to
visit Perceval(6) and his family, whom I had seen but twice since they
came to town. They too are going to the Bath next month. Countess Doll
of Meath(7) is such an owl that, wherever I visit, people are asking
me whether I know such an Irish lady, and her figure and her foppery? I
came home early, and have been amusing myself with looking into one of
Rymer's volumes of the Records of the Tower, and am mighty easy to think
I have no urgent business upon my hands. My third cold is not yet off; I
sometimes cough, and am not right with it in the morning. Did I tell you
that I believe it is Lady Masham's hot room that gives it me? I never
knew such a stove; and in my conscience I believe both my lord and she,
my Lord Treasurer, Mr. Secretary, and myself have all suffered by it. We
have all had colds together, but I walk home on foot. Nite dee logues.

26. I was again busy with the Secretary.(8) We read over some papers,
and did a good deal of business; and I dined with him, and we were to
do more business after dinner; but after dinner is after dinner--an old
saying and a true, "much drinking, little thinking." We had company with
us, and nothing could be done, and I am to go there again to-morrow.
I have now nothing to do; and the Parliament, by the Queen's
recommendation, is to take some method for preventing libels, etc.,
which will include pamphlets, I suppose. I don't know what method they
will take, but it comes on in a day or two. To-day in the morning I
visited upwards: first I saw the Duke of Ormond below stairs, and gave
him joy of his being declared General in Flanders; then I went up one
pair of stairs, and sat with the Duchess; then I went up another pair of
stairs, and paid a visit to Lady Betty; and desired her woman to go
up to the garret, that I might pass half an hour with her, but she was
young and handsome, and would not. The Duke is our President this week,
and I have bespoke a small dinner on purpose, for good example. Nite mi
deelest logues.

27. I was again with the Secretary this morning; but we only read over
some papers with Sir Thomas Hanmer; then I called at Lord Treasurer's;
it was his levee-day, but I went up to his bed-chamber, and said what
I had to say. I came down and peeped in at the chamber, where a hundred
fools were waiting, and two streets were full of coaches. I dined in the
City with my printer,(9) and came back at six to Lord Treasurer, who had
invited me to dinner, but I refus