if it will be of any service to you, you shall see what I have done for you;” pulled out his will, and read it, where he had left him a vast legacy.  The beauty of this action is heightened by Sir Francis’s life not being worth a year’s purchase.  I own I feel for the distress this man must have felt, before he decided on so desperate an action.  I knew him but little; but he was good-natured and agreeable enough, and had the most compendious understanding I ever knew.  He had affected a finesse in money matters beyond what he deserved, and aimed at reducing even natural affections to a kind of calculations, like Demoivre’s.  He was asked, soon after his daughter’s marriage, if she was with child:  he replied, “upon my word, I don’t know; I have no bet upon it.”  This and poor * * * ’s self-murder have brought to light another, which happening in France, had been sunk; * * ’s.  I can tell you that the ancient and worshipful company- of lovers are under a great dilemma, upon a husband and a gamester killing themselves:  I don’t know whether they will not apply to Parliament for an exclusive charter for self-murder.

On the occasion of Montford’s story, I heard another more extraordinary.  If a man insures his life, this killing himself vacates the bargain; This (as in England almost every thing begets a contradiction) has produced an office for insuring in spite of self-murder; but not beyond three hundred pounds.  I suppose voluntary deaths were not the bon-ton. of people in higher life.  A man went and insured his life, securing this privilege of a free-dying Englishman.  He carried the insurers to dine at a tavern, where they met several other persons.  After dinner he said to the life—­and-death brokers, “Gentlemen, it is fit that you should be acquainted with the company:  these honest men are tradesmen, to whom I was in debt, without any means of paying, but by your assistance; and now I am your humble servant!” He pulled out a pistol and shot himself.  Did you ever hear of such a mixture of honesty and knavery?

Lord Rochford is to succeed as groom of the stole.  The Duke of Marlborough is privy-seal, in the room of Lord Gower, who is dead; and the Duke of Rutland is lord steward.  Lord Albemarle’s other offices and honours are still in petto.  When the king first saw this Lord Albemarle, he said, “Your father had a great many good qualities, but he was a sieve!"- -It is ’the last receiver into which I should have thought his Majesty would have poured gold!  You will be pleased with the monarch’s politesse.  Sir John Bland and Offley made interest to play at Twelfth-night, and succeeded—­not at play, for they lost 1400 pounds and 1300 pounds.  As it is not usual for people of no higher rank to play, the King thought they would be bashful about it, and took particular care to do the honours of his house to them, set only to them, and spoke to them at his levee next morning.