forced a
promise for me to drink chocolate with her in a day or two, which I know
not whether I shall perform (I have just mended my pen, you see), for I
do not much like her character; but she is very malicious, and therefore
I think I must keep fair with her. I cannot send this letter till
Saturday next, I find; so I will answer oors now. I see no different
days of the month; yet it is dated January 3: so it was long a coming.
I did not write to Dr. Coghill that I would have nothing in Ireland, but
that I was soliciting nothing anywhere, and that is true. I have named
Dr. Sterne to Lord Treasurer, Lord Bolingbroke, and the Duke of Ormond,
for a bishopric, and I did it heartily. I know not what will come of
it; but I tell you as a great secret that I have made the Duke of Ormond
promise me to recommend nobody till he tells me, and this for some
reasons too long to mention. My head is still in no good order. I am
heartily sorry for poo Ppt, I'm sure. Her head is good for...(15) I'll
answer more to-mollow. Nite, dearest MD; nite dee sollahs, MD.(16)

5. I must go on with oo letter. I dined to-day with Sir Andrew Fountaine
and the Provost, and I played at ombre with him all the afternoon. I
won, yet Sir Andrew is an admirable player. Lord Pembroke(17) came in,
and I gave him three or four scurvy Dilly puns, that begin with an IF.
Well, but oor letter, well, ret me see.--No; I believe I shall write no
more this good while, nor publish what I have done. Nauty (?) Ppt, oo
are vely tempegant. I did not suspect oo would tell Filby.(18) Oo are
so... (19) Turns and visitations--what are these? I'll preach and visit
as much for Mr. Walls. Pray God mend poopt's(20) health; mine is but
very indifferent. I have left off Spa water; it makes my leg swell. Nite
deelest MD.

6. This is the Queen's Birthday, and I never saw it celebrated with so
much luxury and fine clothes. I went to Court to see them, and I dined
with Lord Keeper, where the ladies were fine to admiration. I passed the
evening at Mrs. Vanhomrigh's, and came home pretty early, to answer oo
rettle again. Pray God keep the Queen. She was very ill about ten days
ago, and had the gout in her stomach. When I came from Lord Keeper's, I
called at Lord Treasurer's, because I heard he was very fine, and
that was a new thing; and it was true, for his coat and waistcoat were
embroidered. I have seen the Provost often since, and never spoke to him
to speak to the Temples about Dan