h, and been forced to mend it
thrice. I dined to-day with Mr. Masham and his lady, by invitation. Lord
Treasurer was to be there, but came not. It was to entertain Buys, the
Dutch Envoy, who speaks English well enough: he was plaguily politic,
telling a thousand lies, of which none passed upon any of us. We are
still in the condition of suspense, and I think have little hopes. The
Duchess of Somerset is not gone to Petworth; only the Duke, and that is
a poor sacrifice. I believe the Queen certainly designs to change the
Ministry, but perhaps may put it off till the session is over: and I
think they had better give up now, if she will not deal openly; and
then they need not answer for the consequences of a peace, when it is in
other hands, and may yet be broken. They say my Lord Privy Seal sets out
for Holland this week: so the peace goes on.

18. It has rained hard from morning till night, and cost me three
shillings in coach-hire. We have had abundance of wet weather. I dined
in the City, and was with the printer, who has now a fifth edition of
the Conduct, etc.: it is in small, and sold for sixpence; they have
printed as many as three editions, because they are to be sent in
numbers into the country by great men, etc., who subscribe for hundreds.
It has been sent a fortnight ago to Ireland: I suppose you will print it
there. The Tory Lords and Commons in Parliament argue all from it; and
all agree that never anything of that kind was of so great consequence,
or made so many converts. By the time I have sent this letter, I expect
to hear from little MD: it will be a month, two days hence, since I had
your last, and I will allow ten days for accidents. I cannot get rid
of the leavings of a cold I got a month ago, or else it is a new one.
I have been writing letters all this evening till I am weary, and I am
sending out another little thing, which I hope to finish this week, and
design to send to the printer in an unknown hand. There was printed
a Grub Street speech of Lord Nottingham;(2) and he was such an owl to
complain of it in the House of Lords, who have taken up the printer for
it. I heard at Court that Walpole(3) (a great Whig member) said that I
and my whimsical Club writ it at one of our meetings, and that I should
pay for it. He will find he lies: and I shall let him know by a third
hand my thoughts of him. He is to be Secretary of State, if the Ministry
changes; but he has lately had a bribe proved against him