delaval promise to send me some Brazil tobacco from Portugal for you, Madam Dingley. I hope you will have your chocolate and spectacles before this comes to you.
3. Pshaw, I must be writing to these dear saucy brats every night, whether I will or no, let me have what business I will, or come home ever so late, or be ever so sleepy; but an old saying, and a true one,
"Be you lords, or be you earls, You must write to naughty girls."
I was to-day at Court, and saw Raymond among the Beefeaters, staying to see the Queen: so I put him in a better station, made two or three dozen of bows, and went to church, and then to Court again, to pick up a dinner, as I did with Sir John Stanley; and then we went to visit Lord Mountjoy, and just now left him; and "tis near eleven at night, young women; and methinks this letter comes pretty near to the bottom, and "tis but eight days since the date, and don"t think I"ll write on the other side, I thank you for nothing. Faith, if I would use you to letters on sheets as broad as this room, you would always expect them from me. O, faith, I know you well enough; but an old saying, etc.,
"Two sides in a sheet, And one in a street."
I think that"s but a silly old saying; and so I"ll go to sleep, and do you so too.
4. I dined to-day with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, and then came home, and studied till eleven. No adventure at all to-day.
5. So I went to the Court of Requests (we have had the Devil and all of rain by the bye) to pick up a dinner; and Henley made me go dine with him and one Colonel Bragg(22) at a tavern; cost me money, faith.
Congreve was to be there, but came not. I came with Henley to the Coffee-house, where Lord Salisbury(23) seemed mighty desirous to talk with me; and, while he was wriggling himself into my favour, that dog Henley asked me aloud, whether I would go to see Lord Somers as I had promised (which was a lie); and all to vex poor Lord Salisbury, who is a high Tory. He played two or three other such tricks; and I was forced to leave my lord, and I came home at seven, and have been writing ever since, and will now go to bed. The other day I saw Jack Temple(24) in the Court of Requests: it was the first time of seeing him; so we talked two or three careless words, and parted. Is it true that your Recorder and Mayor, and fanatic aldermen, a month or two ago, at a solemn feast, drank Mr. Harley"s, Lord Rochester"s,(25) and other Tory healths? Let me know; it was confidently said here.--The scoundrels! It shan"t do, Tom.
6. When is this letter to go, I wonder? harkee, young women, tell me that. Sat.u.r.day next for certain, and not before: then it will be just a fortnight; time enough for naughty girls, and long enough for two letters, faith. Congreve and Delaval have at last prevailed on Sir G.o.dfrey Kneller to entreat me to let him draw my picture for nothing; but I know not yet when I shall sit.(26)--It is such monstrous rainy weather, that there is no doing with it. Secretary St. John sent to me this morning, that my dining with him to-day was put off till to-morrow; so I peaceably sat with my neighbour Ford, dined with him, and came home at six, and am now in bed as usual; and now it is time to have another letter from MD, yet I would not have it till this goes; for that would look like two letters for one. Is it not whimsical that the Dean has never once written to me? And I find the Archbishop very silent to that letter I sent him with an account that the business was done. I believe he knows not what to write or say; and I have since written twice to him, both times with a vengeance.(27) Well, go to bed, sirrahs, and so will I. But have you lost to-day? Three shillings! O fie, O fie!
7. No, I won"t send this letter to-day, nor till Sat.u.r.day, faith; and I am so afraid of one from MD between this and that; if it comes, I will just say I received a letter, and that is all. I dined to-day with Mr.
Secretary St. John, where were Lord Anglesea,(28) Sir Thomas Hanmer, Prior, Freind, etc., and then made a debauch after nine at Prior"s house, and have eaten cold pie, and I hate the thoughts of it, and I am full, and I don"t like it, and I will go to bed, and it is late, and so good-night.
8. To-day I dined with Mr. Harley and Prior; but Mr. St. John did not come, though he promised: he chid me for not seeing him oftener. Here is a d.a.m.ned, libellous pamphlet come out against Lord Wharton, giving the character first, and then telling some of his actions: the character is very well, but the facts indifferent.(29) It has been sent by dozens to several gentlemen"s lodgings, and I had one or two of them; but n.o.body knows the author or printer. We are terribly afraid of the plague; they say it is at Newcastle.(30) I begged Mr. Harley for the love of G.o.d to take some care about it, or we are all ruined. There have been orders for all ships from the Baltic to pa.s.s their quarantine before they land; but they neglect it. You remember I have been afraid these two years.
