jitf n 7 T O T H E HONOURABLE AND REVEREND GEORGE TALBOT, BY DIPLOMA, D. D. THESE LETTERS ARE INSCRIBED, WITH ALL THE RESPECT AND DEFERENCE DUE TO A CHARACTER OF SUCH EMINENT WORTH, BY HIS AFFECTIONATE, AND EVER OBLIGED SERVANT, THE EDITOR. [ V ] Advertifement. THE Letters from which thefe are piinted, are depofited in the library of Chrifl Church in Oxford ; they are in tire ly letters of bufinefs, and were colleded by the late Amhrofe Phi- lips^ Efq; who was fecretary to his Grace, and Hved in his houfe during that fpace of time in which they bear date ; they are all in the hand-writing of his Excellency, except fome few marked thus +, which are fair copies by his fecretary ; and they are now firft publifhed as they were received from Mr. Philips^ without any the leafl ma- terial alteration or omiflion whatever. As to the merit of thefe Letters, the impartial publick will form fuch a judg- ment of them as they fhall be found to deferve; it is paft all doubt that they could not be intended for pubHcation by his Grace, and therefore it fhould feem fortunate that they have been pre- ferved ; C vi J lerved ; aS they now are, and in all probability will ever remain the moft authentick hiftory of Ireland for that fpace of time in which they were writ- ten^ a period which will ever do ho- nour to his Grace's memory, and to thofe mofi: excellent Princes George the firft and lecond, who had the wifdom to place a confidence in fo worthy, fo able, and fo fuccefsful a minifter^ a niinifter who had the rare and peculiar felicity of growing ftill more and more into the favour both of the King and of the people, until the very lafl: day of his life, which happened, he being then for the thirteenth time, one of the Lords Juftices of Ireland^ on the 2"] xh. oi September^ J J ^2, To [ vii ] To the READ E R. IH A V E read the following Let- ters with very great care and atten- tion, and being very well acquainted with the hiftory of thofe times, and the perfons mentioned therein, I have added feveral Notes thereto, and cor- re6led fome typical errors that are in th€ London Edition. Thefe Letters eontaiii a very true and impartial ftate of the affairs of Ireland with regard to the Church, the State, the Proceedings in Parliament, the Tythe of Agiftment, the Dues of the Clergy in the North, the Numbers of Papifts, the diftrefTed ftate of the kingdom for want of Til- lage, the vaft fums of Money fent out of the nation for corn, flour, &c. the difmal calamities thereon, the want of Trade, and the regulation of the En- glifli and other Coins, to the very great diftrefs of all the manufafturers ; many of [ vlii ] of which grievances this good Prelate lived to fee redrefled, particularly the regulation of the different fpecies of money, by which Commerce hath been carried on with more convenience. The charadler of his Grace was very unblemiflied, as he was pious and very charitable, having left a large part of his fortune for the latter good pur- pofes ; yet, with all thefe Virtues, he was too partially favourable to the people of England, and too much prejudiced againft the natives of Ire- land, who are moftly deicended from the Englifli. G, F. Dublin, March zzd. 1770. .1.; Liii LETTERS WRITTEN BY His Excellency HUGH BOULTER Lord Primate of all Ireland, &c. •f To his Grace the Archbijbop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin, Nov. 28. 1724. YOUR Grace will have the goodnefs to exciife my not wri^ng fooner, confidering the perpe- tual hurry I have been in here fincc my arrival, with receiving and paying compliments, and trying to fet- tle a little in the lodgings I am in, 'till I can find a houfe to fix in. I bad, I thank God, a very good journey and a quick paiTage hither, and can complain of no inconveniency I fuffered, but the weakening of my arm, which obliges me to ufe another hand to write to my friends. My family have had their health Very well here, and the weather has been what I fhould have counted good in England. I mifs little here but my friends and acquaintance ; and 1 have little to complain of but that too many of our own original efteem us Englipmen., as intruders. At my coming away from England, I was very much flraitened in my time, or I had crofTed to Lambeth to take leave of your Grace, when I fhould have recommended to your favour Mr. Bknner-Hajjet Vol. I, A for BOSTON COLLEGE LIBRARY CHESTNUT HILU MASS. 2 LETTERS Ev for Iiis Do6lor's degree, I have known him for many years to be well-afFeded to his Majefty's fami- ly, and he was my chaplain all the time I was Bifhop of Briftol^ and his circumftances and family are fiich that a good living here will make him eafier than any thing he has hopes of in England : and as I have given him hopes of doing fomewhat for him, he thinks he fhall command the more refpecft if he comes over a Doftor. I have not yet heard whether my predeceffors have claimed a right of giving degrees ; but if they have, in the prefent ferment here againfl the Englijh, it would be very unpopular in me to ex- ercife fuch a power in favour of one of my country- men, nor would it anfwer the end he propofes. He will fpeedily wait upon your Grace in hopes of ob- taining this favour at your hands. I am glad to find, by the King's fpeech and the addrelTes of both houfes, which is the laft news we have had, that you are likely to have a quiet feflions in England, and wifh, when our turn comes, we may have as eafy a one here. I fhall always be proud of receiving your Grace's com- mands, and am, my Lord, Your Grace's moil humble, and Mod obedient Servant, Hu. Armagh. t To the Duke of Newcaflle, Secretary of State. My Lord, Dublin, Dec. 3. 1724. IT was Sunday laft before I had the honour of your Grace's of the 17th paft : I am very glad to find his Majefty's affairs go fo fmoothly in the Parlia- ment in England ; I could heartily wilTi every thing was fo eafy here. J have not troubled your Grace with an account of the behaviour of the old grand jury, and the prefent- ment of the new j becaufe I did not queftion your having LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. ^ having an immediate account of both from better hands. We are at prefent in a very bad ftate, and the people fo poifoned with apprehenfions of Wood'?, half- pence, that I do not fee there can be any hopes of juftice againft any perfon for redi'Jo .. writings, if he does but mix fomewhat about '" IVood in them. I muil do the better fort of people here, the juftice to fay, they fpeak with great concern of the imprudence of the grand juries, and the ill ftop to juftice: but thofe who would hinder it now are unable. But all forts here are determinately fet againft Wood'.; half- pence, and look upon their eftates as half fank ia their value, whenever they fhall pafs upon liie nation. Our pamphlets, and the difcourfes of fome people of weight, run very much upon the i: dependency ^f this kingdom ; and, in our prefent ftate, that is a very popular notion. But others, (who pofiibly have had a hand in raihng this ferment at firft) declare publickly againft all fuch notions, profefling the ut- moft loyalty to his Majefty ; and are very uneafy at the ill humour, and infolent behaviour of the peo- ple. I am fatisfied, many here think ten or fifteen thoufand pounds worth of halfpence would be of fervice ; but they dare not fay fo to any IriJIjman -^ nor at prefent does there feem to be any v/ay of com- pofmg matters ; all fearing or pretending to fear, the parliament ; and except things cool a little, I arn apt to think the parliament would fear the madntfs of the people. Though all people are equally fet againft Wood here, yet many of the prefent madneffes are fuppofed to come from Papifts, mixing with, and A 2 fetting * Dr, Snu'tft, D. S. P. D. overthrew this pernicious fcheme by writing the Drapier's letters, and other papers againft litis bafe coin See youz/z's works, vol.4, punted by George Faulher. 4 LETTERS cy letting on others, with whom they formerly had no manner of correfpondence. I have been in fuch an un fettled ftate, that I have been lefs able to learn how things go, than I hope to do in fome time. As I gain more knowledge my- felf, I fhall take care to give yonr Grace the beft in- formation I can ; and iliall always be ready to receive your Grace's commands. 1 am, my Lord, Your Grace's mofi humble. And mofl obedient Servant, Hu. Armagh. *f Circular Letter to the Lord Primate's Suffragan Bijhops. My Lord, Dublin^ Dec. 24- 1 7 24. AS I am very defirous to ferve the * Church, to which it has pleafed God to call me ; I have, fince my arrival, been enquiring into the wants of the Clergy here, and the produce of the fund given to fupply thofe wants. And finding, that the fund will, probably raife but 300 /. per anniim^ communihus annis ; and, that this fcanty fund is about 1 500 /. in debt ; I have been talking with my brethren, the bifhops, about encouraging a fubfcripiion among them and the inferior clergy, to bring the fund out of debt, and make a fmall beginning of a larger fup- ply to the wants of the Church ^ in hopes, that we may (after having done fomewhat ourfelves) with the better grace apply to the laity for their afliflance. And the propofal at laft agreed upon by the Arch- bifhop of Dublin^ the Biftiops of Meathj Dromore, Elphin, * His Grace left the whole of his fortune, which was very confiderable, except fome few legacies, to the charitable ufes piopofed in this letter. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 5 EJphin^ Clonfert, and myfelf, to be communicated to our brethren the bifhops; and ^if approved by them) to be, by them, recommended to the inferior clergy in their refpedive diocefes, for their concurrence, is this : That every archbifhop and bifhop would be pleafed to fubfcribe, at the rate of 2 per cent, per annum., for three years, out of his yearly income, to be rated by himfelf, deduBi's oneribus : and (in like manner, and for the fame term) that every clergyman, pofiTeft of above 100 I. per a7inu?n, fubfcribe at the rate of i per cent. And, that every clergyman, polTeft of preferment from 50 to 1 00 /. per annum, fubfcribe Ten Shillings. Any one, notwithflanding, to be at liberty to fubfcribe a larger proportion if he thinks fit. This is defigned to be employed in aid of the fund of firfl -fruits : the money fo gathered, to be lodged in the hands of Dr. * Cog hill -^ and to be laid out in purchafing glebes, or impropriations, as the bifhops Ihall direft. Several of the dergy, who have been talked with here, have expreffed a readinefs to come into the defign, if the billiops would fubfcribe a dou- ble proportion of what the clergy were defired to fubfcnbe, on this occafion. The whole is defired to be entirely voluntary. I have reafon to believe the Archbifhops of t Cajhel and § Tiiatn will cheerfully conie into the defign, I doubt not of your Lordfhip's readinefs to concur with any thing, that may be of fervice to religion : but I muft defire your opinion concerning this propo- fal ; as being fatisfied, you are a better judge of what may be done, in prudence to advance the worfhip of God * The right honourable Marmaduke Cogbilly a civilian, and afterwards a commiflloner of the revenue, \ Hx.Pamfer. k, Dr. Syn^e. 6 LETTERS BY God and the proteftant religion, in this nation, than m3'felf, who am Co newly arrived here. I am, my Lord, Your Lordfhip's very affedionate Brother, and humble Servant, Hu. Armagh. t Letler to the Bifljop of * Waterford, My Lord, Dublin^ Jan. ig. 1724. HAVE received your Lordfhip's of the 13th Inflant, and I am very much furprized at the ac- count it enclofes. I do not remember to have heard of any cafe like it in England The Dean feems to me not to have behaved himfelf with the refped due to his Diocefaii . and I could wifli your Lordfhip had put him more in the wrong, by fhewing a little more patience and temper on your fide. But, what provo- cations were iirft given by the Dean ; or, what was the full ftate of the difpute in the morning, on which thev]uarrel in the afternoon was grounded, does not appear by the account your Lordfhip hasenclofed. 1 am not yet enough acquainted with the laws and conftitutions of this church, to be able to advife what is proper to be done by your Lordfnip in a legal v/ay : but I could heartily vifs";, that (for the preven- tion of fcandal) fome method could be found of ad- juring tije differences, between your Lordfhip and the Dean, (of wliicii, I hear, this is but one branch) by an ajnicable arbitianon. If, upon talking with others, 1 meet with any ad- vice, v/orth tranfmitting to your Lordfhip, you fhall not fail of hearing from, miy Lord, Your Lordfhip's affectionate brother, and humble Servant, Hu. Armagh. t To • Dr. M//;. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. t To the Duke of Newcaftle, ^c. My Lord, Dublm, Jan. ig. 1724. IT is now Ibme weeks fince I had the honour of writing to your Grace, as I was defirous to learn as much as 1 could from all hands, before 1 gave your Grace the trouble of another letter : I have in the mean time, made it my bufinefs to talk with feveral of the moft leading men in parliament ; and have employed others to pick up what they could learn from a variety of people : and I find by my own and others enquiries, tliat the people of every religion, country, and party here, are alike fet againft Wood's halfpence, and that their agreement in this has had a very unhappy influence on the ftate of this nation, by bringing on intimacies, between Papifts and Jacobites, and the Whigs, who before had no correlpondence with them : fo that 'tis queftioned, whether (if there were occafion) juftices of the peace could be found, who would be ftrid: in difarming Papills. The apprehenfion of the lofs they fhall fuffer if thefe halfpence are introduced, has too much cooled the zeal of numbers, that were before very well af- fected ; and it has appeared by fome occurrences fmce my arrival, of which your Grace had (no doubt) a particular account at the time they happened : and I fear on any new occafion, it would ftill more appear, that the uneafinefs againft the halfpence is a protection for any fedition, uttered or publifhed, that has any thing againft the halfpence intermixed with it. So that it is impoflible for the government, in our pre- fent ftate, to have juftice againft any fuch delinquents, nor do I believe, that any witnefles in fuch a p rofecu- tion, could be fafe in their perfons. That there has been a great deal of art ufed to fpread this general infedlion, and that the Papifts and Jacobites have been very induftrious in this aifair for ver^ 8 LETTERS BY very bad ends, I find moft of the men of fenfe here will allow. It is likewife certain, that fome foolifh aTid other ill-meaning people, have taken this oppor- tunity of propagating a notion of the independency of this kingdom on that of England ^ but I muft, at the fame time, do juftice to thofe of the beft fenfe and eflates here, that they abhor any fuch notion ; and that they efteem the great fecurity of all they have here, to lie in their dependency on the kingdom as well as King of England. And I hope the folly of fome, and the wickednefs of others, in fpreading fuch pernicious principles, will not provoke any on' the other fide of the water, to take any angry fteps, to diftrefs a nation, where the Proteftants are generally well afFeded to his Majefty ; and where the title to their eftates is vifibly interwoven with that of his Majefty to the Crown \ and where no great damage can be done them, without fenfibly hwxim^ England : and I the rather hope fo, becaufe there are other me- thods of preventing any ill confequence of fuch no- tions, which are very obvious, and of which I fhall, if defired, fpeak more particularly another time. At prefent I fhall only proceed to acquaint your Grace, what are the apprehenfions people generally have here, of what they fhall certainly fuffer by the new halfpence being introduced, and which keep a fpirit of uneafinefs in them 'till the patent is abfolute- ly funk ; for whiiil that fublifls, though not pufhed into execution, 'tis confidered here as a ftorm, that will fome day break over their heads. By the beft computations or conjedtures here, the current coin of this nation, in gold, filver, and cop- per, is thought not to exceed 400,000 /. The addi- tion of 40,000 /. in new copper, to the prefent copper-money, will make the copper-money of this nation, at leaft, one eighth of their whole fpecie. They think where the copper-money is fo confidera- ble a part of the "whole fpecie, it isimpoflible to keep it LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 9 it from making a fenfible part in all payments, whe- ther of rents, debts, or the purchafe of goods : that if it be once admitted to have a currency, it will the more work its way into all payments ; as men of fubflance in trade will be tempted by a premium (from the patentee) of 20, ;^o, or 40, per cent, to force its currency among the meaner people ; and they again can only pay their landlords and others, in fuch as they receive : that (when, inftead of ferv- ing for change, it enters into all payments) it will be impofllble to hinder the Dutch and others, from pouring in large quantities of counterfeit copper : that the confequence of this muft be the lofs of our filver and gold, to the ruin of our trade and manu- fadures, and the finking the rent of all the eftates here. This is the fubflance of what the men of fenfe and eftates here, are fully pofleft with. And when I tell them the copper-money of England is confiderably fhort of the intrinfick worth of what it goes for ; and that yet I never could hear of any furmife of the Dutch pouring in any counterfeit copper there ; nor, was it ever attempted to make payments in copper there : what they anfwer is, that probably all the copper-money there, in being at once, feldom exceeds one hundredth part of the whole fpecie of meney ^ and fo is kept barely for ufe of change. 1 have been talking with them, whether there could not be room for admitting from 10 to 20,000/. in copper.? which I have reafon to believe they want ; or at leaft, that it would be a kindnefs to the nation if they had it. But they all agree, in the prefent ferment, it is impollible to admit any : and they all exprefs a jealoufy, that the admitting any new cop- per would open a door for fuch a quantity, as would prove ruinous to this nation, Thefe are the prefent notions of people here, which 'tis in vain to try to remove : and as long as the lo L E T T E R S BY the fear of the new halfpence larts, there is no hope of any peace and quiet in people's minds : and much lefs of any fo much as decent proceedings, if a par- liament were to f?.t. This has made me talk further with the fame perfons, what compromife can be offer- ed to have IVoni^ patent funk. I have told them there can be no doubt but Wood muft have been a very great fufferer by the obftrudtions he has already met with ; and muft be ftill a much greater, if his patent be religned : that I did not find any body in England doubted of the legality of the grant : that where the patentee was not proved to have contra- vened the conditions of the grant, it could not in juftice be revoked-, [to this they unanimoufly reply, that he has uttered worfe than his patent allows] that Wood could not be fuppofed wilHng to refign it, with- out a proper compenfation ; and that the feditious and clamorous behaviour of too many here, muft rather' tend to provoke his Majefty and his miniftry to fup- port the patent, than to take any extraordinary fteps to fink it ; and that therefore the moft proper way feemed to be, the propofmg fome reafonable amends to Mr. Wood^ in order to his rcfigning the patent. What thofe of fenfe and interelt in parliament, and that are well affeded, all agree in, is, that, while the fear of thefe halfpence hangs over this nation, it is impofllble to have things eafy here, but that they dare not offer any expedient, nor make any fuch propofals to thofe on the other fide of the water, for fear of being fallen on, as undertaking for the par- liament : but that if the miniftry will pleafe to make a computation of what it may be reafonable to give Mr. Wood for refigning his patent, and for his paft loiles, and to fend an order from his Majefty to pay any body (really in truft for Mr. Wood^ but without mentioning his name in the order) fuch a fum 'per annum for fuch a term of years, as they judge a rea- fonable LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 1 1 fonable equivalent, they do not doubt being able in parliament, to provide for fuch payment (if his pa- tent has been firft refigned) whatever fufpicions there maybe, that the payment is to Mr. Wood -^ or what- ever oppofition is made to it in the houfe. And if the nation is gratified in this, they do not queftion, but by degrees publick juftice will again flourifh, and the former zeal for his majefty and his family revive. And I cannot but fay that without doing fomething like this, there is no profpedl of any end of our pre- fent heats and animofities. Your Grace will have the goodnefs to excufe the length and freedom of this letter, which nothing fhould have drawn from me but my concern for his Majefly's fervice, and a defire that your Grace fhould know the true fhate of affairs here. The Archbifhop of * Dublin has of late been very ill, fo that his Hfe was almoit defpaired of: but his illnefs has fince ended in a regular and painful fit of the gout, fo that 1 do not apprehend he is in any pre- fent danger. Your Grace had heard from me Iboner on this fubjeft, if I had known his condition before the worft was over : all that I fhall fay now is, that I think his Majefly's fervice abfolutely requires, that whenever he drops, the place be filled with an En- glijhman^ and one with whom I may hope to have a very good agreement. But of this I fhall write fur- ther another time, as your Grace fhall give me encouragement. I am, &c. t To Dr. King, 12 L E T T E R S BY i" To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, Mar. 4. 1 7 24. IT is now above a month ago, fince I troubled your Grace with a very long letter, relating to the affairs of this nation : and I fhould not have written again on any of the fubjefls therein mentioned, till after receiving your Grace's commands, if there were not repeated advices from England, that upon the report of the Archbifhop of Duhlin^s illnefs, there v/as a very great canvafs on the bench about his fuc- cejflbr, without the leaft regard to what might be re- prefented from hence, as of fervice to his Majefty. Your Grace knows very well that I was very content with what I had in England., and my juft expedlati- ons there ; and that it was purely in obedience to his Majefty's pleafure, that I came hither : and now I am here, the only thing that can make me uneafy, is, if I fhould not be enabled to carry on his Majefty's fervice here ; the profpedt of doing which is the greateft comfort I have in my prefent ftation. But if the Bifliopricks here, are to be difpofed of elfe- where, without leaving me room for any thing more, than (as it may happen) objecfting againft a perfon, who may be fent over to the beft promotions here, when I have done fo ; and if I be not allowed to form proper dependencies here, to break the prefent Dublin fadion on the bench, it will be impoflible for me to ferve his Majefty further than in my fmgle capa- city. I do not fpeak this, as if I did not think there are fome on the Englijh bench, that would do very well in Diiblin, and would heartily join with me in promoting his Majefty's m.eafures \ or that I do not efteem it wife gradually to get as many Englijh on the bench here as can be decently fent hither ; but that I think being on the Englijh bench alone, is not a fuffi* LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 15 a fufficient qualification for coming to the beft pro- motions here ; and that an imprudent perfon may ea- fily be tempted by Irijb flattery, to fet himfelf at the head of the ArclibilTiop of Dublin's party, in oppo- fition to me. And befides, as there is a majority of the Bifhops here that are natives, they are not to be difobliged at once. I hope I fhall never behave myfelf fo as to be thought unfit to take care of his Majefty's intereft on the bench here, and beg that, till it be found I am, I may be efFedually fupported in that authority and dependence, which I can afTure your Grace I defire for no other end, than to be the more able to ferve his Majefty. I am, bic. t 5^9 the' fame. My Lord, Dublin., Mar. 9, 1724. THERE has been a great deal of heat here, about an affair tliat has lately happened in the College, of M^hich 1 had v/ritten fooner to your Grace, but that 1 hoped it might have been termina- ted here, as the ftatutes of the College direft, v^ith- out giving any trouble at London. But as I hear from all hands, that very partial accounts of it have been fent over to England, and a great deal has been talked of it there among the Lords, and that great endeavours are ufing there to bring the matter be- fore the Council, I think I fhould be wanting in my duty to his Majefly, if I did not give your Grace a fhort information of the cafe, which may prevent any hafty meafures being taken through furprize. Two Under-graduates of the College, one of them a fcholar of the houfe, had company at their cham- bers till about an hour after the keys of the College were 14 L E T T E R S BY were carried, according to cuftom, to the ProvofI: : * when their company was willing to go, upon finding the College ga'es fhut, and being told the keys were carried to the Provoft, the Scholars went to the Pro- voft's lodgings, and knocked there in an outrageous manner. Upon the Provoft's man coming to the door to fee what was the matter, they told him they came for the keys to let out their friends, and would have them, or they would break open the gates : he affured them the keys were carried to his mafler, and that he durfl not awake him to get them, and then the man withdrew : upon their coming again to knock with great violence at the Provoft's door he was forced to rife, and came down and told them, they fhould not have the keys, and bid his man and the porter take notice who they were : The next day he called the two Deans to his affiftance, as their fta- tutes require, and fent for the lads to his lodgings ; the fcholar of the houfe came, but not the other; to him they propofed his making a fubmillion for his fault in the hall, and being publickly admonifhed there. This he made a difliculty of doing, and upon their proceeding to the hall, v/hen he came out of the lodgings, he put on his hat before the Provoft, and walked off. The Provoft and Deans went on to the hall ; and, after waiting there fome time, to fee whether he would come and fubmit, they expelled them both. It feems the Scholar's name is Annefly^ and he is a remote relation of my Lord Angkfeys, the depend- ing on whofe intereli and fupport has, I believe, given encouragement to the great ferment and buftle there is in ihis town, about this affair ; in which my Lord Lieutenant and the two Vifitors of the College have been applied to, to get the Scholar reftored, who have all by meifages or letter, intimated to the Provoft, . * Dr. Bald-win. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 15 Provoft, their defire that he would reftore the lad : nor am I againfl it, upon the interceffion of thofe great men ; if the lad be obliged to make a full fub- miflion, and the Provoil have fome fatisfa^tion made him for being abuled to his face, in a fermon at the College chapel by one of the fenior fellows '*, who is at the head of all our prefent flir in this place. What is faid here, to be endeavouring on the other fide of the water, is the reducing of the power given the Provoft by the ftatutes, and fharing it with the feniors. As this is a Royal foundation, and the Provoft is made by the Crown, I fuppofe it will fcarce be thought advifeable to ftrip him of that power which his Majefty's predecefTors have thought fit to truft him with ; and befides, if I may believe the univerfal voice of all here, who I am fure are well- affeded to his Majefty, nothing but the hearty ftea- dinefs of the Provoft, fupported by the power vefted in him by the ftatutes, can give a check to that ill fpirit in the College, which grew up there in the lat- ter part of her late Majefty's reign. I am certain of this, if the Provoft is driven to admit the lad with- out a proper fubmillion, there is an end of his pow- er, and of all difcipline in the College. If your Grace defires a more particular account of this affair, and the ftatutes relating to it, I fhall get it from the proper hands, and tranfmit it : but in the mean time I thought it necelTary to fend this account to your Grace, as I ftiall always efteem myfelf the common patron of all the King's friends here in the Church and Univerfity. I am, &;c. t To * Siippofed to mean Dr, Delany, i6 L E T T E R S BY f To the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ Apr. 20, 1725. I Had the honour of your Grace's of the firft in- ftant, and am very much obliged to you for ma- king a favourable reprefentation to his Majefty of the advice I fent relating to the College ; I am fure I fhall always endeavour to fhew the greatefl care and zeal about his fervice, and 1 hope his Majefty v/ill never find me negligent in any thing of that nature. The ftand the Provoft has made, has brought others to reafon ; and the lad, after having made fuch fubmiffion, as the Provoft thinks reafonable will be re-ele6ted ; and one of the fenior fellows is to make the Provoft fatisfadtion for abufing him in a fermon at the College chapel : I hope thefe two fteps • will fecure the Provoft 's authority for the future. I fhall always make it my bufinefs to fend your Grace whatever information I think may be of fervice to his Majefty, and fhall ufe my endeavours not to be miftaken in the charadlers of any perfons I have oc- cafion to m.ention. I muft again recommend Mr. Stephens to your Grace's protection ; I would hope that (as he will certainly be a promoter of polite learning) if he is fent to Chrift-Church, and is willing to take the Treafury there, and employ under him a proper per- fon, for whom he will be anfwerable, (which is as much as half the Treafurers there fmce the Reftora- tion have done) that my fucceflbr cannot with juf- tice complain, if he is made Canon there : But if it be thought for his Majefty's fervice to have a more adive perfon there than the misfortune of his eyes will permit him to be, I muft entreat your Grace that he may be provided for by fomewhat that is near an equivalent in fome other Church, wlien- ever LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 17 ever a vacancy happens at Chriil-Chiirch ; he is the only friend I have in England that I ihall trouble the Mini dry about there, and your Grace's kind care of him in this affair, iliall always be elleemed the high- efl: obligation by, My Lord, &:c. "f I'd Lord Townfhend, Secretary of State. My Lord, Dublin, Apr. 29, 1725. I AM fenfible that I have been guilty of a very great omiflion, in not having fooner returned your Lordfhip my moil hearty thanks, for recom- mending me to his Majefty for fo great a poft, both for dignity and profit \ I can afTure your Lordfhip it has not been owing to want of either gratitude or duty to your Lordfhip : But whatever my pofl is here, the only thing that can make it agreeable to me (who would have been very well content with a lefs flation in my own country) is, if I may be ena- bled to ferve his Majefty and my country here, which it will be impofTible for me to do according to my wifhes, if the Englijh intereft be not thoroughly fup- ported from the other fide. When I left England, I did not doubt but your Lordfhip was fufficiently fen- fible how much this had been neglected for many years, and of the neceffity there was of taking other meafures for the future ; but thofe of us from En- gland, whofe hearts are flill with our country, fear all this is forgotten, when we hear that the Mafter- fhip of the Rolls (which as it is for life, is one of the greatefl places in the law here) is permitted to be fold to a * native of this place ; as I believe the Vol. I. B thing * Thomas Carter, Efq; who had alfo the Kings-Bench office, and who was made a Privy-counfellor, on his being Mafter of the Rolls, which he purchafed from the Eail of Berkely. He was deprived of the laft employment in the year I754> and foon after made Secretary of State for Ireland. iS L E T T E R S BY thing is paft revoking, 1 fliall trouble your Lordfhip no further about that affair. We fhould likewife be very much alarmed (if we took it for any other than an idle report) that our Attorney-General is to be made Lord Chancellor here -, againfl whom the Englijh here have nothing to objedl, but that tliey think the only way to keep things quiet here and make them eafy to the miniftry, is by filling the great places with natives of England; and all we would beg is, where there is any doubt with your Ivordlliip about the confequence of a place here, that •you would have the goodnefs to write hither to know its weight, before it be difpofed of None of us de- fire to recommend to any fuch places •, but we would entreat that in filling them up, a flric^t regard may be had to the Englijh intereft ; which if it be neglec- ted in fome more inftances of confequence, though I am effectually pinned down here, yet others (who are very^ able and thoroughly difpofed to ferve their country) will think of returning thither again. I will only add, that (as all accounts from England are po- fitive we are to have a new Chancellor) I heartily wifh we had one fent as foon as may be, that he may have time to look a little about him, and know fomewhat of things and perfons here before the next feffion of parliament is opened. Your LordOiip will have the goodnefs to excufe thefe lines, which I have taken the freedom to trou- ble you with, purely out of ray zeal for his Majefty and his fervice here. I am, &c. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 19 ^0 the Duke of Newcaflle, ^c. My Lord, Dublin, Apr. ig^ 1725. I HAVE by this poft, at the defire of fome of his Majefty's hearty friends here, written to my Lord T'o'wnfljend what a blow we think is given to the Englijh interefl, by the creation of a new Maf- ter of the Rolls, and the uneafmefs we are under at the report that a native of this place is like to be made Lord Chancellor. I muft requeft of your Grace, as I have of his Loidfhip, that you would both ufe your intereft to have none but Englijhmen put into the great places here for the future, that by degrees things may be put into fuch a way, as may be moll for his Majefty's fervice, and the eafe of his Miniftry. Your Grace will be fo good as to excufe this freedom from, My Lord, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ May i, 1725. AS I did myfelf the honour to write to your Grace the laft poll, I fhould not have given you the trouble of another letter fo foon, but that I fince underftand our Lord * Chancellor has defired leave to refign his place, and that the Lord Chief Ba- ron here is recommended to fucceed him : Lord Chief Baron Hale is a worthy man, and heartily in the Englijh interefl, and I believe very capable of filling that pofl ; but I mufl entreat, in the name of all of us here, that if he is thought of, a proper per- fon from England may be fent to fucceed him in his B 2 pre- * AlUn Brodtrickt Lord Vifgount MiddlHm, 20 LETTERS BY prefent poft, or the Englijh intereft will go very much backward here, but as there has been fo long a talk of a new Chancellor here, I almoft take it for granted that the Miniflry muft have fettled who is to fill that place from England^ and all that I have to fay on that fuppofition is, that as there is a deficien- cy of 100,000/. to be fupplied by the parliament, I fhould think it mofl advifeable, if there has been a necelfrty of promifing an addition to the falary, to tempt a man of worth over, which has been much talked of here, the order lliould come over after the parliament is up, to pay him fuch addition from the date of his patent. I cannot help fugged ing on this occafion, that one reafon of our deficiency here, is the fall of the Cuftoms by vaft quantities of goods being run here from the IJle of Ma^i, which is the great magazine of goods intended to be run, and from whence they are, as opportunity offers, tran- fported hither in fmall veffels. I can hardly quellion but the Cuftoms in England muft fuffer more this way than ours do in Ireland : And the only remedy we talk of here for this evil, is, if his Majefty were to buy the ifland of the Earl of Derhy^ and after- wards he may command the proper meafures to pre- vent goods being lodged there for running *. I thought it my duty to mention this, though I do not queftion but your Grace knows more of the affair than I do, I am, &c. * This fcheme was at laft adopted, after about 40 Years deli- beration. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 2 1 To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, May "d, i725- BY fome letters from Limerick by yefterday'^ pod, news is brought that the Bifhop of Li~ merick is dead : on this occafion I find the Lord Lieutenant recommends his firfl Chaplain, Dr. Buf- coiigh, to fucceed in that See. As Dr. Bufcough is of fome {landing, and has fupported a very good charader, and is well afFeded to his Majefly and his family, and I am aflured he will conflantly concur with me in fupporting his Majefly's intereft here, I make bold likewife to recommend him to your Grace for his Majefly's favour for the faid Bifhoprick. I am, my Lord, &c. To Lord * Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, May 12, 1725. I Heartily beg your Excellency's pardon that I have not fooner returned my thanks for the many fa- vours and civilities received from your Lordfhip in this kingdom. I endeavour to go on as well as I can in the pofl your Excellency has left me in, and hope by degrees to grow fo much mafter of the affairs of this nation, as to be able to give you a better ac- count of things than I can at prefent. By the lafl mail we have fent your Excellency an account of the feveral perfons recommended for the chapel of Rings- End. Mr, Sam/on is the perfon his Grace of Dublin, I believe, mod wifhes to fucceed out of the three mentioned in his memorial ; and I have that charac tei * John, Lord Carteret, afterwards Eail of Granville in righf of his mother. 22 LETTERS BY ter of his diligence in his prefent curacy, which is a very great one, and which he has ferved about fix- teen years, as v/ell as of his good Hfe and converfa- tion, that I have no objedion to him. Your Excellency has a memorial in your packet in behalf of Mr. Vaiighan^ curate of St. John'% and he will do very well if your Excellency thinks pro- per. Mr. Whitcomh^ fellow of the College, is another candidate, who has a very good character for mo- rals, learning, and afFedtion to his Majefty, and as this preferment is confiftent with his fellowHiip, it would be of more value to him than a living of perhaps dou- ble the value. The only objection I know againft him is, that he mufl refide in the College, and either of the other two will go and live at Ring' s-End \ as I think they are obliged to do by the foundation, which requires that the curate there fhould not be ab- fent from the place above fixty days in the year. We have not yet got an account from the Com- milfioners of the arrears at Lady-day in the hands of the Collectors, or then {landing out ; as foon as we have we will tranfmit that to your Excellency, with an account of what the government then owed. As we have this day received orders for fending four battalions to England^ we fhall take the beft meafures we can to have it done with fpeed. And I find people are now fenfible of the difficulty the go- vernment would have been under on this occafion, if you. had not contrived to take off a year's arrears of the army from the current fervice. The army are mightily pleafed with the enlarge- ment of their fubfiftence, as are all the tradelmen who have dealings with the officers. We have had ftrong rumours that Sir J. St. Le- ^er * is to be turned out, and Mr. Niitley to fucceed him , * A Baron of the Exchequer, LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 23 him i I have every where affirmed it is impofiible to be true •, fince your Excellency and every one in the fervice here knows how obnoxious the latter is to all of this country who wilh well to his Majeily, and that I believed no fuch thing would be done without, at leaft, confulting you before hand. I fliall trouble your Excellency no further at pre- fent, but beg leave to fubfcribe myfelf, My Lord, &c. To the Archbijhop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin^ May 22, 1725. MR. Bknner-Hajfet is very much obliged to your Grace for your great kindnefs to him in relation to his living in Snjex, and as I know his circumftances, I was very well difpofed to fecond your Grace's good intentions, by letting my living lapfe, not doubting by your Grace's intereft, if mine failed, of fecuring a prefentation from my Lord Lieutenant. But we have fince been fo con- tinually alarmed with news of changes from En- gland^ that he was unwilling to run the hazard of a new Lord Lieutenant with a needy chaplain. Your Grace wiil before this have heard that the Eifhop of Limerick is dead, and that Dr. Buf cough is recommended to fucceed him : I have like wife added my recommendations, but with what fuccefs I have not yet heard. Confidering the good cha- racter he has had for many years, and the little fuc- cefs he has had in EagLind, I fliould think it hard if they refufe him this promotion in England. Since my arrival here I have met with a praiflice in the Church, that to me feemed very odd, having heard of nothing like it in England; which is of Prelbyters holding a fecond or third benefice in com- mendam, inftead of having a faculty : the praftif* I be- 24 LETTERS Bv I believe was ov/ing to my predeceifour refufing a faculty where it might be thought reafonable, which made them look out for fome ftratagem to compafs the fame thing ; and what they have pitched upon and pradifed here, has been by granting the broad feal to hold a fecond or third, without inftitution or indudlion. That your Grace may the better under- ftand the nature of this new tenure, I have here fent you the copy of a fiat of this fort : Ihis fiat containeth bis Majpjiy's grant and dona- tion of the Deanery of the Cathedral Church of Kilmacduach, i^c. now void and in his Majef- ty's difpofal^ by the death of Stephen Handcock, late Dean thereof unto Charles Northcote, Clerk^ Mafier of Arts^ to have and to hold the faid Deanery in commendam to him the faid Charles Northcote, together with the Prebend of Kil- macdonough, the Re£lory and Vicarage of Kil- raaghan, the entire Redory of Boughillane, and the Vicarage of Clonfert, alias Sanftas Trinitatis Chrift Church Newmarket, in the Diocefe of Cloyne, which he now holds atid e^ijoys ^ and al- fo to enter into the faid Deanery without infiitu- tion^ injtallation^ or other folemnity ; and is done according to his Grace's warrant, bearing date 1'he 1 gth day of Nov. 1719. i have enquired whether there is any aft of par- liament here, that gives the crown any fuch power^ and am alfured there is none, fo that I think it ftands on the fame bottom as a BilTiop taking a commendam after confecration. I have difcourfed v/ith my Lord Lieutenant of the illegality, as I con- ceive it, of this pradtife, and of the dangerous con- fequences of it, hnce I can apprehend it to be no other than a fequeftration of a benefice, granted by lay-powers, without being accountable for the pro- fits LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 25 fits received, and without being charged with the cure of fouls •, and I do not fee but in time they may proceed to make fuch grants of benefices to laymen. I told his Excellency if he pleafed to give the feveral perfons concerned in thefe extraordinary grants, which are, as far as I can learn, about half a dozen, legal grants of the fame preferments they now poflefs, I will readily grant them faculties for the holding them, that things may be brought into the legal way, and farther abufes may be prevented. His Excellency feemed very much furprized at this method of granting commendams to Prefbyters, and is very ready to put this affair into the right channel. But before I proceed any further in this matter, I fhall be obliged to your Grace for your opinion, whether what has been done already is legal, that I may occafion no needlefs difturbancc here, and I am fure your Grace's opinion of this matter will thoroughly fatisfy his Excellency. I thank your Grace for your kind hints relating to the power I claim to grant faculties, and other extra-epifcopal powers, and I find it fhands upon a grant made by King Jcvnes I. to the then Archbifhop of Armagh^ and his fucceflbrs for ever, in virtue of a claufe in one of our h'ijh ads of parliament, which they affure me is a legal grant, and fufiicient- ly confirmed by above one hundred years pofTef- lion. I thank your Grace for your kind prayers, and hope I Ihall always make it my endeavour to pro- mote the good of this Church, though I fear I lliall not always meet with the ready concurrence I could wifh for here *. However, upon the encourage- ment your Grace gives me of your friendlhip, and your abilities to direct in any difficult cafe, I fhall take * His Grace's fcheme, recommended in his third letter, had then failed. 26 L E T T E R S BY take the liberty to confult your Grace where I am in the leaft doubtful whether I am going upon fure grounds or not. I am, &c, To the Duke of Newcaftle, ^c. My Lord, Dublin^ June 2,^ 1725. BY the letters this day we have an account that my Lord Chief Baron Hale is to be removed to the Bench in Ev.gland\ I could heartily wifh, if it could have been without damage to him, who is a very deferving gentleman, that he might have con- tinued here till Michaelmas term next, to have aflifted at the next feflions of parliament. Your Grace is fenfible we have a new * Chancellor wholly unac- quainted with Irijh affairs, and my Lord Chief Juf- tice Windham and myfelf, have not been long enough here, not to ftand in need of information on feveral occafions \ and I can alTure your Grace, it is very hard to rely on what thofe of this country advife in any difficult cafe. But whatever can be done in that af- fair, I do not queflion his Majefty's fending us a pro- per perfon from England to fucceed him. Your Grace and the reft of the miniftry were fuf- ficiently fenfible (when 1 left England) of the neceflity of tilling the great pofts here with Englijh ; and if tiie fame meafures be not followed, we that are here fhall have a bad time of it, and it mull prove of great prejudice to his Majefty's fervice. And on the other hand, if we are continued to be fupported, I do not fear but affairs will by degrees be brought to that ftate which the miniftry defire. 1 am fo fully fa- tisiied of the miniftry's prudent refolution on this point, * Mr. Wejly who married a daughter of Dr. Gilbert Burnett Bifhop cf Sariim, -"^^TON COLLPGE LIBRARY LORD PRIMATE<^«©tsffiTEEUiAa. 27 point, that I fhall trouble your Grace np further, but fubfcribe myfelf, My Lord, &c. "to the BiJIjop of BriftoL My Lord, Dublin^ June iZy 1725. SINCE your Lordfhip has not been pleafed to write to me, as you promifed my Lord Bifhop of London fome months ago, I think it proper to trouble your Lordfhip with a few Hnes. I cannot but think myfelf very ill ufed by your Lordfhip, by the violent pufhes you have been pleafed to make againft Mr, Stephens coming to Chriji Church upon a vacancy, when you know very well I had a pofitive promife of the next canonry there for him, fome months before there were any thoughts of my removing hither : his merit for learning, and his affedtion tohisMajefty and his family, you are no ftranger to; and as I know the Hate of the College as well as your Lordlhip, I know his coming there can be of no differvice to his Majefty, or any ways diflrefs the bufinefs of the College, fince he is willing to be Treafurer. I find already you have been pleafed to fay that it is fettled that Dr. Foulkes lliall be Treafurer, and no doubt if Dr. T'erry continues Sub-Dean, Dr. Foulkes is a very proper perfon» and there will then be no want of Mr. Stephens having any office at all ^ if Dr. T'erry does not, Dr. Foulkes is a very proper Sub-Dean, and Mr. Stephens vi\W difcharge the office of Treafurer; and you cannot but know that if he fupplies that office by a deputy at his own hazard, he does as much as moil Treafurers there have done. I underftaiid you give out, that in the pufh you make againfl Mr. Stephens^ you only confult his Ma^ jefty's fervice, but I know your only aim is ferving a friend of your own; which 1 am not againft your doing, 28 LETTERS BY doing, wherej-er any preferment is fairly open ; but I defire it may not be at the expence of a friend of mine, who has had a pofitive promife of what you are labouring to get. My behaviour to your Lordfhip in relation to your firil coming to the College, and your being afterwards thought of for the Deanery, as well as upon your fet- tling in the College^ does not deferve fuch injurious treatment of me as you have been pleafed to fhew on this occafion. I find if my friend Mr. Stephens fuffers in this point, it lies wholly at your door ; and I hope though I am on this fide of the water, I am not with- out friends, that may on a proper occafion remember any illufage to me. I underftand you have given out the Canons are agamfl his coming thither : I know thofe on whofe fupport you muft very much depend, have that good opinion of his worth, and know my friend- fhip for him fo well, that they are far from being againft his coming amongft them. I hope you will confider calmly whether you are ufmg me and my friend as you would be willing to have others ufe you, cr a friend of yours. I am, &c. To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin^ July 3, 1725. SINCE the honour of your Grace's of June 29, I have been employed on a vifitation of my diocele, where I have by my charge to the clergy, made the Proteftant DiiTenters in thofe parts eafy, and have, I hope, given Ibme courage to his Majefty's friends. I met with all the civility I could defire, both from the gentry and clergy ; and as the latter defired me to print my charge, and as fome others think it may be of fome fervice to the government, at lead by giving me the more weight among the well-aflfeded, when LORD PRIMATE BOULTER, 29 when they fee my fentiments in print, I have thoughts of fpeedily putting it to the prefs. I am fenfible how much I am obliged to your Grace for favourably reprefenting to his Majefty my attention to his fervice. My Lord Chancellor arrived here in my abfence, but as I have been here now three or four days, we have had fome conferences, and I am fure we fhali both concur to the utmoft of our power in promoting his Majefty's fervice. I am glad to find by him that we are to have a good Lord Chief Baron here ; and it is fomewhat the greater pleafure to me that I had fome knowledge of Mr. DaJton in England. I am the more encouraged to continue any dili- gence I have hitherto ufed by the repeated affurances your Grace is pleafed to give me of his Majefty's gracious intention to fupport me here, and can pro- mi fe his Majefty and aiTure your Grace that I ftiali make no other ufe of what fupport he is pleafed to give me, than to maintain his intereft in this kingdom. As the feifions of parliament is now drawing near, I hope my Lord Lieutenant will be impowered in his fpeech to fpeak clearly as to the bufinefs of the half- pence, and thoroughly rid this nation of their fear on that head : I fhould hope if this is done, we •fhali have a pretty eafy felTion ■ the manner that is moft proper I fubmit to your Grace and others in the minif- try, who are beft judges how his Majefty's honour may be beft preferved, and this nation at the fame time made eafy. As by examining into * Pratt's accounts, it ap- pears the nation is run above 100,000/. in debt, befides the 50,000 /. for the intereft of which provifi- on is made, it muft be expeded that we ftiall have fome * Deputy Vice Treafurer of Ireland, which place he loft, and was fucceeded by Luke Gardiner, Efq; ^o LETTERS BY fbme grumbling fpeeches in both hoiifes ; but if the dread of fVood's half-pence is effedtually removed, I hardly doubt of a good iffue of the fcffions. I am now com^ to coitinus at Dnhlm for the reft of the year, and fhall be proud of receiving your commands, I am, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ Aug. 14, 1725. AFTER having wrote fo lately to your Grace, I fhould not have given you the trouble of thefe lines, if it were not out of the great concern I have that his Majefty's fervice may go on as fmoothly as poflible in the approaching parliament ; and this I would hope may be done, if my Lord Lieutenant is enabled to put an end to all fears about the half- pence in hi& fpeech : if he is not, there will certainly be a great heat in both houfes, which it will be im- poffiblc to keep within any bounds of decency; and this may. give an advantage to thofe that will be glad of making a difturbance about Captain Pratt's affair, or would appear fome way confiderable by raifing a clamour. And I wifh what favour his Majefty fhall pleafe to fhew us about the half-pence, be not after- wards taken as an effed of their noife rather than his Majefty 's goodnefs. But the whole I have written is fubmitted to your Grace's fuperior prudence. My Lord Lieutenant and our new Lord Chancellor went yefterday to Drogbeda to fee the place of the action on the * Boyne ; at their return the proper pre- parations * On the firft of July, 1690, a great battle was fought at this place between the armies of King William III, and James II. in which the former was vidorious. In honour of which fuccefs, there is one of the fineft obeliflcs in the woild erected there to com- jtiemoratc this event- LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 31 parations will be making for a good feflions, but moft will depend on what inflrudtions your Grace (hall tranfmit. lam, &c. . To Lord Townfliend. My Lord, Dublin^ Sept. 4, 1725. AS I have been vifiting my diocefe this fummer, and have been perfuaded to print my charge to the clergy, in hopes it may be of fome fervice here, I have made bold to fend your Lordfhip fome copies ; Mr. Edgecombe was fo kind as to undertake to deliver them to Sir Robert IValpole^ with a defire to forward them to your Lordfhip : I muft beg of your Lord- fhip to prefent one to Prince * Frederick with my moft humble duty, to accept of another yourfejf, and to difpofe of the remaining four as your Lordfhip pleafes. I cannot omit taking this opportunity of thanking your Lordfhip for all favours, and affuring your Lordlhip I fhall make the bcft ufe I can of the great pofl you have procured me, to his Majefly's fervice in this place ; and I am fure in fo doing I fhall befl anfwer your Lordiliip's expectation. I muft likewife acknowledge the obligations we all lie under here for your procuring fo great an inftance of his Majefty's goodnefs, as the revoking fVood's patent; I cannot fay every body here is as thankful as they ought to be on this occafion, but do not doubt but both houfes will make the mofl profound return of gratitude to his Majefty. I ara * Eldeft Son of George, Prince of Wales, afterwards George II, who was fucceeded in the principality of Wales, by the faid pvince Frederick, who died March 20, 1751. His prefent Ma- jefty George III. is the eldeft fon of his Royal Highnefi. O" LETTERS BY I am glad it has lain in my power to provide f( r Mr. Power the clergyman, to his fatisfadion, whom your Lordlbip was pleafed to recommend to my care, before I left England i, I have given him a living of about I CjO I. per ann. I (hall trouble your Lordlhip no longer, but beg leave to fubfcribemyfelf, My Lord, &c. To the 'Duke of Newcaflle. My Lord, Diihlin^ Sept. 9, 1725. IH AV E had the honour of your Grace's of the 26th ult. I can affure your Grace that it was with the greateft pleafure I faw the exemplification of the furrender of Mr. IVood's patent at the council, be- caufe I am fure it will make his Majefty's bufinefs go on fmoothly in parliament, and quiet the minds of- all his Majefhy's well-affeded fubjeds here. His Ma- jefty's enemies, and thofe who want to be confiderable by making an oppofition to his Majefty's bufinefs in parliament, could not difguife their looks enough not to ihew their great difappointment by this great in- ftance of his Majefty's goodnefs and condefcenfion to this nation. And though fome have laboured to dif- guife the fad: and given out that the patent was furren- dered to my Lor({ * Ahercorn^ yet when the feifions open on T'uefday fe'nnight, there will be no more room for deceiving the people as to the fa6t, and I am fatisfied his Majefty will then receive the utmofl returns of gratitude from both houfes, which will be no other than the fenfe and voice of all the people of this na- tion, that do not wifh for dillurbances. I have dif- courfed with feveral members of parliament, who all exprefs the utmofl thankfulnefs for this fignal inftance of his Majefly's favour, and give the greatefl afTu- rances, * A Zcotch Eail, and Lord Vifcount Strabane in Ireland^ LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. ^3 ranees of an eafy feflions. I am ienfible J have had no other hand in this affair than reprefenting the true ftate of this nation to the miniftry, and am very glad" his Majefty employs fuch as are willing to be informed- of the truth, which I fhall aKvays make it my endea- vour to acquaint them with. There is a perfeti agreement betv/ixt me and my Lord Chancellor, and I dare fay will continue, not only on account of our old frie'xifhip, but out of the earneft defire we both have of promoting his Majef- ty's fervice ; and I am thoroughly fcnfible of what alfiftance he will be to me in fo doing, and I fhall not be wanting in my endeavours to aflift him in the fame. I mufl beg your Gmce's acceptance of one of my charges, which I trouble iMr. Edgecombe to take with him to your Grace ; and likewife the favour of fending a fmall parcel to my Lord Towjijhend at Hanover. I am, &c. To ihe fame. My Lord, Dublin^ Sept. n, 1725* AS I had the honour of writing to your Grace by the laft poft, I fhould not fo foon have given you a new trouble, but for an