294 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
soon as any body, to hire a horse and send the footman away she has with her. Wednesday my Lord Treasurer came here to the Queen, and it being an unusual day with him, that we might think there was nothing extraordinary 'twas given out that he came only to fetch his son that he had left here a monday ill of this new Distemper, call'd by Dr. Swift a feavouret. The next day my Lord Bullingbrook came in the morning and was with the Queen an hour, 'twas a fine afternoon, but her Majesty did not go out, for he was appointed to come again after dinner, and he was with her some hours. 'Twas given out by the Society that he wou'd not be at their meeting Saturday night because he was to go and see his Lady at his country house. They cou'd not have given out a more unlikely sham, for 'tis well known he does not trouble her much with his company. We had a world of people from London yesterday, and they are all full that his lordship is gone into France. The conjectures thereupon are various, some think that Lewis Baboon having had this ad- vantage, is shuffling off from what he had promised for the Allies, others are of opinion 'tis to give a finishing stroak. I am not very smoaky, but I don't fancy to see that sattis- faction in some people's faces as I cou'd wish. The fourth part of John Bull is come out, wch I suppose my Lady will send you, with a preface of condolance to Grub street upon the new duty of stamps upon all printed papers. I have heard this part much commended, but in my poor opinion I think the humour flags and does not come up to the two first, tho the Author is the same,* who I din'd with t'other day and by his friend's sly commendation of the admirable banter, and his silence, 'twas plain to me he had a secreet pleasure in being the reputed Authour.
I have writ to my Lady Strafford to know her resolution about going or staying here ; the Duke of Kent told me he believed she wou'd have been here but she has got a touch of this new distemper. There's no danger in't for nobody is troubled with it for above two or three days ; the Queen and
- Dr. Arbuthnot.
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