the Dean's was better: but so it is with
abundance of people here. I called at night at Mr. Harley's, who begins
to walk in his room with a stick, but is mighty weak.--See how much I
have lost with that ugly grease.(20) 'Tis your fault, pray; and I'll go
to bed.

April 1. The Duke of Buckingham's house fell down last night with an
earthquake, and is half swallowed up; won't you go and see it?--An April
fool, an April fool, oh ho, young women. Well, don't be angry. I will
make you an April fool no more till the next time; we had no sport here,
because it is Sunday, and Easter Sunday. I dined with the Secretary, who
seemed terribly down and melancholy, which Mr. Prior and Lewis observed
as well as I: perhaps something is gone wrong; perhaps there is nothing
in it. God bless my own dearest MD, and all is well.

2. We have such windy weather, 'tis troublesome walking, yet all the
rabble have got into our Park these Easter holidays. I am plagued with
one Richardson, an Irish parson, and his project of printing Irish
Bibles, etc., to make you Christians in that country: I befriend him
what I can, on account of the Archbishop and Bishop of Clogher.--But
what business have I to meddle, etc. Do not you remember that, sirrah
Stella? what was that about, when you thought I was meddling with
something that was not my business? O, faith, you are an impudent slut,
I remember your doings, I'll never forget you as long as I live. Lewis
and I dined together at his lodgings. But where's the answer to this
letter of MD's? O, faith, Presto, you must think of that. Time enough,
says saucy Presto.

3. I was this morning to see Mrs. Barton: I love her better than anybody
here, and see her seldomer. Why, really now, so it often happens in the
world, that where one loves a body best--pshah, pshah, you are so silly
with your moral observations. Well, but she told me a very good story.
An old gentlewoman died here two months ago, and left in her will, to
have eight men and eight maids bearers, who should have two guineas
apiece, ten guineas to the parson for a sermon, and two guineas to the
clerk. But bearers, parson, and clerk must be all true virgins; and
not to be admitted till they took their oaths of virginity: so the
poor woman still lies unburied, and so must do till the general
resurrection.--I called at Mr. Secretary's, to see what the D---- ailed
him on Sunday. I made him a very proper speech; told him I observed
he was much out of