had upon my fortune, shall never fail to have the greatest upon my mind, in approving myself, upon all occasions, your honour's most obedient and most
dutiful servant, etc.
I beg my most humble duty and service be presented to my ladies, your honour's lady and sister.
The ordination is appointed by the archbishop by the beginning of November; so that, if your honour will not grant this favour immediately, I fear it will come too late.
TO THE REV. MR. WINDAR, PREBENDARY OF KILROOT.
[TO BE LEFT AT BELFAST, IN THE COUNTY OF ANTRIM, IRELAND.]
MOORE PARK, JAN. 13, 1698.
I AM not likely to be so pleased with any thing again this good while, as I was with your letter of December 20, and it has begun to put me into a good opinion of my own merits, or at least my skill at negotiation, to find I have so quickly restored a correspondence that I feared was declining, as it requires more charms and address in women to revive one fainting flame than to kindle a dozen new ones; but I assure you I was very far from imputing your silence to any bad cause (having never entertained one single ill thought of you in my life), but to a custom which breaks off commerce between abundance of people after a long absence. At first one
