nd God bless dear MD with His best blessings, yes, yes, and
Dingley and Stella and me too, etc.

Ask the Bishop of Clogher about the pun I sent him of Lord Stawel's
brother;(61) it will be a pure bite. This letter has 199 lines in it,
beside all postscripts; I had a curiosity to reckon.

There is a long letter for you.

It is longer than a sermon, faith.

I had another letter from Mrs. Fenton, who says you were with her; I
hope you did not go on purpose. I will answer her letter soon; it is
about some money in Lady Giffard's hands.

They say you have had eight packets due to you; so pray, madams, do not
blame Presto, but the wind.

My humble service to Mrs. Walls and Mrs. Stoyte; I missed the former a
good while.

LETTER 12.

LONDON, Dec. 23, 1710.

I have sent my 11th to-night as usual, and begin the dozenth, and I told
you I dined with Stratford at Lord Mountjoy's, and I will tell you no
more at present, guess for why; because I am going to mind things, and
mighty affairs, not your nasty First-Fruits--I let them alone till Mr.
Harley gets the Queen's letter--but other things of greater moment, that
you shall know one day, when the ducks have eaten up all the dirt. So
sit still a while just by me, while I am studying, and don't say a word,
I charge you, and when I am going to bed, I will take you along, and
talk with you a little while, so there, sit there.--Come then, let us
see what we have to say to these saucy brats, that will not let us go
sleep at past eleven. Why, I am a little impatient to know how you do;
but that I take it for a standing maxim, that when you are silent, all
is pretty well, because that is the way I will deal with you; and if
there was anything you ought to know now, I would write by the first
post, although I had written but the day before. Remember this, young
women; and God Almighty preserve you both, and make us happy together;
and tell me how accompts stand between us, that you may be paid long
before it is due, not to want. I will return no more money while I stay,
so that you need not be in pain to be paid; but let me know at least a
month before you can want. Observe this, d'ye hear, little dear sirrahs,
and love Presto, as Presto loves MD, etc.

24. You will have a merrier Christmas Eve than we here. I went up to
Court before church; and in one of the rooms, there being but little
company, a fellow in a red coat without a sword came up to me, and,
after words of cou