rse, asked me how the ladies did? I asked, "What
ladies?" He said, "Mrs. Dingley and Mrs. Johnson." "Very well," said I,
"when I heard from them last: and pray when came you from thence,
sir?" He said, "I never was in Ireland"; and just at that word Lord
Winchelsea(1) comes up to me, and the man went off: as I went out I saw
him again, and recollected him, it was Vedeau(2) with a pox: I then went
and made my apologies, that my head was full of something I had to say
to Lord Winchelsea, etc., and I asked after his wife, and so all was
well; and he inquired after my lodging, because he had some favour to
desire of me in Ireland, to recommend somebody to somebody, I know not
what it is. When I came from church, I went up to Court again, where Sir
Edmond Bacon(3) told me the bad news from Spain,(4) which you will hear
before this reaches you; as we have it now, we are undone there, and
it was odd to see the whole countenances of the Court changed so in two
hours. Lady Mountjoy(5) carried me home to dinner, where I stayed not
long after, and came home early, and now am got into bed, for you must
always write to your MD's in bed, that is a maxim.

Mr. White and Mr. Red,
Write to MD when abed;
Mr. Black and Mr. Brown,
Write to MD when you're down;
Mr. Oak and Mr. Willow,
Write to MD on your pillow.--

What is this? faith, I smell fire; what can it be? this house has a
thousand stinks in it. I think to leave it on Thursday, and lodge over
the way. Faith, I must rise, and look at my chimney, for the smell grows
stronger, stay--I have been up, and in my room, and found all safe, only
a mouse within the fender to warm himself, which I could not catch.
I smelt nothing there, but now in my bed-chamber I smell it again; I
believe I have singed the woollen curtain, and that is all, though I
cannot smoke it. Presto is plaguy silly to-night, an't he? Yes, and so
he be. Ay, but if I should wake and see fire. Well; I will venture; so
good-night, etc.

25. Pray, young women, if I write so much as this every day, how will
this paper hold a fortnight's work, and answer one of yours into the
bargain? You never think of this, but let me go on like a simpleton.
I wish you a merry Christmas, and many, many a one with poor Presto at
some pretty place. I was at church to-day by eight, and received the
Sacrament, and came home by ten; then went to Court at two: it was a
Collar-day, that is, when the Knights of the