accident that has fmce happened to the Archbifhop of Cajbel. Vv^hilft his lady was bathing his leg with brandy or fpirits, they unfortunately took fire, and his leg is fo hurt by it, that his life is thought to be in great danger. As his poft is the third in this Church, and has a good in- come belonging to it, I thought it my duty to give your Grace immediate notice of the danger he is in. As foon as there is any decifive turn in his ilinefs^ I fhall inform your Grace of it; in the mean tim^ I would fuggeft, that if he dies, as the parliament is; Vol.1 C npw 34 LETTERS BY now juft opening, I (hould rather think it mofl advi- fejible for his Majefty's fervice, the better to prevept any uneo.fincfs in either houfe of parliament, to fill his place with fome Englijhman that is already on the bench here. And I muft entreat that no meafures mav be taken on the other fide of the water in this affair, fo as not to leave full room for advice or a re- prefentation from hence. There has been fome time ago a great difcourfe here of a defign to remove the Provoft of this Col- lege to a Eifhoprick, not fo much out of good will to him, as to make way for another to fucceed him ; but as the perfon who it is fufpefted will pufh for being his fucceflbr, is one that in the opinion of his Majefty's friends here would be a very dangerous^ man in that flation, I cannot but take this opportu- nity of begging, that your Grace and the reft of his Majefty's fervants would be upon your guard againft any hafty promife being obtained from his Majefty relating to the Provoftfhip here. The prefent Provoft is a very good man, but it is of the laft confequence liere who fucceeds him, by whatever means there happens a vacancy in his place. I fhall trouble your Grace no more at prefent, but fubfcribe myfelf, My Lord, &c. 7(9 the fajne. My Lord, Dublin, Sept. 21, 1725. IH A V E had a pretty laborious day of it in the Houfe of Lords, where my Lord Lieutenant opened the fefllons with a very good fpeech. Things went very well in the Houfe of Commons, where they came to a proper refolution for an addrefs without any thing worth calling oppofition ; but in our Houfe we fouglit through a refolution for an addrefs with great oppofition from the Archbiftiops of Dublin and 'Tuam, LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. ^^ Tuaftty my Lord Middkton and others, and upon a divifion they carried the words great wifdom to be added to his Majefty's goodnefs and condefcenjion, for which we were to thank his Majefly, in putting an end to Wood'^ patent ; but as this is no doubt meant a,s a reflection on what is paft, or an infinuation of the weight of our clamours, I hope with my Lord Lieutenant's affiftance to throw thofe words out, ei- ther in the committee, or when the addrefs is report- ed to the Houfe. By the beft accounts I can get, the Archbiiliop of Cajhel has got over his late hurt, fo that I fhall trouble your Grace no more on that head, but fubfcnbe myfelf. Your Grace's, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, Sept. 23, 1725. WE this day reported to the houfe the addrefe to his Majerty, and after a long debate, threw out the words great wifdom before the words royal favour and condefcenfion, fo that when the ad- drefs comes over to England, your Grace will fee where it was to have come in, and will better judge of the impropriety of it, and that a refledlion was defigned by it on the minifliry, as fome of them plainly fhewed in the debate it was intended for. There were z\ againft thofe words ftanding part of the addrefs, and 12 for it. I am fatisfied one thing aimed at by this pufh was to llur an Englifh adminiftration : but I hope by this majority we have pretty well difcouraged all attempts of that kind, or any other to make an uneafy feffion. I cannot help mentioning to your Grace that my Lord Forbes has been one of the moft adtive and I think moft peevifli Lords here, after his Grace of C 2 Dublin :> 6 LETTERS BY Duhltn and my Lord Middkton^ of any concerned in this piifli. I muft on the other fide, do my Lord Lieutenant the juftice to acquaint your Grace that he has been yery induflrious thefe two days to bring the Lords to a proper temper. As I have nothing farther to acquaint your Grace with, I fhall beg leave to fubfcribe myfelf, My Lord, &:c. I'o the Archhijkop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin^ Sep. 24, 1725- AS there is a perfe6l recefs from bufmcfs in Eng- land^ and we are juft entering upon it, by our feflion of parHament opening laft Tiiejday^ I thought it might not be unacceptable to give your Grace fome {hort account of what has palled here. My Lord Lieutenant was pleafed to appoint me to be the mover of an addrefs to his Majefty upon his fpeech.^ and to prepare proper heads on that occafion ^ accordingly after his Excellency's fpeech from the throne, I propofed an addrefs, and in a fliort fpeech run through the feveral heads I thought proper, and then gave in a written refolution to be an inllrui^\ion ro the committee, that were to draw up the addrefs : upon reading the refolution, after fome oppofition to I'he offering fuch a refolution in writing, his Grace of Dublin propofed an amendment to the refolution, by inferting the words great wifdom., fo that the part where they ftood would have run tlius, andto epcprefs the grateful fenfe they have of his Maj e (If s great wif- dom^ royal favour and coyidejcenfion^ m putting fo ef- fectual an end to the patent formerly granted Mr. Wood, <£c. And the reafon he gave was in effedt, that the miniftry had been the authors of that patent, but that his Majeity had been wife enough to fee the ill confequences of it, and fo had revoked it. This I oppofed. LORD PRIMz\TE BOULTER. 37 I oppofed, as declared to be intended as a reflection on the miniftry, and fb a debate enfued ; but Several of the hoiife thinking it a compliment to his Majefly to own his wifdom, and not feeing the impropriety of it, where we were thanking him for what we ought to afcribe to nothing but his goodnefs, his amend- ment wascanied. On JVednefday I brought into the committee an addrefs fomewhat differing in form from the refolu- tion of the houfe, and without the words great wif- dom^ but tiiey infilling that tlie committee were bound down to thofe words as having been upon debate fettled by the houfe, I was forced to add them, but as it appeared more in the committee that they were intended to refleift on the miniftry, yefterday a mo- tion was made in the houfe upon the report, to leave them out of the addrefs, and after a long debate (in wliich my Lord Middkton laboured to revive the former heat about IVood''^ patent, and where he and others evidently lliewed thofe words were intended as a reflexion) they were thrown out by 21 againft iz- I have in thefe debates done my part according to my abilities, to fupport his Ma)efty's fervice. I am fenfible one thing that in part difpofed fome to be peevilli, was the feeing an Englijb * Primate here. My l.ord Lieutenant was under great concern about this affair, that there lliould be an attempt againft thanking his Majefty in the moft decent manner, and fpoke to feveral of the L,ay Lords to bring them to temper, without which we had been worfted. The words great wifdom were to have ftood in the addrefs immediately before the words royal favour. I have fent your Grace one of my Lord Lieutenant's fpeeches, and fhall itnd you this addrefs and that to his • This mufl be an Invidious refleflion, as mod of the Primates of Irelandy fmcc the rtformatien kavc bee» from England, February, 1770. 38 LETTERS BY his Excellency as foon as they are printed ; we pre- fented his Excellency with both to day. The Com- mons have gone on with great temper and unanimity. Your Grace will excufe this long letter. I am, my Lord, &c. ^0 the Duke of Newcaftle, i^c. My Lord, Dublin^ OB. 2, 1725. I Received your Grace's obliging letter of the 23d. paft, and before this your Grace will have received two of mine, giving an account of what happened in the Houfe of Lords lafl week ; fincc which nothing has paft worth notice, except our or- dering an impudent * poem on thoie debates to be burned, and the printer to be taken into cuftody. I find every body judges that the difficulty of the feffion is over in our houfe, by our having had a fair trial of our ftrength there -, and that the male-contents of the Houfe of Commons will be lefs enterprizing now they fee fo little profpedt of any difhurbance in our houfe. I can ftill affure your Grace the generality here are very fenfible of his Majefty's goodnefs in procuring the furrender of IVood's patent. I thank your Grace for tranfmitting a copy of my laft letter to Hanover^ and am obliged to you for your approbation of what I propofed. The Archbifhop of Cajhel is in a declining condi- tion ftill, and probably will fcarce outlive many months ; whenever he drops I (hall immediately ac- quaint your Grace with it, and with what removes I apprehend may be moft for his Majefty's fervice. I am very fenfible of the great obligations I lye under to his Majefty's minifters both in England and Hano- f Entitled, On Wifdom's Defeat, In a learned debate, &c. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 39 luer^ both before and fince my tranflation hither, and fhall on all occafions Ihew that zeal for his Majefty's fervice as may moft recommend me to the continu- ance of their efteem and friendfhip. I mull take this occafion of reminding your Grace of a paper fent from the Council here jnft before his Majefly left England, relating to the new gold fpecies of Portugal : what we defired was that they might be put on the fame foot with guineas, in proportion to their weight and finenefs ; the want of having their value fettled by a proclamation is a great hindrance to trade here, and leaves room for their being coun- terfeited with irnpunity. If there has been no report yet made from the mint relating to them, I would beg your Grace to call for one -, if there has, I muft entreat that we may have the necelTary orders fent us for publifhing a proclamation here. 1 am, &:c. f To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, 0£l. 12, 1725. IH A D the honour of your Grace's of the 30th of the laft, and am very well pleafed that your Grace approves of" what 1 did at the opening of the feli'ion, in the bufinefs of the addrefs, and thar ^-ou think it will be gracioufly accepted by his iVIajelty. I thank your Grace for tranfmitting a favouiable ac- count of my avftions to Hanover. I believe the ftruggle in the Houfe of Lords is pretty well over ; but I find there will be fome contencion in the Houfe of Commons about paying tht debts of the nation ; but as the management of that affair, is put into the hands of the fpeaker and th'" reft of his Majefty's hearty friends, I do not doubt but all will end well. There 46 L E T T E R S BY There are great endeavours ufed to miilead the coTintry gentlemen, but there will be equal pains taken to iet ihem right. When any ming material occurs here, I fhaii take the liberty to acquaint your Grace with it. By the promotioh of Dean Percival to the redory of St. Alicban's in this city, the parifh of St. John's (in this city too) is become vacant ; and die chapter of Chn/l Church (who are the patrons i have prefented Dr. * Delany to it ; he is one of the fenior fellows of ' the College here, and their greatefl pupil-monger : what with his fellowfhip and pupils, he is thought to have fix or feven hundred pounds per ann. He is a great toty, and has a great influence in thefe parts ;, and it were to be wifhed for his Majefty's fervice, that he might be tempted by fome good country living to quit the College ; but if he has St. John'^ with his fellowfhip, there can be no hopes of his re- moval : but I am informed, that without a royal dif- penfation, he cannot keep liis fellowfhip with this new living -, I miift therefore defire your Grace, that if any application be made on the other fide of the water, for his Majefty's difpenfnig with the ftatute of the College relating to ihe value of a living that may be held with a fellowfhip, that your Grace would get it ftopt I am, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, Ofl. 28, J725. IH A V E received the honour of your Grace's of the 14th and 21ft inftant, and am very glad to find my endeavours to ferve his Majefty, and to make the feflions eafy in our houfe are fo well accepted : I fhall * Afterwards preferred to tlic profitable Deanry of Do^vne^ LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 41 (hall always continue the fame diligence, and as the affair of the debts of the nation and providing for them, has taken a different turn in the Houle of Commons from what was hoped, I perceive we mull be the more vigilant in our houfe, for fear the fuccefs they have had in the commons fhould give new fpi- rit to thofe who want to make difturbances. I'he tories have pufhed very unanim.oufly with the difcon- tented whigs on this occafion, and I fear his Majef- ty's friends have not been fo diligent in undeceiving the country gentlemen as might have been expeded from them ; but 1 hope in another feflion the debts may be provided for ; though in the mean time great numbers mufl fuffer very much by the ilownels of the payments. I have nothing new to fend about the Archbilhop of Cajhel^ befide my acknowledgments for your kind alTurances on that head. J thank your Grace for prelTing the treafury for a report upon the Portugal coin, and hope we fhall in a little time receive the neceffary orders from England. I like wife thank your Grace for tlie care you have already taken, and defign for the future to take in Dr. De any'sa.ffa.iT, which his Majefly's friends here look upon as a piece of fervice to the government. I am, &c. To Lord Townfliend. My Lord, Dublin, Nov. 4, 1725. 1H A V E had the honour of your Lordfhip's of the 1 5th of the laft, and am very glad that my behaviour in the Houfe of Lords, at the opening of the feffions was acceptable to his Majefty, and appro- ved by your Lordfliip : 1 fhall always efteem it my duty to ferve his Majeily with the greatell zeal, and to the utmoft of my abilities on all occafions that offer 42 L E T T E R S BY offer here -, and fhall do it with more chearfulnefs, as I find his Majefly is willing I fhould do To. I am fenfible of the hurry your Lordfhip muft have been in upon removing to the Gohrde *, and fhall never impute any delay in your Lordfhip's an- fwers, but to want of leifure. As foon as any vacancy happens in the Church here, I fhall upon your Lordfhip's encouragement, trouble you with my opinion what may be mofl for his Majefty's fervice. I thank your Lordfhip for your kind acceptance of my charge, and your trouble in diftributing thofe I fent you. I am, with the greateft fincerity and refped, My Lord, &c. To the Duke of Newcaflle, ^c. My Lord, Dublin^ Nov. n, 1725. IH A V E had the honour of your Grace's of the 4th inftant, and am concerned as well as your Grace, at the ungrateful return here made to his Majefly 's late fignal favour to us ; but I hope all will end v/ell, as the difcontented party feem every day to lofe ground in the Houfe of Commons : and I can aimre your Grace no endeavours are wanting in his Majefly's friends and fervants to open the eyes of the honeft and well-meaning country gentlemen, who had been very much prepoflefled by thofe that want to embarafs affairs here. As to Dr. De/any's affair ; when I was in England, and belonged to the Univerfity, I was always againft perfons holding any tolerable preferments with their fellowlTiips, as being a hindrance to fuccelfion in Colleges, and excluding fome or other, that may want *- A bunting feat of th^. King's at Hamier. LC^D PRIMATE BOULTER. 43 want that help in th^ir education, from getting upon a foundation ; and though a power is referved to the crown to difpenfe with the flatutes of the College here, yet I would hope it will not be done merely for being afked for, where there is not fome very good rrtotive befide : whereas in this cafe, his Ma- jefty's friends here think it is certainly for his Ma- jefly's intereft, that the Dr. fliould not be permitted to hold a preferment with his fellowfhip that will put him above the temptation of accepting a country living, in fome one of which they heartily wifn he was fettled. I heartily thank your Grace for your promife not to forget Mr. Stephens^ upon a vacancy at Chriji Churchy and as the only thing that has been in ear- nefl propofed by way of equivalent, is fcarce of half the value or dignity of a Canonry of Chrifi Churchy I fhould defire a fpecifick performance of the firft engagement, and mufl in that as well as I fhall on ^11 other occafions, depend upon your Grace's friendfhip and fupport. I am with the greatefl f>n- cerity and regard, My Lord, Sec. ■f To the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ Nov. 16, 1725. I A M very forry that I mull fend your Grace word that yefterday the difcontented carried eve- ry thing before them, and have falfely flated the debt of the nation, and (in effeft) clofed the com- mittee of fupply ; and I am the more troubled at this behaviour of the Commons, becaiife it is fo un- worthy a return to his Majefty's late goodnefs to us. The army is -like to be in great diftrefs by what they jiave done, to prevent which they talk of doing a moft unjuft and unreafonable thing, the voting that the 44 LETTERS RY the pa3'ments on the civil lift fhall be poilponed, to fupply the exigencies of the army. Great pains have been taken by my Lord Lieutenant, and by all his Majefty's fervants and friends of confequence, to bring the members to reafon, and much has been faid in the houfe in debates on thefe occafions, on the fide of his Majefty's fervice -, but it was onlv faying, that the carrying filch a queftiori would bring on new taxes, and the queftion ho'vever true or rea- fonable in itfelf, was fure of being loft. My Lord, I muft take the liberty to acquaint your Lordfhip, tliat the ill fuccefs hi- Majefty's af- fairs have met with, is owing to the indefatigable induftry and art of two leading men in the Houfe of Commons : the intereft of the firft of them muft every day decreafe, as the * father is now out of poft, and upon retiring to England ; and as the "f fen him- felf is far from being beloved here : the other has no perfonal intereft ^ and if he has not the fupport of a new place, or new countenance, will foon fink in his weight. Whatever uneafinefs is credted here by any turbu- lent or defigning perfons, whilft his Majefty ^nd his minifters think proper any ways to employ me in the public fervice, will at leaft light as heavy upon me ?.s any bodv here : but I am very willing to undergo my Ihare of any fuch trouble at any time, if no new encouragement is given to fuch doings, by buying off any difcontented perfons here -, for if any body is bought oft', there will always arife a fuccellion of people to make a difturbance every feflion ; and there wants no accident here to furnifli a bottom of popularity, every one having it always in his power to grow popular, by fetting up for the IriJJy^ in oppofi- tion to the EngliJJj mterelt. And there is no doubt but * LorcJ Vifcount Midkton- ^ The Kon. St, Jihn Brtdeiick. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. a 5 but fome occafion of things going as they have, has been an unwillingnefs in too many to fee an Englijh adminiftration well eftabliflied here ; and an inten- tion to make all the EngUJIj already here, iineafy ; and to deter others from coming hither. But if thofe who have places here, and yet have joined in the late meafures, are remembered after the fedions ; and if nobody finds his account in having headed the op- pofition made now to his Majefliy's fervice, I do not doubt but the face of affairs will here gradually al- ter, and we may hope that the next fellions will be more eafy and fuccefsful. I am, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ Nov. 20^ ^I'^-S- IH A D yefterday the honour of your Grace's of the 1 3th inftant, with advice that their Excel- cies the Lords Juftices * were pleafed to refufe the favour defired by Dr. Delany. I can affure your Grace, the oppofition I made to it was not from any pique to the Dr. but that I thought myfelf, and found his Majefty's friends here, were of opinion, that it was not for his Majefty's fervice that the Dr. fhould have a parifh in this city. By his petition I perceive your Grace might appre- hend that it was only a dignity, of the nature of a fine cure, that he defired to hold with his fellowfhip, as is the cafe of prebends in England ; but this pre- bend, as moft other dignities here, has a pariih with cure of fouls annexed to it. I am very fenfible of the great regard fliewn to me on this occafion by their Excellencies ; and hope by degrees, * In England. 46 LETTERS BY degrees, with the afllflance I have from his Majefty's miniflers, to fupport and encreaie his Majefty's friends in the College : I am Aire it is my fettled purpofe, and fhall always be my endeavour to make no other ufe of the countenance I meet with from your Grace and the reft of the minifters, than the advancing his Majefty's feivice here. I humbly thank your Grace for the particular care and concern you have been pleafed to ftiew on this, as well as all other occafions, for my reprefentations and requefts. I am, my Lord, &c. 7^0 the Bijhop of London. My Lord, Dublin^ Nov. 30, 1725; TH E prints, as well as private letters^ by the laft mail, inform us that the Biftiop of Chejier is dead : as this makes a vacancy at Chriji Church that was not fo foon reckoned upon, I muft apply ta your Lordfhip for your afliftance to get that canonry for Mr. Stephens, it is probable before long there will be another vacancy, to anfwer the fchemes of fome other perfons, which may make them lefs adtive on this occafion to oppofe me : and as your Lordftiip was an early witnefs of the promifes made me in fa- vour of Mr. Stephens, upon my dropping all oppofi- tion to Dr. Foulkes -, you are beft able to be my fol- licitor in this affair ; and the many proofs I have for- merly had of your friendlhip make me not doubt but you will give me this further inftance of your kindnefo, by heartily ferving my friend Mr. Stephens on this occafion. I can afl'ure your Lordftiip I ftiall always efteem it one of the greateft obligations laid on, My Lord, &:c. LQRD PRIMATE BOULTER. 47 To the Duke of Newcaflle, £s?^. My Lord Dublin^ Nov. 30, 1725. SI N C E I troubled your Grace laft, the prints in- form us that the Billiop of Cbefier is dead, by which there is a canonry of Chrifi Church become va- cant : I would hope as there is flill ft probability of another vacancy before long by the death of Dr. Burton., that thofe who have been forming fchemes for fome friends of dieirs againfl that vacancy fhould happen, may be content to ftay for it, and that the promife made me that Mr. Henry Stephens., Vicar of Maiden in Surry., fhould have the firfl canonry that fell, may be performed. It is a favour I have often troubled your Grace about, and your fupporting my juft pretenfions on this occafion, will always be ac- knowledged as one of the greateft obligations, by My Lord, &c. To the Archlijhop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin., Dec, ^.^ ^12$. I A M obliged to your Grace for your favour of the 17 th ult. but it came not to hand till almoft a fortnight afterwards, nor have we had any mail fince that which brought the 25th ult. I am very much obliged to your Grace and the other Lords Jufhices, for rejecting Dr. Delanfs re- queft for a faculty to hold a living with his fellow- Ihip. I can aflure your Grace it was not out of any ill will to the perfon that I oppofed it, but that his Majefty's friends here think it would be very much for his Majefty's fervice, if he were removed from the College to fome other part of the kingdom, in- itead of having a living here in town, and fuch an addition 48 L te T T E R S' by addition to his fellowfhip, as may put him beyond any temptation but that of a wife, to quit it. This Vv^is my reafon then, and ftill continues fo, but I am now a httle furpiized with what I did not then • know, that hisappHcation was not to be difpenfed ■with from the obHgation of any ftatute, but of an oath he had taken never to hold fuch a benefice : this, where there is not an exprefs claufe in the oath, iiifi tecum aliter dijpenjatum fuerit^ feems to me ako- gether new. I can alfure your Grace, whatever weight you and others in power on that fide of the water are pleafed to give to any reprefentations of mine, I fhall make no other ufe of it than for the fervice of his Majefly, and the peace and quiet of the country I am placed in. I am forry to hear your Grace has been difordered with a cold, and hope it may be quite gone off be^ fore this. Now the Bifhop of Chejier is gone off, the Bifhop ol Briftol^ will, 1 hope, have an eafy time of it at Chrifl Church. If there had been any thing particular in our bills, cfpecially' relating to the Church, I fliould have given your Grace advice of it. We fuppofe here that the money bill has been fome days at Holyhead^ and fhall be glad to fee it, becaufe without it fome of the du- ties expire at Ch'ijimas. I (hall in a little time have occafion to give your Grace an account of a bill novv drawing up relating to parfonage-houfes. I hope his Majefty may be fafe landed in his do- minions before this comes to your hands. I laft week removed to a new houfe here, where I propofe, God willing, to fpend the reft of my days. I am, witl^ the greatcft refped:, My Lord, Sec, ra LORD PRIMATE BOULTER, 49 To the Duki of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin^ Dec. 23, 1725. AS we are in. hopes his Majeily may now be upon the point of landing in England., and as probably the bifhoprick of Chejler and canonry of Chrijl Church may be difpofed of foon after his arri- val, your Grace will have the goodnefs to excufe my putting you in mind of Mr. Stephens of Maiden., for the canonry. After what I have already wrote on this occafion, I need fay nothing farther than that in Serving my friend, you will lay the greateft obhga- tion on. My Lord, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin., Dec. 0,0, 1725. I HAVE lately had the honour of your Grace's of the 1 6th, and am glad my feveral dates of the lad month have come fafe to your hands. I am very forry the endeavours of his Majefty's fervants and friends have had no better fuccefs here, this feflion of parliament, and that the people have fo little con- fulted their own true intereft. I v/ould hope the re- ports we have here are groundlefs, that a certain Lord, who adled with as much peevifhnefs as any body in our houfe, and had a great hand in anima- ting the commons to their behaviour, is likely to be fent in a great poft to the Weji Indies. I fhall always be ready to do my part in purfuing thofe meafures, which fhall be thought proper by my fuperiors, to break that fpirit of cppofition, which has of late exerted itfelf fo much here. I mull beg leave to put your Grace in mind of the letter from the council here, relating to the new fpecies of Portugal gold. I muft own we deferve no V o L. I. D favour 50 LETTERS BY favour * here, but as the parts of England we trade with, would find their advantage in having the value of thofe fpecies fettled by proclamation, as well as we of this nation ; and, as ev^ery body here mufh be fenfibie, that under our prefent behaviour, the grant- ing us this favour muft be owing to the application of the Englijh from hence, I would hope that the fettling of that affair would be of fome fervice to his Majefty. I th^nk your Grace for your kind promifes to ufe your beft endeavours to procure the canonry of Chrijl Churchy now vacant, for my friend Mr, Stephens. If his Majefty's fervice requires the making any perfon Bifhop of Chefle)\ who muft have tliat canonry to fupport his bifhoprick, I muft beg of your Grace, that at the fame time, it may be fettled, that Mr. Stephens fhall fucceed to the next vacancy there, by whatever means it fhall happen. 1 have nothing to trouble your Grace with further at prefent, than my fmcere wifhes that you may en- joy a great many years with the fame health and hap- pinefs as you have gone through this, I am, with the greateft fincerity and refped. My Lord, &c. 