Walls. The
gentleman is called Colonel Newburgh.(20) I think you mentioned him to
me some time ago; he has business in the House of Lords. I will do
him what service I can. The Representation of the House of Commons is
printed:(21) I have not seen it yet; it is plaguy severe, they say. I
dined with Dr. Arbuthnot, and had a true Lenten dinner, not in point of
victuals, but spleen; for his wife and a child or two were sick in the
house, and that was full as mortifying as fish. We have had fine mighty
cold frosty weather for some days past. I hope you take the advantage
of it, and walk now and then. You never answer that part of my letters
where I desire you to walk. I must keep my breath to cool my Lenten
porridge. Tell Jemmy Leigh that his boy that robbed him now appears
about the town: Patrick has seen him once or twice. I knew nothing of
his being robbed till Patrick told me he had seen the boy. I wish it
had been Sterne that had been robbed, to be revenged for the box that he
lost,(22) and be p-xed to him. Nite, MD.

6. I hear Mr. Prior has suffered by Stratford's breaking. I was
yesterday to see Prior, who is not well, and I thought he looked
melancholy. He can ill afford to lose money. I walked before dinner
in the Mall a good while with Lord Arran and Lord Dupplin, two of my
brothers, and then we went to dinner, where the Duke of Beaufort was our
President. We were but eleven to-day. We are now in all nine lords and
ten commoners. The Duke of Beaufort had the confidence to propose his
brother-in-law, the Earl of Danby,(23) to be a member; but I opposed
it so warmly that it was waived. Danby is not above twenty, and we will
have no more boys, and we want but two to make up our number. I stayed
till eight, and then we all went away soberly. The Duke of Ormond's
treat last week cost 20 pounds, though it was only four dishes and four,
without a dessert; and I bespoke it in order to be cheap. Yet I could
not prevail to change the house. Lord Treasurer is in a rage with us for
being so extravagant: and the wine was not reckoned neither; for that
is always brought by him that is President. Lord Orrery(24) is to be
President next week; and I will see whether it cannot be cheaper; or
else we will leave the house...(25) Lord Masham made me go home with him
to-night to eat boiled oysters. Take oysters, wash them clean; that is,
wash their shells clean; then put your oysters into an earthen pot,
with their hollow sides down,