ried, and wants some addition to what he has. He is a very worthy creature. I had a letter some weeks ago from Elwick, who married Betty Gery. It seems the poor woman died some time last summer. Elwick grows rich, and purchases lands. I dined with lord-treasurer to-day, who has engaged me to come again to-morrow. I gave Lord Bolingbroke a poem of Parnell's. I made Parnell insert some compliments in it to his lordship. *He is extremely pleased with it, and read some parts of it to-day to lord-treasurer, who liked it as much. And indeed he outdoes all our poets here a bar's length. Lord Bolingbroke has ordered me to bring him to dinner on Christmas day, and I made lord-treasurer promise to see him; and it may one day do Parnell a kindness. † You know Parnell. I believe I have told you of that poem. Night, dear MD.

*The following are the lines in question, and they are rather

flat:

"These toils the graceful Bolingbroke attends,
A genius fashion'd for the greatest ends;
Whose strong perception takes the swiftest flight,
And yet its swiftness ne'er obscures its sight:
When schemes are fix'd, and each assign'd a part,
None serves his country with a nobler heart;
Just thoughts of honour all his mind controul,
And expedition wings his lively soul.

On such a patriot to confer the trust,

The monarch knows it safe, as well as just."

Poem on the Peace.

The well-known verses of Pope, on the intimacy between Lord Oxford, Parnell, and Swift, form an elegant and affecting preface to Parnell's poems.

Such were the notes, thy once-loved poet sung,
Till death untimely stop'd his tuneful tongue.
Oh just beheld, and lost! admired and mourn'd!
With softest manners, gentlest arts, adorn'd!
Blest in each science, blest in every strain!
Dear to the muse, to Harley dear-in vain!

For him, thou oft hast bid the world attend,
Fond to forget the statesman in the friend :

*

23. This morning I presented one Diaper, a poet, to Lord Bolingbroke, with a new poem, which is a very good one; and I am to give him a sum of money from my lord; and I have contrived to make a parson of him, for he is half one already, being in deacon's orders, and serves a small cure in the country; but has a sword at his tail here in town. It is a poor, little, short wretch, but will do best in a gown, and we will make lord-keeper give him a living. Lord Bolingbroke writ to lordtreasurer to excuse me to-day; so I dined with the former, and Monteleon, the Spanish ambassador, who made me many compliments. I staid till nine, and now it is past ten, and my man has locked me up, and I have just called to mind that I shall be in disgrace with Tom Leigh. That coxcomb had got into acquaintance with one Eckershall, clerk of the kitchen to the queen, who was civil to him at Windsor on my account; for I had done some service to Eckershall. Leigh teases me to pass an evening at his lodgings with Eckershall. I put it off several times, but was forced at last to promise I would come to-night; and it never was in my head till I was locked up, and I have called and called, but my man is gone to bed; so I will write

For Swift and him despised the farce of state,
The sober follies of the wise and great;
Dextrous the craving, fawning crowd to quit,
And pleased to 'scape from flattery to wit.

Absent or dead, still let a friend be dear,
(A sigh the absent claims, the dead a tear.)
Recal those nights that closed thy toilsome days,
Still hear thy Parnell in his living lays :
Who careless now of interest, fame, or fate,
Perhaps forgets that Oxford e'er was great
Or deeming meanness what we greatest call,
Beholds thee glorious only in thy fall.

* Author of the Sea Eclogues, mentioned before.

*

an excuse to-morrow. I detest that Tom Leigh, and am as formal to him as I can when I happen to meet him in the Park. The rogue frets me if he knew it. He asked me, "Why I did not wait on the bishop of Dromore ?" I answered, "I had not the honour to be acquainted with him, and would not presume," &c. He takes me seriously; and says, "The bishop is no proud man," &c. He tells me of a judge in Ireland, that has done ill things. I ask, "Why he is not out?" Says he, "I think the bishops, and you, and I, and the rest of the clergy, should meet and consult about it." I beg his pardon, and say, "I cannot be serviceable that way. He answers, "Yes, every body may help something."-Don't you see how curiously he continues to vex me; for the dog knows, that with half a word I could do more than all of them together. But he only does it from the pride and envy of his own heart, and not out of a humorous design of teasing. He is one of those that would rather a service should not be done, than done by a private man, and of his own country. You take all this; don't you? Night, dearest sirrahs! I will go to sleep.