9. O, faith, you are a saucy rogue. I have had your sixth letter just now, before this is gone; but I will not answer a word of it, only that I never was giddy since my first fit; but I have had a cold just a fortnight, and cough with it still morning and evening; but it will go off. It is, however, such abominable weather that no creature can walk.
They say here three of your Commissioners will be turned out, Ogle, South, and St. Quintin;(31) and that d.i.c.k Stewart(32) and Ludlow will be two of the new ones. I am a little soliciting for another: it is poor Lord Abercorn,(33) but that is a secret; I mean, that I befriend him is a secret; but I believe it is too late, by his own fault and ill fortune. I dined with him to-day. I am heartily sorry you do not go to Clogher, faith, I am; and so G.o.d Almighty protect poor, dear, dear, dear, dearest MD. Farewell till to-night. I"ll begin my eleventh to-night; so I am always writing to little MD.
LETTER 11.
LONDON, Dec. 9, 1710.
So, young women, I have just sent my tenth to the post-office, and, as I told you, have received your seventh (faith, I am afraid I mistook, and said your sixth, and then we shall be all in confusion this month.) Well, I told you I dined with Lord Abercorn to-day; and that is enough till by and bye; for I must go write idle things, and twittle t.w.a.ttle.(1) What"s here to do with your little MD"s? and so I put this by for a while. "Tis now late, and I can only say MD is a dear, saucy rogue, and what then? Presto loves them the better.
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?
12. I was to-day at the Secretary"s office with Lewis, and in came Lord Rivers;(9) who took Lewis out and whispered him; and then came up to me to desire my acquaintance, etc., so we bowed and complimented a while, and parted and I dined with Phil. Savage(10) and his Irish Club, at their boarding-place; and, pa.s.sing an evening scurvily enough, did not come home till eight. Mr. Addison and I hardly meet once a fortnight; his Parliament and my different friendships keep us asunder. Sir Matthew Dudley turned away his butler yesterday morning; and at night the poor fellow died suddenly in the streets: was not it an odd event? But what care you? But then I knew the butler.--Why, it seems your packet-boat is not lost: psha, how silly that is, when I had already gone through the forms, and said it was a sad thing, and that I was sorry for it! But when must I answer this letter of our MD"s? Here it is, it lies between this paper on t"other side of the leaf: one of these odd-come-shortly"s I"ll consider, and so good-night.
13. Morning. I am to go trapesing with Lady Kerry(11) and Mrs. Pratt(12) to see sights all this day: they engaged me yesterday morning at tea.
You hear the havoc making in the army: Meredith, Maccartney, and Colonel Honeywood(13) are obliged to sell their commands at half-value, and leave the army, for drinking destruction to the present Ministry, and dressing up a hat on a stick, and calling it Harley; then drinking a gla.s.s with one hand, and discharging a pistol with the other at the maukin,(14) wishing it were Harley himself; and a hundred other such pretty tricks, as inflaming their soldiers, and foreign Ministers, against the late changes at Court. Cadogan(15) has had a little paring: his mother(16) told me yesterday he had lost the place of Envoy; but I hope they will go no further with him, for he was not at those mutinous meetings.--Well, these saucy jades take up so much of my time with writing to them in a morning; but, faith, I am glad to see you whenever I can: a little snap and away; and so hold your tongue, for I must rise: not a word, for your life. How nowww? So, very well; stay till I come home, and then, perhaps, you may hear further from me. And where will you go to-day, for I can"t be with you for these ladies? It is a rainy, ugly day. I"d have you send for Walls, and go to the Dean"s; but don"t play small games when you lose. You"ll be ruined by Manilio, Basto, the queen, and two small trumps, in red.(17) I confess "tis a good hand against the player: but then there are Spadilio, Punto, the king, strong trumps, against you, which, with one trump more, are three tricks ten ace: for, suppose you play your Manilio--Oh, silly, how I prate, and can"t get away from this MD in a morning! Go, get you gone, dear naughty girls, and let me rise. There, Patrick locked up my ink again the third time last night: the rogue gets the better of me; but I will rise in spite of you, sirrahs.--At night. Lady Kerry, Mrs. Pratt, Mrs.
