would not tell it to you, but that, before this goes, I hope the secret will
be over. I am now writing my poetical "Description of a Shower in London,"
and will send it to the Tatler.[2] This is the last sheet of a whole quire I
have written since I came to town. Pray, now it comes into my head, will you,
when you go to Mrs. Walls, contrive to know whether Mrs. Wesley[3] be in town,
and still at her brother's, and how she is in health, and whether she stays in
town. I writ to her from Chester, to know what I should do with her note; and
I believe the poor woman is afraid to write to me: so I must go to my
business, etc.

11. To-day at last I dined with Lord Mountrath,[4] and carried Lord Mountjoy,
and Sir Andrew Fountaine with me; and was looking over them at ombre till
eleven this evening like a fool: they played running ombre half-crowns; and
Sir Andrew Fountaine won eight guineas of Mr. Coote;[5] so I am come home
late, and will say but little to MD this night. I have gotten half a bushel
of coals, and Patrick, the extravagant whelp, had a fire ready for me; but I
picked off the coals before I went to bed. It is a sign London is now an
empty place, when it will not furnish me with matter for above five or six
lines in a day. Did you smoke in my last how I told you the very day and the
place you were playing at ombre? But I interlined and altered a little, after
I had received a letter from Mr. Manley, that said you were at it in his
house, while he was writing to me; but without his help I guessed within one
day. Your town is certainly much more sociable than ours. I have not seen
your mother yet, etc.

12. I dined to-day with Dr. Garth and Mr. Addison, at the Devil Tavern[6] by
Temple Bar, and Garth treated; and 'tis well I dine every day, else I should
be longer making out my letters: for we are yet in a very dull state, only
inquiring every day after new elections, where the Tories carry it among the
new members six to one. Mr. Addison's election[7] has passed easy and