is forfeited. I dined with Dr. Arbuthnot (one of my brothers) at his
lodgings in Chelsea, and was there at chapel; and the altar put me
in mind of Tisdall's outlandish would(16) at your hospital for the
soldiers. I was not at Court to-day, and I hear the Queen was not at
church. Perhaps the gout has seized her again. Terrible rain all day.
Have oo such weather? Nite MD.

30. Morning. I was naming some time ago, to a certain person, another
certain person, that was very deserving, and poor and sickly; and
t'other, that first certain person, gave me a hundred pounds to give the
other, which I have not yet done. The person who is to have it never
saw the giver, nor expects one farthing, nor has the least knowledge or
imagination of it; so I believe it will be a very agreeable surprise;
for I think it is a handsome present enough. At night I dined in the
City, at Pontack's,(17) with Lord Dupplin, and some others. We were
treated by one Colonel Cleland,(18) who has a mind to be Governor of
Barbados, and is laying these long traps for me and others, to engage
our interests for him. He is a true Scotchman. I paid the hundred pounds
this evening, and it was an agreeable surprise to the receiver. We
reckon the peace is now signed, and that we shall have it in three days.
I believe it is pretty sure. Nite MD.

31. I thought to-day on Ppt when she told me she suppose(d) I was
acquainted with the steward, when I was giving myself airs of being at
some lord's house. Sir Andrew Fountaine invited the Bishop of Clogher
and me, and some others, to dine where he did; and he carried us to the
Duke of Kent's,(19) who was gone out of town; but the steward treated
us nobly, and showed us the fine pictures, etc. I have not yet seen Miss
Ashe. I wait till she has been abroad, and taken the air. This evening
Lady Masham, Dr. Arbuthnot, and I, were contriving a lie for to-morrow,
that Mr. Noble,(20) who was hanged last Saturday, was recovered by
his friends, and then seized again by the sheriff, and is now in a
messenger's hands at the Black Swan in Holborn. We are all to send to
our friends, to know whether they have heard anything of it, and so we
hope it will spread. However, we shall do our endeavours; nothing shall
be wanting on our parts, and leave the rest to fortune. Nite MD.

April 1. We had no success in our story, though I sent my man to several
houses, to inquire among the footmen, without letting him into the
secret; but I doubt m