plainer if I can remember it; for Stella must not spoil
her eyes, and Dingley can't read my hand very well; and I am afraid my
letters are too long: then you must suppose one to be two, and read them
at twice. I dined to-day with Mr. Harley: Mr. Prior(30) dined with us.
He has left my memorial with the Queen, who has consented to give the
First-Fruits and Twentieth Parts,(31) and will, we hope, declare it
to-morrow in the Cabinet. But I beg you to tell it to no person alive;
for so I am ordered, till in public: and I hope to get something of
greater value. After dinner came in Lord Peterborow:(32) we renewed our
acquaintance, and he grew mightily fond of me. They began to talk of a
paper of verses called "Sid Hamet." Mr. Harley repeated part, and then
pulled them out, and gave them to a gentleman at the table to read,
though they had all read them often. Lord Peterborow would let nobody
read them but himself: so he did; and Mr. Harley bobbed(33) me at every
line, to take notice of the beauties. Prior rallied Lord Peterborow for
author of them; and Lord Peterborow said he knew them to be his; and
Prior then turned it upon me, and I on him. I am not guessed at all
in town to be the author; yet so it is: but that is a secret only to
you.(34) Ten to one whether you see them in Ireland; yet here they run
prodigiously. Harley presented me to Lord President of Scotland,(35) and
Mr. Benson,(36) Lord of the Treasury. Prior and I came away at nine, and
sat at the Smyrna(37) till eleven, receiving acquaintance.

16. This morning early I went in a chair, and Patrick before it, to Mr.
Harley, to give him another copy of my memorial, as he desired; but he
was full of business, going to the Queen, and I could not see him;
but he desired I would send up the paper, and excused himself upon his
hurry. I was a little baulked; but they tell me it is nothing. I shall
judge by next visit. I tipped his porter with half a crown; and so I am
well there for a time at least. I dined at Stratford's in the City, and
had Burgundy and Tokay: came back afoot like a scoundrel: then went with
Mr. Addison and supped with Lord Mountjoy, which made me sick all night.
I forgot that I bought six pounds of chocolate for Stella, and a little
wooden box; and I have a great piece of Brazil tobacco for Dingley,(38)
and a bottle of palsy-water(39) for Stella: all which, with the two
handkerchiefs that Mr. Sterne has bought, and you must pay him for,
will be put in