9.  I have my mouth full of water, and was going to spit it out, because I reasoned with myself, how could I write when my mouth was full?  Han’t you done things like that, reasoned wrong at first thinking?  Well, I was to see Mr. Lewis this morning, and am to dine a few days hence, as he tells me, with Mr. Secretary St. John; and I must contrive to see Harley soon again, to hasten this business from the Queen.  I dined to-day at Lord Mountrath’s,[36] with Lord Mountjoy,[37] etc.; but the wine was not good, so I came away, stayed at the Coffee-house till seven, then came home to my fire, the maidenhead of my second half-bushel, and am now in bed at eleven, as usual.  ’Tis mighty warm; yet I fear I should catch cold this wet weather, if I sat an evening in my room after coming from warm places:  and I must make much of myself, because MD is not here to take care of Presto; and I am full of business, writing, etc., and do not care for the Coffee-house; and so this serves for all together, not to tell it you over and over, as silly people do; but Presto is a wiser man, faith, than so, let me tell you, gentlewomen.  See, I am got to the third side; but, faith, I will not do that often; but I must say something early to-day, till the letter is done, and on Saturday it shall go; so I must leave something till to-morrow, till to-morrow and next day.

10.  O Lord, I would this letter was with you with all my heart!  If it should miscarry, what a deal would be lost!  I forgot to leave a gap in the last line but one for the seal, like a puppy; but I should have allowed for night, goodnight; but when I am taking leave, I cannot leave a bit, faith; but I fancy the seal will not come there.  I dined to-day at Lady Lucy’s, where they ran down my “Shower”; and said, “Sid Hamet” was the silliest poem they ever read; and told Prior so, whom they thought to be author of it.  Don’t you wonder I never dined there before?  But I am too busy, and they live too far off; and, besides, I do not like women so much as I did. (MD, you must know, are not women.) I supped to-night at Addison’s, with Garth, Steele, and Mr. Dopping; and am come home late.  Lewis has sent to me to desire I will dine with some company I shall like.  I suppose it is Mr. Secretary St. John’s appointment.  I had a letter just now from Raymond, who is at Bristol, and says he will be at London in a fortnight, and leave his wife behind him; and desires any lodging in the house where I am:  but that must not be.  I shall not know what to do with him in town:  to be sure, I will not present him to any acquaintance of mine; and he will live a delicate life, a parson and a perfect stranger!  Paaast twelvvve o’clock,[38] and so good-night, etc.  Oh! but I forgot, Jemmy Leigh is come to town; says he has brought Dingley’s things, and will send them with the first convenience.  My parcel, I hear, is not sent yet.  He thinks of going for Ireland in a month, etc.  I cannot write tomorrow, because—­what, because of the Archbishop; because I will seal my letter early; because I am engaged from noon till night; because of many kind of things; and yet I will write one or two words to-morrow morning, to keep up my journal constant, and at night I will begin my ninth.