Cadogan,(18) and I, in one coach; Lady Kerry"s son(19) and his governor, and two gentlemen, in another; maids, and misses and little master (Lord Shelburne"s(20) children, in a third, all hackneys, set out at ten o"clock this morning from Lord Shelburne"s house in Piccadilly to the Tower, and saw all the sights, lions,(21) etc.; then to Bedlam;(22) then dined at the chop-house behind the Exchange; then to Gresham College(23) (but the keeper was not at home); and concluded the night at the Puppet-show,(24) whence we came home safe at eight, and I left them. The ladies were all in mobs(25) (how do you call it?), undrest; and it was the rainiest day that ever dripped; and I am weary; and it is now past eleven.
14. Stay, I"ll answer some of your letter this morning in bed: let me see; come and appear, little letter. Here I am, says he: and what say you to Mrs. MD this morning fresh and fasting? Who dares think MD negligent? I allow them a fortnight; and they give it me. I could fill a letter in a week; but it is longer every day; and so I keep it a fortnight, and then "tis cheaper by one half. I have never been giddy, dear Stella, since that morning: I have taken a whole box of pills, and kecked(26) at them every night, and drank a pint of brandy at mornings.--Oh then, you kept Presto"s little birthday:(27) would to G.o.d I had been with you! I forgot it, as I told you before. REdiculous, madam? I suppose you mean rIdiculous: let me have no more of that; "tis the author of the Atalantis"s(28) spelling. I have mended it in your letter. And can Stella read this writing without hurting her dear eyes?
O, faith, I am afraid not. Have a care of those eyes, pray, pray, pretty Stella.--"Tis well enough what you observe, that, if I writ better, perhaps you would not read so well, being used to this manner; "tis an alphabet you are used to: you know such a pot-hook makes a letter; and you know what letter, and so and so.--I"ll swear he told me so, and that they were long letters too; but I told him it was a gasconnade of yours, etc. I am talking of the Bishop of Clogher, how he forgot. Turn over.(29) I had not room on t"other side to say that, so I did it on this: I fancy that"s a good Irish blunder. Ah, why do not you go down to Clogher, nautinautinautideargirls; I dare not say nauti without dear: O, faith, you govern me. But, seriously, I"m sorry you don"t go, as far as I can judge at this distance. No, we would get you another horse; I will make Parvisol get you one. I always doubted that horse of yours: prythee sell him, and let it be a present to me. My heart aches when I think you ride him. Order Parvisol to sell him, and that you are to return me the money: I shall never be easy until he is out of your hands. Faith, I have dreamt five or six times of horses stumbling since I had your letter. If he can"t sell him, let him run this winter. Faith, if I was near you, I would whip your ---- to some tune, for your grave, saucy answer about the Dean and Johnsonibus; I would, young women. And did the Dean preach for me?(30) Very well. Why, would they have me stand here and preach to them? No, the Tatler of the Shilling(31) was not mine, more than the hint, and two or three general heads for it. I have much more important business on my hands; and, besides, the Ministry hate to think that I should help him, and have made reproaches on it; and I frankly told them I would do it no more. This is a secret though, Madam Stella. You win eight shillings? you win eight fiddlesticks. Faith, you say nothing of what you lose, young women.--I hope Manley is in no great danger; for Ned Southwell is his friend, and so is Sir Thomas Frankland; and his brother John Manley stands up heartily for him. On t"other side, all the gentlemen of Ireland here are furiously against him. Now, Mistress Dingley, an"t you an impudent s.l.u.t, to expect a letter next packet from Presto, when you confess yourself that you had so lately two letters in four days? Unreasonable baggage! No, little Dingley, I am always in bed by twelve; I mean my candle is out by twelve, and I take great care of myself. Pray let everybody know, upon occasion, that Mr.
Harley got the First-Fruits from the Queen for the clergy of Ireland, and that nothing remains but the forms, etc. So you say the Dean and you dined at Stoyte"s, and Mrs. Stoyte was in raptures that I remembered her. I must do it but seldom, or it will take off her rapture. But what now, you saucy s.l.u.ts? all this written in a morning, and I must rise and go abroad. Pray stay till night: do not think I will squander mornings upon you, pray, good madam. Faith, if I go on longer in this trick of writing in the morning, I shall be afraid of leaving it off, and think you expect it, and be in awe. Good-morrow, sirrahs, I will rise.--At night. I went to-day to the Court of Requests (I will not answer the rest of your letter yet, that by the way, in hopes to dine with Mr.
