derland, Halifax, and the whole club of whig lords, dined at Pontac's in the city, as I received private notice. They have some damned design. I tell you another odd thing; I was observing it to lord treasurer that he was stabbed on the day king William died; and the day I saved his life, by opening the bandbox, was king William's birthday. My friend Mr. Lewis[1] has had a lie spread on him by the mistake of a man, who went to another of his name, to give him thanks for passing his privy seal to come from France. That other Lewis spread about, that the man brought him thanks from lord Perth and lord Melfort, (two lords with the pretender) for his great services, &c. The lords will examine that other Lewis to morrow in council; and I believe you will hear of it in the prints, for I will make Abel Roper give a relation of it. Pray tell me if it be necessary to write a little plainer; for I looked over a bit of my last letter, and could hardly read it. I'll mend my hand, if you please: but "you are more used to it nor I," as Mr. Raymond says. Night, MD.
27. I dined to day with lord treasurer: this makes four days together; and he has invited me again to morrow, but I absolutely refused him. I was this evening at a christening with him of lord Dupplin's daughter. He went away at ten; but they kept me and some others till past twelve; so you may be sure
- ↑ Erasmus Lewis, secretary to the earl of Dartmouth, one of the secretaries of state, and afterward to the earl of Oxford, lord high treasurer. He was member for Lestwithiel, in Cornwall, in the parliament, which began April 9, 1713. A particular account of this affair may be seen in the Examiner, vol. iii. No. 10, for Feb. 2, 1712-13, and in Boyer's Political State, vol. v, p. 25, et seq.
