and admirer, you would wonder what a favourite he grows. He is fure to have the first glass out of the bottle, and the best bit I can carve. Nothing has convinced me fo much that I am of a little fubaltern fpirit, in opis atque pufilli animi, as to reflect how I am forced into the most trifling amufements, to divert the vexation of former thoughts, and prefent objects. Why cannot you lend me a fhred of your mantle, or, why did you not leave a fhred of it with me when you was fnatched from me? - You fee I fpeak in my trade, although it is growing faft a trade to be afhamed of.

I cannot but with that you would make it poffible for me to fee a copy of the papers you are about; and I do protest it neceffary that fuch a thing fhould be in fome perfon's hands befides your own, and I fcorn to fay how fafe they would be in mine. Neither would you diflike my cenfures, as far as they might relate to circumftantials. I tax you with two minutes a day, until you have read this letter, although I am fenfible you have not half fo much from bufinefs more ufeful and entertaining.

My

My letter which miscarried * was, I believe, much as edifying as this, only thanking and congratulating with you for the delightful verses you fent me. And I ought to have expreffed my vexation, at seeing you so much better a philosopher than myself; a trade you were neither born nor bred to: But I think it is observed, that gentlemen often dance better than those who live by the art. You may thank Fortune that my paper is no longer, &c.

I

LETTER XXXI.

To the BISHOP of MEATH.

MY LORD,

June 5, 1721. HAVE received an account of your Lordfhip's refufing to admit my proxy at your visitation, with feveral circumstances of perfonal reflexions on myself, although my proxy attefted my want of health; to confirm which, and to lay before you the justice and Christianity of your proceeding, above a hundred perfons of quality and diftinction can witnefs, that, fince Friday the

He means Letter XXIX, which he hath endorsed on the back as having miscarried.

26th of May, I have been tormented with an ague, in as violent a manner as possible, which ftill continues, and forces me to make use of another hand in writing to you. At the fame time, I must be plain to tell you, that if this accident had not happened, I should have used all endeavours to avoid your visitation, upon the public promife I made you three years ago, and the motives which occafioned it; because I was unwilling to hear any more very injurious treatment and appellations given to my brethren or myfelf; and, by the grace of God, I am ftill determined to abfent myself on the like occafions, as far as I can poffibly be difpenfed with by any law, while your Lordship is in that diocese and I a member of it. In which refolution I could not conceive but your Lordship would be cafy: Because, although my prefence might poffibly contribute to your rcal (at least future) interest, I was sure it could not to your prefent fatisfaction.

If I had had the happiness to have been acquainted with any one clergyman in the diocefe, of your Lordship's principles, I fhould have defired him to reprefent me. with hopes of better fuccefs: But I wish you would fometimes think it convenient to distinguish

distinguish men as well as principles, and not to look upon every perfon, who happens to owe you canonical obedience, as if *

I have the honour to be Ordinary over a confiderable number of as eminent divines as any in this kingdom, who owe me the fame obedience as I owe to your Lordship, and are equally bound to attend my vifitation; yet neither I, nor any of my predeceffors, to my knowledge, did ever refuse a regular proxy.

I am only forry that you, who are of a country famed for good-nature, have found a way to unite the hafty passion of your own † countrymen, with the long, fedate refentment of a Spaniard: But I have an honourable hope, that this proceeding has been more owing to party than complexion. I am,

MY LORD,

Your Lordship's

Moft humble fervant.

*The remainder of this paragraph he has left to the

Bishop's own conjecture.

The Bishop was a Welchman; his name Evans.

LE T

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LETTER XXXII.

To the Earl of OXFORD.

MY LORD,

October 11th, 1722.

OFTEN receive letters franked Oxford, but always find them written and fubfcribed by your Lordship's fervant, Mynett. His meaning is fome bufinefs of his own, wherein I am his folicitor; but he makes his court by giving me an account of the state of your family, and perpetually adds a claufe, that your Lordship foon intends to write to me. I knew you indeed when you were not fo great a man as you are now, I mean when you were Treasurer; but you are grown fo proud fince your retirement, that there is no enduring you: And you have reafon, for you never acted fo difficult a part of life before. In the two great scenes of power and profecution you have excelled mankind; and, in this of retirement, you have moft injuriously forgotten your friends. Poor Prior often fent me his complaints on this occafion, and I have returned him mine. I never courted your acquaintance when you governed Europe, but you courted mine; and now you

neglect

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