The Journal to Stella

Chester, Sept. 2, 1710.

Joe [1b] will give you an account of me till I got into the boat; after which the rogues made a new bargain, and forced me to give them two crowns, and talked as if we should not be able to overtake any ship: but in half an hour we got to the yacht; for the ships lay by [to] wait for my Lord Lieutenant’s steward.  We made our voyage in fifteen hours just.  Last night I came to this town, and shall leave it, I believe, on Monday.  The first man I met in Chester was Dr. Raymond. [1c]  He and Mrs. Raymond were here about levying a fine, in order to have power to sell their estate.  They have found everything answer very well.  They both desire to present their humble services to you: they do not think of Ireland till next year.  I got a fall off my horse, riding here from Parkgate, [2a] but no hurt; the horse understanding falls very well, and lying quietly till I get up.  My duty to the Bishop of Clogher. [2b]  I saw him returning from Dunleary; but he saw not me.  I take it ill he was not at Convocation, and that I have not his name to my powers. [2c]  I beg you will hold your resolution of going to Trim, and riding there as much as you can.  Let the Bishop of Clogher remind the Bishop of Killala [2d] to send me a letter, with one enclosed to the Bishop of Lichfield. [2e]  Let all who write to me, enclose to Richard Steele, Esq., at his office at the Cockpit, near Whitehall. [2f]  But not MD; I will pay for their letters at St. James’s Coffee-house, [2g] that I may have them the sooner.  My Lord Mountjoy [2h] is now in the humour that we should begin our journey this afternoon; so that I have stole here again to finish this letter, which must be short or long accordingly.  I write this post to Mrs. Wesley, [2i] and will tell her, that I have taken care she may have her bill of one hundred and fifteen pounds whenever she pleases to send for it; and in that case I desire you will send it her enclosed and sealed, and have it ready so, in case she should send for it: otherwise keep it.  I will say no more till I hear whether I go to-day or no: if I do, the letter is almost at an end.  My cozen Abigail is grown prodigiously old.  God Almighty bless poo dee richar MD; and, for God’s sake, be merry, and get oo health.  I am perfectly resolved to return as soon as I have done my commission, whether it succeeds or no.  I never went to England with so little desire in my life.  If Mrs. Curry [3a] makes any difficulty about the lodgings, I will quit them and pay her from July 9 last, and Mrs. Brent [3b] must write to Parvisol [3c] with orders accordingly.  The post is come from London, and just going out; so I have only time to pray God to bless poor richr MD FW FW MD MD ME ME ME.

London, Sept. 9, 1710.

I got here last Thursday, [4a] after five days’ travelling, weary the first, almost dead the second, tolerable the third, and well enough the rest; and am now glad of the fatigue, which has served for exercise; and I am at present well enough.  The Whigs were ravished to see me, and would lay hold on me as a twig while they are drowning, [4b] and the great men making me their clumsy apologies, etc.  But my Lord Treasurer [4c] received me with a great deal of coldness, which has enraged me so, I am almost vowing revenge.  I have not yet gone half my circle; but I find all my acquaintance just as I left them.  I hear my Lady Giffard [4d] is much at Court, and Lady Wharton [4e] was ridiculing it t’other day; so I have lost a friend there.  I have not yet seen her, nor intend it; but I will contrive to see Stella’s mother [4f] some other way.  I writ to the Bishop of Clogher from Chester; and I now write to the Archbishop of Dublin. [4g]  Everything is turning upside down; every Whig in great office will, to a man, be infallibly put out; and we shall have such a winter as hath not been seen in England.  Everybody asks me, how I came to be so long in Ireland, as naturally as if here were my being; but no soul offers to make it so: and I protest I shall return to Dublin, and the Canal at Laracor, [4h] with more satisfaction than ever I did in my life.  The Tatler [5a] expects every day to be turned out of his employment; and the Duke of Ormond, [5b] they say, will be Lieutenant of Ireland.  I hope you are now peaceably in Presto’s [5c] lodgings; but I resolve to turn you out by Christmas; in which time I shall either do my business, or find it not to be done.  Pray be at Trim by the time this letter comes to you; and ride little Johnson, who must needs be now in good case.  I have begun this letter unusually, on the post-night, and have already written to the Archbishop; and cannot lengthen this.  Henceforth I will write something every day to MD, and make it a sort of journal; and when it is full, I will send it, whether MD writes or no; and so that will be pretty: and I shall always be in conversation with MD, and MD with Presto.  Pray make Parvisol pay you the ten pounds immediately; so I ordered him.  They tell me I am grown fatter, and look better; and, on Monday, Jervas [5d] is to retouch my picture.  I thought I saw Jack Temple [5e] and his wife pass by me to-day in their coach; but I took no notice of them.  I am glad I have wholly shaken off that family.  Tell the Provost, [5f] I have obeyed his commands to the Duke of Ormond; or let it alone, if you please.  I saw Jemmy Leigh [6a] just now at the Coffee-house, who asked after you with great kindness: he talks of going in a fortnight to Ireland.  My service to the Dean, [6b] and Mrs. Walls, and her Archdeacon. [6c]  Will Frankland’s [6d] wife is near bringing to-bed, and I have promised to christen the child.  I fancy you had my Chester letter the Tuesday after I writ.  I presented Dr. Raymond to Lord Wharton [6e] at Chester.  Pray let me know when Joe gets his money. [6f]  It is near ten, and I hate to send by the bellman. [6g]  MD shall have a longer letter in a week, but I send this only to tell I am safe in London; and so farewell, etc.