n apron? I will have the money;
it cost ten shillings and sixpence. I think it plaguy dear for a cheap
thing; but they said that English silk would cockle,(9) and I know not
what. You have the making into the bargain. 'Tis right Italian: I have
sent it and the pamphlets to Leigh, and will send the Miscellanies and
spectacles in a day or two. I would send more; but, faith, I'm plaguy
poor at present.

31. The devil's in this Secretary: when I went this morning he had
people with him; but says he, "we are to dine with Prior to-day, and
then will do all our business in the afternoon": at two, Prior sends
word he is otherwise engaged; then the Secretary and I go and dine with
Brigadier Britton, sit till eight, grow merry, no business done; he is
in haste to see Lady Jersey;(10) we part, and appoint no time to meet
again. This is the fault of all the present Ministers, teasing me to
death for my assistance, laying the whole weight of their affairs upon
it, yet slipping opportunities. Lord Treasurer mends every day, though
slowly: I hope he will take care of himself. Pray, will you send to
Parvisol to send me a bill of twenty pounds as soon as he can, for I
want money. I must have money; I will have money, sirrahs.

Nov. 1. I went to-day into the City to settle some business with
Stratford, and to dine with him; but he was engaged, and I was so angry
I would not dine with any other merchant, but went to my printer, and
ate a bit, and did business of mischief with him, and I shall have the
spectacles and Miscellany to-morrow, and leave them with Leigh. A fine
day always makes me go into the City, if I can spare time, because it is
exercise; and that does me more good than anything. I have heard nothing
since of my head, but a little, I don't know how, sometimes: but I am
very temperate, especially now the Treasurer is ill, and the Ministers
often at Hampton Court, and the Secretary not yet fixed in his house,
and I hate dining with many of my old acquaintance. Here has been
a fellow discovered going out of the East India House with sixteen
thousand pounds in money and bills; he would have escaped, if he had not
been so uneasy with thirst, that he stole out before his time, and was
caught. But what is that to MD? I wish we had the money, provided the
East India Company was never the worse; you know we must not covet, etc.
Our weather, for this fortnight past, is chequered, a fair and a rainy
day: this was very fine, and I have