seen her yet. We have no news
in our town.

3. I did not go to town to-day, it was so terrible rainy; nor have I
stirred out of my room till eight this evening, when I crossed the way
to see Mrs. Atterbury, and thank her for her civilities. She would needs
send me some veal, and small beer, and ale, to-day at dinner; and I have
lived a scurvy, dull, splenetic day, for want of MD: I often thought how
happy I could have been, had it rained eight thousand times more, if MD
had been with a body. My Lord Rochester(8) is dead this morning; they
say at one o'clock; and I hear he died suddenly. To-morrow I shall know
more. He is a great loss to us: I cannot think who will succeed him as
Lord President. I have been writing a long letter to Lord Peterborow,
and am dull.

4. I dined to-day at Lord Shelburne's, where Lady Kerry(9) made me a
present of four India handkerchiefs, which I have a mind to keep
for little MD, only that I had rather, etc. I have been a mighty
handkerchief-monger, and have bought abundance of snuff ones since I
have left off taking snuff. And I am resolved, when I come over,
MD shall be acquainted with Lady Kerry: we have struck up a mighty
friendship; and she has much better sense than any other lady of
your country. We are almost in love with one another: but she is most
egregiously ugly; but perfectly well-bred, and governable as I please. I
am resolved, when I come, to keep no company but MD: you know I kept my
resolution last time; and, except Mr. Addison, conversed with none but
you and your club of deans and Stoytes. 'Tis three weeks, young women,
since I had a letter from you; and yet, methinks, I would not have
another for five pounds till this is gone; and yet I send every day to
the Coffee-house, and I would fain have a letter, and not have a letter:
and I do not know what, nor I do not know how, and this goes on very
slow; it is a week to-morrow since I began it. I am a poor country
gentleman, and do not know how the world passes. Do you know that every
syllable I write I hold my lips just for all the world as if I were
talking in our own little language to MD? Faith, I am very silly; but
I cannot help it for my life. I got home early to-night. My solicitors,
that used to ply me every morning, knew not where to find me; and I am
so happy not to hear "Patrick, Patrick," called a hundred times every
morning. But I looked backward, and find I have said this before. What
care I? Go to the Dean, an