silly. As I walked into the city I was stopped with
clusters of boys and wenches buzzing about the cake-shops like flies.(7)
There had the fools let out their shops two yards forward into the
streets, all spread with great cakes frothed with sugar, and stuck with
streamers of tinsel. And then I went to Bateman's the bookseller, and
laid out eight-and-forty shillings for books. I bought three little
volumes of Lucian in French for our Stella, and so and so. Then I went
to Garraway's(8) to meet Stratford and dine with him; but it was an idle
day with the merchants, and he was gone to our end of the town: so I
dined with Sir Thomas Frankland at the Post Office, and we drank your
Manley's health. It was in a newspaper that he was turned out; but
Secretary St. John told me it was false: only that newswriter is a
plaguy Tory. I have not seen one bit of Christmas merriment.

7. Morning. Your new Lord Chancellor(9) sets out to-morrow for Ireland:
I never saw him. He carries over one Trapp(10) a parson as his chaplain,
a sort of pretender to wit, a second-rate pamphleteer for the cause,
whom they pay by sending him to Ireland. I never saw Trapp neither. I
met Tighe(11) and your Smyth of Lovet's yesterday by the Exchange. Tighe
and I took no notice of each other; but I stopped Smyth, and told him of
the box that lies for you at Chester, because he says he goes very soon
to Ireland, I think this week: and I will send this morning to Sterne,
to take measures with Smyth; so good-morrow, sirrahs, and let me rise,
pray. I took up this paper when I came in at evening, I mean this
minute, and then said I, "No, no, indeed, MD, you must stay"; and then
was laying it aside, but could not for my heart, though I am very busy,
till I just ask you how you do since morning; by and by we shall talk
more, so let me leave you: softly down, little paper, till then; so
there--now to business; there, I say, get you gone; no, I will not push
you neither, but hand you on one side--So--Now I am got into bed, I'll
talk with you. Mr. Secretary St. John sent for me this morning in all
haste; but I would not lose my shaving, for fear of missing church. I
went to Court, which is of late always very full; and young Manley and
I dined at Sir Matthew Dudley's.--I must talk politics. I protest I am
afraid we shall all be embroiled with parties. The Whigs, now they are
fallen, are the most malicious toads in the world. We have had now a
second misfortune, the loss