Ross was like to swinge the Marquis of Winchestert for this trick, the other day; and we have nothing else now to talk of till the parliament has had another bout with the state of the war, as they intend in a few days. They have ordered the Barrier Treaty to be laid before. them; and it was talked some time ago, as if there was a design to impeach Lord Townshend, who made it. I have no more politics now. Night, dear MD. 11. I dined with Lord Anglesey to-day, who had seven Irishmen to be my companions, of which two only were coxcombs. One I did not know, and the other was young Bligh, who is a puppy of figure here, with a fine chariot. He asked me one day at court, when I had just been talking with some lords, who stood near me, Doctor, when shall we see you in the county of Meath? I whispered him to take care what he said, for the people would think he was some barbarian. He never would speak to me since, till we met to-day. I went to Lady Masham's to-night, and sat with lord-treasurer and the secretary there till past two o'clock; and when I came home, found some letters from Ireland, which I read, but can say nothing of them till to-morrow, it is so very late; but I must always be, late or early, MD's, &c. 12. One letter was from the Bishop of Clogher last night, and the other from Walls, about Mrs South's salary, and his own pension of eighteen * Charles Ross, Esq., lieutenant-general of the horse under the Duke of Ormond in Flanders, April 5, 1712. + Charles Paulett, afterwards third Duke of Bolton. ↑ Archdeacon Walls, rector of Castleknock. Widow of Mr South, a commissioner of the revenue in Ire land, and one of the rangers of the Phoenix Park. pounds for his tithes of the park. I will do nothing in either. The first I cannot serve in, and the other is a trifle; only you may tell him I had his letter, and will speak to Ned Southwell about what he desires me. You say nothing of your dean's receiving my letter. I find, Clements, whom I recommended to Lord Anglesey last year, at Walls' desire, or rather the Bishop of Clogher's, is mightily in Lord Anglesey's favour. You You may tell the bishop and Walls so. I said to Lord Anglesey, that I was glad I had the good luck to recommend him, &c. I dined in the city with my printer, to consult with him about some papers lord-treasurer gave me last night, as he always does, too late. However, I will do something with them. My third cold is a little better; I never had any thing like it before, three colds successively; I hope I shall have the fourth.****Three messengers come from Holland to-day, and they brought over the six packets that were due. I know not the particulars yet; for when I was with the secretary at noon, they were just opening. But one thing I find, the Dutch are playing us tricks, and tampering with the French; they are dogs; I shall know more. †. ***** 13. I dined to-day privately with my friend Lewis, at his lodgings, to consult about some observations on the Barrier Treaty. Our news from Holland is not good. The French raise difficulties, and make such offers to the allies as cannot be accepted: and the Dutch are uneasy that we are likely to get any thing for ourselves; and the Whigs are glad at all this. I came home early, and have been very busy * Secretary of state for Ireland. + A few words are here erased in the oreginal. three or four hours. I had a letter from Dr Pratt to-day by a private hand, recommending the bearer to me, for something I shall not trouble myself about. Wesley writ to recommend the same fellow to me. His expression is, that hearing I am acquainted with my lord-treasurer, he desires I would do so and so. A matter of nothing. What puppies are mankind! I hope I shall be wiser when I have once done with courts. I think you have not troubled me much with your recommendations. I would do you all the service I could. Pray have you got your apron, Mrs Ppt? I paid for it but yesterday; that puts me in mind of it. I writ an inventory of what things I sent by Leigh in one of my letters. Did Did you compare it with what you got? I hear nothing of your cards now do you never play; yes, at Baligall. Go to bed. *****Night, dearest MD, 14. Our society dined to-day at Mr Secretary's house. I went there at four; but hearing the House of Commons would sit late upon the Barrier Treaty, I went for an hour to Kensington, to see Lord Masham's children. My young nephew, his son of six months old, has got a swelling in his neck. I fear it is the evil. We did not go to dinner till eight of night, and I left them at ten. The Commons have been very severe on the Barrier Treaty, as you will find by their votes. A Whig member took out the Conduct of the Allies, and read that passage about the succession with great resentment; but none seconded him. The church party carried every vote by a great majority. The archbishop of Dublin is so railed at by all who come * Lord Masham was one of the sixteen brothers of the club; his son was Swift's nephew, of course. from Ireland, that I can defend him no longer. Lord Anglesey assured me, that the story of applying Piso out of Tacitus to lord-treasurer being wounded is true. * I believe the Duke of Beaufort will be admitted to our society next meeting. Today I published the Fable of Midas, a poem, printed in a loose half sheet of paper. † I know not how it will take; but it passed wonderfully at our society to-night; and Mr Secretary read it before me the other night to lord-treasurer, at Lord Masham's, where they equally approved of it. me how it passes with you? I think this paper is larger than ordinary; for here is a six days journal, and no nearer the bottom. I fear these journals are very dull. Note my dullest lines. Tell 15. Mr Lewis and I dined by invitation with a Scotch acquaintance, after I had been very busy in my chamber till two in the afternoon. My third cold is now very troublesome on my breast, especially in the morning. This is a great revolution in my health; colds never used to return so soon with me, or last so long. It is very surprising this news today of the dauphin and dauphiness, both dying within six days. They say the old king is almost heart * See Vol. II. pp. 222, 223. + A cruel satire on the Duke of Marlborough, comparing his loss of power and place to that of Midas, deprived of the virtues of his touch, by the streams of Pactolus: While he his utmost strength applied, Commissions, perquisites, and bribes; By their own weight sunk to the bottom, Much good may do them that have caught' em. And Midas now neglected stands, With asses ears, and dirty hands. broke he has had prodigious mortifications in his family. The dauphin has left two little sons, of four and two years old; the eldest is sick. There is a foolish story got about the town, that Lord Strafford, one of our plenipotentiaries, is in the interest of France: and it has been a good while said, that lord privy seal * and he do not agree very well ; they are both long practised in business, but neither of them of much parts. Strafford has some life and spirit; but is infinitely proud, and wholly illiterate.**** Night, MD. 16. I dined to-day in the city with my printer, to finish something I am doing about the Barrier Treaty; but it is not quite done. † I went this evening to Lord Masham's, where lord-treasurer sat with us till past twelve. The Lords have voted an address to the queen, to tell her they are not satisfied with the king of France's offers. The Whigs brought it in of a sudden; and the court could not prevent it, and therefore did not oppose it. The House of Lords is too strong in Whigs, notwithstanding the new creations: for they are very diligent, and the Tories as lazy: the side that is down has always most industry. The Whigs intended to have made a vote that would reflect on lord-treasurer; but their project was not ripe. I hit my face such a rap by calling the coach to stop to-night, that it is plaguy sore, the bone beneath the eye. Night, dearest MD, 17. The court was mighty full to-day, and has been these many Sundays; but the queen was not at chapel. She has got a little fit of the gout in * Dr John Robinson, bishop of Bristol. + It was published under the title of "Remarks on the Barrier Treaty." |