sent the challenge. I am infinitely
concerned for the poor Duke, who was a frank, honest, good-natured man.
I loved him very well, and I think he loved me better. He had(8) the
greatest mind in the world to have me go with him to France, but durst
not tell it me; and those he did, said I could not be spared, which
was true. They have removed the poor Duchess to a lodging in the
neighbourhood, where I have been with her two hours, and am just come
away. I never saw so melancholy a scene; for indeed all reasons for
real grief belong to her; nor is it possible for anybody to be a greater
loser in all regards. She has moved my very soul. The lodging was
inconvenient, and they would have removed her to another; but I would
not suffer it, because it had no room backward, and she must have been
tortured with the noise of the Grub Street screamers mention(ing) her
husband's murder to her ears.

I believe you have heard the story of my escape, in opening the bandbox
sent to Lord Treasurer.(9) The prints have told a thousand lies of it;
but at last we gave them a true account of it at length, printed in the
evening;(10) only I would not suffer them to name me, having been so
often named before, and teased to death with questions. I wonder how I
came to have so much presence of mind, which is usually not my talent;
but so it pleased God, and I saved myself and him; for there was a
bullet apiece. A gentleman told me that if I had been killed, the Whigs
would have called it a judgment, because the barrels were of inkhorns,
with which I had done them so much mischief. There was a pure Grub
Street of it, full of lies and inconsistencies.(11) I do not like these
things at all, and I wish myself more and more among my willows.(12)
There is a devilish spirit among people, and the Ministry must exert
themselves, or sink. Nite dee sollahs, I'll go seep.(13)

16. I thought to have finished this yesterday; but was too much
disturbed. I sent a letter early this morning to Lady Masham, to beg
her to write some comforting words to the poor Duchess. I dined to-(day)
with Lady Masham at Kensington, where she is expecting these two months
to lie in. She has promised me to get the Queen to write to the Duchess
kindly on this occasion; and to-morrow I will beg Lord Treasurer to
visit and comfort her. I have been with her two hours again, and find
her worse: her violences not so frequent, but her melancholy more formal
and settled. She has abundanc