'To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, Feb. lO, 1725. I AM ferry to find by a letter I have received from the Bifhop of Loiidon that there has been a neceility of putting my friend Mr. Stephens by the vacant canonry of Chnfi Church ; however I learn by the Billiop and others, that I was very much obli- ged to your Grace's friendlhip on that occafion, and that you have obtained an abfolute promife of the next vacancy that fliall happen there for my friend ^ I muft * Is not this mofl rafli, with regard to Ireland? y " LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 51 I muft ftill depend on your friendOiip for the per- formance of diis new promife. I hope our bills diat we have fent from hence will meet with all convenien*: difpatch at the council, that our leflions may be brought to a conclufion. I do not defpair of feeing a vote of credit carried in the Houfe of Commons at our next meeting, which will make things pretty eafy. The poor oppofi- tion that was made made here on occafion of the lad addrefs to his iVlajefty by Mr. Brodrick and his friends, has given a new fpirit to the Whigs, and Mr, Speaker and others have afflired me, they will omit nothing in their power that may bring a good appearance of his Majefly's friends together againfl the 17th of this month. The general report is, that Dean Swift defigns for England in a little time ; and we do not queftion his endeavours to mifreprefent his Majefly's friends here, wherever he finds an opportunity : but he is fo well known, as well as the difturbances he has been the fomenter of in this kingdom, that we are under no fear of his being able to diiferve any of his Majefly's faithful fervants, by any thing that is known to come from him : but we could willi ibme eye were had to what he fliall be attempting on your fide of the water. I am, Sec. To the Archhijhop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin, Feb. 24, 1725. AS our bills arrived here on tuefday, the parlia- ment met, according to their adjournment, on this day, to proceed on bufmefs, and the firfl thing done in both houfes, was acquainting them with his Majefly's anfwers to their feveral addreffes ; in our houfe nothing happened, as nothing was expeded : but in the houfe of Commons (as his Majefly in his anfwer expreffed his hopes that they would take care D 2 to 52 LETTERS by to put the arm}^ in a condition for fervice, if there iTiouid be occafion) there came on a debate of feve- ral hours. What was defigned to be carried there was an addrefs to his Majefty, to apply lb much of the money given this ieffion of parliament as might pay two years inter eft at feven per cent, of the ar- rears of the army hora Midfummer 1724, to Mi'd- Jutmner i^ji^-, and likewife two years intereft of the ar- rears due to the half-pay officers, from Chrijimas 1 724, to Midjwmner 1725. The arrears of the army for the time mentioned, amount to about 5 [ooo pounds ; the arrears due to the half-pay officers for the fix months^ amount to about 1 1,000 pounds, and there M'ould then have been left due near nine months to both of them. But after great debates, it was found it would be but by a fmall majority tilings could be carried in that way, and that much the fame thing could be compaiTed in anotlier way, into which the houfe came at lafl without a divifion ; which was to addrefs his majefty to apply 10,000 pounds for the w^Q, of the army in what manner he fhall diink pro- per ; fo that what is underftood here is, that their feveral debentures for the time mentioned, will be ftruck fo as to carry intereft for two years ; and there is no doubt but the officers will then be able to part with them as ready money. I think they have like- wife engaged to provide for thefe 10,000 pounds, together with the arrears themfelves that (hall be found then ftanding out, at the next feffions of par- liament. I was willing to fend your Grace an account of this, as being the beft thing that has palfed in the houfe this feffions, though with as ill a grace, and widi as perverfe an oppofition, as fuch a thing could be done with. As the houfe fat late on this occafion, and I have the account of what paffied only by word of mouth, it is not fo nicely exad: as I could have wilhed to have LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 53 have fent it to your Grace. I am glad to find by the pubiick papers, that things go in your parlia- ment with fuch zeal and aflre<^ion to his Majefty, as we hope here will intimidate his enemies both at home and abroad, I am, with the trued refpedt. my Lord, Your Grace's, &c. To the Reverend Mr. Power. S I R, Dublin, Feb. 24, 1 725. I Received yours of the 24th of November.^ in an- fwer to mine of the 20th, and delivered your prefent, which vi^as kindly received. What I write to you now is by the exprefs orders of my Lord Primate, to inform you that his Grace hears from perfons of credit fuch things of you as are highly difpleafing to him. You are reprefented as a perfon who have neither diicretion in your words and converfation, nor proper decency in your adions and conduit, nor a due regard to the offices of your fun(ftion ; and that the refult of your whole beha- viour has given fuch offence to the generality of your parilhioners, that your congregation falls off daily from you. I am ordered to acquaint you, that my Lord is very much troubled to have fo indifferent a charaifter of a clergyman, whom he has promo- ted j and that he will not reft ilnisfied with fuch a behaviour as brings a fcandal on religion, and a dif- repute on himfeif. I am, Sir, Your very humble fervant, Ambr. Philips. To 54 LETTERS by To the Duke of Newcaflle. My Lord, Dublin^ Mar. 22, 1725: IH A D the favour of your Grace's of the loth inftant, and am very much obliged to you for your kind congratulations on my being made one of the Lords Justices ; I can afliire your Grace 1 fhall in that fiation, as I have in what I already enjoy here by his Majcdy's favour, moft faithfully endea- vour to promote his Majefty's fervice. I am very fenfible of the great hurry of impor- tant bafmefs there has been in England, fo as to hin« der your regularly correfponding about our fmall af- fairs. We have indeed at laft put a pretty good end to a troublefome ieflion of parliament ; but without Ibmewhat done to fhew that the oppofing his Ma- jefty's fervice here, is not the way to make court in England, we can hardly fail of having as uneafy a Idhons the next. In obedience to his Majefty's letter upon the ad- drefs of the Commons here, my Lord Lieutenant is iiluing the debentures of the army for one year, and ot the half-pay officers for fix months, fo as to carry c|uarterly payments of intereft for two years from Chrijlmas laii, till the parliament meets again to pay off the principal ; and 1 hope thofe arrears will by this method be circulated for thofe two years, whilfl the current fervice is anfwered by the revenue com- ing in in the mean time. But I cannot but obferve that thofe who have made the great difturbance in parliament, are as bil- ly now in frightning the bankers and other monied men from having any thing to do with thefe war- rants, and advancing any money upon them, as they were in hindering the payment of our debts in the LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 55 the houfe : I hope it will be without any efFecfl, but 1 think their pall and prefent behaviour requires that the government fhould fhew their refentment of fuch proceedings ; and the more fo, becaufe one of the arts by which they have drawn too many well- meaning members to join with them in parliament, has been telling them that by their oppofition they M^ere making court on the other fide of the water. I am very fenfible that by the language fome froni hence, who talked in that way, have met with at their arrival in England from the miniftry, they know the contrary. But the country gentlemen here will never be perfuaded of this, but by feeing thofe men turned out of our privy council. And I would hope that the difobliging two or three mem- bers of the Houfe of Commons in England, will not be thought of greater confequence than the keeping things quiet here, by fliewing a juft dif- pleafure againtf thofe who would embroil this king- dom. There is another thing I muft beg leave to men- tion, and on which fubjedl I fhall fpeak my fenti- ments very freely to the miniftry, when I have the honour to wait upon them in England; and that is the granting places for more than one life, or the reverlion of places now full I fee plainly fo far as it has prevailed, or fhall hereafter prevail, it tends to loofen that fmall hold the crown ftill retains in this nation : as I fhall therefore always oppofe any applications of that nature from hence, fo I hope the minilby will have the goodnefs to difcourage all follicitations of the like kind on the other fide of the water. Here have been great complaints of the amend- ments and defalcations made in our bills by the At- torney General : I mull own I could wifh he would have confulted my Lord Chief Baron Gilbert or Ba- ron Hale, before he had determined things to be pro- 56 LETTERS BY provided for by law here, which our judges afTurc us are not provided for •, but on this fubjeil I may poflibly trouble your Grace fome other time. 1 have formerly wrote about Mr. Carter, and I hope when the judges return from their circuits, to be able to point out fuch a way of dealing with him, as will make his oppofition in future felTions of lit- tle weight: I am fure the rudenefs with which he has, in his fpeeches in parliament, treated the En- glip miniltry, not to fay the whole nation, as well as thofe of us who are fettled here, deferve that he fhould be made an example of. Your Grace will have the goodnefs to excufe the liberty I have taken in this letter, in which I can ailure you 1 have no other view than in the beft manner I can, to promote the intereft of England and his Majefty's fervice in this country. [ am very glad to find by your Grace's letter that things have fo good an afpedt both at home and abroad, and heartily wifh they may go on with fuc- cefs. 1 am, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, Afr. 5, 1726. HI S Excellency the Lord Lieutenant left the caftle about four in the afternoon laft Friday, and utter (bme itay in the bay of Dublin, fet fail about ten that night : as the wind continued very fair that night and the next day, we had no doubt lieie but that on Saturday in the afternoon his Lord- lliip mull be landed at Hyk-lake. It was then th(Aight proper to have the commiflion for the Lords Juiliees feakd that night, when we were fworn in council. Yefterday we received the ceremonious complimenis of the city and univerfity in the pre- fence LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 57 fence chamber : what farther comphments are to be made on this occafion are to be received in the clo- fet. I do not queftion but there will be a good a- greement amongft us; but if by any accident there be not, I fhall endeavour to take care that it may not be through any fault of mine. When any thing of confequence occurs here, 1 fhall be fure to ac- quaint your Grace with it ; in the mean time I beg leave to fubfcribe myfelf. My Lord, &c. To Lord Carteret. My Lord, • Dublin, Apr. 16, 1726. TH E bearer is wife to Mr. Caffel ; he is the perfon who gave from time to time the beft accounts of the popifh priefts, and what was doing amongft that party : he tells me his wife will have occafion to wait on your Excellency, to follicit an affair of his, and defired I would give her a few lines to introduce her. I hope your Lordfhip will be fo good as to excufe this trouble, fince it was a fa- vour I could not well deny him. I am, my Lord, &c. To the Duke of New ca file. My Lord, Dublin, May 14, 1726. WE have from time to time tranfmitted to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant an account of all we have learnt relating to the fhip Patience feized at Killybeg's, and by this mail have fent the copy of a letter to one Deaz, a Jew, that probably difcovers the truth of the captain's defign. I find the papifts are in (everal parts here employ- ed in fafting and prayers, by an order from the pope, 58 LETTERS BY pope, as they fay, and a promife of indulgences, but on what occalion they do not own. There feem likewife to be men lifting in feveral parts, but whether for France or Spain is uncertain, though they pretend for the former : but by the laws here it is capital to lift or be lifted in any foreign fervice, without leave from the crown. We have had ftrong reports that Mr. ISIutley is going to be made a judge here, but as he has had very feverc cenfures paft on him by the Houfe of Commons, at the beginning of his Majefty's reign, and is counted one moft in the fecrets of the tories, I have ventured to fay that I was fure there could be nothing in it. Since my Lord Lieutenant's arrival at London no- thing has happened that has required my writing ta your Grace^ nor fhould I give you any trouble at pre(enr, only to aflure your Grace that as any thing of conlecuence happens, I fhall be fure to inform your Gr?>ce of it. I rely on your Grace's goodnefs for Mr. Stephens^ whenever a canonry fhall fall at Cbri/i Church, 1 am, &c, 'To the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ May 19, 1726. IN my laft I gave your Grace a hint that numbers were lifting here for foreign fervice. We have daily new accounts from feveral parts that the lufty young fellows are quitting the country, on pretence that they are going to England for work. Such as have occafion to employ many hands, begin to feel the effeds of this defertion, and nobody here quef- tions but that all thefe really are going into foreign fervice. W^e LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. s9 We fhall not be wanting in our endeavours to keep every thing quiet here : but as accounts from all hands ieem to forebode fome mifchievous defigns among the papifts, I am very apprehenfive that be- fore fome months are paft, there will be a neceflity of putting the militia here in good order, to prevent any furprize, efpecially fince fix regiments have been drawn from hence. But of this affair I have not yet had an opportunity of talking with the other Lords Juftices •, nor fliall we attempt any thing of that nature till the defigns of the papifls here clear up farther, and we are able to make a proper repre- fentation of the (late ot this nation, and receive his Majefty's commands what he will pleafe to have done. We have given all pollible difpatch to the tran- fportation of the forces, and in whatever elfe occurs, fliall ufe our beft endeavours to ferve his Majefty, and fecure the peace of this kingdom. 1 am, in duty to his Majelly, obliged to acquaint your Grace that the new lift of privy counfellors has very much offended feveral that are beft affecfled to his Majefty here ; and that we of the Ehgiijb nation think by this increale our weight will grow le(s in the council than ic was : and befides, we think it very much leflens that authority we imagine it is defigned we fhould have here, to have a thing of this moment fettled and finifhed, without our being in the leaft confulted * whether we were of opi- nion it would be for his Majefty's fervice to admit fuch a number and fuch perfons. I am confident we Ihall ferve his Majefty here to the utmoft of our power, but that power muft every day grow lefs, if it appears that things of the great- eft * My Lord Lieutenant had no regard to the Primate and the other Lords Juftices in this inftance. 6o LETTERS BY efl confequeuqe are fixed on the other fide of the water witlwut our privity. 1 am, &c. To Lord Carteret, My Lord, Dublin, May i^^ 1726. IT H I N K it my duty to acquaint your Excel- lency, that every day frefii accounts come in to us that there are great numbers lifting here for fo- reign fervice ; the word given out in thefe parts is, that they are going over to England for work. Com- . plaints come in daily from fuch as employ numbers of hands, that the lufty young fellows are quitting them upon this pretence. There are likewife ac- counts from feveral parts that unufual faftings and devotions are fet on foot among the papifts,. and ve- ry feditious (ermons preached amongft them. We have given the necelTary orders to all cuftom- houfe officers to have a watchful eye on all who atr tempt to leave the kingdom : and (hall as new in- formations come in, go on giving the beft orders we can. But by the beft judgment I can make, in fomc time we fhall be under a neceftlty of putting the mi- litia here in order, to prevent any furprize. But of this we have not yet had time to conhder maturely j and as whenever it is done, it may caufe feme a- larm, we ftiall do nothing of that nature, without firft laying the ftate of affairs here before his Ma- jefty, and receiving his commands. I am very forry, my Lord, to be forced to ac- quaint your Lordfhip, that the new increafe of our privy council has given very great uneafmefs to fe- veral well-affeded to his Majefty here, on account of the characters of feveral of the perfons. And I cannot but fay that the EngUjh think it is a great weak- LORD PRLMATE BOULTER. 6i weakening to that weight we had in the privy coun- cil before. When General Macartney arrives in England^ I am confident he will report that we have ufed all pofli- ble diligence in expediting the tranfport of the forces, which we hope, if the wind permits, will fail from C 68 L E T T E R S BY To the Duke cf Newcaflle, My Lord, Dublin^ June zs-> 1726. IHAVE jufl now received the honour of your Grace's of the 21ft, and am thoroughly fenfible of the hurry you and the reft of his Majefty*s fer- vants muft have been in, on account of the great affairs now tranfadting. It is a great fatisfadion to me that what I endea- vour to do for his Majefty's fervice is well taken. Every thing here has been very quiet fince the 10th of June. As to the affair of the privy counfellors, your Grace may depend on my endeavouring to make that and whatever elfe is once over, as eafy as I can ; and that on all occafions I (hall be ready to fuggeft what I think may be moll; for the King's intereft. By letters that came to town yefterday, there is advice that the Bifhop of Cloyne is in a very dange- rous way ; as foon as there is any farther advice about him, I fhali communicate it to your Grace \ but I thought proper to acquaint you with this at prefent, to prevent any furprife in naming his fiic- cefTor, for fome here are not without fears that inte- reft may be made for a tory on this fide, to fucceed to that or the next vacancy on the bench. I am, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ June 28, 1726. I HAVE this day feen a letter from a good hand, that gives advice of the death of the Bifhop of Cloyne : 1 have by this poft wrote to his Excellency on this affair about a fucceffor. The LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 69 The perfon I would recommend, if he is accep- table to your Grace and the miniftry, is Dr. Skirret, who has attended me hither as chaplain ; but if your Lordfhip thinks he is not fo fit, I would re- commend Dr. Maute, Dean of Cloyne^ to fucceed to the bifhoprick ; he is counted one well affeclited to his Majefty, and is very diligent in the difcharge of the cures he has at prefent, and has the ho- nour of being known to feveral Bifhops in Eng- land. I ill all trouble your Grace with no more at pre- fenr, but fubfcribe myfelf, My Lord, &c, I'd the BifJjop cf London, My Lord, Dublin^ "June 28, 1726. SINCE my laft there is advice come by a good hand, that the Bifhop of Cloyne is dead. I have by this poft wrote to the Duke of Newcajlie and my Lord Lieutenant about this affair. I mAift beg the favour of your LordHiip to learn on what terms Dr. Skirret ftands with the miniftry : if he is acceptable to them, I would willingly re- commend him for a fucceffor to the Bifhop decea- fed ; if your Lordfhip finds they are prejudiced againft him, I think Dean Maule^ who is Dean of Cloyne^ would be one of the moft proper of this na- tion to fucceed. As I am not prefent to talk with the miniftry, I cannot put the management of this affair into better hands than your Lordfliip's, who I am fure will be for what you think moft for the good of the. Church, his Majefty'fi fervice, and my reputation. I am, &c. To 70 LETTERS by To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin^ June 2%, 1726, THERE is advice in town that the Bifhop of Cloyne is dead, which by the accounts of laft J^riday is very hkely to be true. On this occafion I muft defire of your Excellency to recommend Dr, Skirret for his fucceflbr, if he be any ways accepta- ble to the miniflry : and in that cafe, as your Ex- cellency knows the great incumbrances on that bi- Ihoprick, I mull beg the favour of your Excellency to referve for him the other preferments in the gift of the crown, enjoyed by the late Bifhop, that the Pr. may not be ruined by taking that bifhoprick, If Dr. Skirret is one the miniftry are fet againft, I (hould willingly recommend Dean Maule for that biflioprick, who as i am alTured is one wejlraffeded to his Majefty, and is very diligent in the difcharge pf his prefent cures. I have had the honour of your Excellency's of the nth. I am, My Lord, &c. To the Duke of Newcaflle. My Lord, Dublin, June 2,^^ 1726. YEflerday the L,ords Juftices met, and we wrote a common letter to my Lord Lieutenant rela- ting to a fucceflbr to the late Bifhop of Cloyne, in which three perfons are named : Dr. Maule, Dean of Cloyne, Dr. Howard, Dean of Ardagh, and Mr. Gore *, Dean of Down. I have alrei^dy wrote to your * Chaplain to the Houfe of Commons, and brother to Sir ^a^^h Gere I Bart. LORD PRMATE BOULTER. 71 your Grace my fenuments about Dean Maule^ and give you this farther trouble onjy to do juftice to the other two gentlemen, that Dean Howard is account- ed welJ afteded to his Majefty, as is Dean Gore j but Dean Maule is fenior to them both. I am, &c. To the Bi/hop of London. My Lord, Bub/in; June 0^0^ «726. UPON the Lords Juflices meeting yefterday, we joined in a letter to my Lord Lieutenant, naming three candidates for the biflioprick of Cloyne ; Dean Maule, Dean Howard of Ardagh, and Dean Gore of Dcwn: the laft two are counted well affeded to his Majefly, but are juniors to Dean Mau'e \ and the laft is not, that I can hear, in cir- cumflances to afford to take the bidioprick o^ Cloyne, which has a burthen of about 2500/. on it; fo that I make no change in my recommendation by tlie laft. I am, &c. 7o Lord Carteret, My Lord, Dublin, July 2, 1726. SINCE the laft trouble I gave your Excellency, I have received a letter from Dr. Wye of Drogheda (whom your Lordlhip was fo kind as to make your chaplain, and to encourage him to hope for fomewhat in the church) to dcfire that if Dean Howard Ihould be made Biftiop of Cloyne, your Ex- cellency would be pleafed to bcftow on him the deanery of Ardagb, and chanterftiip of Chriji Church : he has been a great many years minifter oi Drogheda, which is a confiderable cure. I have 72 L E T T E R S BY I have likewife had a letter from the Bifliop of Meath, the which I fend enclofed to your Excellen- cy : I fuppofe it is to defire you would be pleafed to fend an order to prefent his fon to the living of Moynet^ about which there may poHibly be a law- fuit with Mr. Carter^ who pretends to be patron of it. I fhall in the mean time endeavour to learn what I can of the title of the crown, and what will be the befl method to maintain it. I am, &c. P. S. Mr. Daniel PuUen^y arrived here yefterday, and was admitted clerk of the council this day. '^o Lord Townfhend. My Lord, Dublin, July 2, 1726. DR. Rowan fellow of the college here defigns to wait on your Lordfhip with a petition to his Majefly, to appoint him Profeflbr of the Law of Nature and Nations in this Univerfity, with a power of taking fuch gentlemen for pupils as are willing to put themfelves under his care, and he will 6blige himfelf to read fuch a number of ledures in a term as fhall be thought proper, without any falary from the crown for the fame, only on condition of enjoy- ing his fellowfhip with all its emoluments, and the like privileges as are already granted to the profeP fors eftablifhed in this college. He has always been well affe(f\ed to his Majefty and his family, and is of abihties to ftil the profef- forfhip he afks for with reputation. And I think it can be of no diflervice to the College, that he fhould enjoy the fame privileges as other profelTors enjoy; and hope that his being encouraged to con- tinue in the college, may help to keep up there a good affedtion to his Majefty. I therefore take the liberty LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 73 liberty to recommend him to your Lord Qiip for your favour in promoting his requeil. I am, My Lord, &c. To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin^ July 6, 1726. IHA.VF, the honour of your Excellency's of the 28th of the lad, and humbly thank you for re- membering the Earl of Rofcommon^ and hope to hear after your Lordfhip's return to London^ that his Ma- jefty is gracioufly pleafed to make an addition to his former penfion. The prefent vacancy of the bidioprick of Cloyne, as it occafions no doubt, very numerous applicati- ons to your Lordfliip, fo it brings fome upon me. Mr. Ahbadie^ Dean of Killalco, has been with me to defire my recommendations to your Excellen cy to be thought of for fome deanery which he fup- pofes may happen to be vacant by promotion on this occafion. He reprefents (and has fhewn me papers from former governors here confirming) that he had a promife in King PFilIiam's time; of the firft confidcrable preferment that fell, (which hap- pened to be the deanery of St. Patrick's) but that deanery being thought improper for one who could fpeak no Englijh^ he was put off with that of Kil- laloo, with a farther promife of making him amends in fomewhat better, which has never been per- formed. But his great uneafinefs, is that many years ago, when there was an extreme (carcity of money here, he was obliged to let all his prefer- ments during bis incumber! cy for about 120 /. per ami. though now they would let for about 300 /. per ann, he would be glad to take a preferment of 200, or 250/. -per ann. for what he has, (which is the deanery of KillaloOy with four fmecures, all in 74 L E T T E R S BY in the gift of the crown united by an epifcopal union pro hac vice.) Your Lordfhip knows him to have the character of a man of learning, and one well afFedled to his Majefly. I have likewife received a letter from Dr. Bong- worthy who would be thankful for either of Dean Howard's, preferments in Dublin, if he fhould be re- moved to (.loyne\ and another from Dr. I'lfdale \.o the fame purpofe, who I perceive has wrote to your Excellency on this occafion. Your Lordfhip knows them both, and will have the goodnefs to excufe my giving you this trouble. We had figned an order for paying the penfions recommended to me by your Excellency before the receipt of yours, and 1 fhall every quarter take care of their fpeedy payment. I am, my Lord, with the greateft refpett and fincerity, Your Excellency's, &c. To the ArchbijJjop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin, July t2, 1726. I HAVE received your Grace's anfwer to mine about marriage licenfes, but I find I have exprefled myfelf fo obfcurely in the cafe as to be mifunderftood. The Archbifhop of Dublin does not pretend to have power to grant any other than epifcopal licenfes, nor does he giant any other; but what I complain of is, that he encourages his clergy to marry at uncanonical hours and in uncanonical places, though their licenfe contains no fuch power. I fhall follow your Grace's kind advice in not being too hafty to engage with fo litigious and obflinate a perfon, whatever my grie- vance may be. On occafion of what your Lordfhip writes to mc about my apparitor-general's patent, I have enquired of my commiiTary how that affair Hands, who tells me LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 75 me that my apparitor-general has nothing to do in, nor fee out of, the prerogative court, for any wills proved there. That the officer there anfwering to the apparitor, is called the marfhal of the court, and has twelve-pence fee for every will proved there, as the apparitor-general has for every will proved in the confiftory court : but that the two jurifdidions are kept as diftind as they could be if they refided in two different perfons. As this is the cafe of my apparitor- general, I think it can be of no fervice in the contro- verfy depending before your Grace, to have a copy of the patent of my apparitor-general •, but if you think it may, I fliall as foon as you are pleafed to intimate it, fend a copy of his patent. My commiflfary likewife tells me, he cannot by any writings now extant (though he has made a mofl dili- gent fearch) trace the leall foot-lleps of any extra- cpifcopal power relating to faculties, grounded on prefcription, but that all fuch power refts here on the King's commilfion ; fo that either the pope had more fully fwallowed vip all metropolitical power here, than he was able to do in England, or thofe antient records, in which fomewhat would have appeared to |:hp contrary, have been deilroyed in the wars. I am, &c. To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin, July 12, 1726. IUnderftand Sir Hans Sloan has waited upon your Grace to defire your favour in introducing Dr. Welfied to the King, with a book he has dedicated to his Majefty. As I believe Sir Hans has read the book, he will be able to give you an account of the nature and defign of it. I can aflure your Grace there are few in the king- (dom of more learning than Dr. Welfied -, and I be- lieve 76 LETTERS BY lieve but very few who have greater Ikill in phyfic than he has -, and as I have intimately known him almoft from the time of our firft going to the univerfity of Oxford^ I can alTure your Grace on my perfonal knowledge, that he has been all along a hearty friend to, and advocate for, the revolution, and a fteady adherent to the interefts of the houfe of Hanover in the worft times, for which I am fatisfied he has been diflrelTed in his bufinefs by the difafFecfted. After what I have with the greateft truth faid, it will be but a flight recommendation of him to your Grace, that he is one of the oldefl and heartieft of my friends, and that whatever countenance you give him, or favour you are pleafed to jfhew him on this or any other occafion, will be efleemed a very parti- cular obligation laid on me, who am with the greateft refpedt and fmcerity *, My Lord, &c. To * The reader hath already obferved with pleafure, what a /lead)' friend his Grace Ihewed hinifelf to be to Mr. Stephens ; to Dr. k^eljied he was ftill more fo, for that worthy gentleman having fallen into decay in the latter part of his life, my Lord Primate, though he was no relation, gave him two hundred pounds a year at the leaft, during his life ; nor was his friendfliip wanting to the Doctor's family after his deceafe ; the Primate then maintained a fon of the Doctor's as a commoner at Hart hall in Oxford, with an intent of effedually providing for him, but the poor young gentleman died before he had taken a degree. Dr. H eljled was one of the editors of the Oxford Pindar, and efleemed an excel- lent Greek fcholar ; he had been chofen immediately after the re- volution, together with the Primate, Dr. M^ilcocks Bifliop of Ro- chejier. Dr. SachenjereU, and the incomparable Mr. /Iddifon, a demy or fellow of Magdalen college, Oxford ; and this went by the name of tlie golden eledion many years afterwards in that college : the moft worthy Dr. Hough was Prefident of Mogdahn college at this time, and was the caufe of my Lord Primate's pro- motion afterwards, by recommending him to be chaplain to Sir Charles Hedges , then fecietary of ftate. