is bill of fare, to tempt me to dine with him. "Poh,"
said I, "I value not your bill of fare; give me your bill of company."
Lord Treasurer was mightily pleased, and told it everybody as a notable
thing. I reckon upon returning to-morrow: they say the Bishop will then
have the Privy Seal delivered him at a great Council.

3. Windsor still. The Council was held so late to-day that I do not go
back to town till to-morrow. The Bishop was sworn Privy Councillor, and
had the Privy Seal given him: and now the patents are passed for those
who were this long time to be made lords or earls. Lord Raby,(13) who is
Earl of Strafford, is on Thursday to marry a namesake of Stella's; the
daughter of Sir H. Johnson in the City; he has three-score thousand
pounds with her, ready money; besides the rest at the father's death. I
have got my friend Stratford to be one of the directors of the South Sea
Company, who were named to-day. My Lord Treasurer did it for me a month
ago; and one of those whom I got to be printer of the Gazette I am
recommending to be printer to the same company. He treated Mr. Lewis and
me to-day at dinner. I supped last night and this with Lord Treasurer,
Keeper, etc., and took occasion to mention the printer. I said it was
the same printer whom my Lord Treasurer has appointed to print for the
South Sea Company. He denied, and I insisted on it; and I got the laugh
on my side.

London, 4. I came as far as Brentford in Lord Rivers's chariot, who
had business with Lord Treasurer; then I went into Lord Treasurer's. We
stopped at Kensington, where Lord Treasurer went to see Mrs. Masham,
who is now what they call in the straw. We got to town by three, and I
lighted at Lord Treasurer's, who commanded me not to stir: but I was not
well; and when he went up, I begged the young lord to excuse me, and so
went into the City by water, where I could be easier, and dined with the
printer, and dictated to him some part of Prior's Journey to France. I
walked from the City, for I take all occasions of exercise. Our journey
was horridly dusty.

5. When I went out to-day, I found it had rained mightily in the night,
and the streets were as dirty as winter: it is very refreshing after ten
days dry.--I went into the City, and dined with Stratford, thanked him
for his books, gave him joy of his being director, of which he had the
first notice by a letter from me. I ate sturgeon, and it lies on my
stomach. I almost finished Prior's Journ