I never was in a worse station for writing letters than this, especially for writing to MD, since I left off my journals.  For I go to town early; and when I come home at night, I generally go to Lord Masham, where Lord Treasurer comes, and we stay till past twelve.  But I am now resolved to write journals again, though my shoulder is not yet well; for I have still a few itching pimples, and a little pain now and then.  It is now high cherry-time with us; take notice, is it so soon with you?  And we have early apricots, and gooseberries are ripe.  On Sunday Archdeacon Parnell came here to see me.  It seems he has been ill for grief of his wife’s death,[2] and has been two months at the Bath.  He has a mind to go to Dunkirk with Jack Hill,[3] and I persuade him to it, and have spoke to Hill to receive him; but I doubt he won’t have spirit to go.  I have made Ford[4] Gazetteer, and got two hundred pounds a year settled on the employment by the Secretary of State, beside the perquisites.  It is the prettiest employment in England of its bigness; yet the puppy does not seem satisfied with it.  I think people keep some follies to themselves, till they have occasion to produce them.  He thinks it not genteel enough, and makes twenty difficulties.  ’Tis impossible to make any man easy.  His salary is paid him every week, if he pleases, without taxes or abatements.  He has little to do for it.  He has a pretty office, with coals, candles, papers, etc.; can frank what letters he will; and his perquisites, if he takes care, may be worth one hundred pounds more.  I hear the Bishop of Clogher is landing, or landed, in England; and I hope to see him in a few days.  I was to see Mrs. Bradley[5] on Sunday night.  Her youngest son is married to somebody worth nothing, and her daughter was forced to leave Lady Giffard, because she was striking up an intrigue with a footman, who played well upon the flute.  This is the mother’s account of it.  Yesterday the old Bishop of Worcester,[6] who pretends to be a prophet, went to the Queen, by appointment, to prove to Her Majesty, out of Daniel and the Revelations, that four years hence there would be a war of religion; that the King of France would be a Protestant, and fight on their side; that the Popedom would be destroyed, etc.; and declared that he would be content to give up his bishopric if it were not true.  Lord Treasurer, who told it me, was by, and some others; and I am told Lord Treasurer confounded him sadly in his own learning, which made the old fool very quarrelsome.  He is near ninety years old.  Old Bradley is fat and lusty, and has lost his palsy.  Have you seen Toland’s Invitation to Dismal?[7] How do you like it?  But it is an imitation of Horace, and perhaps you don’t understand Horace.  Here has been a great sweep of employments, and we expect still more removals.  The Court seems resolved to make thorough work.  Mr. Hill intended to set out to-morrow for Dunkirk, of which he is appointed