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 77 To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, July 14, 1726. WHILST your Excellency was in this king- dom, I delivered you a petition from Mrs. Pepper, widow to General Pepper. I remember your Excellency was then of opinion, as the General had fold out of the army, and died in good circumfhances, fhe could not without very great favour, obtain any penfion as his widow : this makes me rather difcou- rage her from going to England to follicit for a penfi- on, w^ich would engage her in a certain expence, upon a very uncertain profpedl ; but as the General has left a fon behind him, for whom he made no provifion, fhe is very defirous fomewhat may be done for him in regard to his father's fervices : I find, as he is in very indigent circumftances, he would be very glad to ferve his Majefty in any capacity. His mother fays he is very fober, and very well-affedted to his Majefty. As he waits upon you perfonally with this, he can befl fatisfy your Lordfhip as to his own charader, and what he would be thankful for. I take the liber- ty to recommend him to your Excellency's favour to put him in fome way fit for a gentleman, if you lliall find him fuch as Mrs. Pepper has reprefented him to me. I am, my Lord, Sec. To the Duke of Newcallle. My Lord, Dublin, July 0.6, 1726. I HAVE had the honour of your Grace's of the 9th, with the account of his Majefty's having determined to give the bifhoprick of Cloyne to Dean Maukj 78 LETTERS BY Maitle^ and am very thankful to his Majelly for hav- ing that regard to my recommendation, and for his gracious intention to do fomething for my chaplain. Dr. Skirret^ on a proper occafion. We have been expe(fling the two or three laft mails to receive his Majefly's commands by my Lord Lieutenant, about that bifhoprick, but we have not yet heard any . thing from his Excellency *. I am very much obliged to your Grace for taking in good part, the accounts I fend you of affairs here, and my opinion of them ; I am fure they are by me entirely defigned for his Majefty's fervice. The middle of next week I intend to fet out for the north upon my vifitation, which will occafion rjjy ab- fence from Dublin for about a fortnight. lam, &c. To the Bijhop of London. My Lord, Dublin^ July 30, 1726. I A M very much obliged to your Lordfhip for the very diflintft advice you give me relating to the pradlice of the clergy of this city, in marrying at uncanonical hours and places, in virtue of the com- mon licenfes : though it is a direcfl breach of the canon, without any pretence to fupport it, yet I fhall follow your advice, not to begin any information againft any offender, till I have thoroughly mooted the point here. My Lord Chancellor is entirely of your Lordfhip's opinion, as to the courfe to be taken in this affair. I had anfwered your letter relating to the bifhoprick of Cloyne fooner, but that I have been every day ex- pecting that we fhould receive his Majefly's commands about *• His Excellency perhaps was not In hafte to give an account of a tcanfa^on he did not like. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 79 about it ; but they are not yet arrived, which (as I have had a letter from the Duke of Nenjocaftk with the fame advice as your Lordfhip fent me) I am a little furprized at, and fuppofe my Lord Lieutenant muft have kept the order till at his arrival in London he could endeavour to get it altered. I underfland his Lordfhip came to London the end of lafl week, fo that I fuppofe we fliall very fpeedily receive orders one way or another. I am glad to find your Lordiliip has the fame good opinion of Dean Mauk that 1 have ; and am obliged to you for the good advice you give me about my future recommendations. I have followed your Lordfhip's diredlions, and faid nothing of what you wrote about the bilhoprick, flill waiting hisMaJeity's orders, and Dean Mauk has Hill continued in the country, I thank your Lordfhip for the account you give me of Dr. Skirrefs uneafinefs for not being named fingly in my recommendation, and am glad you think I was in the right ; indeed what I proceeded upon was, that if I had named him fingly, and that nomi- nation was not hearkened to, I did not doubt but the bifhoprick would be filled before I could have time to fend over another recommendation. I own if I had been upon the fpot to recommend by word of mouth, I need not have named a fecond, till I had found the firft I named was objected to, but in fo remote a fituation as I am in, 1 could not hope for time for a fecond nomination. I find by an angry letter I recei- ved from the Do6\or, that you were pleafed to fhew him mine, which I could rather wifh had not been done. As we Bifhops hold annual vifitations here, next Wednefday 1 intend to go on the vifitation of my dio- cefe, and fhall be abfent from Dublin about a fort- night. I am, my Lord, &c. 8o LETTERS BY 'To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin^ Aug. 20, 1726. HAD not the honour of your Excellency's of the 26th paft, tiir I was upon my vifitation, which has been the occafion I have anfwered it no Jooner. I have a very good opinion of Dean Howard, as likewife of Mr. Synge and Mr. Ward ^ and fhall be glad to fee the firfl advanced, and the other two well provided for. Upon the receipt of your Lordfhip's, I wrote to have an account fent you of Dean Maule's preferments, which I did not know, but Mr. * Lingen has, I am told, upon my writing, fent your Lordlliip their feveral denominations. The living of Mourn Abbey has 1 believe, ufually gone with the deanery of Cloyne^ which induced Dr. Maule to build a houfe there. The living of Cork is by a6t of parliament, upon the firft vacancy, to be divided into the two parifhes of St. Mary Shandon, and of St. Paul : the firft will upon the divifion be left worth better than 200 f. per ann. the latter worth near 1 00 /. the dean is not yet come to town, but on his arrival, if Mr. Lingefi's account is any ways wrong, I will fend a better. 1 find there is likewife fallen the deanery of CJonfert^ about which the Lords Juflices have written in my abfence. The Bifhop of Clonfert has defired I would recommend Mr. Forbes to your Excellency for that deanery, as one who would be of great fervice to him in the government of that diocefe. The late Dean of Clonfert held two or three little things in the diocefe of Kildare^ concerning which I fin your Excellency has tranfmitted to you the Bi- fhop of Ktldare's memorial, to defire they may be dif- pofed * William l.ingen, Efq; one of the fecretaries to the Lords Juftices. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 8i pofed of to one who may refide on them perfonally. I fhould be glad if your Excellency would by them, or by St. PauTs at Cork^ at prefent provide bread for poor Mr. Horner. There has been a great miftake committed in the King's letter relating to Dean Mauk, by ordering him the fame commsndams his predecefTor held ; this is contrary to what is pradifed commonly, which is where a bilhoprick wants a commendim, to find it in the preferments of the perfon promoted ; and be- fides, I do not hear from any body that the crown has any pretence to the provofbfhip of I'uam. But of this I fhall write farther to your Excellency when Dean Maule comes to town. The affair of Toughall was over before my arrival, but I think it has gone as my Lord Biirlingterformance of the canonry pro- mi fed Mr. Stephens. Whoever they are that make a purti for their friends in oppofition to him, I am fure they cannot have a greater zeal for his Majefly's fervice than I have ; and I queftion whether they are in pofls where they have greater opportunities of ferving his Majef- ty than the flation his Majefty has been gracioufly pleafed to beftow on me ; and I hope I have not been behind them in the fiiccefs I have had in my endea- vours to promote his Majefty 's fervice here. Mr. Stephens is the only clergyman I fhall defu'e to be provided for in England by his Majeily's favour ; and I intreat your Lordfhip to fupport the promife you was fo good as to make me. I am, &:c. To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dtiblin, Feb. 9, 1 7 %S. I Received your Excellency's kind letter of the 2d inflant, and am very much obliged to your Lordfhip for your friendfhip in relation to the filling up of the archbifhoprick of Dublin whenever it hap- pens to be vacant : your Lordfhip was very good in tJie difc«urfe you had with one of the miniflers, and i hope LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 107 I hope they will confider what you reprefented, that it will be for his Majefly's fervice to appoint fuch an Archbifhop as I can depend upon for ading in con- cert with me. I am entirely of opinion that the new Archbifhop ought to be an Englijhman, either already on the bench here, or in England : as for a native of this country, I can hardly doubt but whatever his behaviour has been or his promifes may be, when he is once in that ftation, he will put himfelf at the head of the Irijh interefh in the church at lead ; and he will naturally carry with him the college and moft of the clergy here. I am fatisfied the perfon Mr. ConoUy wants to have in that ftation, is the Bifhop of Elphin^ whom your Excellency knows as well as I do. As for one on the bench in Eng-and^ I hope the miniflry will never think of fending any body hither, becaufe he is reftlefs there, fince his refllelP nefs there will have no confequence to the publick, but he may here be fure of a diffatisfied party to head. His Grace of Dublin tells every body the bifhop of Brijiol has a promife of being his fucceffor, which I fhould be very forry to find true. Since the Archbilhop's illnefs I have talked with the new Bifhop of Derry *, and acquainted him what your Excellency had told me formerly of your kind intentions in relation to him, for which he ex- prefled the greatefb thank fulnefs, but faid, he was by his late tranflation made fo very eafy, that he fhould defire to be excufed from any farther remove ; which I find were your Lordfhip's thoughts about him. About ten days ago I wrote to a Bifhop in England, and another in Ireland, to know their thoughts about removing to Dublin, if a vacancy fhould happen, but • Dr. Doivnes, father of Dr. Doivnes, late Bifliop of Rafhoe, a fon who even did honour to fuch a father. io8 L E T T E R S BY but have not yet received any anfwer from cither of them : what I propofed to myfelf was to be able to lay down two fchemes, either for one of the bench here or one in England <"o have Dublin., as foon as I could have fettled upon receiving their anfwers, and to leave it to the miniftry to judge which they thought moft proper : as foon as I hear from them, I fhall be able to write more explicitly to your Excellency, and do in the mean time defire your friendfhip, that nobody may be pitched upon who may make me uneafy, fince that cannot be done without differving his Majefly. His Grace is rather better than he has been ; but it is very uncertain whether he may ever come abroad again. I am fatisfied there will be a good deal of mur- muring here to fee the archbifhoprick filled with an Englijhman., but I think it is a poll of that confe- quence, as to be worth filling aright, though it fhould occafion murmuring. I thank your Lordfhip for keeping yourfelf on the referve about Diinleej\ till that affair is better cleared up, and your difpofition to confider young PP'ye if there be room for it. We ha\'e a report here that Mr. Smirin is to have the chancellorlliip of St. Patrick's, which as it is ei- ther infeperably annexed to St. Werhurg's, or will leave St. IVerburg*s not worth Mr. Syjige's removing to, if it can be feparated from it, I fufpedt to be a miftake for the chantorfhip of Cbri^ Church. I had yefterday a letter from Mrs. IVefi *, that fhe hears from London, that the penfion to be granted her is likely to be only during pleafure ; fhe is very willing to take it fo, rather than have the affair de- layed for any length of time, but would be very glad if it might be obtained, as was at firft propofed, for a certain * Widow of the late Chancellor of that name. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 109 a certain term of years ; and feems very apprehenfive that upon her death, without a frelli application of friends, it might drop in the new way -, I fent her word, that a great many penfions on this eftablilli- ment, granted only during pleafure, were paid as re- gularly for many years, as if they had been firfl granted for a certain term -, and that as tlie penfion was to be veiled in truftees, her death I thought would make no change if the children were then liv- ing, but that I would write to your Excellency in her behalf, to get the moll advantageous grant for her. I mufl before I conclude, beg pardon of your Ex- cellency for giving you the trouble of fo long a let- ter, and am, with the greatefl refpedl and truth, My Lord, Sec, P. S. \ had forgot to mention to your Excellency that as the Biiliop of Derry's patent was not pail till this week, I believe he cannot receive the Candlefuas rents of that bifhoprick without a letter from the treafury in England on his behalf; I remember I had fuch a letter at my coming hither for the Lammas rents of the primacy : as they amount to near 600 /. which is a fum of confequence to his Lordfhip, I beg leave to recommend his cafe to your Excellency for obtaining this favour for him. in Eng'and there is a claufe of courfe in the patent for the reflitution of temporalities to any Bilhop giving him the profits or rent that became due during the vacancy. . ^0 the Archbifiop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin, Feb. 16, 17 26. HAVE received your Grace's favour of the 7th, ^ and tha'ik y<;^u for your kind promife of fending ma a copy of tl^ prayers for a faii in MS. as foon as the no L E T T E R S BY the thing is fixed. I do not wonder that we at this diftance are unable to judge whether we are to have peace or war, when thofe at the helm, who know all that paflfes, are at a lofs to know which we fhall have. The reafdns of the conduft of Great-Britain are re- printed here, and have given great fatisfadion to his Majefty's friends : as for others nothing can fatisfy them. Our late promotions on the bench have been gene- rally well approved of, and the more as two natives of this country have been confidered in them. His Grace of Dublin has been very ill, but feems now to have got over the prefent . fhock. I wifh his place may be well filled, whenever it pleafes God to remove him. I am forry to hear your Grace has been out of order this winter, but hope the approaching fpring will entirely fet you up. 1 thank you for your kind wifhes, and am with the greateft fmcerity and refped, My Lord, &c. To the Duke of Newcaflle. My Lord, Dublin, Feb. iS^ 1726. WE were yefterday furprized with the melan- choly news that the new * Archbifhop of Cajhel, on Tuefday morning laft died of an apoplexy at the palace at Londonderry. I am very forry we have loft fo learned and worthy a man. We have been very much teafed with applications on this occafion : the Bifliop of Kildare, who is the oldeft Bifhop on the bench here, except the Arch- bifhop of Dublin, would willingly remove thither ; Imuft * Dr. JVilliam Nkholfon, author of an Englijh, Scotch and Irijh Hiftorical Library. He was tranflated from Carlijlt to Derry, and from thence to Cajhtl, and died the month following. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 1 1 1 I muft do him the juftice to fay, he is an hearty Englijhman, and I believe a thorough enemy to the pretender, his only fault is, that he is rather counted a tory here : if he v/ere thought of, the * bifhoprick of Kildare and deanery of Chriji Church will come to be difpofed of: if he is not thought of, and the archbifhoprick of CaJJjel be filled from hence, I fhould recommend the \ Bifhop of Kihnore for Capel, the § Bifhop of Femes for Kilmore^ and the Bifhop of Clonfert for Femes ; and out of confideration of his brother Sir Ralph Gore^ Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Dean of Dowti for the bifhoprick of Clonfert, , But as we are now but nine Englijh Bifhops on the bench here out of two and twenty ; I mufl inform your Grace that I think it would be for his Majefty's fervice to fill Cajhel from the bench in England, or to fend one from England to the bifhoprick vacant by any tranflations made here : if the firft is done I hope nobody will be fent hither from the bench in Eng- land for being reftlefs or good for nothing there, or who is not likely to agree with me, fince this will certainly weaken the Englijh interefl here. If the latter method be taken, I hope a divine of fome cha- radter will be fent hither, fince the encouragement is not contemptible, Kildare and ChriJI Church being worth t6oo /. per ann. and Clonfert worth better than 1 200 /. per ann. I hope likewife that whatever recommendations go from hence, none but a native of England will be thought of for Cajhel. I am, my Lord, &c. * Dr. Welbore Ellis. •j- Dr. Tiviothy Godwin. § Dr. Jofiah Hort. 112 L E T T E R S BY 7(7 Lord Carteret, My Lord, Duhlm, Feb. i8, 1726'. WE had yefterday the melancholy news, that the Archbilhop of Cajhel died of an apoplexy on ^nefday morning laft at Londonderry. I am afraid his family will lofe about 500 /. by his late tranf- lation. Upon this vacancy of the Archbifhopriek, the Bifhop of Kildare has been with me and the other Lords Juftices, and defires to be confidered as being the oldeft bifhop on the bench except his Grace of Dublin : he is upon all occafions a moft hearty Lng- lijhman, and I believe an enemy to the pretender ^ but your Excellency knows he is rather a tory. The Bifhop of Kilmore is the next Englijhmany that may be thought of, and I fcarce doubt but he would take Cajhd., though he is not here to be afked the queftion. The Bifhop of Femes would either take Cajhel.^ if the Bifhop of Kilmore fhould be unwiUing to remove, or take Kilmore if he accepts Cajhel. The Bifhop of Cknfert would be very glad to fuc- ceed the Bifhop of Femes., though he will hardly gain any thing by the remove ; but as he has the redory of Louth in commendam, which whenever he leaves it, will fail into the vicarage, and not come to the government to difpofe of, he would defire to keep that, without having the commendam the prefent Bifhop of Femes erijoys : and in this cafe there will be a benefice of 290 /. -per ami. to be given either as a commendam to the new Bifhop of Clonfert^ or as your Excellency fhall judge proper. For the bilhoprick of Clmfert there are feveral who would gladly fucceed to it Dean Daniel, Dean Bobbins, Dean Crqfs, but as Sir Ralph Gore has been with LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 113 with the Lords Juftices to recommend his brother the Dean of Down to the bifhoprick that lliall be left vacant upon other tranflations, and anfwers for his brother's behaviour : I think it will be rnoft, advifea- ble to gratify Sir Ralph Gore. But if the Bifhop of Kildare fhould be tranflated to CdJJjel., I could wifh fome Englijhman were to fuc- ceed him \ and if it were one that would be a proper perfon to fucceed to Dtib'in upon a vacancy it would be the lefs invidious, but in that view it ought to be one from the bench in England., which it may very well be, fince Kildare and Chriji Church are a good 1 600 /. per annum. Though the Billiop of Elphin is mentioned in our common letter, and probably Mr. ConoHy may write in his behalf, yet I believe your Excellency will be of my opinion, that it will be too dangerous a ftep to trull him in that pofh. My Lord Chancellor and I have been computing, that if fome perfon be not now brought over from England to the bench, there will be thirteen * Irijb to nine English BiiTiops here, which we think will be a dangerous fituation. LTpon the encouragement your Excellency has given me, I take the liberty to acquaint you, that the oldefh friend I have on the bench in England^ is Dr. Vo L. I. H Smal broke, * February, 1770. At this time there are but two archbifhops, natives of Ireland, Dr. Arthur Smith of" Dublin, and Dr. Michael Cox of Cajhel. The fix fufFragan bifliops, are, the honourable and right reverend Dr. Henry Maxiuell, of iVIeath, Dr. Jemmet Bt o'vone^ of Cork, Dr. Nicholas Synge, of Killaloo, Dr. James Lejlie, of Limerick, Dr. William Gore, of Elphin, and Dr. Charles Agar, of Clojne, There was at one time in the Houfe of Lords of Ireland, a majority of native bifhops ; all of whom were gentlemen of good families, of the greateft charity, piety and learning, among which were five, who had been fellows of the univerfity, to v/ir. Dr. Hoixjard oi Elphin, Dr.Edtvard Synge, of Clonfert, Dr. Claytotiy of Cork, Dr. IVhetcombe, Archbifhop of Cajhel, and Dr. Berkeley^ Bilhop of Clojne. 114 L E T T E R S BY Smalbroke^ Bifhop of St. David's^ and that I fhould be very glad to fee him here ; he has heard very ill reports of the air of Dublin^ and been frighted with paying down 2000/. for buildings on that archbi- fhoprick. But poflibly he may not be afraid of Cafbely which is moft certainly in a good air, and where there is nothing to pay. I fhall by this poll write to him, to wait on your Excellency to deliver his own fentiments. I fhould be fatisfied if the Bifhop of Glocejier or Bangor were fent hither either on this occafion, or to Dtiblin when it falls, but I have formerly mentioned * two on the bench to your Lordfhip, whom 1 fhould be forry to fee here. I am, &c. 'To the Bifhop of London, My Lord, Dublin^ Feb. ii, 1726. I AM forry that I have occafion to acquaint your Lordfhip, that your very good friend the Archbi- fhop of Cafhel^ was on Tiiefday morning laft found dead on the floor in his room at Londonderry : we have lofl a very worthy man, and I fear his family will lofe 500/. by his late tranflation. The fcheme I would recommend if the Archbifhoprick of Cajhel is to be filled up from hence, is the Bifhop of Kilmore to have Cafhe^., the Bifhop of Femes to have Kilmore, and the Bifhop of Clonfert to have Femes, and on account of the worth and intereft of his brother Sir Ralph Gore, Chancellor of the Exchequer here, the Dean of Down to have the biihoprick of Clon- fert. But * The Bifliop of Bri^ol was certainly one of the two. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 115 But I muil own as by the death of Archbifhop Nicholjon ihere are but nine Englifh Bifhops on the bench here, and by this fcheme there will be thir- teen Irijh^ I cannot but think it will be mofi: for his Majefly's lervice either to fend one from the bench in England to Cajhel or Kilmo'e, ( which latter is worth about 2000/. per atm.) or elfe to put an En^ glijhman into Clonfert^ that the Englifh intereil may not decreafe here. Your Lordfhip knows the oldeft friend I have on the bench is the Bifhop of St. Da- vid's, whom I ihould be glad to fee here i but I hope if he is not fent, no perfon will be fent hither for being reftlefs and uneafy there, or good for no- thing, or that is not likely to agree with me. The Bifhop of Kildare would gladly go to Cafhel^ who is the fenior on the bench, except the Archbi- fhop of Dublin ; he is a hearty EngUpjman^ and I believe an utter enemy to the pretender, but he is counted a tory here. If he fhould be tranflated to Cajhel, his bifhoprick and the deanery of Chriji Church are worth an Englijhman's coming for, being a good 1600/. per ann. Mr. Saul^ formerly of Magdalen College, and in your Lordfhip's former diocefe of Lincoln^ would I do not queftion willingly take the bifhoprick of Clonfert; which is better than 1200/. per ann. or Kildare and Chriji Church \ your Lordfhip knows him very well, but I fhould be forry to have fome weak perfon fent hither. As I do not know but very prefling inflances may be made from hence, to have the Bifhop of * El- phin tranflated to Cafloel, I muft acquaint your Lordfhip that he is an enterprizing man, and I do not doubt but he would foon fet himfelf, if he had H 2 that * Dr. Iheophilus Bolton, a man of great learning, and vaft abilities. ii6 L E T T E R S by that flation, at the head of the Iriflj intereft here *. 1 am, My Lord, &c. To Lord Carteret, My Lord, Dublin^ Mar. 7, 1726. I HAD this day the honour of two of your Ex- cellency's, one of the 21ft, the other of the 25th of Ftbiunry [all. Since I wrote to youi Lordfhip about Mr. IVye^ Mr. Prime Serjeant has been with me, in favour of a brother of his, who has a hving of about loo/. per ann. in my gift, whicli he would willingly quit for Dunleer^ if it be in the gift of the crown. It is not for the advantage in point of profit that he would make the exchange, but that he would come nearer Drogheda, where he was born, and where fome of his relations live ; he is an elderly bat- chelor in very good circumftanccs, and 1 hope has generofity enough to be perfuaded to build a parfonage houfe at Dunkcr^ if he had that living. As I know the regard your Excellency has for the Prime Serjeant, and as I fhould be willing myfelf to oblige both him and his brother, and as in this fcheme Mr, fFye will have a living with a parfon- age houfe upon it, as there is on Mr. Singleton's pre- fent living, I did not difcourage the Prime Serjeant from writing to your Lordflilp in favour of his bro- ther ; and if 1 (ee Mr. ff'^e l^efore 1 know your far- ther pleafure, I will tell him I liave heard from your Excellency, that if Dunker is in the gift of the crown, fome provifion fhall be made for him. The Crown-follicitor has been ordered to attend me, to have inftrudtions from me what enquiries he is * He did fo when lie was afterwards made ArchbiOiop of C(i(f.^ely to his great honour, and tlie benefit of his country. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 117 is to make in the offices, to know whether the crown has a right to Dunleer or not : but he has not yet come near me ; I fliall endeavour to quicken him, and as loon as we know any thing certain in this affair, we fhali acquaint your Lordfliip with it. I think his Majefty's grant to Mrs. Hu[ft is very kind, and though it be during pleaiure, will proba- bly be continued as long as fhe lives, or her children can be fuppofed to want it; and I fear if it had been for a certain term of years, and had not been veiled in proper truflees, it had foon been lold for ready money. As to a memorial from the Bifhop of * Derry^ 1 re- member 1 had the quarter due in the vacancy grant- ed me, without a memorial. We lliall to-morrow acquaint your Lordfhip with the vacancy of the li- ving in that diocefe, of which I thought we had wrote by the fame poft as the Bifhop. I am very much obliged to your Lordfhip for the kind difcourfe you had with the Bifhop of St. Da- vid's^ and find him not fo much afraid of Ireland as he was before ; when I have fent him fome particu- lars about the archbifhoprick of Dublin^ which he wants to know, I believe he will be very well fatif- fied about taking Dublin if he can, when it fails; and 1 Ihall be very much obliged to your Excellency for your kind concurrence on that occafion. § 1 find your Lordlliip of different I'entiments from what 1 have about filling C^j^jf/'i I fhould have been very glad if it had fallen at any time when I could have had a perfonal conference with you on that fub- jed. 1 rather think the Bilhop of Elpbin Ihould be kept longer in a flate of probation ; 1 am fatisfied his * Dr. Henry Do^ns, who was tranflated from Meath to this Bilhoprick. § My Lord Primate's opinion prevailed at this time. ii8 L E T T E R S BY his great friend is Mr. Conolly, and that mod of thofe who follicited here for him, were fet on by him ; but it is with great fatisfadtion that I find you think it is not convenient to place him in the fee of Dublin ; and indeed I think none but a native of England ought to be in that Itation. 