ters considerable for rank, figure, and estate; an estimate also of the papists in Ulster. Be as clear in these points as you can. When the abovementioned point was put to me, I said that in my apprehension there was no such lack of justice or magistrates except in Kerry or Connaught, where the dissenters were not considerable enough to be of any use in redressing the evil. Let me know particularly whether there be any such want of justices of the peace in the county of Londonderry, or whether men are aggrieved there by being obliged to repair to them at too great distances. The prime serjeant Singleton may probably be a means of assisting you to get light in these particulars. The dispatch you give this affair will be doing the best service to your country. Enable me to clear up the truth, and to support it by such reasons and testimonies as may be felt or credited. Facts I am myself too much a stranger to, though I promise to make the best use I can of those you furnish me with, towards taking off an impression which I fear is already deep. If I succeed, I shall congratulate my being here at this juncture.

Ex. 40.-April 14, 1733. I thank you for your last, particularlarly for that part of it wherein you promise the number of the justices of peace, of the papists also, and protestants, throughout the kingdom, taken out of proper offices. I did not know such inventories had been taken by public authority, and am glad to find it so. Your argument for proving papists but three to one I had before made use of; but some of the premises are not clear to Englishmen. Nothing can do so well as the estimate you speak of, to be taken from a public office; which therefore I impatiently expect. As to the design I hinted, whether it is to be set on foot there or here I cannot say. I hope it will take effect no where. It is yet a secret: I may, nevertheless, discover something of it in a little time, and you may then hear The political state of things on this side the water I need say nothing of: the public papers probably say too much; though it cannot be denied much may be said. I must desire you in your next to let me know what premium there is for getting into the public fund which allows five per cent. in Ireland; and whether a considerable sum might easily be purchased therein also what is the present legal current interest in Ireland; and whether it be easy to lay out money on a secure mortgage where the interest should be punctually paid. I shall be also glad to hear a word about the lawsuit.

more.

Ex. 41.-April 19, 1733. I thank you for your last advices,

and the catalogue of justices particularly; of all which proper use shall be made. The number of protestants and papists throughout the kingdom, which in your last but one you said had been lately and accurately taken by the collectors of hearth-money, you promised, but have omitted to send: I shall hope for it in

your next.

Er. 42.-May 1, 1733. I long for the numeration of protestant and popish families, which you tell me has been taken by the collectors. A certain person now here hath represented the papists as seven to one, which I have ventured to affirm is wide of the truth. What lights you gave me I have imparted to those who will make the proper use of them. I do not find that any thing was intended to be done by act of parliament here: as to that, your information seems right. I hope they will be able to do nothing any where. The approaching act at Oxford is much spoken of. The entertainments of music, &c. in the theatre will be the finest that ever were known. For other public news, I reckon you know as much as yours.

Ex. 43.-Jan. 7, 1734. My family are, I thank God, all well at present: but it will be impossible for us to travel before the spring. As to myself, by regular living and rising very early, which I find the best thing in the world, I am very much mended: insomuch that though I cannot read, yet my thoughts seem as distinct as ever. I do therefore for amusement pass my early hours in thinking of certain mathematical matters, which may possibly produce something. You say nothing of the lawsuit. I hope it is to surprise me in your next with an account of its being finished. Perhaps the house and garden at Montpelier-hill may be got a good pennyworth, in which case I should not be averse to buying it. It is probable a tenement in so remote a part may be purchased at an easy rate.

Ex. 44.—Jan. 15, 1734. I received last post your three letters together, for which advices I give you thanks. I had at the same time two from Baron Wainwright on the same account. That without my intermeddling I may have the offer of somewhat, I am apt to think, which may make me easy in point of situation and income, though I question whether the dignity will. much contribute to make me so. Those who imagine, as you write, that I may pick and choose, to be sure think that I have been making my court here all this time, and would never believe (what is most true) that I have not been at the court, or at the minister's, but once these seven years. The care of my health

and the love of retirement have prevailed over whatsoever ambition might have come to my share.-Pray send me as particular an account as you can get of the country, the situation, the house, the circumstances, of the bishoprick of Cloyne: and let me know the charge of coming into a bishoprick, i. e. the amount of the fees and first-fruits.

Ex. 45.-Jan. 19, 1734. Since my last I have kissed their Majesties' hands for the bishoprick of Cloyne, having first received an account from the Duke of Newcastle's office, setting forth, that his Grace had laid before the King the Duke of Dorset's recommendation, which was readily complied with by his Majesty. The condition of my own health and that of my family will not suffer me to travel at this season of the year; I must therefore entreat you to take care of the fees and patent. I shall be glad to hear from you what you can learn about this bishoprick of Cloyne.