24. I dined to-day with the chancellor of the exchequer, † in order to look over some of my papers; but nothing was done. I have been also mediating between the Hamilton family and Lord Abercorn, to have them compound with him; and I believe they will do it. Lord Selkirk, the late

* Dr Tobias Pullen, 1695-1713.

+ Robert Benson, Esq.

Lord Charles Douglas. When his father, William Earl of Selkirk, married Anne Duchess of Hamilton, the dukedom and estates of Hamilton descending upon his eldest son, and his second

Duke's brother, is to be in town, in order to go to France, to make the demands; and the ministry are of opinion, they will get some satisfaction, and they empowered me to advise the Hamilton side to agree with Abercorn, who asks a fourth part, and will go to France and spoil all if they don't yield it. Night, dearest sirrahs.

25. **** I carried Parnell to dine at Lord Bolingbroke's, and he behaved himself very well; and Lord Bolingbroke is mightily pleased with him. I was at St James's chapel by eight this morning; and church and sacrament were done by ten. The queen has got the gout in her hand, and did not come to church to-day; and I staid so long in my chamber, that I missed going to court. Did I tell you, that the queen designs to have a drawing-room and company every day? Night, dear rogues.

26. I was to wish the Duke of Ormond a happy Christmas, and give half-a-crown to his porter. It will cost me a dozen half crowns among such fellows. I dined with lord-treasurer, who chid me for being absent three days. Mighty kind with a p-; less of civility, and more of interest! We hear Macartney is gone over to Ireland. * Was it not comical for a gentleman to be set upon by high

dying without issue, Lord William, the third son, was, upon his father's resignation in his favour, confirmed by James VII. in the paternal honour of Earl of Selkirk.

* General Macartney, who had been Lord Mohun's second in the duel with the Duke of Hamilton, and whom the popular voice accused of being the Duke's murderer, being confessedly within the danger of the law, fled to the Continent, after a day or two's concealment about London. The reward offered for his apprehension was 5001. by the crown, and 2001. by the Duchess of Hamilton. In the reign of George I., when government was favourable to his cause, and party violence somewhat cooled, Macartney returned, was tried, and acquitted.

waymen, and to tell them he was Macartney? Upon which they brought him to a justice of peace, in hopes of a reward, and the rogues were sent to gaol. Was it not great presence of mind? But may be you heard of this already; for there was a Grub-street of it. Lord Bolingbroke told me I must walk away to-day when dinner was done, because lord-treasurer, and he, and another, were to enter upon business; but I said, it was as fit I should know their business as any body, for I was to justify. So the rest went, and I staid, and it was so important, I was like to sleep over it. I left them at nine, and it is now twelve. Night, MD.

典

27. I dined to-day with General Hill, governor of Dunkirk. Lady Masham and Mrs Hill, his two sisters, were of the company, and there have I been sitting this evening till eleven, looking over others at play; for I have left off loving play myself; and I think Ppt is now a great gamester. I have a great cold on me, not quite at its height. I have them seldom, and therefore ought to be patient. I met Mr Addison and pastoral Philips on the Mall today, and took a turn with them; but they both looked terribly dry and cold. A curse of party! And do you know I have taken more pains to recommend the Whig wits to the favour and mercy of the ministers, than any other people. Steele I have kept in his place. Congreve I have got to be used kindly, and secured. Rowe I have recommended, and got a promise of a place. Philips I should certainly have provided for, if he had not run party mad, and made me withdraw my recommendation. I set Addison so right at first, that he might have been employed, and have partly secured him the place he has; yet I am worse used by that faction than any man. Well, go to cards, sir