hear Sir Simon Harcourt is made
Lord Keeper; so that now we expect every moment the Parliament will be
dissolved; but I forgot that this letter will not go in three or four
days, and that my news will be stale, which I should therefore put in
the last paragraph. Shall I send this letter before I hear from MD,
or shall I keep it to lengthen? I have not yet seen Stella's mother,
because I will not see Lady Giffard; but I will contrive to go there
when Lady Giffard is abroad. I forgot to mark my two former letters; but
I remember this is Number 3, and I have not yet had Number 1 from MD;
but I shall by Monday, which I reckon will be just a fortnight after you
had my first. I am resolved to bring over a great deal of china. I loved
it mightily to-day.(27) What shall I bring?

16. Morning. Sir John Holland,(28) Comptroller of the Household, has
sent to desire my acquaintance: I have a mind to refuse him, because he
is a Whig, and will, I suppose, be out among the rest; but he is a man
of worth and learning. Tell me, do you like this journal way of writing?
Is it not tedious and dull?

Night. I dined to-day with a cousin, a printer,(29) where Patty Rolt
lodges, and then came home, after a visit or two; and it has been a very
insipid day. Mrs. Long's misfortune is confirmed to me; bailiffs were
in her house; she retired to private lodgings; thence to the country,
nobody knows where: her friends leave letters at some inn, and they
are carried to her; and she writes answers without dating them from any
place. I swear, it grieves me to the soul.

17. To-day I dined six miles out of town, with Will Pate,(30) the
learned woollen-draper; Mr. Stratford went with me; six miles here is
nothing: we left Pate after sunset, and were here before it was dark.
This letter shall go on Tuesday, whether I hear from MD or no. My health
continues pretty well; pray God Stella may give me a good account
of hers! and I hope you are now at Trim, or soon designing it. I was
disappointed to-night: the fellow gave me a letter, and I hoped to
see little MD's hand; and it was only to invite me to a venison pasty
to-day: so I lost my pasty into the bargain. Pox on these declining
courtiers! Here is Mr. Brydges,(31) the Paymaster-General, desiring my
acquaintance; but I hear the Queen sent Lord Shrewsbury(32) to assure
him he may keep his place; and he promises me great assistance in the
affair of the First-Fruits. Well, I must turn over this leaf to-nigh