Ex. 46.-Jan. 22, 1734. On the 6th inst. the Duke sent over his plan, wherein I was recommended to the bishoprick of Cloyne: on the 14th I received a letter from the Secretary's office, signifying his Majesty's having immediately complied therewith, and containing the Duke of Newcastle's very obliging compliments thereupon. In all this I was nothing surprised, his Grace the Lord Lieutenant having declared on this side the water, that he intended to serve me the first opportunity, though at the same time he desired me to say nothing of it. As to the A. B. D. (Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Hoadly) I readily believe he gave no opposition. He knew it would be to no purpose, and the Queen herself had expressly enjoined him not to oppose me: this I certainly knew when the A. B. was here, though I never saw him. Notwithstanding all which, I had a strong penchant to be dean of Dromore, and not to take the charge of a bishoprick upon me. Those who formerly opposed my being dean of Downe have thereby made me a bishop; which rank, how desirable soever it may seem, I had before absolutely determined to keep out of. The situation of my own and my family's health will not suffer me to think of travelling before April. However, as on that side it may be thought proper that I should vacate the deanery of Derry, I am ready as soon as I hear the bishoprick of Cloyne is void by Dr. Synge's being legally possessed of the see of Ferns, to send over a resignation of my deanery and I authorize you to signify as much, where you think proper. I should be glad you sent me a rude plan of the house from Bishop Synge's description, that I may forecast the furniture. The great man,

whom you mention as my opponent, concerted his measures but ill. For it appears by your letter, that at the very time when my brother informed the Speaker of his soliciting against me there, the Duke's plan had already taken place here, and the resolution was passed in my favour at St. James's. I am nevertheless pleased, as it gave me an opportunity of being obliged to the Speaker, which I shall not fail to acknowledge when I see him, which will probably be very soon, for he is expected here as Boon as the session is up. My family are well, though I myself have gotten a cold this sharp foggy weather, having been obliged, contrary to my wonted custom, to be much abroad, paying compliments and returning visits.

Ex. 47.-Jan. 28, 1754. In a late letter you told me the bishoprick of Cloyne is let for 1,2001. per ann. out of which there is a small rent-charge of interest to be paid. I am informed by a letter of yours, which I received this day, that there is also a demesne of 800 acres adjoining to the episcopal house. I desire to be informed by your next, whether these 800 acres are understood to be over and above the 1,2007. per ann, and whether they were kept by former bishops in their own hands. In my last I mentioned to you the impossibility of my going to Ireland before spring, and that I would send a resignation of my deanery, if need was, immediately upon the vacancy of the see of Cloyne. I have been since told that this would be a step of some hazard, viz. in case of the King's death, which I hope is far off: however, one would not care to do a thing which may seem incautious and imprudent in the eye of the world. Not but that I would rather do it than be obliged to go over at this season. But as the bulk of the deanery is in tithes, and a very inconsiderable part in land, the damage to my successor would be but a trifle upon my keeping it to the end of March. I would know what you advise on this matter.

Ex. 48.-Feb. 7, 1734. I have been for several days laid up with the gout. When I last wrote to you I was confined, but at first knew not whether it might not be a sprain or hurt from the shoe. But it soon shewed itself a genuine fit of the gout in both my feet by the pain, inflammation, swelling, &c. attended with a fever and restless nights. With my feet lapped up in flannels, and raised on a cushion, I receive the visits of my friends, who congratulate me on this occasion as much as on my preferment.

Ex. 49.-March 2, 1734. As to what you write of the prospect of new vacancies, and your advising that I should apply for a

better bishoprick, I thank you for your advice. But if it please God the Bishop of Derry were actually dead, and there were ever so many promotions thereupon, I would not apply, or so much as open my mouth to any one friend to make an interest for getting any of them. To be so very hasty for a removal, even before I had seen Cloyne, would argue a greater greediness for lucre than I hope I shall ever have. Not but that, all things considered, I have a fair demand upon the government for expense of time and pains and money on the faith of public charters: as likewise because I find the income of Cloyne considerably less than was at first represented. I had no notion that I should, over and above the charge of patents and first-fruits, be obliged to pay between 4007, and 500l. for which I shall never see a farthing in return, besides interest I am to pay for upwards of 300l. which principal devolves upon my successor. No more was I apprized of three curates, viz. two at Youghal and one at Aghadee, to be paid by me. And, after all, the certain value of the income I have not yet learned. My predecessor, writes that he doth not know the true value himself, but believes it may be about 1,2001. per ann, including the fines, and striking them at a medium for seven years. The uncertainty, I believe, must proceed from the fines; but it may be supposed that he knows exactly what the rents are, and what the tithes, and what the payments to the curates; of which particulars you may probably get an account from him. Sure I am, that if I had gone to Derry, and taken my affairs into my own hands, I might have made considerably above 1,000l. a year, after paying the curates' salaries. And as for charities, such as school-boys, widows, &c. those ought not to be reckoned, because all sorts of charities, as well as contingent expenses, must be much higher on a bishop than a dean. But in all appearance, subducting the money that I must advance, and the expense of the curatesin Youghal and Aghadee, I shall not have remaining 1,000l. per ann.; not even though the whole income was worth 1,2007. of which I doubt, by Bishop Synge's uncertainty, that it will be found to fall short. I thank you for the information you' gave me of a house to be hired in Stephen's Green. I should like the Green very well for situation: but I have no thoughts of taking a house in town suddenly; nor would it be convenient for my affairs so to do, considering the great expense I must be at on coming into a small bishoprick. My gout has left me. I have nevertheless a weakness remaining in my feet, and, what is worse, an extreme tenderness, the effect of my long confinement.