lady
being brought to bed, the Duke was to be desired to be one of the
godfathers; and it being objected that that would not be proper, there
being no peer of the land to be joyned with him, the lady replied, "Why,
let him choose; and if he will not be a godfather without a peer, then
let him even stay till he hath made a pier of his own."

[In the same spirit, long after this, some question arising as to
the best material to be used in building Westminster Bridge, Lord
Chesterfield remarked, that there were too many wooden piers (peers)
at Westminster already.--B.]

He tells me, too, that he hath lately been observed to tack about at
Court, and to endeavour to strike in with the persons that are against
the Chancellor; but this he says of him, that he do not say nor do
anything to the prejudice of the Chancellor. But he told me that the
Chancellor was rising again, and that of late Sir G. Carteret's
business and employment hath not been so full as it used to be while the
Chancellor stood up. From that we discoursed of the evil of putting out
men of experience in business as the Chancellor, and from that to speak
of the condition of the King's party at present, who, as the Papists,
though otherwise fine persons, yet being by law kept for these fourscore
years out of employment, they are now wholly uncapable of business; and
so the Cavaliers for twenty years, who, says he, for the most part have
either given themselves over to look after country and family business,
and those the best of them, and the rest to debauchery, &c.; and that
was it that hath made him high against the late Bill brought into the
House for the making all men incapable of employment that had served
against the King. Why, says he, in the sea-service, it is impossible to
do any thing without them, there being not more than three men of the
whole King's side that are fit to command almost; and these were Captain
Allen, Smith, and Beech; and it may be Holmes, and Utber, and Batts
might do something. I desired him to tell me if he thought that I did
speak anything that I do against Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes out of
ill will or design. He told me quite the contrary, and that there was
reason enough. After a good deal of good and fine discourse, I took
leave, and so to my Lord Sandwich's house, where I met my Lord, and
there did discourse of our office businesses, and how the Duke do show
me kindness, though I have endeavoured t