and then came home, after a visit or two; and it has been a very insipid day.
Mrs. Long's misfortune is confirmed to me; bailiffs were in her house; she
retired to private lodgings; thence to the country, nobody knows where: her
friends leave letters at some inn, and they are carried to her; and she writes
answers without dating them from any place. I swear, it grieves me to the
soul.

17. To-day I dined six miles out of town, with Will Pate,[30] the learned
woollen-draper; Mr. Stratford went with me; six miles here is nothing: we
left Pate after sunset, and were here before it was dark. This letter shall
go on Tuesday, whether I hear from MD or no. My health continues pretty well;
pray God Stella may give me a good account of hers! and I hope you are now at
Trim, or soon designing it. I was disappointed to-night: the fellow gave me
a letter, and I hoped to see little MD's hand; and it was only to invite me to
a venison pasty to-day: so I lost my pasty into the bargain. Pox on these
declining courtiers! Here is Mr. Brydges,[31] the Paymaster-General, desiring
my acquaintance; but I hear the Queen sent Lord Shrewsbury[32] to assure him
he may keep his place; and he promises me great assistance in the affair of
the First-Fruits. Well, I must turn over this leaf to-night, though the side
would hold another line; but pray consider this is a whole sheet; it holds a
plaguy deal, and you must be content to be weary; but I'll do so no more. Sir
Simon Harcourt is made Attorney-General, and not Lord Keeper.

18. To-day I dined with Mr. Stratford at Mr. Addison's retirement near
Chelsea; then came to town; got home early, and began a letter to the
Tatler,[33] about the corruptions of style and writing, etc., and, having not
heard from you, am resolved this letter shall go to-night. Lord Wharton was
sent for to town in mighty haste, by the Duke of Devonshire:[34] they have
some project in hand; but it will not do, for every hour we expect a thorough
revolution, and that the Parliament will be dissolved. When you see Joe, tell