23.  The Secretary did not come last night, but at three this afternoon.  I have not seen him yet, but I verily think they are contriving a peace as fast as they can, without which it will be impossible to subsist.  The Queen was at church to-day, but was carried in a chair.  I and Mr. Lewis dined privately with Mr. Lowman,[16] Clerk of the Kitchen.  I was to see Lord Keeper this morning, and told him the jest of the maids of honour; and Lord Treasurer had it last night.  That rogue Arbuthnot puts it all upon me.  The Court was very full to-day.  I expected Lord Treasurer would have invited me to supper; but he only bowed to me; and we had no discourse in the drawing-room.  It is now seven at night, and I am at home; and I hope Lord Treasurer will not send for me to supper:  if he does not, I will reproach him; and he will pretend to chide me for not coming.—­So farewell till I go to bed, for I am going to be busy.—­It is now past ten, and I went down to ask the servants about Mr. Secretary:  they tell me the Queen is yet at Council, and that she went to supper, and came out to the Council afterwards.  It is certain they are managing a peace.  I will go to bed, and there is an end.—­It is now eleven, and a messenger is come from Lord Treasurer to sup with them; but I have excused myself, and am glad I am in bed; for else I should sit up till two, and drink till I was hot.  Now I’ll go sleep.

London, 24.  I came to town by six with Lord Treasurer, and have stayed till ten.  That of the Queen’s going out to sup, and coming in again, is a lie, as the Secretary told me this morning; but I find the Ministry are very busy with Mr. Prior, and I believe he will go again to France.  I am told so much, that we shall certainly have a peace very soon.  I had charming weather all last week at Windsor; but we have had a little rain to-day, and yesterday was windy.  Prior’s Journey sells still; they have sold two thousand, although the town is empty.  I found a letter from Mrs. Fenton here, desiring me, in Lady Giffard’s name, to come and pass a week at Sheen, while she is at Moor Park.  I will answer it with a vengeance:  and now you talk of answering, there is MD’s N.20 is yet to be answered:  I had put it up so safe, I could hardly find it; but here it is, faith, and I am afraid I cannot send this till Thursday; for I must see the Secretary to-morrow morning, and be in some other place in the evening.

25.  Stella writes like an emperor, and gives such an account of her journey, never saw the like.  Let me see; stand away, let us compute; you stayed four days at Inish-Corthy, two nights at Mrs. Proby’s mother’s, and yet was but six days in journey; for your words are, “We left Wexford this day se’ennight, and came here last night.”  I have heard them say that “travellers may lie by authority.”  Make up this, if you can.  How far is it from Wexford to Dublin? how many miles did you travel in a day?[17] Let me see—­thirty