say it is certain that Prior has been in France,[29] nobody doubts it:  I had not time to ask the Secretary, he was in such haste.  Well, I will take my leave of dearest MD for a while; for I must begin my next letter to-night:  consider that, young women; and pray be merry, and good girls, and love Presto.  There is now but one business the Ministry want me for, and when that is done, I will take my leave of them.  I never got a penny from them, nor expect it.  In my opinion, some things stand very ticklish; I dare say nothing at this distance.  Farewell, dear sirrahs, dearest lives:  there is peace and quiet with MD, and nowhere else.  They have not leisure here to think of small things, which may ruin them; and I have been forward enough.  Farewell again, dearest rogues; I am never happy but when I write or think of MD.  I have enough of Courts and Ministries, and wish I were at Laracor; and if I could with honour come away this moment, I would.  Bernage[30] came to see me to-day; he is just landed from Portugal, and come to raise recruits; he looks very well, and seems pleased with his station and manner of life.  He never saw London nor England before; he is ravished with Kent, which was his first prospect when he landed.  Farewell again, etc. etc.

LETTER 29.

London, Aug. 25, 1711.

I have got a pretty small gilt sheet of paper, to write to MD.  I have this moment sent my 28th by Patrick, who tells me he has put it in the post-office; ’tis directed to your lodgings:  if it wants more particular direction, you must set me right.  It is now a solar month and two days since the date of your last, N.18; and I reckon you are now quiet at home, and thinking to begin your 19th, which will be full of your quarrel between the two Houses, all which I know already.  Where shall I dine to-morrow? can you tell?  Mrs. Vanhomrigh boards now, and cannot invite one; and there I used to dine when I was at a loss:  and all my friends are gone out of town, and your town is now at the fullest, with your Parliament and Convocation.  But let me alone, sirrahs; for Presto is going to be very busy; not Presto, but the other I.

26.  People have so left the town that I am at a loss for a dinner.  It is a long time since I have been at London upon a Sunday; and the Ministers are all at Windsor.  It cost me eighteenpence in coach-hire before I could find a place to dine in.  I went to Frankland’s,[1] and he was abroad, and the drab his wife looked out at window, and bowed to me without inviting me up:  so I dined with Mr. Coote,[2] my Lord Mountrath’s brother; my lord is with you in Ireland.  This morning at five my Lord Jersey[3] died of the gout in his stomach, or apoplexy, or both:  he was abroad yesterday, and his death was sudden.  He was Chamberlain to King William, and a great favourite, turned out by the Queen as a Tory, and stood now fair to be Privy Seal; and by his death will, I suppose, make that matter easier, which has been a very stubborn business at Court, as I have been informed.  I never remember so many people of quality to have died in so short a time.