LETTER LIX.
London, January 25, 1712-1713.
WE had such a terrible storm to day, that going to lord Bolingbroke's, I saw a hundred tiles fallen down; and one swinger fell about forty yards before me, that would have killed a horse: so after church and court, I walked through the park, and took a chair to lord treasurer's. Next door to his house a tin chimney top had fallen down, with a hundred bricks. It is grown calm this evening. I wonder had you such a wind to day? I hate it as much as any hog does. Lord treasurer has engaged me to dine again with him to morrow. He has those tricks sometimes of inviting me from day to day, which I am forced to break through. My little pamphlet is out: 'tis not politicks. If it takes I say again you shall hear of it.
26. This morning I felt a little touch of giddiness, which has disordered and weakened me with its ugly remains all this day. **** After dinner at lord treasurer's, the French ambassador duke d'Aumont sent lord treasurer word, that his house was burnt down to the ground. It took fire in the upper rooms, while he was at dinner with Monteleon the Spanish ambassador, and other persons; and soon after lord Bolingbroke came to us with the same story. We are full of speculations upon it, but I believe it was the carelessness of his French rascally servants. It is odd that this very day lord Somers, Wharton, Sun-
