and the best deanery in the kingdom [Down], I cannot but hope that the clergy of Ireland will have their share in your patronage. There is hardly a gentleman in the nation who has not a near alliance with some of that body; and most of them who have sons usually breed one of them to the church; although they have been of late years much discouraged and discontented by seeing strangers to the country almost perpetually taken into the greatest ecclesiastical preferments; and too often, under governors very different from your excellency, the choice of persons was not to be accounted for either to prudence or justice.

The misfortune of having bishops perpetually from England, as it must needs quench the spirit of emulation among us to excel in learning and the study of divinity, so it produces another great discouragement, that those prelates usually draw after them colonies of sons, nephews, cousins, or old college companions, to whom they bestow the best preferments in their gift; and thus the young men sent into the church from the university here have no better prospect than to be curates or small country vicars for life.

It will become so excellent a governor as you a little to moderate this great partiality; wherein as you will act with justice and reason, so you will gain the thanks and prayers of the whole nation, and take away one great cause of universal discontent. For I believe your excellency will agree that there is not another kingdom in Europe where the natives (even those descended from the conquerors) have been treated as if they were almost unqualified for any employment either in church or state.

Your excellency, when I had the honor to attend you, was pleased to let me name some clergymen who are generally understood by their brethren to be the most distinguished for their learning and piety. I remember the persons were, Dr. Delany, Dr. Ward of the north, Mr. Ecklin, Mr. Synge of Dublin, and Mr. Corbet; they were named by me without any regard to friendship, having little commerce with most of them, but only the universal character they bear: this was the method I always took with my lord Oxford at his own command, who was pleased to believe that I would not be swayed by any private affections, and confessed I never deceived him; for I always dealt openly when I offered anything in behalf of a friend, which was but seldom : because in that case I generally made use of the common method at court to solicit by another.

the three hopefullest are said to be Mr. Stopford, Mr. King, and Mr. Dobbs, all fellows of the college, of whom I am only acquainted with the first. But these are not likely to be great expecters under your excellency's administration, according to the usual period of governors here.

If I have dealt honestly in representing such persons among the clergy as are generally allowed to have the most merit, I think I have done you a service, and am sure I have made you a great com. pliment, by distinguishing you from most great men I have known these thirty years past; whom I have always observed to act as if they never received a true character, nor had any value for the best; and consequently dispensed their favors without the least regard to abilities or virtue. And this defect I have often found among those from whom I least expected it.

That your excellency may long live a blessing and ornament to your country, by pursuing as you have hitherto done the steps of honor and virtue, is the most earnest wish and prayer of, my lord, your excellency's most obedient and most humble servant.

TO THE REV. MR. WORRALL.

Quilca, July 12, 1725.

I HAVE received your letter, and thank you heartily for it. I know not anybody except yourself who would have been at so much trouble to assist me, and who could have so good success, which I take as kindly as if you had saved me from utter ruin; although I have witnesses that I acted with indifferency enough when I was sure I was not worth a groat besides my goods. There appears to be only 1007. remaining according to my account (except this last quarter), and if I lose it, it is a trifle in comparison of what you have recovered for me. I think Mr. Pratt has acted very generously, and like a true friend, as I always took him to be; and I have likewise good witnesses to swear that I was more concerned at his misfortunes than my own. And so repeating my thanks to you, but not able to express them as I ought, I shall say no more on this subject, only that you may inquire where the money may be safely put out at 67. per cent. I beg pardon that I did not compute the interest of sir William Fownes's money, which reduces what is due to me about 597. All of consequence is my note to him for 1007.

for I reckoned the weather had ruined it; but your good manage ment can conquer the weather. But Charles Grattan, the critic, says the cocks are too large, considering the bad weather, and that there is danger they may heat. You know best.

Mrs. Johnson says you are an ill manager; for you have lost me above 300 apples, and only saved me 12007.

from the

Do not tell me of difficulties how to keep the wall fruit. You have got so ill a reputation by getting my money, that I can take no excuse; and I will have the thing effectually done, though it should cost me ten groats. Pray let the ground be levelled as you please, as it must likewise be new dunged, as good husbandry requires; friend Ellis will assist you.

I am quite undone by the knavery of Sheriff and White, and all you have done for me with Mr. Pratt signifies nothing if I must lose 107.

I had your letter about Mrs. Johnson's money, and she thanks you for your care; and says, considering her poverty, you have done as much for her as for me. But I thought my letter to you was enough, without a letter of attorney; for all money matters I am the greatest cully alive.

Little good may do you with your favorable weather; we have had but five good days these twelve weeks.

The ladies are pretty well; but Mrs. Johnson, after a fortnight's great amendment, had yesterday a very bad day; she is now much better. They both present their humble service to Mrs. Worrall, and so do I, and am ever yours, &c.

Jo., who brings you this, desired me to lend him 207., which I very prudently refused; but said, if he would leave the worth of it in soap and candles in the Deanery-house, Mrs. Brent viewing them, I would empower you, as I do hereby, to pay him 207. and place it to my account.

Pray desire Mrs. Brent to have ready a hogshead of bottles, packed up as usual, of the same wine with the last she sent, and the next carrier shall have orders to call for it. Let Mrs. Brent take out what candles or soap are necessary for the ladies, and only as much as will empty two of the boxes, that Jo. may have them; I mean out of those boxes which he is to leave at the deanery for my security for the 207. which he is to

TO MR. WORRALL.

Quilca, August 27, 1725.

I was heartily sorry to hear you had got the gout, being a disease you have so little pretence to; for you have been all your life a great walker and a little drinker. Although it be no matter how you got your disease, since it was not by your vices; yet I do not love to think I was an instrument, by leading you a walk of eight or nine miles, where your pride to show your activity in leaping down a ditch hurt your foot in such a manner as to end in your present disease.

I have not heard of Mr. Webb, and if he should come here I can do nothing with him; for I shall not take my own judgment, but leave it to some able lawyer to judge and recommend the security; for now it is time for me to learn some worldly wisdom.

I thank you for the purchase you have made of Bristol beer; it will soon pay for itself by saving me many a bottle of wine; but I am afraid it is not good for your gout.

My deafness has left me above three weeks, and therefore I expect a visit from it soon; and it is somewhat less vexatious here in the country, because none are about me but those who are used to it.

Mrs. Worrall's observation is like herself; she is an absolute corrupted city lady, and does not know the pleasures of the country, even of this place, with all its millions of inconveniences. But Mrs. Dingley is of her opinion, and would rather live in a Dublin cellar than a country palace.

I would fain have a shed thrown up in the furthest corner of Naboth's vineyard, toward the lower end of Shebb's garden, till I can find leisure and courage to build a better in the centre of the field. Can it be done?

The weather continues as foul as if there had not been a day of rain in the summer, and it will have some very ill effect on the kingdom.

I gave Jack Grattan the papers corrected, and I think half spoiled by the cowardly caution of him and others. He promised to transcribe them time enough, and my desire is they may be ready to be published upon the first day the parliament meets. I hope you will contrive it among you that it may be sent unknown (as usual) to some printer with proper directions. I had lately a letter

for I reckoned the weather had ruined it; but your good management can conquer the weather. But Charles Grattan, the critic, says the cocks are too large, considering the bad weather, and that there is danger they may heat. You know best.

Mrs. Johnson says you are an ill manager; for you have lost me above 300 apples, and only saved me 12007.

Do not tell me of difficulties how to keep the from the wall-fruit. You have got so ill a reputation by getting my money, that I can take no excuse; and I will have the thing effectually done, though it should cost me ten groats. Pray let the ground be levelled as you please, as it must likewise be new dunged, as good husbandry requires; friend Ellis will assist you.

I am quite undone by the knavery of Sheriff and White, and all you have done for me with Mr. Pratt signifies nothing if I must lose 107.

I had your letter about Mrs. Johnson's money, and she thanks you for your care; and says, considering her poverty, you have done as much for her as for me. But I thought my letter to you was enough, without a letter of attorney; for all money matters I am the greatest cully alive.

Little good may do you with your favorable weather; we have had but five good days these twelve weeks.

The ladies are pretty well; but Mrs. Johnson, after a fortnight's great amendment, had yesterday a very bad day; she is now much better. They both present their humble service to Mrs. Worrall, and so do I, and am ever yours, &c.

Jo., who brings you this, desired me to lend him 207., which I very prudently refused; but said, if he would leave the worth of it in soap and candles in the Deanery-house, Mrs. Brent viewing them, I would empower you, as I do hereby, to pay him 207. and place it to my account.

Pray desire Mrs. Brent to have ready a hogshead of bottles, packed up as usual, of the same wine with the last she sent, and the next carrier shall have orders to call for it.

Let Mrs. Brent take out what candles or soap are necessary for the ladies, and only as much as will empty two of the boxes, that Jo. may have them; I mean out of those boxes which he is to leave at the deanery for my security for the 207. which he is to