Pray, my Lord, pardon this idle request from one that loves and efteems you, as you know I do. I once thought it would never be my misfortune to entertain you at fo fcurvy a rate, at least not at fo great a diftance, or with fo much constraint.

"Sis felix, noftrumque leves [I do not like "quicunque] laborem

"Et quo fub cœlo tandem quibus orbis in oris Jactemur, doceas."

*

The greatest felicity I now have is, that I am utterly ignorant of the moft public events that happen in the world; "Multa gemens ignominiam plagafque," &c. I am, with the greatest refpect and truth, my Lord, your Lordship's moft dutiful and most humble fervant,

J. SWIFT.

*This phrafe feems to have been deeply impreffed on the Dean's mind. He ufes it again, in a letter to Mr. Pope, Oct. 30, 1727; "I forgave "Sir Robert a thoufand pounds, multa gemens,"

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LETTER XX.

Dean SWIFT to Bp. ATTERBURY.

MY LORD,

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April 18, 1716.

AM extremely obliged to your Lordship for the trouble you have given yourself in anfwering at length a very infignificant letter. I fhall entirely follow your Lordship's advice, to the best of my skill. Your conjecture from whence my difficulties take their rise are perfectly true. It is all party. But the right is certainly on my fide, if there be any thing in conftant immemorial cuftom. Besides, though the first scheme of this cathedral was brought from Sarum, yet, by feveral fubfequent grants, from Popes, Kings, Archbishops, and Acts of Parliament, the Dean has great prerogatives. He vifits the Chapter as Ordinary, and the Archbishop only vifits by the Dean. The Dean can fufpend and fequefter any member, and punishes all crimes except herefy, and one or two more referved for the Archbishop. No leafe can be let without him. He holds a courtleet in his district, and is exempt from the Lord Mayor, &c. No Chapter can be called but by him, and he diffolves them at pleafure. He difpofes abfolutely of the Petty VOL. II. Canons

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Canons and Vicars Choral places. All the Dignitaries, &c. fwear canonical obedience to him. These circumftances put together, I prefume, may alter the cafe in your LordThip's judgement. However, I fhall, as your Lordship directs me, do my utmost to divert this controverfy as much as I can. I must add one thing, that no Dignitary can prefide without a power from the Dean, who, in his abfence, makes a Sub-dean, and limits him as he pleases. And fo much for Deanries, which I hope I fhall never trouble Lordship with again.

your

I fend this inclosed, and without fuperfcription, to be fent or delivered to you by a famous friend of mine, and devoted fervant of your Lordship's.

I congratulate with England for joining with us here in the fellowship of slavery. It is not fo terrible a thing as you imagine; we have long lived under it, and whenever you are difpofed to know how you ought to behave yourselves in your new condition, you need go no further than me for a director. But because we are refolved to go beyond you, we have tranfmitted a bill to England, to be returned here, giving the government, and fix of the council, power for three years, to

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imprison whom they please for three months, without any trial or examination: and I ex, pect to be among the first of those upon whom this law will be executed. We have alfo outdone you in the business of Ben Hoadly, and have recommended to a Bishoprick one* whom you would not allow a Cu rate in the smallest of your parishes. Does your Lordship know that, as much as I have been used to lies in England, I am under a thousand uneafineffes about fome reports relating to a perfon + that and I love very well? I have writ to a lady ‡ upon that fub

you

*Dr. Charles Carr, bifhop of Killaloe.

ject,

When the incurable breach arose between the two great minifters of Queen Anne, Bifhop Atterbury took a decided part with Bolingbroke. On this occafion Mr. Lewis tells Dr.Swift [Aug. 10, 1714]" "The earth has not produced fuch monsters "as Mercurialis [Bolingbroke], and his compa"nion [Harcourt], and the prelate [Atterbury]. "The laft openly avows he never had obligations to the dragon [Oxford], and loads him with ten "thoufand crimes; though his greatest, in reality, was preferring him."

f

Lady Bolingbroke; who, in her anfwer, dated Aug. 4, 1716, fays, "To my misfortune, "I am ftill kept in town, foliciting my unfortu"nate bufinefs. I have found great favour from

his Majefty. But form is a tedious thing to "wait upon. Since it is my fate, I must bear it with patience, and perfect it if I can; for there

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ject, and am impatient for an answer. I am gathering up a thousand pounds, and intend to finish my life upon the intereft of it in Wales.

GOD ALMIGHTY preferve your Lordship miferis fuccurrere rebus, whether you underftand or relish Latin or no. But it is a great deal your fault if you fuffer us all to be undone; for God never gave fuch talents without expecting they should be used to preserve a nation. There is a Doctor in your neighbourhood * to whom I am a very humble fervant. I am, with great refpect, your Lordship's most dutiful, &c. J. SWIFT.

Some perfons go this fummer for England; and if Dr. Younger be talked with, I hope you will fo order it that it may not be to my disadvantage +.

"is nothing like following bufinefs one's felf. I "am unwilling to ftir without the feals, which I "hope to have foon. I hope, one time or other, "his majefty will find my lord has been mifrepre"fented; and, by that means, he may be re"ftored to his country once more with honour; ❝or elfe, however harfh it may found out of my "mouth, I had rather wear black.".

* Dr. R. Freind; from whom there is a letter to Swift in the Dean's Works, in which he fays, The Bifhop [Atterbury) and my brother are much yours, and very defirous of a happy meet"ing with you. Before this can be with you, you will be able to guefs how foon that may happen."

Q. An exchange for the Deanry of Sarum?

LET