When my letter is gone, and I have none of yours to answer, my conscience is so clear, and my shoulder so light, and I go on with such courage to prate upon nothing to deerichar MD, oo would wonder.  I dined with Sir Matthew Dudley, who is newly turned out of Commission of the Customs.  He affects a good heart, and talks in the extremity of Whiggery, which was always his principle, though he was gentle a little, while he kept in employment.  We can yet get no packets from Holland.  I have not been with any of the Ministry these two or three days.  I keep out of their way on purpose, for a certain reason, for some time, though I must dine with the Secretary to-morrow, the choosing of the company being left to me.  I have engaged Lord Anglesea[2] and Lord Carteret,[3] and have promised to get three more; but I have a mind that none else should be admitted:  however, if I like anybody at Court to-morrow, I may perhaps invite them.  I have got another cold, but not very bad.  Nite. . .  MD.

10.  I saw Prince Eugene at Court to-day very plain; he’s plaguy yellow, and tolerably ugly besides.  The Court was very full, and people had their Birthday clothes.  I dined with the Secretary to-day.  I was to invite five, but I only invited two, Lord Anglesea and Lord Carteret.  Pshaw, I told you this but yesterday.  We have no packets from Holland yet.  Here are a parcel of drunken Whiggish lords, like your Lord Santry,[4] who come into chocolate-houses and rail aloud at the Tories, and have challenges sent them, and the next morning come and beg pardon.  General Ross[5] was like to swinge the Marquis of Winchester[6] for this trick t’other day; and we have nothing else now to talk of till the Parliament has had another bout with the state of the war, as they intended in a few days.  They have ordered the Barrier Treaty to be laid before them; and it was talked some time ago, as if there was a design to impeach Lord Townshend, who made it.  I have no more politics now.  Nite dee MD.

11.  I dined with Lord Anglesea to-day, who had seven Irishmen to be my companions, of which two only were coxcombs; one I did not know, and t’other was young Blith,[7] who is a puppy of figure here, with a fine chariot.  He asked me one day at Court, when I had been just talking with some lords who stood near me, “Doctor, when shall we see you in the county of Meath?” I whispered him to take care what he said, for the people would think he was some barbarian.  He never would speak to me since, till we met to-day.  I went to Lady Masham’s to-night, and sat with Lord Treasurer and the Secretary there till past two o’clock; and when I came home, found some letters from Ireland, which I read, but can say nothing of them till to-morrow, ’tis so very late; but I[8] must always be. . .,[9] late or early.  Nite deelest sollahs.[10]