ld go with him to W--. Mr. Lewis's man came in before I could
finish that word beginning with a W, which ought to be Windsor, and
brought me a very handsome rallying letter from Dr. Arbuthnot, to tell
me he had, in compliance to me, given up his brother's pretensions in
favour of Bernage, this very morning; that the Queen had spoken to
Mr. Granville to make the company easy in the other's having the
captainship. Whether they have done it to oblige me or no, I must own it
so. He says he this very morning begged Her Majesty to give Mr. Bernage
the company. I am mighty well pleased to have succeeded so well; but you
will think me tedious, although you like the man, as I think.

Windsor, 28. I came here a day sooner than ordinary, at Mr. Secretary's
desire, and supped with him and Prior, and two private Ministers from
France, and a French priest.(6) I know not the two Ministers' names; but
they are come about the peace. The names the Secretary called them,
I suppose, were feigned; they were good rational men. We have already
settled all things with France, and very much to the honour and
advantage of England; and the Queen is in mighty good humour. All this
news is a mighty secret; the people in general know that a peace is
forwarding. The Earl of Strafford(7) is to go soon to Holland, and let
them know what we have been doing: and then there will be the devil
and all to pay; but we'll make them swallow it with a pox. The French
Ministers stayed with us till one, and the Secretary and I sat up
talking till two; so you will own 'tis late, sirrahs, and time for your
little saucy Presto to go to bed and sleep adazy; and God bless poor
little MD: I hope they are now fast asleep, and dreaming of Presto.

29. Lord Treasurer came to-night, as usual, at half an hour after eight,
as dark as pitch. I am weary of chiding him; so I commended him for
observing his friend's advice, and coming so early, etc. I was two hours
with Lady Oglethorpe(8) to-night, and then supped with Lord Treasurer,
after dining at the Green Cloth: I stayed till two; this is the effect
of Lord Treasurer's being here; I must sup with him; and he keeps cursed
hours. Lord Keeper and the Secretary were absent; they cannot sit up
with him. This long sitting up makes the periods in my letters so short.
I design to stay here all the next week, to be at leisure by myself, to
finish something of weight I have upon my hands, and which must soon be
done. I shall then thin