1 fhall cheerfully fhew what countenance I can to the gentlemen you are pleafed to name for the Bi- fhop of Kil/alas preferments, particularly to Mr. Saurin^ who as being a (Iranger, will moft want it. We fhall to-morrow give the neceffary orders about difpatching their inftruments. I am. Your Excellency's, &c. ^0 Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, Mar. ii, 1726. TH E occafion of my troubling your Excellent cy at this time, is to put you in mind that it is generally the cuftom for the Bilhop of Meath to be one of the Privy Council here, which if your Lordfhip approves of, a warrant might foon be fent to admit the new Bifliop. 1 have lately had fome difcourfe with fome officers here, who are under great apprehenfions of the dif- ficulty there will be of raifing in Enghjid the addi- tional men defigned for the ieveral companies here, after the Englijb levies are made, and the fummer is come on : and they think if care was taken to ad- mit none into the fervice but proteftants, who are the fons of proteftants, it might be very eafy to raife the number wanted in the north of this king- dom, out of perfons very well affeded to his Ma- jefty. As our foot is now reduced to eleven batta- lions, and there can be no doubt but the emiffaries of Spain are at work here to difpofe the papifts to make a difturbance -, if this method were approved - of, LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 119 of, we might foon have our battalions full, to our greater fecurity. I am, my Lord, &c. Ti? the Duke of Newcaflle. My Lord, Dublin^ Mar. 1 1, 1726. IH AV E of late been talking with feveral officers of the army, who are very apprehenfive, that confidering the great levies of men now making in England^ and that the fummer comes on apace, it will be very difficult to raife the number of men with which our companies are to be augmented, if they are allowed to beat up for volunteers only in Gitat Britaiyi: and they humbly think that if leave were given to raife men in this country, and none to be admitted but fuch as can have good certificates of their being proteftants ihemfelves, and that their parents were likewife proteftants, it would be eafy in a lliort time to raife the number wanted here, in the north of this kingdom, of men hearty and zea- lous for his Majeft:y and his family. As we have no more than eleven battalions of foot left in this kingdom, it would be of fervice to- wards keeping ihings quiet here, to have our com- panies augmented as foon as may be ; and it would likewile difcourage the papifts from too haftily lift:- eni; g to the emidaries of Sfain^ who are no doubt at piefent very bufy amongft: them, and giving them hopes ot fome dift;urbance here. J thought it my duty to tranfinit to your Grace what is fuggeiled here, as proper for his Majefty's fervice, but v;iih an entire fubmilTion to better judges. I am, my Lord, &c. 3"o I20 L E T T E R S BY To the Bijhop of London. My Lord, Dublin^ Mar. i6, 1726. I HAVE troubled your Lordfhip but with one letter about the archbillioprick of Cajhel^ be- caufe I fuppoled that affair would have been foon lettled i but as it runs into fome length, and we have various reports about it, 1 Hiall venture fend- ing this letter, though it may poflibly come too late to fignify any thing. All the Engiijh here think it will be a dangerous flep to make the BiOiop of Elphin Archbifhop. As \o another fcheme wrote from EiJgland, of fending one from thence either to Kilmore or Fernes^ as it will be one who is not on the bench in England^ I think he may very well begin with Cloyiferty which is worth 1500/. per ami. and liardly lOo/. per ann. jefs than Ferries^ and then three on the bench will be obliged here. I have by me a letter of your Lordfhip's, which I fhall fpeedily anfwer. I am, &c. 7(9 the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ Mar. i 8, 1 726. UPON Dr. Skirrei's making a jefl of my ha- ving recommended him to Killala^ I fent him word that 1 thought myfelf difcharged from recom- mending him any more ; and 1 have fince given him 100/. to make him amends for his twojournies liilher ^ fo that I have now done with him. 1 do not find we have yet had a new application in form about Mr. Monroe^s children i when we have 1 iliali ferve them what 1 can on account of your Lordfhip's recommendation. I do LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 121 I do not know any thing of the prefent patent here for printing common prayer books : there is one edition in folio here, that is at leall equal to the beft in England. If any (uch application is made as your Lordlhip mentions, I ihall be ready to do any thing that is fair and reafonable for one whom you are pleafed to concern yourfelf for. We are in great expectation here of what the Com- mons did laft Monday about the Emperor's memorial. I was in hopes to have heard before this from your Lordfhip, what is doing about the archbiflioprick of CaJheL I am, &c. To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin, Mar. 30, 1727. WE h::ve lately received his Majelty's com- mands about augmenting the eleven batta- lions here, and have given all the neccffary orders on that occafion, and have the money ready to ad- vance to the recruiiing officers. By the reports we have here, I am afraid Serjeant Birch will not come hither, but I hope my Lord Chancellor will fend us one in his room that is tho- roughly well afteded. 1 was in hopes we fhould have known his Majefty's pleafure about the Archbifhoprick of Cajlel before this. As there muft have been fome rubs in that affair, I could wifh your Grace had been at ieifure to let mc know them, and I might pollibly have cleared up any difficulty. 1 Ihould guefs by the fly- ing accounts we have, that the Bifhop of Ktimore will be removed to that Archbifhoprick : he is the beft beloved by his Majefty's friends of any that have been mentioned from England^ as ftanding here in competition for that fee, as well as much lenior to the 122 L E T T E R S BY fhe others, which iifed to be a con fi deration of weight m England \ and the Englifh here think it of great confequence that it fhould be given to an Engltjh- man. Every thing here is very quiet, except that in fpight of all our endeavours, recruits are ftill going off for Spain as well as France. A Bill that is going on in England for reverfing an outlawry * here, gives very great uneafmefs, both as it will afFeit the poffeflions of feveral who have been fair purchafers under the faith of an aift of parliament here •, and as it is looked on as a leading cafe to others of the fame nature, which may fhake the property of many hundreds in this nation. I am, &c. To Lord Carteret. iMy Lord, Dublin, A/^r. 30, 1727. IH A D this day the honour of your Excellency's of the 25th; I am forry I fhould be guilty of Juch a negled as not to date my letter. I am now pretty well mafter of what title the crown has to Dunlecr^ which the Attorney General is perfuaded is a very good one. When the Prime Ser- jeant returns from the circuit, 1 will talk with him about it, and if his brother is willing to fupport the title of the crown, as 1 believe he will, 1 fhall im- mediately give your Lordfhip advice of it, in order to receive your commands ; and 1 fhall take care of Mr. M^ye. When the Attorney General arrives, he will talk with your Lordfhip about this affair. Mr. Gardiner has the money ordered for the new levies, ready to advance to the officers, and likewife a month's fubfiflaiicc far April, part of which will go for levy money. ^ Wc * Suppofed to be that of Lord CUncarty. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. ijj We have figned the proper orders relating to the pay of the four regiments, from Cbyijtmas to l.ady- day ; and hkewife to place a lerjeant, corporal, di um- rner, and twenty-five private men in each company on the military eftablilliment, fiom Lady-day jail. We have been frequently prelTing Mr. Gardiner to get the publick accounts ready to be audired as foon as podible ; and he this day told me the re- mainder of Mr. Prat's accounts, from Ch>ijtmas, 1724, to the time of his being difmifled, are now engrofling ; and that his clerks have aimed finilhed the accounts from thence to Chnjtmas^ '^l'^5-> which he will foon order to be engroiled ; but he thinks that it would fave a great deal of trouble, and 300/. to the government, if the accounts from Cbrijimas^ 1725, to Lady-day^ 1727, were audited at once, and not broke into two audits : but as your Lordfhip has intimated formerly, you would have them paf- fed from Chtijlmas^ 1725, to Lady-day^ 1726, and then from Lady-day^ 1726, to Lady-day^ 1727, we fhall make no alteration in that method, without knowing your pleafure. My Lord Chief Baron vv'ill fet about auditing the remainder of Mr. Prat's ac- counts as foon as the Barons return from their cir- cuits ; and will afterwards make all polfibie difpatcJi that the approaching term will allow in auditing the reft of the accounts to Lady-day laft. I am glad to find an alteration is made as to the height of the men required in former levies ; fince it was thought it would have been pretty difficult to raife the number vyanted, if tliat fize had been in- fifted on. As the chief reafon why a general officer viewed all the recruits as they arrived from Englatid^ was to fee that they anfwered that ftandard, your Excel- lency will be the bcft judge, whether there will now be any occafion for fending a general officer to Co'k to view the new levies as they arrive there. I am 124 L E T T E R S BY I am forry to hear it reported that Serjeant Birch refufes to come hither, but I hope we fhall have another lent us that is thoroughly well affedted. 1 am, &c. To the ArchbiJJjop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin^ Mar, i, 1727. ON Monday laft Mr. Saurin * came to me with your Grace's letter of the 7 th pafl ; I recom- mended him to the Bifhop of Kildare^ who inftalled him on Thurfday in the chantorfliip oVChriJi Churchy and is ready to do him what fervice lies in his power. I am glad to hear ^o good a characfter of this gentle- man from your Grace, and hope he may be of fer- vice in this church. I fhall very readily Ihew him what favour I can. I fear, notwithftanding fome accounts from Eng- land flatter us with the hopes of a peace, we fhall have a war. The Emperor feenis by his carriage to be bent on it, and the Spaniards have- now money to carry it on for fome time. Whenever a war is declared, and a day of fading fettled in Engiand^ I iliall exped to be favoured with the form of prayer from your Grace. What has kept the difpofal of the archbifhoprick of Cafhel fo long in fufpence 1 cannot tell : 1 hope as fome accounts fuggefl, it will be given to the BilTiop of Kilmore^ who is very well beloved here, and many years fenior to thofe who are talked of as his competitors. We have loft a very valuable and ufefui perfon in the late Archbifhop of Ca- God * He was a very worthy Frefuh refugee, § Nicbot/ofi. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 125 God preferve his Majefty if he commands abroad, and give him good fuccefs ! I hope your Grace will recover your ftrength as the warm weather comes on, and I heartily wifli ycu all health and happinefs. I am, My Lord, 8cc, I'd the Bifhop of London, My Lord, Dublin, Apr. i, 1727. IH AV E received your Lordfhip's of the nth paft, by Mr. Saurtn, and am glad to find lie is a gentleman of fo good a charac'ter ; I have re- commended him to the Bifliop of Kildare, who is ready to do him any fervice in his power, and has inftalled him lad Tburfday in his chantorfhip. I fhall be always ready to fhew him what countenance I can. I hope the BiChop of Kilmore is to go to Cajhel, as our moft authentick accounts run here ; there is not one on the bench better beloved by the King's friends here, and he is feveral years fenior to all who are talked of as his competitors. I fhould have been glad to have heard from your Lordfhip pretty early how things were likely to go, but 1 fuppofe the uncertainty of what was defigned might hinder you from writing. We a little impatiently exped fome news from Gibraltar, though the officers here that have been ac that place, give fuch accounts of it, that we are not apprehenfive the Spaniards can take it. I muft defire your Lordfnip's friendfhip to Mr, Stephens, in whofe behalf I fome time fince wrote a very preffing Letter to my Lord TownJJjend, 1 am, &:c. To 126 L E T T E R S BY To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, Apr. i, 1727. THOUGH we have in common this day put your Excellency in mind of our being without any guard againft Spanijh privateers, yet I cannot help farther fuggefling, that there is no doubt but that we have too many here who neither want the difpofition nor opportunity to give an account of our nakednefs to Spain, and that it may be a temptation to the enemy, if it be only for the difgrace of the thing, to come and infult us in the very harbour of Dublin. I am, &c. , To the Bijhop of London. My Lord, Dublin, Apr. 25, 1727. AS I have heard nothing from your Lordfhip fince mine of the firft inftant, and as we have not yet had any orders about the archbifhoprick of Cajljel, I cannot help writing a line or two more on that fubjeft, though it may pofTibly come too late. It is reported here that our Speaker has wrote that the Houfe of Commons will be very much difobliged if the Bifhop of Elphin has not Cajhel. I am on the contrary affured, that among the whigs of that houfe, letting afide the Speaker's creatures and dependants, there is hardly one who will not be better pleafed to liave the Bidiop of Kilmore made Archbilliop than the Bilhop of Elphin. I mull likewife inform you, that I have difcourfed with every EngUJIjman of confequence in this town, whether clergy or laity, and can afllire you that there is not one Vr'ho is not of opinion that the giving the arch- LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 127 archbifhpprick to Billiop Bolton will be a very great blow to the Englijh intereft in this kingdom. ( would beg of your Lordfliip if the affair be not over, to reprefent this to the miniftry. I Ihall likewife write a letter to the Duke of New- cajih^ to defire the miniftry to confider who is the proper perfon to recommend to billiopricks here, an Irifh Speaker, or an Engli'h Primate *. I fhali trou- ble your Grace no farther at prefent, and am. My Lord, &c. "To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, Apr. 2^^ '727. SINCE the Prime Serjeant t is returned from the circuit, he has been looking over the title of the crown to the living of Danker and the other pa- rifhes that are, or are fuppofed to be united to it ^ and is defirous to have a prefentation to them for his bro- ther John Singleton. As we are not well able to fet- tle whether they are rectories or vicarages, or which are one which the other, he thinks it will be iafeil if your Excellency pleafes to diredl that Mr. John Singleton be prefented to the parifhes of Dunleer, Ca- poche, Dijert, Moylare, Drwncarre., and Monajler- boys, and againft the patent is drawn, we will take care to give every pariih its proper title of redtory or vicarage. I begin now to be prefled by the clerk prefented by Mr. 'Tenifon, who has this day brought his pre- fenta- * Blfhop Bolton was at this time let afide, and Dr. Godivin, Bi- fliop of Kilmore appointed j but afterwards the necefliry of af- fairs required, as the Primate thought, that Bifhop Bolton IhouM be appointed, and it was accordingly done ; but the government had reafon afterwards to repent of what they then did. -f- Singleton. 128 L E T T E R S BY fentation ; and, would willingly have a prefentation from the crown to oppofe to theirs, as foon as may be. I have Hill very good reafon to believe the title to all to be in the crown, or at leafl this turn, if there has been a valid union ; and if not, all are certainly in the crown, except Dunher. I am, My Lord, &c. 'To the 'Duke of Newcaflle, My Lord, Dublin^ Apr. 29, 1727. TH E bearer colonel Caruallier * defired I would favour him with a letter to introduce him to your Grace ; if there had been occafion to raife any new regiments, he would have been glad to have ferved his Majefty at this jundure in the new levies, As there has been lately a promotion of general offi- cers, and fome of his juniors have been made briga- diers, he comes over to England in hopes that it was purely his being out of the way that made him be forgotten. The figure he made, and the faithfulnefs and the courage with which he ferved the crown in the laft war, are the occafion of my recommend- ing him to your Grace's favour and protedion in this affair, though it be fo much out of my fphere. I am. Your Grace's, &c. TV * /V. B. This is that colonel Ca'-jallier who made (o great a figure in the Cfuemes^ againft the powerful armies of France , he Wis ia fome relpefts the PucU of thofc Jays. w LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 129 ^0 Lord TownOiend. My Lord, Dublin^ May 9, 1727. E were for two or three pofls here under a very great concern upon the news we received of the dangerous flate of health Sir Robert Walpole was in : his death will at any time be a very great lofs, but we could not but efleem it a more than or- dinary ftroke, if it had happened at this critical con- jundlure. As our repeated accounts from England now ■ give us afTurance that he is out of all danger, I can- not omit congratulating your Lordlhip on the happy occafion of his recovery, which muft be a great fa- tisfadtion to you, both on account of the private re- lation and friendlhip between you *, and your Lord- fhip's concern for the publick interefl. I am, Sec. To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, May g, 1727. WE had this morning advice that Mr. Forbes is dead : he was Vicar of Dunboyne cum Kilbride, and minifler of Ballymaglejjan, both in the diocefe of Meath : the former is reputed to be worth 150 or 160/. per ami. and is undoubtedly in the gift of the crown : the latter is worth about 60 1, per ann. and is fuppofed to be in the gift of the crown, but is claimed by the Bifhop of Meath, as being in his patronage. As we do not meet till to- V o L. I. I morrow, * Thefe two friends and brothers-in-law unhappily differed af- terwards. Lord TonvnJJjend retired into the country, and was the greatell improver of Land ever known in Norfolk ; he introduced rfie cultivation of turnips. I30 L E T T E R S BY morrow, I was willing to give your Excellency the carliefl: advice I could of this vacancy. The Bifhop of * Meath has been with me to de- fire I would recommend Dr. Philip JVhittingham for the vicarage of Dunhoyne cum Kilbride : if he is pre- ferred to it, he muil quit the parifh of Moylijker in IVeft Meath, worth from 80 to 100 /. per ann. which is hkewife in the gift of the crov/n, to which the Bi- fhop would willingly recommend Mr. Hugh Vaughan, whom we have formerly recommended to your Ex- cellency for fome fmall living. I know Dr. IVhutingham to be a very worthy man, who has a wife and feveral children ; and Mr. Vaughan is one of a good charadler. The Chancel- lor of the Exchequer and Dr. Coghill have been with me likewife to recommend Mr. Rogers, Fellow of the College, to the living of Bnrymagkffan -, "t (he is one of a very fair character) if that living be in the gift of the crown. This evening Mr. Dean Winter has been with me, to apply for Mr. Horner to fucceed to the living of Dunhoyne, and himfelf to fucceed to the living of Clayne, which Mr. Horner now has. Dunhoyne is better than Clayne, and be fide there is a powerful popifh gentleman in Clayne parifh, that gives Mr. Horner a great deal of trouble, and whom the Dean will be better able to deal with, as he is a native, and one of a good eftate. As for the Dean and Mr. Horner, your Excellency knows them both fo well, that 1 need fay nothing of them. I am, My Lord, &c. "to * Dr. Ralph Lainbert. •j- My Lord Primate provided for this gentleman afterward* with one of his own livings : he was efteemed muck. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 131 To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, May 13, 1727. HAD the honour of your Excellency's of the 6th, and we have likewife had your order about Mr. Singleton's prefentation. I have been for near three months preflmg the proper officers to get the papers out of the Rolls office, that w^ill fhew whe- ther Mr. I'enifon has any title to Dimleer, or whether it is in the crown : but partly with the affizes inter- vening and partly the natural lazinefs of people here^ 1 have not yet LompafTed it -, but on tVednefday next am promifed this affair fhall come before the Attor- ney-General in form, and if he reports the patronage to be in the crown, we fhall prefent Mr, Singleton to it I (hall take care pf Mr. ff^ye on this occafion, accord- ing to my promife. We have fpared no preffing to get Mr. Pratt's af- fairs ended, and hope in a little time to fell his eflate. There fhall be nothing wanting on our parts to finifh his matters, and to have Mr. Gardiner's * account paffed to Lady-day laft, before your Excellency's ar- rival here. Your Lordfhip will by this pofl receive an account of what recruits are arrived here already ; and we fhall ftill fend frefh accounts every fortnight accord- ing to your order. I am, &c* I 2 To * Mr. Gardiner fucceeded Mr. Pfati ; the firft named perhaps the beft j the laft the worft Deputy Yice-Treafurer that ever was in Ireland. 132 L E T T E R S BY To the Duke of Newcaftle, My Lord, Dublin^ May 20, 1727. I HAVE fo long forborn troubling your Grace about the archbilTioprick of CaJJjel^ in expedla- tion of our fpeedily receiving his Majefly's com- mands, about it ; but as no orders are yet come, and the reports we have here about what is intended are various, and his Majefty's fpeedy going abroad mufl occafion fome determination in that affair very foon, your Grace will excufe my giving yoii this trouble to renew my recommendations of Dr. Godivin^ Biihop of Kilmore, to the archbifhoprick of CaJJjel^ and of Dr. Hort^ Bifhop of Femes, to the bilTiopricks of Kihnore and Ardagh. The prefent Bifhop of Kihnore has been fome years longer on the bench than any that have been talked of for the archbifhoprick ; and is, I may fafely fay, the beft beloved by his Majefty's friends here, of any EngliJJj Bifhop : the Bifhop of Femes is fenior to the Bilhop of Elphin. If it be defigned I fhould have that weight with the Bifhops as to difpofe them to unite in his Majef- ty's fervice here, I think my recommendation ought to be regarded on this occafion ; and I can affure your Grace, it is not any particular friendfhip to the Bifhop of Kihnore, but a regard to his worth, and to the moft likely method of keeping up a good un- derftanding among his Majefty's friends on the bench, that makes me fo hearty in recommending him. I hope I may depend on your Grace's friendfhip to fr.pport me in this affair, and fliall always remain. My Lord, &c. To LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 133 To the fame. 'My Lord, Dublin, May, 23, 1727^ I Should fooner have acknowledged the receipt of your Grace's recommendation of the 1 1 th inft. but that upon fpeaking to my Lord Chancellor about the * Lady TyrconnePs affair, be told me he had lately increafed the number of delegates in her caufe, and that he would immediately acquaint your Grace with it. As the affair lay wholly in my Chan- cellor's power, and was over before your Grace's writing, 1 had not an opportunity of (hewing my' readinefs to comply with your recommendations on this occafion, but when I have, I iTiall always fliew that I am, &c. To the Archhijhop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin, May 27,, 1727. I Had the honour of your Grace's of the 25th paft ; and am of your opinion that it would have been better to have held a fafl at the beginning of the felTions : but I fuppofe the miniflry might fear that fuch a ftep would have been interpreted a fare prognoftick of a war, and might have given a fhock to publick credit. I am forry that the blame of this omilfion is unjuftly thrown on your Grace. I find by the King's fpeech, it is flill uncertain whether we fhall have peace or war ; if the latter, I depend on your goodnefs to fend me the form of prayer for the fafl. We ■ Relidl of the Duke of Tyrconnel, who fucceeded Lord Cla- rendon as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the reign of 'James \{. Her Grace was a filler to Smab, Dutchefs of Murlborou^ht 134 L E T T E R S BY We have yet no orders about Cajhel, and I am forry that my Lord Lieutenant * fhould infift fo much for one, who is much a junior, and as dangerous an Irifhman as any on the bench, I have heard your Grace has been out of order of late, but at the fame time I had the fatisfadtion to be informed that you was pretty well again. I heartily wifh your Grace all health and happinefs, and am, My Lord, &c. To Lord Carteret, My Lord, Dublin^ May 30, 1727, LAST Saturday we fent your Excellency a me- morial relating to the living of CahircongUJh m the diocefe of Cajhel^ fallen to the crown by the vacancy of the archbifhoprick. Mr. Hugh Faughajt, whom your Excellency named, to Mr. Samfofi's living m Cork^ if it had been in the gift of the crown, has been with me this evening to defire me to recommend him for this living, and will to-morrow deliver in a memorial on thai fubjed:, which we (hall tranfmit to your Lordfhip ; but as he hears the former memo- rialift is gone for England to folicit for it, he wa§ defirous another poft might not be loll. I underfland we fliall have a third memorial from Mr. Gregory^ who has been curate there for fome years, which we fhall likewife fend your Excellen- cy. * N. B. The Lord Lieutenant did not then carry his point againft the Primate, though he had the affirtance of the Speaker to back his recommendation ; Bifhop Bolton was a high tory, and a great friend of Dean Sivift's, and was undoubtedly a man of abilities ; more need not be faid, as his true character may be ealily drawn from thefe letters. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER.' 135 cy. I hear the the living is worth from 1 60 to 200 /. per ann. lam, &c, To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, Jiim 4, 1727. YESTERDAY we had advice that Mr. Juf- tice * Parndl was dead at his houfe in the country, Mr. Prime Serjeant, the Attorney and Sol- hcitor-General, have made no application about fuc- ceeding to his place : but I hear they have not made very pofitive declarations againft accepting it. Mr. Dixon, who has a very good character both for his abilities and for his affection to his Majefly, has made fome application to be recommended ; and the Lords Juflices are difpofed to recommend him, if thofe above-mentioned are not for removing ; which, I find, as the fefllon of parliament is coming on, it is rather wilhed the5^ may not defire. But I find we all think, as term is over, and confidering the pre- fent circumftances, it may be better to keep that place open for fome time. My Lord Chancellor will write more fully on this fubjedt to your Excellency. I am. My Lord, &c. To the Diike of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin, June 6, 1727. I A M fenfible of the trouble I have lately given your Grace with repeated letters relating to the archbifhoprick of Caji:el, at a time you was over much preffed with bufmefs of much greater confe- quence * He was brother to the Rev. Dr. P«r«f// the celebrated poef. 136 L E T T E R S BY quence to the pnblick ; and I do not wonder that your Lordfhip could not find leifure to return any anfwer : but by his Majefty's letters we received yef- terday relating to that affair, I find I was not forgot ; I moft humbly thank your Grace for fapporting my recommendations on this occafion, which I can af- fure you had no other intention than his Majefly's ferv'ice, and the Itrengthening the Englijh interelt here. I am, &c. To ihe Bifhop of London. My Lord, Dublin, Ju7ie Z, 1727. HAVE been applied to by Mr. Amy of Cam- berwelly who has the honour of being known to your Lordfhip, to recommend his nephew Mr. Amy, of the Church of JVindfor, to your Lordfhip for a fmall prebend of St. PanV^ : I remember your Lord- fhip had occafion to enquire into his character when I was in England, and feemed well difpofed to have done fomewhat for him in the King's Chapel on a fair occafion ; but that view is at an end, by his ha- ving a little living given him in the neighbourhood of PFindJ'or by that Church ; but {till as he has a needy mother and filler to fupport, he ftands in need of fome farther help, which if it fuits with your Lordlhip's conveniency, 1 would recommend him for, I am, My Lord, &c. To Lord Carteret. I I My Lord, Dublin, June 10, 1727. HAVE jufl now received your Excellency's of the 6th, and hope you will pleafe to remember Mr. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 137 Mr. Vaughan on fome other occafion, Tince your Lordfhip was at this time pre-engaged in favour of Mr. MaJJey. I am glad to hear his Majefly is probably landed in Holland after an eafy pallage. The accounts had been fome time ago paffed to Lady-day was twelve-month, had they not been flop- ped for a letter that is expeded from England^ at the application of Mr. * Edgecomb, not to bring on Mr. Pratt's balance on the new account, which mufl be done according to the methods of auditing ac- counts here, if no fuch order comes : but Mr. Gar- diner aiTures me the account to Lady-day luft is pre- paring as fall as it can, fo that no time fhall be loft by the aforefaid delay : and I hope the account will be palled to Lady-day laft before your Excellency's arrival here. There fhall no endeavours be wanting on my part to compafs it, Mr. Pn?