I have given your grace too long a trouble. I humbly beg your blessing, and shall remain ever with the greatest truth and respect, my lord,
Your grace's most dutiful
and most humble servant,
TO BISHOP ATTERBURY.
SOME persons of distinction, lately come from England, and not unknown to your lordship, have made me extremely pleased and proud, by telling me that your lordship was so generous as to defend me against an idle story that passed in relation to a letter of mine to the archbishop of Dublin[1]. I have corresponded for many years with his grace, though we generally differed in politicks, and therefore our letters had often a good mixture of controversy. I confess likewise that I have been his grace's advocate, where he had not many others. About nine months ago I writ a letter to him in London (for in my little station it is convenient there should be some commerce between us); and in a short time after I had notice from several friends, that a passage in my letter[2] was shown to several persons, and a conse-
- ↑ Dr. William King, archbishop of Dublin 1702 1729.
- ↑ "I am told, the archbishop of Dublin shows a letter of yours, reflecting on the highflying clergy. I fancy you have writ to him in an ironical style, and that he would have it otherwise understood." Mr. Lewis to dean Swift, Jan. 12, 1716-17.
