an's, with a belt and buckle (for, you know, I wear
no waistcoat in summer), and there are several divisions, and one on
purpose for my box, oh ho!--We have had most delightful weather this
whole week; but illness and vomiting have hindered me from sharing in a
great part of it. Lady Masham made the Queen send to Kensington for some
of her preserved ginger for me, which I take in the morning, and hope
it will do me good. Mrs. Brent(11) sent me a letter by a young fellow,
a printer, desiring I would recommend him here, which you may tell her
I have done: but I cannot promise what will come of it, for it is
necessary they should be made free here(12) before they can be employed.
I remember I put the boy prentice to Brent. I hope Parvisol has set my
tithes well this year: he has writ nothing to me about it; pray talk to
him of it when you see him, and let him give me an account how things
are. I suppose the corn is now off the ground. I hope he has sold that
great ugly horse. Why don't you sell to him? He keeps me at charges
for horses that I never ride: yours is lame, and will never be good for
anything. The Queen will stay here about a month longer, I suppose; but
Lady Masham will go in ten days to lie in at Kensington. Poor creature,
she fell down in the court here t'other day. She would needs walk across
it upon some displeasure with her chairmen, and was likely to be spoiled
so near her time; but we hope all is over for a black eye and a sore
side: though I shall not be at ease till she is brought to bed. I find I
can fill up a letter, some way or other, without a journal. If I had
not a spirit naturally cheerful, I should be very much discontented at
a thousand things. Pray God preserve MD's health, and Pdfr's, and that
I may live far from the envy and discontent that attends those who are
thought to have more favour at Courts than they really possess. Love
Pdfr, who loves MD above all things. Farewell, deelest, ten thousand
times deelest, MD MD MD, FW FW, ME ME ME ME. Lele, Lele, Lele, Lele.

LETTER 53.(1)

LONDON, Oct. 9, 1712.

I have left Windsor these ten days, and am deep in pills with
asafoetida, and a steel bitter drink; and I find my head much better
than it was. I was very much discouraged; for I used to be ill for three
or four days together, ready to totter as I walked. I take eight pills a
day, and have taken, I believe, a hundred and fifty already. The Queen,
Lord Treasurer, Lady Masham, and I,