then put this pot into a great kettle
with water, and so let them boil. Your oysters are boiled in their own
liquor, and not mixed water. Lord Treasurer was not with us; he was very
ill to-day with a swimming in the head, and is gone home to be cupped,
and sent to desire Lady Masham to excuse him to the Queen. Nite, dee MD.

7. I was to-day at the House of Lords about a friend's Bill. Then I
crossed the water at Westminster Stairs to Southwark, went through St.
George's Fields to the Mint, which is the dominion of the King's(26)
Bench Prison, where Stratford lodges in a blind alley, and writ to me to
come to him; but he was gone to the 'Change. I thought he had
something to say to me about his own affairs. I found him at his usual
coffee-house, and went to his own lodgings, and dined with him and
his wife, and other company. His business was only to desire I would
intercede with the Ministry about his brother-in-law, Ben Burton,(27)
of Dublin, the banker, who is likely to come into trouble, as we hear,
about spreading false Whiggish news. I hate Burton, and told Stratford
so; and I will advise the Duke of Ormond to make use of it, to keep
the rogue in awe. Mrs. Stratford tells me her husband's creditors have
consented to give him liberty to get up his debts abroad; and she hopes
he will pay them all. He was cheerfuller than I have seen him this great
while. I have walked much today.--Night, deelest logues.

8. This day twelvemonth Mr. Harley was stabbed; but he is ill, and takes
physic to-day, I hear ('tis now morning), and cannot have the Cabinet
Council with him, as he intended, nor me to say grace. I am going to see
him. Pray read the Representation; 'tis the finest that ever was writ.
Some of it is Pdfr's style, but not very much. This is the day of the
Queen's accession to the Crown; so it is a great day. I am going to
Court, and will dine with Lord Masham; but I must go this moment to see
the Secretary about some businesses; so I will seal up this, and put
it in the post my own self. Farewell, deelest hearts and souls, MD.
Farewell MD MD MD FW FW FW ME ME Lele Lele Lele Sollahs lele.

LETTER 43.(1)

LONDON, March 8, 1711-12.

I carried my forty-second letter in my pocket till evening, and then put
it in the general post.--I went in the morning to see Lord Treasurer,
who had taken physic, and was drinking his broth. I had been with
the Secretary before, to recommend a friend, one Dr. Freind,(2) to
be Phy