some reasons for their whispers, although
I thought it was a greater secret. I do not much like the posture of
things; I always apprehended that any falling out would ruin them, and
so I have told them several times. The Whigs are mighty full of hopes at
present; and whatever is the matter, all kind of stocks fall. I have not
yet talked with the Secretary about Prior's journey. I should be apt to
think it may foretell a peace, and that is all we have to preserve us.
The Secretary is not come from Windsor, but I expect him to-morrow. Burn
all politics!

28. We begin to have fine weather, and I walked to-day to Chelsea, and
dined with the Dean of Carlisle, who is laid up with the gout. It is now
fixed that he is to be Dean of Christ Church in Oxford. I was advising
him to use his interest to prevent any misunderstanding between our
Ministers; but he is too wise to meddle, though he fears the thing and
the consequences as much as I. He will get into his own warm, quiet
deanery, and leave them to themselves; and he is in the right.--When
I came home to-night, I found a letter from Mr. Lewis, who is now at
Windsor; and in it, forsooth, another which looked like Presto's hand;
and what should it be but a 19th from MD? O, faith, I 'scaped narrowly,
for I sent my 28th but on Saturday; and what should I have done if I had
two letters to answer at once? I did not expect another from Wexford,
that is certain. Well, I must be contented; but you are dear saucy
girls, for all that, to write so soon again, faith; an't you?

29. I dined to-day with Lord Abercorn, and took my leave of them: they
set out to-morrow for Chester, and, I believe, will now fix in Ireland.
They have made a pretty good journey of it: his eldest son(4) is married
to a lady with ten thousand pounds; and his second son(5) has, t'other
day, got a prize in the lottery of four thousand pounds, beside two
small ones of two hundred pounds each: nay, the family was so fortunate,
that my lord bestowing one ticket, which is a hundred pounds, to one of
his servants, who had been his page, the young fellow got a prize, which
has made it another hundred. I went in the evening to Lord Treasurer,
who desires I will dine with him to-morrow, when he will show me the
answer he designs to return to the letter of thanks from your bishops in
Ireland. The Archbishop of Dublin desired me to get myself mentioned
in the answer which my lord would send; but I sent him word I would not
o