the Duke of Somerset's being out, that I writ so to the Dean of St Patrick's. A man of quality told me he had it from my lord-keeper, whom I asked next day, and found it a mistake; but it is impossible to fence against all lies; however, it is still expected that the duke will be out, and that many other removes will be made. Lord Ranelagh* died on Sunday morning: he was very poor and needy, and could hardly support himself for want of a pension, which used to be paid him, and which his friends solicited as a thing of perfect charity. He died hard, as the term of art here is, to express the woeful state of men who discover no religion at their death.

The town talk is that the Duke of Ormond will go no more to Ireland, but be succeeded by the Duke of Shrewsbury, who is a very great and excellent person; and I will hold a wager that your grace will be an admirer of his duchess: if they go, I will certainly order her to make all advances to you: but this is only a general report, of which they know nothing at court, although I think it not altogether improbable.

We have yet heard nothing of my lord-privy seal. Buys, the Dutch envoy, went to Holland, I think, at the same time. Buys is a great pretender to politics, and always leaves the company with great expressions of satisfaction that he has convinced them all he took much pains to persuade me out of some opinions; and, although all he said did but

* Richard Jones, Baron Jones of Navan, and Viscount Ranelagh, created Earl of Ranelagh, Dec. 11, 1677. He was vicetreasurer of Ireland, constable of Athlone, several years paymaster of the army, and a lord of the privy-council.

fix me deeper, he told the ministry how successful he had been. I have got poor Dr King, * who was some time in Ireland, to be Gazetteer, which will be worth 2501. per annum to him, if he be diligent and sober, † for which I am engaged. I mention this, because I think he was under your grace's protection when he was in Ireland.

By what I gather from Mr Southwell, I believe your grace stands very well with the Duke of Ormond; and it is one great addition to my esteem for Mr Southwell, that he is entirely your grace's friend and humble servant, delighting to do you justice upon all occasions.

I am, with the greatest respect,

your grace's most dutiful

and most humble servant,

FROM DR SACHEVERELL. ‡

REVEREND SIR,

Southwark, Jan. 31, 1711-12.

SINCE you have been pleased to undertake the generous office of soliciting my good lord-treasurer's

* Dr William King of the Commons; whose Miscellaneous Writings, in verse and prose, were collected in three volumes, small 8vo. 1776, with Biographical Memoirs, by Mr Nichols.

+ Owing to a deficiency in the former of these qualities, and want of fortitude to undergo the necessary drudgery, King soon lost the situation.

Sacheverell, like other tools of party, was rather neglected by the tory administration, who were, perhaps, ashamed to confess how much they were indebted to his very foolish affair for their

favour in my behalf, I should be very ungrateful if I did not return you my most hearty thanks for it, and my humblest acknowledgments to his lordship for the success it has met with.

I received, last Monday, a message by my pupil, Mr Lloyd (representative of Shropshire), from Mr Harley, by his lordship's order, to inquire what my brother was qualified for. I told him, having failed in his trade, he had been out of business for some years, during which time I had entirely maintained him and his family; that his education had not qualified him for any considerable or nice post: but that, if his lordship thought him an object of his favour, I entirely submitted him to his disposal, and should be very thankful to his goodness to ease me of part of that heavy burden of my family, that required more than my poor circumstances could allow of.

I am informed also, that I am very much indebted to my great countryman, Mr Secretary St John, for his generous recommendation of this matter to his lordship. I should be proud of an opportunity of expressing my gratitude to that eminent patriot, for whom no one, that wishes the welfare or honour of his church or country, can have too great a veneration.

But for yourself, (good doctor!) who was the first spring to move it, I can never sufficiently acknow

success over Godolphin, and unwilling to make such an acknowledgment, by extending active patronage to the author of that disturbance. Swift seems to have felt the impropriety of absolutely passing over a man whose zeal for high church had been so remarkable; and solicited the treasurer effectually in his behalf, as appears from the following letter of thanks, and from the Journal, Vol. II. p. 31.

ledge the obligation. I should be glad, if you will command me, in any time or place to do it, which will be a farther favour conferred on, reverend Sir, Your most faithful servant,

H. SACHEVERELL.

P. S. I am told there is a place in the custom-house void called the searchers; which, if proper to ask, I would not presume; but rather leave it to his lordship's disposal.

TO ARCHBISHOP KING.

MY LORD,

London, March 29, 1712.

I CANNOT ask pardon for not sooner acknowledging your grace's letter, because that would look as if I thought mine were of consequence. Either I grow weary of politics, or am out of the way of them, or there is less stirring than usual; and indeed we are all in suspense at present; but I am told that in ten or twelve days time, we shall know what the issue will be at Utrecht. I can only tell your grace, that there are some unlucky circumstances, not proper to be trusted to a letter, which have hitherto retarded this great work; Mihi ludibria rerum mortalium cunctis in negotiis obversantur. Meantime we are with great difficulty raising funds upon which to borrow five millions. One of those funds is a tax upon paper, and I think 30 per cent. upon imported books; and of such a nature as I could not yesterday forbear saying to my lord-treasurer and the chancellor of the exchequer, that instead of preventing small papers and libels, it will leave nothing else for the press. I have not

talked to the Duke of Argyll upon the affairs of Spain, since his return; but am told he affirms it impossible for us to carry on the war there by our former methods. The Duke of Ormond is expected to go in two or three days for Flanders. And what I writ to your grace some months ago of the Duke of Shrewsbury succeeding to govern Ireland, will, I suppose, be soon declared. be soon declared. I was the other day to see the duchess, and reported your grace's compliments, which she took very well; and I told her I was resolved your grace and she should be very good acquaintance. I believe the spirit of your houghers has got into our mohawks, who are still very troublesome, and every night cut somebody or other over the face; and commit a hundred insolent barbarities.

There was never the least design of any impeachment against the Duke of Marlborough, and it was his own great weakness, or the folly of his friends, that the thing went so far as it did.

I know not whether it is that people have talked themselves hoarse, but for some weeks past we have heard less of the pretender than formerly. I suppose it is, like a fashion, got into Ireland, when it is out here: but, in my conscience, I do not think any one person in the court or ministry here designs any more to bring in the pretender, than the great Turk. I hope Mr Harley, who is now on his journey to Hanover, will give that court a truer opinion of persons and things than they have hitherto conceived. And, if your grace knew the instrument, through which these false opinions have been infused, you would allow it another instance of the Ludibrium rerum martalium. * And your grace cannot but

* Mons. Roberthon, the valet de chambre of the Elector of