at Lord Masham's, and have writ much for several days past: but I will
amend both; for I have now very little business, and hope I shall have
no more, and I am resolved to be a great rider this summer in Ireland.
I was to see Mrs. Wesley this evening, who has been somewhat better for
this month past, and talks of returning to the Bath in a few weeks. Our
peace goes on but slowly; the Dutch are playing tricks, and we do not
push it strongly as we ought. The fault of our Court is delay, of which
the Queen has a great deal; and Lord Treasurer is not without his share.
But pay richar MD ret us know a little of your life and tonvelsasens.(3)
Do you play at ombre, or visit the Dean, and Goody Walls and Stoytes and
Manleys, as usual? I must have a letter from oo, to fill the other side
of this sheet. Let me know what you do. Is my aunt alive yet?

Oh, pray, now I think of it, be so kind to step to my aunt, and take
notice of my great-grandfather's picture; you know he has a ring on his
finger, with a seal of an anchor and dolphin about it; but I think
there is besides, at the bottom of the picture, the same coat of arms
quartered with another, which I suppose was my great-grandmother's.
If this be so, it is a stronger argument than the seal. And pray see
whether you think that coat of arms was drawn at the same time with
the picture, or whether it be of a later hand; and ask my aunt what
she knows about it. But perhaps there is no such coat of arms on the
picture, and I only dreamed it. My reason is, because I would ask some
herald here, whether I should choose that coat, or one in Guillim's
large folio of heraldry,(4) where my uncle Godwin is named with another
coat of arms of three stags. This is sad stuff to rite; so nite, MD.

25. I was this morning again with the Secretary, and we were two hours
busy; and then went together to the Park, Hyde Park, I mean; and he
walked to cure his cold, and we were looking at two Arabian horses sent
some time ago to Lord Treasurer.(5) The Duke of Marlborough's coach
overtook us, with his Grace and Lord Godolphin in it; but they did not
see us, to our great satisfaction; for neither of us desired that either
of those two lords should see us together. There was half a dozen ladies
riding like cavaliers to take the air. My head is better to-day. I dined
with the Secretary; but we did no business after dinner, and at six I
walked into the fields; the days are grown pure and long; then I went