me word in her last letter, written about five weeks ago; but then
said she was recovered. I never was more afflicted at any death. The
poor creature had retired to Lynn two years ago, to live cheap, and
pay her debts. In her last letter she told me she hoped to be easy by
Christmas; and she kept her word, although she meant it otherwise.
She had all sorts of amiable qualities, and no ill ones, but the
indiscretion of too much neglecting her own affairs. She had two
thousand pounds left her by an old grandmother,(10) with which she
intended to pay her debts, and live on an annuity she had of one hundred
pounds a year, and Newburg House, which would be about sixty pounds
more. That odious grandmother living so long, forced her to retire; for
the two thousand pounds was settled on her after the old woman's death,
yet her brute of a brother, Sir James Long,(11) would not advance it for
her; else she might have paid her debts, and continued here, and lived
still: I believe melancholy helped her on to her grave. I have ordered a
paragraph to be put in the Postboy,(12) giving an account of her death,
and making honourable mention of her; which is all I can do to serve her
memory: but one reason was spite; for her brother would fain have her
death a secret, to save the charge of bringing her up here to bury her,
or going into mourning. Pardon all this, for the sake of a poor creature
I had so much friendship for.

26. I went to Mr. Secretary this morning, and he would have me dine with
him. I called at noon at Mrs. Masham's, who desired me not to let the
Prophecy be published, for fear of angering the Queen about the Duchess
of Somerset; so I writ to the printer to stop them. They have been
printed and given about, but not sold. I saw Lord Treasurer there, who
had been two hours with the Queen; and Mrs. Masham is in hopes things
will do well again. I went at night again, and supped at Mr. Masham's,
and Lord Treasurer sat with us till one o'clock. So 'tis late, etc.

27. I entertained our Society at the Thatched House Tavern to-day at
dinner; but brother Bathurst sent for wine, the house affording none.
The printer had not received my letter, and so he brought up dozens
apiece of the Prophecy; but I ordered him to part with no more. 'Tis an
admirable good one, and people are mad for it. The frost still continues
violently cold. Mrs. Masham invited me to come to-night and play at
cards; but our Society did not part till nine. B