and winced: the hired horse was not worth
eighteenpence. I borrowed coat, boots, and horse, and in short we had
all the difficulties, and more than we used to have in making a party
from Trim to Longfield's.(15) My coat was light camlet, faced with red
velvet, and silver buttons. We rode in the great park and the forest
about a dozen miles, and the Duchess and I had much conversation: we got
home by two, and Mr. Masham, his lady, Arbuthnot and I, dined with
Mrs. Hill. Arbuthnot made us all melancholy, by some symptoms of bloody
u---e: he expects a cruel fit of the stone in twelve hours; he says
he is never mistaken, and he appears like a man that was to be racked
to-morrow. I cannot but hope it will not be so bad; he is a perfectly
honest man, and one I have much obligation to. It rained a little this
afternoon, and grew fair again. Lady Oglethorpe sent to speak to me, and
it was to let me know that Lady Rochester(16) desires she and I may be
better acquainted. 'Tis a little too late; for I am not now in love with
Lady Rochester: they shame me out of her, because she is old. Arbuthnot
says he hopes my strained thumb is not the gout; for he has often found
people so mistaken. I do not remember the particular thing that gave it
me, only I had it just after beating Patrick, and now it is better; so I
believe he is mistaken.

5. The Duchess of Shrewsbury sent to invite me to dinner; but I was
abroad last night when her servant came, and this morning I sent my
excuses, because I was engaged, which I was sorry for. Mrs. Forester
taxed me yesterday about the History of the Maids of Honour;(17) but I
told her fairly it was no jest of mine; for I found they did not relish
it altogether well; and I have enough already of a quarrel with that
brute Sir John Walter, who has been railing at me in all companies ever
since I dined with him; that I abused the Queen's meat and drink, and
said nothing at the table was good, and all a d----d lie; for after
dinner, commending the wine, I said I thought it was something small.
You would wonder how all my friends laugh at this quarrel. It will be
such a jest for the Keeper, Treasurer, and Secretary.--I dined with
honest Colonel Godfrey, took a good walk of an hour on the terrace, and
then came up to study; but it grows bloody cold, and I have no waistcoat
here.

6. I never dined with the chaplains till to-day; but my friend Gastrell
and the Dean of Rochester(18) had often invited me, and I h