your grace to say nothing of it, but if it dies, let it die in silence; we must take up with what can be got.
I forgot to tell your grace, that when I said I was empowered, &c. he desired to see my powers: and then I heartily wished they had been a little more ample; and I have since wondered what scruple a number of bishops could have of empowering a clergyman to do the church and them a service, without any prospect or imagination of interest for himself, farther than about ten shillings a year.
Mr. Harley has invited me to dine with him to day; but I shall not put him upon this discourse so soon. If he begins it himself, I will add at bottom whatever there is of moment.
He said, Mr. secretary St. John desires to be acquainted with me, and that he will bring us together, which may be of farther help; although I told him I had no thoughts of applying to any but himself; wherein he differed from me, desiring I would speak to others, if it were but for form; and seemed to mean, as if he would avoid the envy of doing things alone. But an old courtier (an intimate friend of mine) with whom I consulted, advised me still to let him know, I relied wholly upon his good inclinations and credit with the queen.
I find I am forced to say all this very confusedly, just as it lies in my memory; but, perhaps, it may give your grace a truer notion of what passed, than if I had writ in more order. Besides, I am forced to omit the greatest part of what I said, being not proper for a letter at such a distance; for I told very freely the late causes which had stopped