Harley: but Lord Dupplin,(32) his son-in-law, told me he did not dine at home; so I was at a loss, until I met with Mr. Secretary St. John, and went home and dined with him, where he told me of a good bite.(33) Lord Rivers told me two days ago, that he was resolved to come Sunday fortnight next to hear me preach before the Queen. I a.s.sured him the day was not yet fixed, and I knew nothing of it. To-day the Secretary told me that his father, Sir Harry St. John,(34) and Lord Rivers were to be at St. James"s Church, to hear me preach there; and were a.s.sured I was to preach: so there will be another bite; for I know nothing of the matter, but that Mr. Harley and St. John are resolved I must preach before the Queen; and the Secretary of State has told me he will give me three weeks" warning; but I desired to be excused, which he will not.
St. John, "You shall not be excused": however, I hope they will forget it; for if it should happen, all the puppies hereabouts will throng to hear me, and expect something wonderful, and be plaguily baulked; for I shall preach plain honest stuff. I stayed with St. John till eight, and then came home; and Patrick desired leave to go abroad, and by and by comes up the girl to tell me, a gentleman was below in a coach, who had a bill to pay me; so I let him come up, and who should it be but Mr.
Addison and Sam Dopping, to haul me out to supper, where I stayed till twelve. If Patrick had been at home, I should have "scaped this; for I have taught him to deny me almost as well as Mr. Harley"s porter.--Where did I leave off in MD"s letter? let me see. So, now I have it. You are pleased to say, Madam Dingley, that those who go for England can never tell when to come back. Do you mean this as a reflection upon Presto, madam? Sauceboxes, I will come back as soon as I can, as hope saved,(35) and I hope with some advantage, unless all Ministries be alike, as perhaps they may. I hope Hawkshaw is in Dublin before now, and that you have your things, and like your spectacles: if you do not, you shall have better. I hope Dingley"s tobacco did not spoil Stella"s chocolate, and that all is safe: pray let me know. Mr. Addison and I are different as black and white, and I believe our friendship will go off, by this d.a.m.ned business of party: he cannot bear seeing me fall in so with this Ministry: but I love him still as well as ever, though we seldom meet.--Hussy, Stella, you jest about poor Congreve"s eyes;(36) you do so, hussy; but I"ll bang your bones, faith.--Yes, Steele was a little while in prison, or at least in a spunging-house, some time before I came, but not since.(37)--Pox on your convocations, and your Lamberts;(38) they write with a vengeance! I suppose you think it a piece of affectation in me to wish your Irish folks would not like my "Shower,"; but you are mistaken. I should be glad to have the general applause there as I have here (though I say it); but I have only that of one or two, and therefore I would have none at all, but let you all be in the wrong. I don"t know, this is not what I would say; but I am so tosticated with supper and stuff, that I can"t express myself.--What you say of "Sid Hamet" is well enough; that an enemy should like it, and a friend not; and that telling the author would make both change their opinions. Why did you not tell Griffyth(39) that you fancied there was something in it of my manner; but first spur up his commendation to the height, as we served my poor uncle about the sconce that I mended? Well, I desired you to give what I intended for an answer to Mrs. Fenton,(40) to save her postage, and myself trouble; and I hope I have done it, if you han"t.
15. Lord, what a long day"s writing was yesterday"s answer to your letter, sirrahs! I dined to-day with Lewis and Ford, whom I have brought acquainted. Lewis told me a pure thing. I had been hankering with Mr.
Harley to save Steele his other employment, and have a little mercy on him; and I had been saying the same thing to Lewis, who is Mr. Harley"s chief favourite. Lewis tells Mr. Harley how kindly I should take it, if he would be reconciled to Steele, etc. Mr. Harley, on my account, falls in with it, and appoints Steele a time to let him attend him, which Steele accepts with great submission, but never comes, nor sends any excuse. Whether it was blundering, sullenness, insolence, or rancour of party, I cannot tell; but I shall trouble myself no more about him. I believe Addison hindered him out of mere spite, being grated(41) to the soul to think he should ever want my help to save his friend; yet now he is soliciting me to make another of his friends Queen"s Secretary at Geneva; and I"ll do it if I can; it is poor Pastoral Philips.(42)
16. O, why did you leave my picture behind you at t"other lodgings?
Forgot it? Well; but pray remember it now, and don"t roll it up, d"ye hear; but hang it carefully in some part of your room, where chairs and candles and mop-sticks won"t spoil it, sirrahs. No, truly, I will not be G.o.dfather to Goody Walls this bout, and I hope she will have no more.
