'll spend as many
pounds: and therefore I have it among my extraordinaries but we had a
neck of mutton dressed a la Maintenon, that the dog could not eat: and
it is now twelve o'clock, and I must go sleep. I hope this letter will
go before I have MD's third. Do you believe me? and yet, faith, I long
for MD's third too and yet I would have it to say, that I writ five for
two. I am not fond at all of St. James's Coffee-house,(47) as I used to
be. I hope it will mend in winter; but now they are all out of town at
elections, or not come from their country houses. Yesterday I was going
with Dr. Garth(48) to dine with Charles Main,(49) near the Tower, who
has an employment there: he is of Ireland; the Bishop of Clogher knows
him well: an honest, good-natured fellow, a thorough hearty laugher,
mightily beloved by the men of wit: his mistress is never above a
cook-maid. And so, good-night, etc.

9. I dined to-day at Sir John Stanley's; my Lady Stanley(50) is one
of my favourites: I have as many here as the Bishop of Killala has in
Ireland. I am thinking what scurvy company I shall be to MD when I come
back: they know everything of me already: I will tell you no more, or
I shall have nothing to say, no story to tell, nor any kind of thing.
I was very uneasy last night with ugly, nasty, filthy wine, that turned
sour on my stomach. I must go to the tavern: oh, but I told you that
before. To-morrow I dine at Harley's, and will finish this letter at my
return; but I can write no more now, because of the Archbishop: faith,
'tis true; for I am going now to write to him an account of what I have
done in the business with Harley:(51) and, faith, young women, I'll tell
you what you must count upon, that I never will write one word on the
third side in these long letters.

10. Poor MD's letter was lying so huddled up among papers, I could not
find it: I mean poor Presto's letter. Well, I dined with Mr. Harley
to-day, and hope some things will be done; but I must say no more: and
this letter must be sent to the post-house, and not by the bellman.(52)
I am to dine again there on Sunday next; I hope to some good issue. And
so now, soon as ever I can in bed, I must begin my 6th to MD as gravely
as if I had not written a word this month: fine doings, faith! Methinks
I don't write as I should, because I am not in bed: see the ugly wide
lines. God Almighty ever bless you, etc.

Faith, this is a whole treatise; I'll go reckon the lines on the o