20.  Dilly read me a letter to-day from Ppt.  She seems to have scratched her head when she writ it.  ’Tis a sad thing to write to people without tact.  There you say, you hear I was going to Bath.  No such thing; I am pretty well, I thank God.  The town is now sending me to Savoy.[29] Forty people have given me joy of it, yet there is not the least truth that I know in it.  I was at an auction of pictures, but bought none.  I was so glad of my liberty, that I would dine nowhere; but, the weather being fine, I sauntered into the City, and ate a bit about five, and then supped at Mr. Burke’s[30] your Accountant-General, who had been engaging me this month.  The Bishop of Clogher was to have been there, but was hindered by Lord Paget’s[31] funeral.  The Provost and I sat till one o’clock; and, if that be not late, I don’t know what is late.  Parnell’s poem will be published on Monday, and to-morrow I design he shall present it to Lord Treasurer and Lord Bolingbroke at Court.  The poor lad is almost always out of order with his head.  Burke’s wife is his sister.  She has a little of the pert Irish way.  Nite MD.

21.  Morning.  I will now finish my letter; for company will come, and a stir, and a clutter; and I’ll keep the letter in my pottick,[32] and give it into the post myself.  I must go to Court, and you know on Saturdays I dine with Lord Treasurer, of course.  Farewell, deelest MD MD MD, FW FW FW, MD me me me Lele sollahs.[33]

LETTER 62.[1]

London, March 21, 1712-13.

I gave your letter in this night.  I dined with Lord Treasurer to-day, and find he has been at a meeting at Lord Halifax’s house, with four principal Whigs; but he is resolved to begin a speech against them when the Parliament sits; and I have begged that the Ministers may have a meeting on purpose to settle that matter, and let us be the attackers; and I believe it will come to something, for the Whigs intend to attack the Ministers:  and if, instead of that, the Ministers attack the Whigs, it will be better:  and farther, I believe we shall attack them on those very points they intend to attack us.  The Parliament will be again prorogued for a fortnight, because of Passion Week.  I forgot to tell you that Mr. Griffin has given Ppt’s brother[2] a new employment, about ten pounds a year better than his former; but more remote, and consequently cheaper.  I wish I could have done better, and hope oo will take what can be done in good part, and that oo brother will not dislike it.—­ Nite own dear. . .  MD.