There will be no quiet nor cards for this child. I hope it will die the day after the christening. Mr. Harley gave me a paper, with an account of the sentence you speak of against the lads that defaced the statue,(43) and that Ingoldsby(44) reprieved that part of it of standing before the statue. I hope it was never executed. We have got your Broderick out;(45) Doyne(46) is to succeed him, and c.o.x(47) Doyne. And so there"s an end of your letter; "tis all answered; and now I must go on upon my own stock. Go on, did I say? Why, I have written enough; but this is too soon to send it yet, young women; faith, I dare not use you to it, you"ll always expect it; what remains shall be only short journals of a day, and so I"ll rise for this morning.--At night. I dined with my opposite neighbour, Darteneuf; and I was soliciting this day to present the Bishop of Clogher Vice-Chancellor;(48) but it won"t do; they are all set against him, and the Duke of Ormond, they say, has resolved to dispose of it somewhere else. Well; little saucy rogues, do not stay out too late to-night, because it is Sat.u.r.day night, and young women should come home soon then.
17. I went to Court to seek a dinner: but the Queen was not at church, she has got a touch of the gout; so the Court was thin, and I went to the Coffee-house; and Sir Thomas Frankland and his eldest son and I went and dined with his son William.(49) I talked a great deal to Sir Thomas about Manley; and find he is his good friend, and so has Ned Southwell been, and I hope he will be safe, though all the Irish folks here are his mortal enemies. There was a devilish bite to-day. They had it, I know not how, that I was to preach this morning at St. James"s Church; an abundance went, among the rest Lord Radnor, who never is abroad till three in the afternoon. I walked all the way home from Hatton Garden at six, by moonlight, a delicate night. Raymond called at nine, but I was denied; and now I am in bed between eleven and twelve, just going to sleep, and dream of my own dear roguish impudent pretty MD.
18. You will now have short days" works, just a few lines to tell you where I am, and what I am doing; only I will keep room for the last day to tell you news, if there be any worth sending. I have been sometimes like to do it at the top of my letter, until I remark it would be old before it reached you. I was hunting to dine with Mr. Harley to-day, but could not find him; and so I dined with honest Dr. c.o.c.kburn, and came home at six, and was taken out to next door by Dopping and Ford, to drink bad claret and oranges; and we let Raymond come to us, who talks of leaving the town to-morrow, but I believe will stay a day or two longer. It is now late, and I will say no more, but end this line with bidding my own dear saucy MD goodnight, etc.
19. I am come down proud stomach in one instance, for I went to-day to see the Duke of Buckingham,(50) but came too late: then I visited Mrs.
Barton,(51) and thought to have dined with some of the Ministry; but it rained, and Mrs. Vanhomrigh was nigh, and I took the opportunity of paying her for a scarf she bought me, and dined there; at four I went to congratulate with Lord Shelburne, for the death of poor Lady Shelburne dowager;(52) he was at his country house, and returned while I was there, and had not heard of it, and he took it very well. I am now come home before six, and find a packet from the Bishop of Clogher, with one enclosed to the Duke of Ormond, which is ten days earlier dated than another I had from Parvisol; however, "tis no matter, for the Duke has already disposed of the Vice-Chancellorship to the Archbishop of Tuam,(53) and I could not help it, for it is a thing wholly you know in the Duke"s power; and I find the Bishop has enemies about the Duke. I write this while Patrick is folding up my scarf, and doing up the fire (for I keep a fire, it costs me twelvepence a week); and so be quiet till I am gone to bed, and then sit down by me a little, and we will talk a few words more. Well; now MD is at my bedside; and now what shall we say? How does Mrs. Stoyte? What had the Dean for supper? How much did Mrs. Walls win? Poor Lady Shelburne: well, go get you to bed, sirrahs.
20. Morning. I was up this morning early, and shaved by candlelight, and write this by the fireside. Poor Raymond just came in and took his leave of me; he is summoned by high order from his wife, but pretends he has had enough of London. I was a little melancholy to part with him; he goes to Bristol, where they are to be with his merchant brother, and now thinks of staying till May; so she must be brought to bed in England. He was so easy and manageable, that I almost repent I suffered him to see me so seldom. But he is gone, and will save Patrick some lies in a week: Patrick is grown admirable at it, and will make his fortune. How now, sirrah, must I write in a morning to your impudence?
