is much out of order; he has a sore throat, and the gravel, and a pain
in his breast where the wound was: pray God preserve him. The Queen
comes to Hampton Court on Tuesday next; people are coming fast to town,
and I must answer MD's letter, which I can hardly find time to do,
though I am at home the greatest part of the day. Lady Betty Germaine
and I were disputing Whig and Tory to death this morning. She is grown
very fat, and looks mighty well. Biddy Floyd was there, and she is, I
think, very much spoiled with the smallpox.

18. Lord Treasurer is still out of order, and that breaks our method of
dining there to-day. He is often subject to a sore throat, and some time
or other it will kill him, unless he takes more care than he is apt to
do. It was said about the town that poor Lord Peterborow was dead at
Frankfort; but he is something better, and the Queen is sending him to
Italy, where I hope the warm climate will recover him: he has abundance
of excellent qualities, and we love one another mightily. I was this
afternoon in the City, ate a bit of meat, and settled some things with
a printer. I will answer your letter on Saturday, if possible, and then
send away this; so to fetch up the odd days I lost at Windsor, and keep
constant to my fortnight. Ombre time is now coming on, and we shall have
nothing but Manley, and Walls, and Stoytes, and the Dean. Have you got
no new acquaintance? Poor girls; nobody knows MD's good qualities.--'Tis
very cold; but I will not have a fire till November, that's pozz.--Well,
but coming home to-night, I found on my table a letter from MD; faith,
I was angry, that is, with myself; and I was afraid too to see MD's hand
so soon, for fear of something, I don't know what: at last I opened it,
and it was over well, and a bill for the two hundred guineas. However,
'tis a sad thing that this letter is not gone, nor your twenty-first
answered yet.

19. I was invited to-day to dine with Mrs. Van, with some company who
did not come; but I ate nothing but herrings; you must know I hardly
ever eat of above one thing, and that the plainest ordinary meat at
table; I love it best, and believe it wholesomest. You love rarities;
yes you do; I wish you had all that I ever see where I go. I was coming
home early, and met the Secretary in his chair, who persuaded me to go
with him to Britton's; for he said he had been all day at business, and
had eaten nothing. So I went, and the time passed so, that we st