more plentiful with me here than ever, or than in Dublin. I won't answer your
letter yet, because I am busy. I hope to send this before I have another from
MD: it would be a sad thing to answer two letters together, as MD does from
Presto. But when the two sides are full, away the letter shall go, that is
certain, like it or not like it; and that will be about three days hence, for
the answering-night will be a long one.

7. I dined to-day at Sir Richard Temple's, with Congreve, Vanbrugh,
Lieutenant-General Farrington,[18] etc. Vanbrugh, I believe I told you, had a
long quarrel with me about those verses on his house;[19] but we were very
civil and cold. Lady Marlborough used to tease him with them, which had made
him angry, though he be a good-natured fellow. It was a Thanksgiving-day,[20]
and I was at Court, where the Queen passed us by with all Tories about her;
not one Whig: Buckingham,[21] Rochester,[22] Leeds,[23] Shrewsbury, Berkeley
of Stratton, Lord Keeper Harcourt, Mr. Harley, Lord Pembroke, etc.; and I have
seen her without one Tory. The Queen made me a curtsey, and said, in a sort
of familiar way to Presto, "How does MD?" I considered she was a Queen, and
so excused her.[24] I do not miss the Whigs at Court; but have as many
acquaintance there as formerly.

8. Here's ado and a clutter! I must now answer MD's fifth; but first you
must know I dined at the Portugal Envoy's[25] to-day, with Addison, Vanbrugh,
Admiral Wager,[26] Sir Richard Temple,[27] Methuen,[28] etc. I was weary of
their company, and stole away at five, and came home like a good boy, and
studied till ten, and had a fire, O ho! and now am in bed. I have no
fireplace in my bed-chamber; but 'tis very warm weather when one's in bed.
Your fine cap,[29] Madam Dingley, is too little, and too hot: I will have
that fur taken off; I wish it were far enough; and my old velvet cap is good
for nothing. Is it velvet under the fur? I was feeling, but cannot find: if
it be, 'twill do without it else I will face it; but then I must buy new