Arthur Moore. But when I get Mr. Harley alone, I will know the bottom. You will have Dr. Raymond over before this letter, and what care you? 66 7. I hope, and believe my walks every day do me good. I was busy at home, and set out late this morning, and dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh, at whose lodgings I always change my gown and periwig. I visited this afternoon, and among others, poor Biddy Floyd, who is very red, but I believe won't be much marked. As I was coming home, I met Sir George Beaumont in the Pall-mall, who would needs walk with me as far as Buckingham-house. I was telling him of my head: he said, "he had been ill of the same disorder, and by all means forbid me bohea tea; which," he said, always gave it him; and that Dr. Radcliffe said it was very bad." Now I had observed the same thing, and have left it off this month, having found myself ill after it several times; and I mention it, that Stella may consider it for her poor own little head: a pound lies ready packed up and directed for Mrs. Walls, to be sent by the first convenience. Mr. Secretary told me yesterday, "that Mr. Harley would this week be lord treasurer, and a peer;" so I expect it every day; yet perhaps it may not be till par liament is up, which will be in a fortnight. 8. I was to-day with the duke of Ormond, and recommended to him the case of poor Joe Beaumont, who promises me to do him all justice and favour, and give him encouragement: and desired I would give a memorial to Ned Southwell about it, which I will, and so tell Joe when you see him, though he knows it already by a letter I writ to Mr. Warburton. It was bloody hot walking to-day. I dined in the city, and went and came by water; and it rained so this evening again, that I *Brother to the earl of Drogheda. N. Dr. Swift's curate at Laracor. D. S. thought I should hardly be able to get a dry hour to walk home in. I'll send to-morrow to the coffee-house for a letter from MD; but I would not have one methinks, 'till this is gone, as it shall on Saturday. I visited the duchess of Ormond this morning; she does not go over with the duke. I spoke to her to get a lad touched for the evil,* the son of a grocer in Capel-street, one Bell, the ladies have bought sugar and plums of him. Mrs. Mary used to go there often. This is Patrick's account; and the poor fellow has been here some months with his boy. But the queen has not been able to touch, and it now grows so warm, I fear she will not at all. Go, go, go to the dean's, and let him carry you to Donnybrook, and cut asparagus. Has Parvisol sent you any this year? I cannot sleep in the beginnings of the nights, the heat or something hinders me, and I am drowsy in the mornings. 9. Dr. Freind came this morning to visit Atterbury's lady and children as a physician, and persuaded me to go with him to town in his chariot. He told me he had been an hour before with Sir Cholm!ey Dering, Charles Dering's nephew, and head of that family in Kent, for which he is knight of the shire. He said he left him dying of a pistol-shot quite through the body, by one Mr. Thornhill. They fought at sword and pistol this morning in Tuttle-fields, their pistols so near that the muzzles touched. Thornhill discharged first, and Dering having received the shot, discharged his pistol as he was falling, so it went into the air. The story of this quar *It is somewhat pleasant to see a person of Dr. Swift's turn of thinking seriously mention a design of getting evil." N. 66 a lad tonched for the From Dr. Swift's garden at Laracor. D. S. Mr. Richard Thornhill was tried at the Old Bailey, May 18, 1711, and found guilty of manslaughter. He was soon after killed on Turnham-green. See Journal, Aug 21. N. rel is so long. Thornbill had lost seven teeth by a kick in the mouth from Dering, who had first knocked him down: this was above a fortnight ago. Dering was next week to be married to a fine young lady. This makes a noise here, but you won't value it. Well, Mr. Harley, lord keeper, and one or two more are to be made lords immediately; their patents are now passing, and I read the preamble* to Mr. Harley's, full of his praises. Lewis and I dined with Ford; I found the wine: two flasks of my Florence, and two bottles of six that Dr. Raymond sent me of French wine; he sent it to me to ́drink with Sir Robert Raymond, and Mr. Harley's brother, whom I had introduced him to; but they never could find time to come: and now I have left the town, and it is too late. Raymond will think it a cheat. What care I, sirrah? 10. Pshaw, pshaw, Patrick brought me four letters to day from Dilly at Bath, Joe, Parvisol, and what was the fourth, who can tell? Stand away, who'll guess? who can it be? You old man with a stick, can you tell who the fourth is from? Iss, an please your honour, it is from one madam MD, number fourteen. Well, but I can't send this away now, because it was here, and I was in town, but it shall go on Saturday, and this is Thursday night, and it will be time enough for Wexford. Take my method: I write here to Parvisol to lend Stella twenty pounds, and to take her note promissory to pay it in half a year, &c. You shall see, and if you want more, let me know afterward; and be sure my money shall be always paid constantly too. you been good or ill house-wives pray ? Have 11. Joe has written to me to get him a collector's place, nothing less; he says all the world knows of my *Written by the dean. See it in Vol. IV? N. great intimacy with Mr. Harley, and that the smallest word to him will do. This is the constant cant of puppies who are at a distance, and strangers to courts and ministers. My answer is this; which pray send: "That I am ready to serve Joe, as far as I can; that I have spoken to the duke of Ormond, about his money, as I writ to Warburton; that for the particular he mentions, it is a work of time, which I cannot think of at present. But if accidents and opportunities should happen hereafter, I would not be wanting; that I know best how far my credit goes; that he is at distance and cannot judge; that I would be glad to do him good; and if fortune throws an opportunity in my way, I shall not be wanting." This is my answer; which you may send or read to him. Pray contrive that Parvisol may not run away with my two hundred pounds, but get Bur ton's* note, and let the money be returned me by bill. Don't laugh, for I will be suspicious. Teach Parvisol to enclose, and direct, the outside to Mr. Lewis. I will answer your letter in my next, only what I take notice of here excepted. I forgot to tell you, that at the court of requests, to-day I could not find a dinner I liked, and it grew late, and I dined with Mrs. Vanhomrigh &c. 12. Morning. I will finish this letter before I go to town, because I shall be busy, and have neither time nor place there. Farewell, &c. &c. LETTER XXIII. Chelsea, May 12, 1711. I SENT you my twenty second this afternoon in town, I dined with Mr. Harley and the old club, Lord Rivers, lord keeper, and Mr. Secretary. They rallied me last week, and said "I must have Mr. St. John's leave;" so I writ to him yesterday, " that, foreseeing I should never dine again with Sir Simon Harcourt, knight, and Robert Harley, Esq. I was resolved to do it to-day." The jest is, that before Saturday next we expect they will be lords for Mr. Harley's patent is drawing, to be earl of Oxford. Mr. Secretary and I came away at seven, and he brought me to our town's end in his coach; so I lost my walk. St. John read my letter to the company, which was all raillery, and passed purely.. 13. It rained all last night and this morning as heavy. as lead; but I just got fair weather to walk to town before church. The roads are all over in deep puddle. The hay of our town is almost fit to be mowed. - I went to court after church (as I always do on Sundays) and then dined with Mr. Secretary, who has engaged me for every Sunday and poor MD dined at home upon a bit of veal, and a pint of wine. Is it not plaguy in sipid to tell you every day where I dine; yet now I have got into the way of it, I cannot forbear it neither. Indeed, Mr. Presto, you had better go answer MD's letter, No. 14. I'll answer it when I please, Mr. Doctor. What's that you say? The court was very full this morning, expecting Mr. Harley would be declared earl of Oxford, and have the treasurer's staff. Mr. Harley never comes to court at all; somebody there asked me the reason; "Why,” said I, “the lord of Oxford knows.” He always goes to the queen by the back stairs. I was |