“never heard it before;” why, how could you hear it? is it possible to tell you the hundredth part of what passes in our companies here?  The Secretary is as easy with me as Mr. Addison was.  I have often thought what a splutter Sir William Temple makes about being Secretary of State:[11] I think Mr. St. John the greatest young man I ever knew; wit, capacity, beauty, quickness of apprehension, good learning, and an excellent taste; the best orator in the House of Commons, admirable conversation, good nature, and good manners; generous, and a despiser of money.  His only fault is talking to his friends in way of complaint of too great a load of business, which looks a little like affectation; and he endeavours too much to mix the fine gentleman and man of pleasure with the man of business.  What truth and sincerity he may have I know not:  he is now but thirty-two, and has been Secretary above a year.  Is not all this extraordinary? how he stands with the Queen and Lord Treasurer I have told you before.  This is his character; and I believe you will be diverted by knowing it.  I writ to the Archbishop of Dublin, Bishop of Cloyne[12] and of Clogher together, five weeks ago from Windsor:  I hope they had my letters; pray know if Clogher had his.—­Fig for your physician and his advice, Madam Dingley:  if I grow worse, I will; otherwise I will trust to temperance and exercise:  your fall of the leaf; what care I when the leaves fall?  I am sorry to see them fall with all my heart; but why should I take physic because leaves fall off from trees? that won’t hinder them from falling.  If a man falls from a horse, must I take physic for that?—­This arguing makes you mad; but it is true right reason, not to be disproved.—­I am glad at heart to hear poor Stella is better; use exercise and walk, spend pattens and spare potions, wear out clogs and waste claret.  Have you found out my pun of the fishmonger? don’t read a word more till you have got it.  And Stella is handsome again, you say? and is she fat?  I have sent to Leigh the set of Examiners:  the first thirteen were written by several hands, some good, some bad; the next three-and-thirty were all by one hand, that makes forty-six:  then that author,[13] whoever he was, laid it down on purpose to confound guessers; and the last six were written by a woman.[14] Then there is an account of Guiscard by the same woman, but the facts sent by Presto.  Then an answer to the letter to the Lords about Gregg by Presto; Prior’s Journey by Presto; Vindication of the Duke of Marlborough, entirely by the same woman; Comment on Hare’s Sermon by the same woman, only hints sent to the printer from Presto to give her.[15] Then there’s the Miscellany, an apron for Stella, a pound of chocolate, without sugar, for Stella, a fine snuff-rasp of ivory, given me by Mrs. St. John for Dingley, and a large roll of tobacco, which she must hide or cut shorter out of modesty, and four pair of spectacles for the Lord knows who.  There’s the cargo, I hope