the
Queen will come in ten days to Hampton Court. It was frost last night,
and cruel cold to-day. I could not dine with the Duchess, for I left
Windsor half an hour after one with Lord Treasurer, and we called at
Kensington, where Mrs. Masham was got to see her children for two days.
I dined, or rather supped, with Lord Treasurer, and stayed till after
ten. Tisdall(21) and his family are gone from hence, upon some wrangle
with the family. Yesterday I had two letters brought me to Mr. Masham's;
one from Ford, and t'other from our little MD, N.21. I would not tell
you till to-day, because I would not. I won't answer it till the next,
because I have slipped two days by being at Windsor, which I must
recover here. Well, sirrahs, I must go to sleep. The roads were as dry
as at midsummer to-day. This letter shall go to-morrow.

9. Morning. It rains hard this morning. I suppose our fair weather is
now at an end. I think I'll put on my waistcoat to-day: shall I? Well,
I will then, to please MD. I think of dining at home to-day upon a chop
and a pot. The town continues yet very thin. Lord Strafford is gone to
Holland, to tell them what we have done here toward a peace. We shall
soon hear what the Dutch say, and how they take it. My humble service
to Mrs. Walls, Mrs. Stoyte, and Catherine.--Morrow, dearest sirrahs, and
farewell; and God Almighty bless MD, poor little dear MD, for so I mean,
and Presto too. I'll write to you again to-night, that is, I'll begin my
next letter. Farewell, etc.

This little bit belongs to MD; we must always write on the margin:(22)
you are saucy rogues.

LETTER 32.

LONDON, Oct. 9, 1711.

I was forced to lie down at twelve to-day, and mend my night's sleep: I
slept till after two, and then sent for a bit of mutton and pot of ale
from the next cook's shop, and had no stomach. I went out at four, and
called to see Biddy Floyd, which I had not done these three months: she
is something marked, but has recovered her complexion quite, and looks
very well. Then I sat the evening with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, and drank
coffee, and ate an egg. I likewise took a new lodging to-day, not liking
a ground-floor, nor the ill smell, and other circumstances. I lodge,
or shall lodge, by Leicester Fields, and pay ten shillings a week; that
won't hold out long, faith. I shall lie here but one night more. It
rained terribly till one o'clock to-day. I lie, for I shall lie here two
nights, till Thursday, and then remov