//'s eflate is now felling, but the fale goes on but flowly that I can find. On Monday I fet out on my provincial vifitation, and fhall be abfent from Dublin near five weeks, but as we have a peace now, I fhall hardly be wanted for that time. I am, &:c. To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin^ June \o, 1727. 1AM fo very fen fible that in the great hurry of bufmefs there has been in England^ my recom- mendations have not been forgot, that I have already returned your Grace my hearty thanks, as I do again by * One of the Vice Treafurei^ of Ireland, afterwards created Lord Edgecamb. 138 L E T T E R S BY by this, for your kind fupport of me in the difpoll- tion of Cajhel. I have a great value and friendfhip for the*Bi- fhop of Salipury^ and in part know the fervices he has done the government both formerly and of late, and I am very well acquainted with Dr. Hoadley his brother, and know his affe6lion to his Majelly, and that he has fpirit to help to keep up the Englijh in- tereft here ; fo that I am very well fatisfied with his promotion to the billioprick of Femes ; and I have the more reafon to be fo, becaufe in my firft letter on the vacancy of the archbifhoprick, I hinted that 1 thought it would be for his Majefty's fervice here, after fome tranflations to fill up the laft bifhoprick iKym England^' ixviQ.^ xh^ Englijh grew the lefs num- ber on the bench here. Next Monday 1 intend to fet out on the vifitation of my province, which will take me up near five weeks time. I am glad the certainty of a peace gives me an opportunity of quitting Dublin to look after my province this fummer, which otherwife I iTiould have been unwilling to do, if the war had gone on. I hope before this the news of his Majefty's land-- ing in Holland is arrived at London. I am. Your Grace's, &c. 'To LordC'dYtereu My Lord, Dublin, June 2% 1727. IM O S T heartily condole with, your Excellency upon the fudden and unexpedted death of his late Majefty : I vi^as engaged in the vifitation of my pro- vince when the melancholy news overtook me, and had fome thoughts of going on, fince his Majefty wouM * Df. Hcadley^ afterwards Billiop of PVimbeJler. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 139 would be proclaimed, and all the iifual orders given before I could poflibly reach Dublin^ but upon finding the other Lords Juflices were uneal'y at my abfence, I returned hither lafl night. Every body is extremely pleafed with his Majefly's happy and quiet acceflion to the throne, and with his moft gracious declaration in council ; and they do not doubt but his Majejly will piirfue thofe wife mea- fures which will make him as great as his father^ and his people as eafy as they were under him. As a new parliament muft be called here, and a feflion come on as foon as pofllble, I muft take the liberty to reprefent to your Excellency how much it would be for his Majefty's fervice, by giving them courage to exert themfelves, and a weight with others, if my Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Baron had new patents fpeedily for their places, as likewife the other judges ; I mention only the two firft in par- ticular, becaufe the prefent doubtful tenure they have of their places muft be a great weakening to the En- glijlj intereft, and of ill confequence in the eledions, and at the feflion of parliament. There is another thing I cannot but fuggeft to your Excellency, though I am under no fear of the experiment being made, that any thi-ng which looks like * bringing the tories into power here, muft caufe the utmoft uneafinefs in this kingdom, by rai- fing the fpirits of the papifts of this country, and exafperating the whigs, who your Lordfhip knows, are vaftly fuperior among the gentlemen of eftates here. I find Mr. Broderick has declared he will ftand for Speaker againft Mr. Conolly^ and ufes his utmoft ef- forts to fecure as many as he can among the new members. The whole kingdom is in the utmoft fer- ment * This was no bad admonition to Lord Carteret, who appear- ed to have been much inclined to favour them. I40 L E T T E R S Bv ment about the coming elections ; but I hope this will have no worfe confequences than are ufual on fuch occafions. 1 can fafely appeal to your Excellency for my liaving to the beft of my power ferved his late Ma- jefty, and fupported the EngJiJh intereft • here ; and I fhall always ferve his prefent Majefty as faithfully ; but to be able to do it with the good effe6t I defire, I hope I fhall be as well fupported as I have been : your Excellency knows I have nothing to afk ; and I believe Princes have feldom over many that are dif- pofed to ferve them as faithfully on (o eafy terms. It would put a good fpirit into the King's friends here, and particularly the EngUJh^ if they knew by your Excellency's means what they had to depend on. 1 beg your Lordfhip's pardon for the freedom and length of this letter, and am, My Lord, &c. # /o the Archbijhop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin^ June ^o, 1727. I Heartily condole with your Grace upon the un- expedted death of his late * Majefly, and at the fame time congratulate you on the happy and peaceable acceflion of his prefent Majefty to the crown. I was engaged in the vifitation of my province when the news overtook me, and found myfelf obliged to return to Dublin, by the importunity of my friends here, though I had not got through half my work. This my abfence has occafioned my not writing fooner to your Grace. The * Gedfge 1. who died almoft fuddenly at Ofnabrug, the palace of his brother the Bifliop of that diftritt, in his way to HunQver^ by eatiHg a melon. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 141 The figning of the preliminaries before the late King was taken from us, has I hope procured us that peace, which I fear we fhould have been otherwife very uncertain of till next fummer. Every thing here is as quiet as in England^ ex- cepting the heats attending the eledion of a new parliament, which mufl come on immediately with us, as the former parliament is diflblved by the King's death, and the funds will expire at Cbrijlmas next His Majefly's moft gracious declaration in council has given univerfal fatisfadlion here. But your Grace will eafily fee there is great room for people's hopes and fears, till things are a little better fettled, and it is feen what miniflry is to be in England^ and who are to keep or lofe their places here. Your Grace knows I have nothing to lofe, but I may be made more or lefs capable of ferving his Ma- jefly, of doing good in the Church, and of fupport- ing the Englijh interefl, which labours under great difadvantages in this country, according as I have more or lefs countenance from England. I have in particular done my endeavours here to ferve his late Majefty with the greateft faithfulnefs, and fhall ferve our prefent Sovereign with the fame fidelity -, but the fervices I can do will be much lefTened, if I am not fupported in my flation ; and as I am fatisfied your Grace will come in for a great (hare of power under the King, I mull beg the favour of you to give me your fupport here upon proper occafions. It would certainly be of great fervice againfl our approaching parliament, if my Lord Chancellor and my Lord Chief Baron had their places fpeediiy con- firmed by new patents ; and till that is done they can neither have courage, nor a proper weight. For matters abroad we have his iVlajelty's declaration, but what meafures are likely to be purfued at home are i^t L E T T E R S BY fb varioufly wrote over hither, that the King's bed friends know not how to a6t. If your Grace fhall think it any ways proper, I fhoiild be glad to know a httle of what we are to depend upon. I am fenfible I have very much trefpalTed on your Grace's time and patience, but the great kindnefs I have fomlerly met with from your Lordfhip, encou^ rages me to give you this trouble. I am, My Lord, Sec. 7*0 Lord Townfhend. My Lord, Dublin, July i^ 1727. IW A S engaged in the triennial vifitation of my province, when the melancholy news of the King's death overtook me, and the importunity of my friends here brought me back to Dublin before I had half finillied my vifitation. I moil heartily condole with your Lordfhip upon this great and unexpected lofs, and at the fame time congratulate your Lordfhip on the quiet and peace- able acceffion of his prefent Majefty to the throne of his father. We have no other buftle among us than what arifes from the warm canvafs going on in all parts about the eledtion of members for the enfuing par- liament. His Majefty's mod gracious declaration in coun- cil has given great fatisfadion here. I am fenfible of the great hurry your Lordfhip mufl be in at this jimdure, and (hould not have in-" terrupted your more weighty affairs, if I had not thought myfelf obliged to take the firfl opportunity to thank your Lordfhip for all favours, •and particu- larly for the fupport I have found from your Lord- fhip to enable me the better to ferve his Majefty in this country ; and I defire the continuance of the Ct LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 14 the fame from your Lordfhip on all proper oc- cafions. I am, &c. To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin^ July i, 1727^ IM O S T heartily condole with your Grace upon the unexpeded lofs of his late Majefly, and at the fame time congratulate you on the peaceable ac- ceflion of his prefent Majefty to the crown. I was engaged in the vifitation of my province when this news overtook me, and returned to Dublin but lafl IVedneJday. Every thing here is very quiet, and all are very well pleafed with his Majefty's moft gracious decla- ration in council. It is very happy that the preliminaries were figned before this fatal itroke, fince otherwife it feems very probable the Emperor would have taken till next fpring to confider whether it were better for him to have peace or war. I take this opportunity to thank your Grace- for the fupport you have given me fince my coming hi- ther, and to defire the continuance of your favour on all proper occafions. I am, &c. To the Bijhop of London. My Lord, Dublin, y«6' 4» 1727. IYeflerday received your Lordfhip's of the 29th paft, and moft heartily condole with you on the unexpected death of his late Majefty : the news overtook me in the middle of the vifitation of my pro- 144 L E T T E R S BY province, and the importunity of friends has brought me back to Dublin. I am glad to hear things are likely to go in the ftate pretty near as they were, and hardly think they will mend by changing in the Church ; however, I remember when I was in England., it was thought other perfons would come into play in the Church upon the change which has now happened. I have been particularly concerned for Mr. Ste- phens's ill luck on this occafion, and will follow your Lordfhip's advice to try what my old friends can or will undertake for him. The priefl your Lordfhip mentions has been feve- ral times with me, and I do not find any. of my bre- thren objedl to his fincerity ; but moft of the priefts here are fo ignorant, and there is fo much hazard in trufting them in our church, that it is very hard to put them in any way here of getting their bread. If Hara could be put into fome little bufinefs in the fFeJi Indies., I believe it M^ould be better for him \ but 1 have not yet talked with him whether he is willing to go thither, nor fhall I, till I know whether your Lordfhip would be willing to fend him. By the change that your Lordfhip thinks will hap- pen in the church affairs, I fhall be greatly at a lofs for your friendfhip ; but hope ftill for your alfiftance as it fliall lye in your way, and fliail on all occafions hope for the continuance of your good advice, as often as 1 find reafon to have recourfe to it. It is very likely Dr. L — / v/ill look out for fome other way to puOi, as things now (land. I am, &c. To LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 145 'To the Archhijhop of Canterbury, My Lord, Dublin^ July 6, 1727. AS Dr. Baldwin^ Provoft of the College here, goes now for London^ to wait upon his Majefty with an addrefs, and to know his pleafure about their chancellorfhip, which he had whilft he was Prince ; I have given him this my letter, to introduce him to your prote(5tion as there may be occafion. He is a very worthy gentleman, a man of learning, and extremely well affedted to his Majefty and his fami- ly, and (hewed himfelf to be fo in the latter end of the Queen's time, when he was Vice-Provoft. There has lately been an election of a fellow in the College which has occafioned a quarrel there, in which he has been very much mifreprefented and abufed : and he has been threatened with their preferring a petition to the King, and having the power given him by the ftatutes reduced. The power he has is indeed beyond any thing any Head of a College has in Oxford^ but is all little enough to keep the col- lege here from being a feminary of * jacobitifm : through the ftrength of a fadtion in the College againfl him. I would beg leave of your Grace that he may have the liberty to lay his cafe before you, as there may be occafion, and that you would give him your protedVion as far as he wants it, and your Grace fhall think it reafonable. I am, my Lord, &c. Vol. I. K Ta * His Grace muft be very much miftaken, or to fpeak in the fofteft: terms, he was grofly impoied upon by lome ignorant mali- cious people, as the fellows of the univerfity of Dubli7t, have been as remarkable for charity, piety, religion, learning and loy- alty, as any other Cdllege in Europe, iincc the reign of Queen Elizabeth. 146 LETTERS BY To the Archhijbop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin, July 2, 1727. IHA VE had the honour of your Grace's, with the King's fpeech inelofed, which is truly graci- ous and condefcending, and gives the utmoft iaiir- fadion to his Majefty's fubjecfts here ; and we do not doubt but his Majelty fpeaks his fmcere fentiments and' intentions. I thank your Grace for the favour you intend me of fending the prayers as foon as polfible, when that affair is once fettled; and I think your Lordfhip is very much in the right on that occafion, to implore the divine blefling on his Majefty's endeavours for a happy and lafting peace. I am forry to hear your Grace is obliged to keep clofe at Lambeth during the prefent hurry, and pray God to give you better health for the good of the Church and fervice of his Majefty. We have fince feen the addrefs of both Lords and Commons to the King, and are all pleafed to find them fo liearty and loyal. The laft day of June I wrote to your Grace to defire your friendfhip and fupport in my ftation upon this turn, which I again requeft I likewife recommended my Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Baron to have their commilfions renewed fpeedily, and mufl defire your Grace to fpeak to my Lord Lieute- nant and the minifhry to this purpofe, as an opportu- nity offers ; they have both difcharged their olHices with great diligence and abilities, and very much to the fatisfadion of the people here; and have both heartily concurred with me in the council and elfe- where, in whatever might promote the Englijh inte- reft here. I have no apprehenfions but that my Lord Lieute- nant and the miniftry defire to continue them in their places. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 147 places, but it would give them more courage and mpre weight in our prefent circumftances, if they were prefently confirmed in their employments. I am, my Lord, &:c, 'To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublm, July 8, 1727. AS by his late Majefty's demife all commiffions here expire of courfe, within ' fix months, I take the liberty to put your Grace in mind that I think it would be for his Majelly's fervice, as we are in a ferment over the whole nation about eledions, that the commiffions of confequence which are de- figned to be renewed, were renewed with all conveni- ent expedition. And in particular I think it would be of fervice in the prefent jundure, if my Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Baron had fpeedily new grants of their places. They have both attended their courts with the greateft diligence, and have given an unufual difpatch to the bufinefs of their courts, to the gene-^ ral fatisfadion of the country, on account of their abilities and impartiality. They have always moft heartily joined with me in whatever might be for his Majefty's fervice, and the fupport of the Englijh in- terefh here ; and the fpeedy renewing of their com-" miffions would enable them to ad with more courage and with greater weight than they can do whilfl others may imagine their places are doubtful. My Lord Lieutenant knows their behaviour, and the charader they have gained here fo well, that I do not doubt but his Excellency is for their continuing here ^ and indeed a change in their places would very much weaken the government now the fcffion of a new par- liament is fo near. K 2 I Tak« 148 L E T T E R S BY i take this affair to be of fuch confequence, thd,t 1 fhaU write to ray Lord To'wnjhend on the faitid fubjecll. i hope your Grace will not forget my friend Mr. Stephens, if a vacancy fhould happen in Chrijl Church. I arti, my Lord, &c. Ts Lord Townfhend. My Lord,' Dublin^ July 8, 1727. AS all commilTions here are only held precarioufly for fix months at prefent, I beg leave to put your Lordfhip in mind that I think it would be very much for his Majefty's fervice if fuch commiflions (efpecially thofe of note) as are thought proper to be renewed, were renewed fpeedily. And I muft in particular recommend to yovir Lord- fhip our Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Baron to have new commiflions for their places, with all con- venient expedition. They have both attended their courts with a diligence uniifual in this country, and adminiftered juflice with great abilities and impartia- lity, to the fatisfadion of the country, where they have both gained the greateft efteem and love ^ and they have on all occafions chearfully concurred with me in whatever was for his Majefty's fervice, and the Englijh intereft in this kingdom. It would be a great encouragement to his Majefty's fervants here, and would give me as well as them the more courage in our ferving his Majefty, to fee thofe who have fo well behaved themfelves in two of the greateft pofts here, diftinguifhed by having their new commiflions fpeedi- ly granted. They are known to my Lord Lieutenant to have given that general content here, that I do not queftion his Excellency's being for their continuance here, I am, my Lord, &c. r$ LOIID PRIMATE BOULTER. 149 To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin^ July 11, 1727. IH A D yeflerday a memorial delivered me from Mrs. Weji^ which fhe defired I would tranfmit to your Excellency. I have enquired into the fa6t whe- ther fhe has no other provilion than 250 /. per annum during the father's life, and by a paper drawn up by Mr. Mitchel with the words of the marriage iettle- ment, am fatisfied fhe has no other proviilon rnade for her, and that in the opinion of the lawyers both in England and here, neither fhe npr her (daughter, till the fon is dead without ifliie, can be entitled to any part of the thirds of old Mr. Weji^s real or per- fonal eflate. I find it was taken for granted in draw- ing u.p the fettlement that Mr. fVeJi the father would die before his fon. As thefe are circumftances I did 3-iot know before, and that makes Mrs. Wefi'^ cafe very deplorable, 1 cannot but mpft earneflly recom- mend her and her children to your Excellency's fa- vour 10 obtain tlie renewal of the annuity grapted them by his late Majeily. * Mr. Mitchel will be able to give your Excellency full fatisf"adion that this is truly her cafe and the cafe of her daughter. I am. Your Excellency's, &;c. 'To the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ July 15, 1727. I AM very much obliged to yotir Excellency for the honour of yours of the ^th in/lant : if I had the honour of any /hare in his late Majejly s aff'e£lion, lam fure * Brother-in law to Mrs. IVeJi ; he had married her fifter: both the ladies were daughters of Dr. Burnet^ Bifhop of Salijhury. I50 L E T T E R S BY Jure it mtiji have been very much owing to your kind representations of my Services. And I am S^nSihle of your goodneSs in acquainting his preSent Majejly., that the S'^^PP^^'^i'^^S ^f ^^ ^^^^ will he for his inter efi ; and I deSre the continuance of your good offices with the King. I am glad we are not likely to have any alterations in Ireland., and that the commilTions here will be renewed immediately upon the renewal of thofe in England. We are obliged to your Lordfhip for the early care you took of us Englijh here ; and every body here is fenfible of what advantage it will be to his Majefly's fervice that we have had a Governor of your Excel- lency's abilities long enough amongft us to know as much of this country as any native. PFhile the fame mtafiires are purfued as were in the laji reign., we /hall be all eajy here ; and it mufl be left to his Majefiy to judge what perfons are rnofl proper to he employed in his fervice. The alfurances your Lordfhip gives me in thefe affairs are a great fatisfac- tion to me. 1 hear there is a claufe in an Engliflj bill, which fpeaks of thecha-ncellorfhipof the Univerfity here as moft certainly vacant by the King's acceflion to the crown, but here it is thought at the moft to be only dubious We are giving what difpatch we can to the bills that are to be fent over to England., in order to have a new parliament, and hope we Hiall fend fuch as will be approved there, and will meet with little pppofition here, I am, &c. 1728. MR. Manky, our Poft-mafler here, having oc- cafion to go to England to foUicit a continu- ance of his penfion of 200 /. per ann. which dropt by the death of his kte Majefly ; I was willing to give him what afliftance I could, by recommending him to your Grace for your kind help. He is one who has behaved himfelf well in his poft, and is well afFefted to his Majelly, and has always diftinguifhed himfelf by his zeal for the illuftrious Houfe of Hano- ver, in the worfi: times. The pleas he has for having his penfion continued he wilj inform your Grace of; but your afliftance of him on this occafion will be counted an obligation by, My Lord, &c. T'o Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, June 6, 1728. T T was with great fatisfa6tion I heard that your X Excellency was fafely arrived at London. I was in hopes we Ihould this day have anfwered your Ex- cellency's two letters relating to the Cafar, but as we differed among ourfelves, and likewife the council (whom we fummoned upon this occafion) differed about the fenfe of your Lordfhip's laft letter, whe- ther we were left at liberty to let that fhip go free, if we thought proper, confidering all circumflances, it will be another poft before we can acquaint your Lord fhip with what we have done. Some here ap- plied the King's approbation (mentioned in your letter) to your having put the Cafar under quarantine ; and other of us thought his Majefty approved of the N 2 direc- 196 L E T T E R S BY direftiors you was pleafed to give us in yours of the 25th paft, viz. to ad[ as we thought proper. I am. My Lord, &c. To the fame. My I_>ord, Dublin^ June 20, 1728. I HAVE had the honour of your Excellency's of the T3th inftant. We have fince examined more fhridly into the cafe of the (hip Cafar., and find fhe.has nothing on board befide corn, which is not reckoned very liable to take or keep infedion ; however what we have at laft agreed on, is to difcharge her at the end of forty days from her firfl being under the care of Captain Rowley. We lliall be very careful never to depart from the general rules without very good reafon, and the utmofl caution. We yefterday received Mr. I'lveU's refignation, and elected Mr. Ellis chaplain to the hofpital, pur- fuant to your Lordfhip's recommendation. There was fome little grumbling in favour of Mr. Hawkins the reader, but in the end all matters were accommo- dated. Since your Lorddiip left us. Dr. Coghill has made fome alterations in the paper about the Delegates, which my Lord Chancellor is fatisfied with, and which we fhall, when fully fettled, tranfmit to your Excellency. I thank your Lordfhip for having the affair of the coin in your thoughts, to talk with the miniftry about it when you fee a proper opportunity. Lord Juftice Cotiolly has been pretty much out of order ever fince the lOih of this month, and ftill continues weak and low-fpirited. As Mr. Medlicott is now arrived, he defigns to retire to Mr. Pearfon's for fome time, to try to recover himfelf. We LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 197 We fhall on Saturday have a council to fwear in the Lords Angk/ea, Shannon, and Forbes *. I am, My Lord, &c. I'o the Duke of Newcaflle, My Lord, Dublin^ 7^^'^<^ 25, 1728. IN mine of the 25th paft, I acquainted your Grace that I hoped in a Httle time to fend you a memorial relating to the want we are in of filver^ with the true caufe of our dillrefs, and the proper remedies to be applied to this evil, which I defired to be communicated to Sir Robert IValpole. 1 have here fent it with an account of the prefent value of oiir coins ; and the favour I liave to defire of Sir Robert JValpole is to look it over, and fee whether the fcheme there propofed is rational, and what he will intercede with his Majefty to grant us, if we apply for it from the council here. We had this affair before the council, upon a let- ter from my Lord Lieutenant in the year 1726, and had made all our calculations of the value intended for gold and filver coins in a new proclamation upon the fcheme here propofed ; and had almoft finifhed the affair, but the apprehenfions of a war and the in- tereft of the bankers here with fome of the council, hung up the affair then, and it has ilept ever fince. But as the want of filver every day increafes upon us, and loudly calls for fome relief, I have fent over this memorial, that the miniflry may be apprized of what we would pulli at here, and if the fcheme, which I take to be rational, and in refpeft of England^ un- exceptionable, be approved of by Sir Robert IVal- pole^ I have no doubt but the Lord Chancellor and myfelf * privy Counfellors. 398 L E T T E R S BY myfelf fhall be able to bring it to bear in fpight of all the interefl of the bankers in the council, where it is greater than it ought to be. I muft recommend the deplorable condition of this kingdom for want of filver to your Grace and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I mitfl the more earneilly intreat your alliftance, becaufe I have engaged that if they will concur here in what is right, I will anfwer for the fuccefs on the other fide of the water. I fhould be glad to hear how the fcheme is ap- proved of by Sir Robert IValpok as foon as he has leifure to confider it, becaufe we forbear fetting it in motion, till we know his judgment of it. I am, Your Grace's, &c. -■) To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Bublin^ July i\^ 1728. I HAVE had the honour of your Lordfhip's of the 2cl inftant, which I communicated to my brethren ; and we are all very fenfible how much we are obliged to his Majefty for his kind difpofition in regard to this kingdom, and to your Excellency for your care of us on this and all other occafions. And we agree entirely in our fentiments on this affair, that two proper remedies for our prefent want of fil- ver, are the lowering the value of gold, and raifing the price of foreign filver. As to the having any fil- ver coined here, on the account of this nation, at the mint in the tower, we think it is an affair that requires and will admit of farther deliberation. As to the coining of copper half-pence, we are all of opinion that it is a thing not to be meddled with but by the parliament, and that if his Majefty will fa- vour LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 199 favour the nation with fuch a coinage on account of the publick, it will be a thing proper for your Excel- lency, if we have the happinefs of feeing your Lordfhip here another parHament, as I hope we (hall, to make an offer of it to the parliament from his Majefty. - Before I had the honour of your Excellency's, I difcourfed with my Lord Anglefea on the fcheme we had prqjefted two years ago to help our want of filver, who approves entirely of both parts of it, and has fince acquainted me that he opened it to my Lord Forbes *, who he fays is a man of numbers and calculations, who likewife entirely approves it ; and my Lord has promifed me that upon notice, he will come up out of the country to puili it on in council. Upon the encouragement your Lordfhip gives in your letter that we may venture to raife the foreign filver, fo as not to exceed the middle price of filver bullion in England^ which is c^s. ^d. per ounce, I have had a calculation made upon the bottom of 5J. ^\d. which my Lord Chancellor very much approves of, and v/hich being one half penny under the middle market price in England, will I hope meet with no obftrudion there, and as it is one half-penny per ounce higher than the foot formerly calculated upon, will more certainly help us to fome foreign filver. I am at prefent employed in going round and difcourfing the privy counfellors feparately, to pre- pare them for their concurrence, and if 1 find them fa- vourably difpofed, we will endeavour to pa(h tlic thing before the judges go their circuits. We keep the affair as fecret as we can, and I am fatisfied it will be of fervice if it can be pufhed through before it is much talked of. In * The l^te Ear! of Granard. 