Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 15.djvu/409

Rh Kingdom, the maid of honour, who is a little old, "that, since she could not get a husband, the queen should give her a brevet to act as a married woman." You don't understand this. They give brevets to majors and captains, to act as colonels in the army. Brevets are commissions. Ask soldiers, dear sirrahs. Night, MD.

16. I was at lord treasurer's before he came; and, as he entered, he told me, the parliament was prorogued till Thursday sennight. They have had some expresses, by which they count that the peace may be signed by that time; at least that France, Holland, and we will sign some articles, by which we shall engage to sign the peace when it is ready: but Spain has no minister there; for Monteleon, who is to be their ambassador at Utrecht, is not yet gone from hence; and till he is there, the Spaniards can sign no peace: and one thing take notice, that a general peace can hardly be finished these two months, so as to be proclaimed here; for, after signing, it must be ratified; that is, confirmed by the several princes at their courts, which to Spain will cost a month; for we must have notice that it is ratified in all courts, before we can proclaim it. So be not in too much haste. Night, MD.

17. The Irish folks were disappointed, that the parliament did not meet to day, because it was St. Patrick's day; and the mall was so full of crosses, that I thought all the world was Irish. Miss Ashe is almost quite well, and I see the bishop, but shall not yet go to his house. I dined again with lord treasurer; but the parliament being prorogued, I must . XV.