Stay till night, And then I"ll write, In black and white, By candlelight, Of wax so bright, It helps the sight-- A bite, a bite!
Marry come up, Mistress Boldface.--At night. Dr. Raymond came back, and goes to-morrow. I did not come home till eleven, and found him here to take leave of me. I went to the Court of Requests, thinking to find Mr.
Harley and dine with him, and refused Henley, and everybody, and at last knew not where to go, and met Jemmy Leigh by chance, and he was just in the same way, so I dined at his lodgings on a beef-steak, and drank your health; then left him and went to the tavern with Ben Tooke and Portlack, the Duke of Ormond"s secretary, drinking nasty white wine till eleven. I am sick, and ashamed of it, etc.
21. I met that beast Ferris, Lord Berkeley"s(54) steward formerly; I walked with him a turn in the Park, and that scoundrel dog is as happy as an emperor, has married a wife with a considerable estate in land and houses about this town, and lives at his ease at Hammersmith. See your confounded sect!(55) Well; I had the same luck to-day with Mr. Harley; "twas a lovely day, and went by water into the City, and dined with Stratford at a merchant"s house, and walked home with as great a dunce as Ferris, I mean honest Colonel Caulfeild,(56) and came home by eight, and now am in bed, and going to sleep for a wager, and will send this letter on Sat.u.r.day, and so; but first I will wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and pray G.o.d we may never keep them asunder again.
22. Morning. I am going now to Mr. Harley"s levee on purpose to vex him; I will say I had no other way of seeing him, etc. Patrick says it is a dark morning, and that the Duke of Argyle(57) is to be knighted to-day; the b.o.o.by means installed at Windsor. But I must rise, for this is a shaving-day, and Patrick says there is a good fire; I wish MD were by it, or I by MD"s.--At night. I forgot to tell you, Madam Dingley, that I paid nine shillings for your gla.s.s and spectacles, of which three were for the Bishop"s case: I am sorry I did not buy you such another case; but if you like it, I will bring one over with me; pray tell me: the gla.s.s to read was four shillings, the spectacles two. And have you had your chocolate? Leigh says he sent the petticoat by one Mr. Spencer.
Pray have you no further commissions for me? I paid the gla.s.s-man but last night, and he would have made me a present of the microscope worth thirty shillings, and would have sent it home along with me; I thought the deuce was in the man: he said I could do him more service than that was worth, etc. I refused his present, but promised him all service I could do him; and so now I am obliged in honour to recommend him to everybody.--At night. I went to Mr. Harley"s levee; he came and asked me what I had to do there, and bid me come and dine with him on a family dinner; which I did, and it was the first time I ever saw his lady(58) and daughter;(59) at five my Lord Keeper(60) came in: I told Mr. Harley, he had formerly presented me to Sir Simon Harcourt, but now must to my Lord Keeper; so he laughed, etc.
23. Morning. This letter goes to-night without fail; I hope there is none from you yet at the Coffee-house; I will send and see by and by, and let you know, and so and so. Patrick goes to see for a letter: what will you lay, is there one from MD or no? No, I say; done for sixpence.
Why has the Dean never once written to me? I won sixpence; I won sixpence; there is not one letter to Presto. Good-morrow, dear sirrahs: Stratford and I dine to-day with Lord Mountjoy. G.o.d Almighty preserve and bless you; farewell, etc.
I have been dining at Lord Mountjoy"s; and am come to study; our news from Spain this post takes off some of our fears. The Parliament is prorogued to-day, or adjourned rather till after the holidays. Bank Stock is 105, so I may get 12 shillings for my bargain already. Patrick, the puppy, is abroad, and how shall I send this letter? Good-night, little dears both, and be happy; and remember your poor Presto, that wants you sadly, as hope saved. Let me go study, naughty girls, and don"t keep me at the bottom of the paper. O, faith, if you knew what lies on my hands constantly, you would wonder to see how I could write such long letters; but we"ll talk of that some other time. Good-night again, and G.o.d bless dear MD with His best blessings, yes, yes, and Dingley and Stella and me too, etc.
Ask the Bishop of Clogher about the pun I sent him of Lord Stawel"s brother;(61) it will be a pure bite. This letter has 199 lines in it, beside all postscripts; I had a curiosity to reckon.