Though you are a water-drinker yourself, I daresay you will be sorry to hear that your friends have strictly adhered to that liquor; for you may be sure their heads cannot be affected with that.
"General Dormer[9] refused to eat a wheat-ear, because they call it here a fern-knacker; but since he knew it was a wheat-ear, he is extremely concerned.

You are desired to acquaint Miss Smith that the Duchess was upon the brink of leaving off painting the first week she came here, but hath since taken it up with great success.

She hopes she will never think of her and my Lord Castlemaine[10] on the same day.
"The Duke hath rung the bell for supper, and says, 'How can you write such stuff ?' And so we conclude, As 'tis fitting we should.
For the sake of our food; So don't think this rude.
Would my name was 'Gertrude,' Or 'Simon and Jude.'" It was an amusement of the Duchess of Queensberry and of Gay to write joint letters.

They thoroughly loved fooling, and frequently indulged together in that pleasant pastime.
Middleton, August 27th, 1729.
"...

What is blotted out was nonsense; so that it is not worth while to try to read it.