Kensington, June 17, 1712.
I have lodged here near a fortnight, partly for the air and exercise, partly to be near the court, where dinners are to be found. I generally get a lift in a coach to town, and in the evening I walk back. On Saturday, I dined with the Duchess of Ormond, at her lodge near Sheen, and thought to get a boat back as usual; I walked by the bank to Kew, but no boat, then to Mortlake, but no boat; and it was nine o'clock; at last a little sculler called, full of nasty people. I made him set me down at Hammersmith, so walked two miles to this place, and got here by eleven. Last night I had another such difficulty. I was in the city till past ten at night; it rained hard, but no coach to be had. It gave over a little and I walked all the way here, and got home by twelve. I love these shabby difficulties when they are over; but I hate them, because they rise from not having a thousand pound a year. * * *