I dine to-day again with Lord Treasurer; but must send this to the post-office before, because else I shall not have time; he usually keeping me so late.  Ben Tooke bid me write to DD to send her certificate, for it is high time it should be sent, he says.  Pray make Parvisol write to me, and send me a general account of my affairs; and let him know I shall be over in spring, and that by all means he sells the horses.  Prior has kissed the Queen’s hand, and will return to France in a few days, and Lord Strafford to Holland; and now the King of Spain has renounced his pretensions to France, the peace must follow very soon unavoidably.  You must no more call Philip, Duke of Anjou, for we now acknowledge him King of Spain.  Dr. Pratt tells me you are all mad in Ireland with your playhouse frolics and prologues, and I know not what.  The Bishop of Clogher and family are well:  they have heard from you, or you from them, lately, I have forgot which:  I dined there t’other day, but the Bishop came not till after dinner; and our meat and drink was very so so.  Mr. Vedeau[17] was with me yesterday, and inquired after you.  He was a lieutenant, and is now broke, and upon half-pay.  He asked me nothing for himself; but wanted an employment for a friend, who would give a handsome pair of gloves.  One Hales sent me up a letter t’other day, which said you lodged in his house, and therefore desired I would get him a civil employment.  I would not be within, and have directed my man to give him an answer, that I never open letters brought me by the writers, etc.  I was complaining to a lady that I wanted to mend an employment from forty to sixty pounds a year, in the Salt Office, and thought it hard I could not do it.  She told me one Mr. Griffin[18] should do it.  And afterward I met Griffin at her lodgings; and he was, as I found, one I had been acquainted with.  I named Filby[19] to him, and his abode somewhere near Nantwich.  He said frankly he had formerly examined the man, and found he understood very little of his business; but if he heard he mended, he would do what I desired.  I will let it rest a while, and then resume it; and if Ppt writes to Filby, she may advise him to diligence, etc.  I told Griffin positively I would have it done, if the man mended.  This is an account of poo Ppt’s commission to her most humble servant Pdfr.  I have a world of writing to finish, and little time; these toads of Ministers are so slow in their helps.  This makes me sometimes steal a week from the exactness I used to write to MD.  Farewell, dee logues, deelest MD MD MD,. . .  FW FW FW me me me Lele.

Smoke the folding of my letters of late.[20]

LETTER 56.[1]

London, Dec. 12, 1712.