Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12.djvu/312

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LETTERS TO AND FROM

Capel street, and is to bring down other things to my lady Acheson.

My most humble service to Mrs. Worrall, Mrs. Dingley, and love to Mrs. Brent.

I wish you all a happy new year.





SIR,
MARCH 10, 1728-9.


YOUR time is precious, your curiosity not very small, my esteem of you very great; therefore come not within the walls of the four courts in hopes of hearing a matrimonial decree in this reign; for on Monday, (viz.) that is to say, the 10th of this instant March, 1728, his excellency Thomas Wyndham, esq., lord high chancellor of Ireland, pronounced, after your back was turned, and not with the assistance of the two chiefs, his decree in the case of Stewart v. Stewart, on A. Powel to this effect: — He said there was a full consent till such time as the draught of the settlement was sent down to Mrs. Stewart, to be considered by her and her friends; and after she had considered it, she shall not be at liberty to make any objections; for all restrictions of marriage are odious in the civil law, and not favoured by the common law, especially after the age of one and twenty; therefore marry they may, and let Mr. Nutley[1] be a lawyer for Mrs. Rebecca Stewart, the plaintiff, to take care of the settlement

  1. Mr. Nutley had been a judge in queen Anne's time.
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for