affairs. We want to have this Duke of Somerset out, and he apprehends it will not be; but I hope better. They are going now at last to change the commissioners of the customs: my friend Sir Matthew Dudley will be out, and three more, and Prior will be in. I have made Ford copy out a small pamphlet, and send it to the press, that I might not be known for author; 'tis A Letter to the October Club, if ever you heard of such a thing.-Methinks this letter goes on but slowly for almost a week; I want some little conversation with MD, and to know what they are doing just now. I am sick of politics. I have not dined with lord-treasurer these three weeks: he chides me, but I don't care : I don't.

19. I dined to-day with lord-treasurer; this is his day of choice company; where they sometimes admit me, but pretend to grumble. And to-day they met on some extraordinary business; the keeper, stewart, both secretaries, Lord Rivers, and Lord Anglesey I left them at seven, and came away, and have been writing to the Bishop of Clogher. I forgot to know where to direct to him since Sir George St George's death; but I have directed to the same house: you must tell me better; for the letter is sent by the bellman. Don't write to me again till this is gone, I charge you; for I won't answer two letters together. The Duke of Somerset is out, and was with his yellow liveries at parliament to-day. You know he had the same with the queen, when he was master of the horse: we hope the Duchess will follow, or that he will take her away in spite. Lord-treasurer, I hope, has now saved his head. Has the dean received my letter? ask him at cards to-night.

20. There was a world of people to-day at court to see Prince Eugene, but all bit, for he did not

The queen has the Must I fill this line The Duke of Beau

come. I saw the Duchess of Somerset talking with the Duke of Buckingham; she looked a little down, but was extremely courteous. gout, but is not in much pain. too?* well then, so let it be. fort has a mighty mind to come into our society; shall we let him? I spoke to the Duke of Ormond about it, and he doubts a little whether to let him in or no. They say the Duke of Somerset is advised by his friends to let his wife stay with the queen; I am sorry for it. for it. I dined with the secretary to-day, with mixed company; I don't love it. Our society does not meet till Friday, because Thursday will be a busy day in the House of Commons; for then the Duke of Marlborough's bribery is to be examined into about the pension paid him by those that furnished bread to the army.

21. I have been five times with the Duke of Ormond about a perfect trifle, and he forgets it: I used him like a dog this morning for it. I was asked to-day by several in the court of requests, whether it was true that the author of the Examiner was taken up in an action of twenty thousand pounds by the Duke of Marlborough? I dined in the city, where my printer shewed me a pamphlet called Advice to the October Club, which he said was sent him by an unknown hand; I commended it mightily; he never suspected me; 'tis a twopenny pamphlet. I came home and got timely to bed; but about eleven one of the secretary's servants came to me, to let me know that lord-treasurer would immediately speak to me at Lord Masham's upon earnest business; and that if I was a

* It is the last of the page, and written close to the edge of the paper.

bed, I should rise and come. I did so; lord-trea surer was above with the queen: and when he came down he laughed, and said it was not he that sent for me: the business was of no great importance, only to give me a paper, which might have been done to-morrow. I staid with them till past one, and then got to bed again. Pize take their frolics. I thought to have answered your letter.

22. Doctor Gastrel was to see me this morning; he is an eminent divine, one of the canons of Christchurch, and one I love very well: he said, he was glad to find I was not with James Broad. I asked what he meant; why, says he, have you not seen the Grub-street paper, that says Dr Swift was taken up as author of the Examiner on an action of twenty thousand pounds, and was now at James Broad's? who, I suppose, is some bailiff.* I knew nothing of this; but at the court of requests twenty people told me they heard I had been taken up. Lord Lansdown observed to the secretary and me, that the Whigs spread three lies yesterday;† that about me; and another, that Macartney, who was turned out last summer, is again restored to his places in the army; and the third, that Jack Hill's commission for lieutenent of the Tower is stopped, and that Cadogan is to continue. Lansdown thinks they have some design by these reports; I cannot guess it. Did I tell you that Sacheverel has desired mightily to come and see me; but I have put it off: he has heard that I have spoken to the secretary in behalf of a brother whom he maintains, and

* James Broad, a sheriff-officer, appears as an evidence on the noted trial of Purchas and Damaree. He was a bailiff of some celebrity, for he is mentioned in the Tatler.

+ These lies are all particularly mentioned by the Examiner, N. 10. dated Feb. 7. 1711-12.

who desires an employment. Tother day at the court of requests Dr Yalden saluted me by name: Sacheverel, who was just by, came up to me, and made me many acknowledgments and compliments. Last night I desired lord-treasurer to do something for that brother of Sacheverel's: he said he never knew he had a brother; but thanked me for telling him, and immediately put his name in his table book. I will let Sacheverel know this, that he may take his measures accordingly; but he shall be none of my acquaintance. * I dined today privately with the secretary, left him at six, paid a visit or two, and came home.

23. I dined again to-day with the secretary; but could not dispatch some business I had with him, he has so much besides upon his hands at this juncture and preparing against the great business tomorrow, which we are top full of. The minister's design is, that the Duke of Marlborough shall be censured as gently as possible, provided his friends will not make head to defend him; but if they do, it may end in some severer votes. A gentleman, who was just now with him, tells me he is much cast down, and fallen away; but he is positive, if he has but ten friends in the House, that they shall defend him to the utmost, and endeavour to prevent the least censure upon him; which I think cannot be, since the bribery is manifest: Sir Solomon Medina paid him six thousand pounds a-year to have the employment of providing bread for the army, and the Duke owns it in his letter to the com

*Swift's resolutions in favour of Dr Sacheverel's brother probably arose from a sense of the obligations which the present ministry lay under to this fiery high churchman. His personal dislike was grounded in his thorough contempt of the Doctor's ta lents and doctrine.

missioners of accounts. I was to-night at Lord Masham's; Lord Dupplin took out my new little pamphlet, and the secretary read a great deal of it to lord-treasurer; they all commended it to the skies, and so did I, and they began a health to the author. But I doubt lord-treasurer suspected; for he said, This is Dr Davenant's style; which is his cant when he suspects me. But I carried the matter very well. Lord-treasurer put the pamphlet in his pocket to read at home. I'll answer your letter to-morrow.

*

24. The secretary made me promise to dine with him to-day, after the parliament was up; I said I would come; but I dined at my usual time; knowing the House would sit late on this great affair. I dined at a tavern with Mr Domville and another gentleman; I have not done so before these many months. At ten this evening I went to the secretary, but he was not come home; I sat with his lady till twelve, then came away; and he just came as I was gone, and he sent to my lodgings, but I would not go back; and so I know not how things have passed, but hope all is well; and I will tell you to-morrow day. It is late, &c.

25. The secretary sent to me this morning to know whether we should dine together; I went to him, and there I learned that the question went against the Duke of Marlborough, by a majority of a hundred; so the ministry is mighty well satisfied, and the Duke will now be able to do no hurt. The secretary and I, and Lord Masham, &c. dined with Lieutenant-General Withers, who is just going

* Davenant was abused as the author of the Examiner, long after Swift had commenced author of that paper. On this mistake the treasurer's jeer was grounded.