of March is the first day of the year, and now you
must leave off cards, and put out your fire. I'll put out mine the first
of April, cold or not cold. I believe I shall lose credit with you by
not coming over at the beginning of April; but I hoped the session
would be ended, and I must stay till then; yet I would fain be at the
beginning of my willows growing. Perceval tells me that the quicksets
upon the flat in the garden do not grow so well as those famous ones
on the ditch. They want digging about them. The cherry-trees, by the
river-side, my heart is set upon. Nite MD.

27. Society day. You know that, I suppose. Dr. Arthburnett(7) was
President. His dinner was dressed in the Queen's kitchen, and was mighty
fine. We ate it at Ozinda's Chocolate-house,(8) just by St. James's.
We were never merrier, nor better company, and did not part till after
eleven. I did not summon Lord Lansdowne: he and I are fallen out. There
was something in an Examiner a fortnight ago that he thought reflected
on the abuses in his office (he is Secretary at War), and he writ to the
Secretary that he heard I had inserted that paragraph. This I resented
highly, that he should complain of me before he spoke to me. I sent him
a peppering letter, and would not summon him by a note, as I did the
rest; nor ever will have anything to say to him, till he begs my pardon.
I met Lord Treasurer to-day at Lady Masham's. He would fain have carried
me home to dinner, but I begged his pardon. What! upon a Society day!
No, no. 'Tis rate, sollahs. I an't dlunk. Nite MD.

28. I was with my friend Lewis to-day, getting materials for a little
mischief; and I dined with Lord Treasurer, and three or four fellows
I never saw before. I left them at seven, and came home, and have been
writing to the Archbishop of Dublin, and cousin Deane,(9) in answer to
one of his of four months old, that I spied by chance, routing among
my papers. I have a pain these two days exactly upon the top of my left
shoulder. I fear it is something rheumatic; it winches(10) now and then.
Shall I put flannel to it? Domville is going to Ireland; he came here
this morning to take leave of me, but I shall dine with him to-morrow.
Does the Bishop of Clogher talk of coming for England this summer? I
think Lord Molesworth told me so about two months ago. The weather
is bad again; rainy and very cold this evening. Do you know what the
longitude is? A projector(11) has been applying himself to me, t