e, only to give me a paper,
which might have been done to-morrow. I stayed with them till past one,
and then got to bed again. Pize(9) take their frolics. I thought to have
answered your letter.

22. Dr. Gastrell was to see me this morning: he is an eminent divine,
one of the canons of Christ Church, and one I love very well: he said
he was glad to find I was not with James Broad. I asked what he meant.
"Why," says he, "have you not seen the Grub Street paper, that says Dr.
Swift was taken up as author of the Examiner, on an action of twenty
thousand pounds, and was now at James Broad's?" who, I suppose, is some
bailiff. I knew of this; but at the Court of Requests twenty people
told me they heard I had been taken up. Lord Lansdowne observed to the
Secretary and me that the Whigs spread three lies yesterday; that about
me; and another, that Maccartney, who was turned out last summer,(10)
is again restored to his places in the army; and the third, that Jack
Hill's commission for Lieutenant of the Tower is stopped, and that
Cadogan is to continue. Lansdowne thinks they have some design by these
reports; I cannot guess it. Did I tell you that Sacheverell has desired
mightily to come and see me? but I have put it off: he has heard that I
have spoken to the Secretary in behalf of a brother whom he maintains,
and who desires an employment.(11) T'other day at the Court of Requests
Dr. Yalden(12) saluted me by name: Sacheverell, who was just by, came
up to me, and made me many acknowledgment and compliments. Last night
I desired Lord Treasurer to do something for that brother of
Sacheverell's: he said he never knew he had a brother, but thanked me
for telling him, and immediately put his name in his table-book.(13)
I will let Sacheverell know this, that he may take his measures
accordingly, but he shall be none of my acquaintance. I dined to-day
privately with the Secretary, left him at six, paid a visit or two, and
came home.

23. I dined again to-day with the Secretary, but could not despatch some
business I had with him, he has so much besides upon his hands at this
juncture, and preparing against the great business to-morrow, which we
are top full of. The Minister's design is that the Duke of Marlborough
shall be censured as gently as possible, provided his friends will not
make head to defend him, but if they do, it may end in some severer
votes. A gentleman, who was just now with him, tells me he is much cast
down, and