keep from cold, and preserve you from all other ills! I have staid till past eight to get news, and now Lady Southampton and Mr. Darcy is come in, so I must shorten my converse with my best and only true joy. Charlton is, I believe, out of town, and so is all the world to me, I think, for I have seen nobody but your father and brother Ned: all I can hear is, the king has forbid the duke of Monmouth to see Nell (Nell Gwynne); that is, I should say, Nelly to see him. The princess of Orange is not likely to last long, as is said. Lady Inchiquin was here last night she meant to go to-day, and get a doctor to go with her. There is a report that the witness whom they secured about this Irish plot is got away: this is our neighbour's news, Lady Southampton brought it. I hope, by Tuesday, to do better things. Our girls are, I hope, as well as you can wish them. The widow and I are going to a partridge and Woburn rabbits. My sister Allington is not very well yet, but no fear, I hope, of miscarrying. Good night, my dearest love, I am inviolably yours,

R. RUSSELL.

LADY R. RUSSELL TO LORD W. RUSSELL.

London, 1680. Ten o'clock, Sunday night. My thoughts being ever best pleased when I, in some kind or other, entertain myself with the dearest of men, you may be sure I do most willingly prepare this for Mr. Chandler. If I do hear to-morrow from you, it will be a great plea

before the mayor yesterday examinations of some apprentices concerning a new plot, and that five did take their oaths it was to put the lords out of the Tower, and burn them and the Duchess of Portsmouth together: this is the latest design I hear of: if any other discoveries be made between this and Tuesday night, I hope I shall not fail to be your informer, and after that, that you will quickly be mine again: I long for it truly, my dear. Lady Southampton was to see the marquesse of Winchester to day: she says her lord will try how Bourbon waters agree with him before she goes: so my lady is to follow: she wants to go with him, she says; I know who could not be so shook off. Now they say, none must come to court that sees the duke of Monmouth. The dinner at the club in the city has more angered the king than anything yet. Craford has stole a young woman worth 20001. out of a window. Her mother had employed him to persuade her against a match she was not willing to consent to, and so he did most effectually. Miss (their daughter) says she means to write herself, so I have no messages; but she knows not, I think, of this express; for, truly, I had forgot it till, as I supped, they remembered me. I am so well pleased to be alone, and scribbling, that I never consider the matter. Pardon, my dear love (as you have a thousand other failings), all the nonsense of this, and accept the passionate, kind intentions of your

Mr.

R. RUSSELL.

The painting cannot be done till Wednesday: