pertinent to rob you of a moment's time, yet I cannot omit telling you that I most heartily and sincerely wish you joy; and I am sure no one living can be more pleased at whatever contributes to your happiness than I am. My brother, Hill, is now with me, and most truly joins with me in wishing you the same. I hope we shall soon have the happiness of seeing you here. In the meantime, be assured I am, with the greatest truth and esteem, my dear lord, your most faithful brother, and humble servant, MASHAM. I beg leave to send my most humble service to my lady, most heartily wishing her joy. I beg also the same to my lord-treasurer. FROM DR SMALLBRIDGE. † MR DEAN, Christ Church, Sept. 27, 1713. WHEN YOU was so kind as to favour the master of the Temple and me with your company at the chaplain's table at Kensington, there dined with us as to supersede the forms of civility between the lord-treasurer on the one hand, and Lady Masham and Bolingbroke on the other. * Lady Masham so signs herself, in consequence of her lord being one of the Club of Sixteen.-N. + Afterward Bishop of Bristol.-B. Dr Sherlock, afterwards Bishop of London.--B. one Mr Fiddes, * a well deserving clergyman, whose circumstances, we told you, were not at all suitable to his merits. You expressed on that occasion so generous a concern for him, and so great a readiness to do him any good offices, which might lie in your way, that he seems to think he should be wanting to himself, if he did not endeavour to cultivate an interest with one so willing and so able to serve him. He has therefore made repeated instances to me, that I would remind you of him, which I should not have hearkened to, were I not well assured, that you would excuse, if not thank me, for furnishing you with an opportunity of doing a generous and good-natured thing. You will not, I fancy, think a formal application to any great man in his behalf either proper or requisite; but if you should, upon the perusal of one or two of his sermons, think as well of them as I do, and should in conversation with my lord-treasurer express a good opinion of the author, one kind word from you, seasonably dropped, might determine his fortune, and give you the satisfaction of having made him and his family as happy as they can wish to be. I am, Sir, Your humble servant, GEO. SMALLbridge. * Richard Fiddes, afterwards D. D. author of "A Body of Divinity," "The Life of Cardinal Wolsey," &c. TO ARCHDEACON WALLS. Windsor Castle, Oct. 1, 1713. I HAD just now a letter from you, wherein you mention the design of making me prolocutor. I will confess to you, there are two reasons why I should comply with it; one is, that I am heartily weary of courts and ministers, and politics, for several reasons impossible to tell you; and I have a mind to be at home, since the queen has been pleased that Ireland should be my home: the other reason is, that I think somebody educated in Dublin college should be prolocutor; and I hear there are designs of turning it another way. But, if you find it will not do, I hope you will quit the design in proper season. I condole with you for the loss of your companions this winter; and I was always of opinion they should be in town, unless they find their health better at Trim. * I am a little disappointed at Parvisol's † return. I hoped it would have amounted to near five hundred pounds in the tithes; I doubt not the cause, and beg you will have no sort of tenderness for him, farther than it regards my interest; as to the landrents, they are one hundred and seventy-four pounds a-year in the country, besides some small things in town; and I am in no pain about them, because they are sure; nor do I desire him to concern himself about them. * Mrs Johnson and Mrs Dingley.-F. + The Dean's agent.-F. I hoped, and was told, my license would be under six pounds, though all was paid, and I heard, if lord chancellor had taken his fees, it would have been eight pounds. Tell Mr Fetherston, I have spoken to Baron Scroup about his affair, who promises to dispatch it with the first opportunity. I am now with some ministers and lords, and other company, and withdrawn to a table, and hardly know what I write, they are so loud. My humble service to your Dorothy, and Alderman Stoyte, † his wife, and Cellarius; and duty to the Bishop of Dromore. Your's, J. S. FROM LORD CHANCELLOR PHIPPS. SIR, Dublin, Oct. 10, 1713. I HAD the favour of your kind letter of the twenty-second of September, and had sooner ac-. knowledged it, if I had not been prevented by the constant hurry we have been in, with relation to the city and parliament affairs. I heartily congratulate your safe arrival in London, and return you, with all the gratitude imaginable, my thanks for the great trouble you have given yourself, as well on behalf of my son in particular, as of this kingdom in general: and I am sorry you should venture so far as to burn your fingers, but you know such misfortunes often happen to gentle * Sir Constantine Phipps, a strenuous tory, and, as such, much the object of attack by the opposite party. + An alderman of Dublin, afterwards lord-mayor.---E. men who have a hearty zeal for the interest of their friends. But this comfort attends them, that the burning goes off soon; whereas the credit and honour of serving one's friend last always. The account you sent me of Mr Worseley's being an envoy was new, and had not reached us before your letter came. I know not how sufficiently to acknowledge the obligations you have laid on me; but assure you, if you have any commands on this side the water, there is no one will be more proud of being honoured with them, than he, who is, with very great respect, Your most obedient humble servant, CON. PHIPPS. TO ARCHDEACON WALLS. London, Oct. 13, 1713. * I HAVE two letters of your's to acknowledgeNo, I mistake, it is but one, for I answered the former of September twenty-second, some time ago; your other is of the first instant, with an account of your mayor squabble, which we regard as much here as if you sent us an account of your little son playing at cherry stones. I told your lord-chancellor, that the best thing the government there could do, would be never to trouble us with your affairs, but do the best you can, for we will neither support nor regard you. I have received the lords justices' representation, just now sent to * Concerning Sir Samuel Cooke...-F. |