200 L E T T E R S BY In order to facilitate this matter as much as I could on the other fide of the water, I drew up a paper on this fubjeft, of about two fneets, which i fent to the Duke of Neuxajiky to be communicated to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whofe approbation this alteration of our coin mufl have, befoie it can be pafied. It is wholly on the lliort fcheme I gave in to your Lordfhip, but as it is for the ufe of perfons who knov/ nothing of our coins, it is worked out in- to a greater lengdi. I fhall by the next mail fend your Excellency a copy of it, fuch as it is. If we have fenfe enough here to come into this al- teration of our coin, and your Excellency can get it approved of in England^ I am fure it will fet our coin on fo reafonable a footing, and be of that ad- vantage to this nation, that your government will be always remembered in this country with ef- teem *. As foon as we take any ftep in this affair, I fhall fend your Excellency word. Mr. Conolly is retired for fome time into the country for his health, where I hear he grows better. I believe his fndifpofition will prevent my vifitirrg my diocefe this fummer; but as his abfence will rob the bankers of one to whom they formerly applied, and on whom they could make fome impreffions, I believe we fhall get the eafier thrpugh this bufinefs for his being out of the way. I am, &c. * My Lord Primate himfelt" was the firft and nioft fteady pro- moter of this fcheme. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 201 To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, July 15, 1728. IH A V E by this mail fent your Excellency a copy of the paper I lately fent the Duke of Newcaftk, relating to our want of filver. And as this coijtains a full and diflind account of the ftate of our coin, and the occafions and remedies of our want of filver, I think we may be the fhorter in the letter from the council to your Lordlhip. If poflible we will bring on this affair before the Judges go their circuits. Your Lordfhip was pleafed to giv-e fome hopes of giving an enfign's place to my Lord * Mayor's fon, if it fuits with your Lordfliip's conveniency, my Lord Chancellor and myfelf fhould be glad if the prefent vacancy were beftowed on him. I am, &c. To the Duke of Newcaflle. My Lord, Dublin^ July 16, 1728, N my laft I fent to your Grace a memorial re- lating to our want of filver in this nation, which I defired might be communicated to Sir Robert fValpole. Soon after the Englijb prints informed us that Sir Robert was gone for a fortnight into the country. As his abfence when my letter arrived muft have occafioned my paper being laid afide for a while, I trouble your Grace with this to defire it may not be forgotten at his return. Our want of filver here is fuch, that it is common to give fix-pence for the change of a moidore, and to * ^'xi.hlathanifl Whitivell, 202 LETTERS BY to take a guinea or piilole for part of the change. And I know fome in Dublin^ who have occafion to pay workmen every Saturday night, that are obliged to pay four-pence for every twenty fhilhngs in filver they procure. We have hundreds of families (all proteftants) removing out of the north to America ; and the leail obftrudfion in the linen-manufadture, by which the north fubfifts, mufl occafion greater numbers follow- ing, and the want of filver increaling, will prove a terrible blow to that manufacture, as there will not be money to pay the poor for their fmall parcels of yarn. Since I drew up that memorial I have a certain ac- count that the middle price of filver bullion in Eng- land * for ten years lafl pafh, has been 55. c^d. Eng- lijlj per ounce, which makes me defirous (for the more certain procuring of fome foreign filver here) to put our filver at the rate of 55. /^\d, Englijh per ounce, which is indeed one halfpenny higher than the price propofed in that paper, but is dill one half- penny under the middle price of filver bullion in England^ If filver grows more fcarce with us, our rents mud certainly fall, not only to our prejudice who live here, but to the damage of the noblemen and gentle- men of England^ who have eflates here, and of thofe others who fpend their rents in England. 1 iTiould be glad to know Sir Robert IValpok's opi- nion as foon as he has leifure : and hope we (hall be gratified in an affair of fo much confequence to us, and of no damage to England. I am, &c. To * The bankers lind told liis Grace fo, but it appears afterwards in thefe letters that they had impofed upon hiin. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 203 To the BiJJjop of London. My Lord, . Dublin, Aug. 20, 1728- IT is now a great while fince I had the favour of one from your Lordlhip ; I hope it has not been any continuance of the illnefs that hung about you in the fpring that has occafioned fo long a filence. I iTiould have been glad to have heard from one fo likely to know, whether peace or war be more pro- bable, about which we at this diiliance are ftill un- certain. I hear there is a great noife about a fermon preached by the Bifhop of Glocejier, but have not yet feen it. 1 fhould be forry to find that he had given any juft occafion of offence. I have lately heard from Mr. Sparke, whom your Lordfhip was pleafed to recommend as an interim fchoolmafter at Chigwell. He complains of unjuft and hard ufage from the governors there, and tells me that he and they fhall foon appear before your Lordfhip : I do not reckon that I know what the cafe is, as I have my account only from one fide, nor do I farther recommend him to your Lordfhip than to be proteded from opprellion, if that be his cafe. We have had a rumour here that the Duke of Newcajile is dead, I hope there is nothing in the report. The ill ftate of health of Lord Juftice Conolly has confined me to Dublin the whole fummer, though he Is better than he has been. I am, &c. To 204 L E T T E R S BY "to Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, Sept. 3, 172S. Y the mails that came in lafl night, we had ad- vice of Thomas Clement s's death, and I have had two or three gentlemen with me to day to defirc my recommendation in favour of his brother Natha- niel Clements., to fucceed him as agent to the penfio- ners. I have not feen either of my brethren fmce this news came, but was however willing to give your Excellency advice of this application. I am, my Lord, &c. To Sir Robert Walpolc. Sir, Dublin, Sept. 14, 172S. I SO ME time ago troubled his Grace of New-- cajik with a memorial relating to our want of fil- ver in this kingdom, with the caufes and cures of this want, which I defired might be communicated to you for your ccnfideration : that if you approved of the fcheme as reafonable and not prejudicial to England, we might fet the affair going in council m order to make a regular application to his Majefly, for leave to publilh a proclamation here. I was willing, Sir, to know your fentiments, whether we might hope for his Majefly 's compliance with our requeft, before my Lord Chancellor and I make any pufli in council for an application to his Majelly, fince we have the whole intereft of the bankers, which is very great here, againft re- ducing tlie value of gold ; and we are unwilling to go through a violent conteft here to carry a point, except LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 205 except we had hopes our apph'cation would not after- wards be rejeded in England. The bankers here own that by the different pro- portion of gold to filver here, from what it bears in England^ they get 2 per cent, in remittances to Eng- land^ and the popular argument they ufe againfl this redudion is, that as things now Hand, all gen- tlemen enjoying eftates, penfions, or places, who draw off their money to England^ lofe 2 per cent, of what they draw off to the benefit of this king- dom. In the year 1726, upon a letter from my Lord Lieutenant, we had made a great progrefs in this af- fair ; and had in a committee of council, fettled the defigned value of foreign gold upon the bottom pro- pofed in the memorial Mr. Belafaye has delivered you from the Duke of Newcaftle ; and we had the feveral fpecies of foreign filver aflayed, and had fet- tled their intended value upon the bottom of 5J. 4^. per ounce fterling, but the talk of a war, with the intereft of the bankers, put a flop to our pro- ceedings at that time. But, as the want of filver is fince increafed upon us, fo that in many places of this kingdom ^d. is a common premium for chan- ging a moidore, and A,d. for procuring 20 fhillings in filver is what is paid in Dublin^ if ibme remedy be not applied fpeedily, our manufactures mufl be ruined. I have given feveral people of fafhion here hopes, that as we defire nothing but putting gold and En- glifh filver on the fame bottom as they ftand on in England, I could obtain this favour on the other fide of the water. If I fucceed in this application, it will give me fome weight here, which I am fure fhall always be employed in the fervice of his Ma- jefty. This makes me a moft earneft luitor in behalf of this kingdom, whofe manufactures muft daily de- cay. 2o6 L E T T E R S BY cay, and rents fmk, iinlefs the favour of altering the prefent currency of gold and filver be granted us ; vvhilfl the whole profit of the prefent inequality of gold and filver, will reft in the bankers hands. i^ll the encouragement I at prefent want, is an afllirance that if we go on with this affair in coun- cil, and that if we apply in form from hence to his Majefty, we may hope to have our requeft grant- ed. In the memorial I mention putting foreign filver at 5 J. 4 J. Englijh per ounce fterling, but as I am fince informed that the middle price of filver bul- lion for ten years paft has been 5 j. ^d. Englijh per ounce at London, I Ihould rather defire to put fo- reign filver at 5 j. 45 d. Engli(h per ounce here, and have accordingly ordered a calculation to be made : but for that I am not fo earneft as for the reft of the fcheme, without which we are gradually undoing here. The occafion of my giving you this trouble is that the Duke of Newcajtle has for fome time been out of town, and that though I find my memorial has been delivered to you, 1 cannot learn that my letters were communicated to you, to acquaint you with what I defired. 1 hope. Sir, you will be fo good as to favour me with an anfv»er at your lei fare. I am, &:c. ^0 Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, Sept. 17, 1728. TH E Lord Mayor has been with me, and de- fired I would tranfmit the inclofed to your Ex- cellency : he told me it was in behalf of his fon, that you would be pleafed to beftow on him the Lieu- tenant's place he was formerly mentioned for by my Lord LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 207 Lord Chancellor and myfelf. I mufl again take this opportunity of recommending him to your Lordrtiip's favour, if you are not otherwife engaged. I am. My Lord, &c. STo the Archbiffoop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin^ 05f. i^ 1728. ON Sunday I had the favour of your Grace's of the 22 * There did not in the prefent century appear a more extra- ordinary man than this Duke de Ripperda ; he was born and bred 2o8 LETTERS by ago, and by tlie accounts in the Englijh prints, is landed in the well of E,ngland^ there is no room for any thing more in this affair, than keeping his Ma- jefty's orders a fecret. I am, &c. ^0 the Archhipoop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin^ Nov. g^ 1728. I A M very much obliged to your Gface for fend- ing me the occafional fervices amended, and the account of an alteration relating to that for the 5th of November^ which was forgotten in the firft ac- count. I have fince looked the feveral alterations over, and think they arc very right, and in a great meafure necelTary : I was unwilling to publifli them here till fome Bifhops came to town, that 1 might have the'r approbation ; but ihall take care to have them publiflied by authority, before the 30th of "January. I am glad to hear your Grace has perfedly reco- vered the weaknefs occafioned by your lall fit of ficknefs, and muft heartily wiOi you all health and happinefs. We are under great trouble here about a frenzy that has taken hold of very great numbers, to leave this bred a merchant in Holland ; had great abilities ; was by the States General lent AmbafTador to Spain ; turned Roman Catho- lic ; was created a Baron, then a Duke anct Grandee, by his moft Catljolic Majefty ; became a principal Favourite and Minifter of S^ate ; had an illicit correfpondence with the miniltry in Eng- land ; was taken into cuftody, and imprifoned ; made an efcape, by the means of a fair CafliUian woman, to England^ where he was protefted ; after fome refidence there, he went to Muly Ab- dalla. Emperor of Fez and Moroccoy turned Mahometan, was circumcifed and made Baihaw and Prime Minifter 10 that Prince. See his Memoirs from 171 5 to 1736, which have been tranflated iuto moft European languages. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 209 this country for the IVefi Indies ; and we are endea- vouring to iearn what may be the reafons of it, and the proper remedies ; which as foon as we are able, we fhall lay before the government in England. I am, My Lord, &c. To the Duke of Newcaflle. My Lord, Dublin^ Nov. 23, 1728. I A M. very fbrry I am obliged to give your Grace fo melancholy an account of the (late of this kingdom, as I fhall in tiiis letter, but I thought it ray duty to let his Majefty know our prefent condi- tion in the north. For we have had three bad har- vefts together there, which has made oatmeal, which is their great fubfiftance, much dearer than ordinary, and as our farmers here are very poor, and obliged as foon as they have their corn, to fell it for ready money to pay their rents, it is more in the power of thofe who have a little money to engrofs corn here, and make advantage of its fcarcenefs, than in England. We have had for feveral years fome agents from the colonies in America, and feveral mafters of fhips that have gone about the country, and deluded the people with ftories of great plenty and eftates to be^ had for going for in thofe parts of the world : and they have been the better able to feduce people, by reafon of the neceflities of the poor of late. The people that go from hence make great com- plaints of the opprelfions they fufter here, not from the government, but from their fellow fubjedts of one kind or another, as well as of the dearneis of provifion, and fay thefe oppreflions are one reafon of their going. Vol. J. O But 210 L E T T E R S BY But whatever occafions their going, it is certain that above 4200 men, v/omen, and children have been (hipped off from hence for the lVe(l Indies with- in three years, and of thefe above 3100 this lafl fummer. Of thefe poflibly one in ten may be a man of fubllance, and may do well enough abroad, but the cafe of the reft is deplorable, the reft either hire themfelves to thofe of fubftance for their paf- fage, or contradl v/ith the mafters of fhips for four years fervitude when they come thither, or if they make a Ihift to pay for their paflage, will be under a neceftity of felling themfelves for fervants for four years for their fubfiftance when they come there. The whole north is in a ferment at prelent, and people every day engaging one another to go next year to the M^efi Indies. The humour has fpread like a contagious diftemper, and the people will hardly hear any body that tries to cure them of their madnels. The vv'orft is that it afFeds only proteft- ants, and reigns chiefly in the north, which is the feat of our linen manutaifture. This unfettled ftate puts almoft a ftop to trade, and the more fo as feveral who were in good credit before have taken up parcels of goods on truft and difpoled of them, and are gone off with the money, fo that there is no trade there but for ready mo- ney. We have had it under our confideration how to put fome ftop to this growing evil: we think by fome old laws we can hinder money being carried abroad, and ftop all but mercliants, that have not a licenfe, from going out of the kingdom. By this poft we have fent my Lord Lieutenant the reprefentation of the gentlemen of the north, and the opinion of our lawyers what can be done by law to hinder people going abroad ; but thefe are matters we Ihall do nothing in without directions from his M^jefty, But whatever can be done by law, LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 211 law, I fear it may be dangerous forcibly to hinder a number of needy people fiom quitting us. There is one method that can do no hurt, and we hope may do good, which is keeping corn at a reafonable price till next harveft, that fo dearnefs of bread may drive none from us. And to compafs this we are fubfcribing for a fum of money to buy corn where it can be had the cheapeft, and to fell it to lofs in the north, to keep the markets down there ; and I believe we fliall have good fuccefs in our fubfcription. But I fear except leave be given to prohibit by proclamation the exportation of corn from hence, we fhall fail even in this prqjecSt. I was juft willing to give your Grace an account of our prefent difficulties, and fear I fhall have occafion to trouble you more on this fubjedt. I am, &c. To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin^ Nov.zS, 1728. MR. CaJJell has been often with me to prefs me to put your Excellency in mind of his memo- rial: your Lordfhip knows his cafe and pretenfions very well ; and his great concern is for a provifion for his wife, if fhe furvives him. All I fhall add is, that if fomewhat is not foon done in his affair, it is unlikely he will live to fee it. I could not well refufe him putting your Excel- lency again in mind of his requeft. I am. My Lord, &c. O 2 T« 212 LETTERS BY To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin, Dec. 3, 1728. IH A V E by the mail that came this day from England^ received letters from two of my bro- thers in law, Mr. Savage * and Mr. Merrett §, both merchants in London, and very well affedted to his Majefty, to defire me to trouble your Grace in be- half of Mr. IVilliam Ball, a merchant at Alicant. I find by them that Mr. Barker, late conful of Alicant, is dead, and they are defirous Mr. Ball, who has been a merchant at Alicant about eight years, may fucceed to that employment. I am con- fident they would not trouble me to write to your Grace on this occafion, except they knew Mr. Ball to be every way qualified for that poft. If your Grace is not otherwife engaged already your favouring Mr. Ball in his affair, would be efteemed a great obligation by. My Lord, &c. To the Archbijhap of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin, Dec. 3, 1728. IH A V E had the favour of your Grace's of the 42i{l paft, and am very much obliged to you for fending us the occafional offices as altered, for you guefled right, that we ufe the fame offices here with the alterations necelTary for this country ; and I hope to have thefe offices fettled here before the 30th of January. We * A Director of the Bank of England. § Whofe only daughter married my Lord Cunningham, of the kingdom of Inland. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 213. We are endeavouring here by a fubfcription, to provide againft one rea(bn given here for people lea- ving us, which is the dearnefs of provifion, by ha- ving three bad harvelts together; and we have con- fulted the miniftry, to know what other meafures that are in our power, may be proper to be taken. The keeping of people here by force, will I fear, have bad confequences, the numbers that are infect- ed with this humour, being very great ; but the put- ting fome difficulties in people's way, and obliging fraudulent debtors to pay their creditors, may pro- bably do fome good. I am very forry for the terrible calamity that has befallen thofe of Copenhagen^ and heartily wifh them a good collection in England^ but a colledtion here will turn to little if any account. We had fince I came hither, a coUedion for the proteftant Churches in Lithuania^ about which I fpoke to feveral bifhops at parliament, and afterwards wrote a circular letter to my fuffragans, and to every clergyman in my diocefe, to promote the colletlion, and yet there was not gathered 300/. in the kingdom, and of that about 1 00 A came out of my diocefe. But at pre- fent with the deiertion of our people in the north, and the want of corn there, little can be expeCtecjl from even thence, where proteftants are mod nu- merous •, and Munjier and Connanght are moftly pa- piftsj and his Grace of Dublin is againft all collec- tions for foreigners in his province of Leinfter. I thought proper juft to acquaint your Grace with what may probably be the fuccefs of a colledi- on here, if his Majelty fhould pleafe to order one. 1 wifh your Grace all health and happinefs, and am, My Lord, &c. To ;i4 L E T T E R S BY 7o Sir Robert Walpole. Sir, Dublin^ Dec. 4, 1728. MR. Nutfal, the Sollicitor to the Commiflion- ers of the Revenue here, has fo mifbehaved himleif, that he is as 1 hear, difmiffed his office. The place I underhand is in the difpofal of the CommifTioners in England, which occafions my gi- ving you this trouble, to recommend for his em- ployment one Mr. Richard Morgan *, who is my agent here: he is well afFeded to his Majefly, and has been brought up an attorney, and is very dili- gent and underftanding in bufinefs, and has the cha- ra(5ter of a very honeft man ; I am fure I have al- ways found him to be fo. I am fenfible, Sir, I am going out of my imme- diate province, in meddling in this affair, but I hope, from your goodnefs, Sir, whatever you pleafe to do in it, you will at lead excufe this trouble from, Sir, your humble fervant, ^0 Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin^ Bee. 14, 1728. IH A D yefterday the honour of your Excellency's of the 3d. inftant, and am glad to find the con- fideration of the proclamation about corn is likely to come on in a cabinet council fo foon. We had this day a great many gentlemen with us at the caf- tle, complaining of the accounts of the exportation of corn in feveral parts, and the great diftrefs we are * This gentleman was alfo agent to Dr. Hoad!j, when Archbn fhop of Dublin, as alfo when Primate. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 215 are likely to be under, except a fpeedy (top be put to it ; and we could fcarce pacify them though we aiTured them your Lordfhip had acquainted the King with that affair, and that his Majefly had ordered a cabi- net council to confider it, and that we did not quef- tion receiving his Majefly 's commands in a poll or two. The want of fach a proclamation is at ieall made ufe of as a pretence by the gentlemen of the north, for not coming into the fubfcription we mentioned in our letter, without which I fear fome thoufands will perifh before next harveft. 1 am glad your Lordfhip is fo kind as to think of the affair of our coin. If we had an enlivening let- ter from your Excellency, I hope we might make fome advance here towards an application to the King from the council : but as our brother Conolly is pretty much in with the bankers, and they think they fhall lofe 2 per cent, in their remittances, if gold fhould be reduced, he now talks that at this unhappy jundlure in the north, he is afraid that it would be unfeafonable : fo that I fear if it were to be moved in council, he would encourage feveral underhand to oppofe it. On the contrary, I think in this very jundure, the getting or keeping of fil- ver, as it would promote the little retail bufinefs would be of fervice to us : and if we had any hint after it has been confidered in a cabinet council, that upon application, our defire to have our money al- tered, would be granted, I believe, with a word from your Lordfhip to help us, my Lord Chancellor and I could fecure the point in council. I have nothing farther to add to my memorial on that fubjed, but that upon confidering that in the fcheme formerly propofed, foreign filver is fet at the loweft price it is ever fold for in England., and that our people are afraid, if the Mexico piece of eight were fcc at 5 s. Ir'tjioy we (hould go too high : I have thought 2i6 L E T T E R S BY thought of a middle wav, which is fetting the Mexico piece of i 7 pwts. 4 grs. at 5 s. Irifhy on which flip- pofirion foreign filver would go at 5 J. gd. ^qts. Jrijh per ounce : whereas in the old fcheme the Mexico piece is but 1 7 pwts. bare, and on that fup- pofition filver will go at 5 J. gd. Irifh per ounce, (o that the difference will not be quite one halfpenny per ounce, and yet that advance will make it more worth while to keep filver here : and this can be done becaufe the full weight of the Mexico piece is I "7 pwts. 1 2 grs. I fhall by the next pod fend your Excellency a calculation of the foreign filver coins upon this new fuppofition. I am, &c. To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin^ Dec. i"], 1728. LAST Friday T had the honour of your Grace''s of the 5th inftant, and thank you for laying our melancholy Rate before his Majefty : I hope we fhall fpeedily know his Royal pleafure about a pro- clamation, prohibiting the exportation of corn from hence. On Saturday we had a great number of the principal gentry here, who pieilcd fomewhat rudely for fuch a proclamation, and were hardly fatisfied with our alfuring them the affair was already laid before his Majefty, and that we expeded his Ma- jefty's pleafure by one of the next mails. It is cer- tain we had a very bad crop of corn laft year, and that commiilions are come to buy up great quanti- ties here, fo that it is to be feared we fhall before fpring fuffer extremely by its dearnefs. But I do not doubt, but we fhall receive his Majefty's commands in that affair before this comes to your Grace's hands. As we hope in due time to know what he pleafes LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 217 pleafes to order relating to the people going to the TVe/i Indies •, the infatuation ftill fpreads, and the dearnels of provilions muft needs increale it, if not prevented. 1 am greatly obliged to his Majejly for the good opi- nion he is pleafed to entertain of my zeal for his fer- vice, and hope I Jhall never give him reafon to alter it. I am, My Lord, &c. To the Bi^jop of London. My Lord, Dublin^ Dec. 21, 1728. TJ/'E are very tnuch rejoiced here at the arrival of Prince Frederick * at St. James' j-, as I find by the accounts from England all friends to the govern- ment are there. As I am confined here by being in the government, and by my Lord Juftice ConoUy'i, weaknefs, I muft defire the favour of your Loi'd- fhip when you next wait upon his Royal Highnefs to prefent my moft humble duty to him, and to af- fure him that nothing but my being detained here by his Majefty's fervice fhould hinder me from ha- ving the honour of waiting on him, and paying him my moft dutiful refpeds in perfon on fo happy an occafion. This cold weather has pretty much pinched his Grace of Dublin^ not that he is apprehended to be in any immediate danger, but as reports may be fpread in England that he is dead, and pufhes made for naming a fucceflbr to him, I beg the favour of you to wait on the miniftry, and defire they would not fix on a fucceflbr upon any rumours of his death, * Prince of Wales, eldeft fon of George II, His Grace had fome fhare in teaching his Highnefs Englijh, when he was a Chap- lain at Hanoier. 2i8 L E T T E R S BY death. It is a matter of great confequence to his Majefty's fervice, and the Englijh intereft here, and I hope that no native will be thought of for the place, nor an Englijhman be fixed upon too haftily. I am, My Lord, &c. To Lord Carteret. My L.ord, Dublin, Jan. 4, 1728, IUnderftand by his Grace of Canterbury there were fome fmall changes made in the occafional offices of the Church in England^ which he was fo kind as to fend me. As the 30th of January is now coming on, I have thoughts of having the like alte- rations made here, as likewife ordering the office of the King's inauguration-day to be ufed here, but I thought it improper to fpeak to the Lords Juftices or the privy council about it, till I had your Ex- cellency's approbation of the defign. I heartily wi(h your Lordfhip many happy new years. I am, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublhu Jan. 15, 172^. TH E Rev. Mr. John ^arterman died here yefterday, by whofe death the union of Burn- chitrch, confiding of Burn-church, alias Kiltramne vicarage or parifh, Dunfort vicarage, Kilfaragh whole redtory, and the monailery or redory of Gerpoint^ with all its members and dependencies in the diocefe of OJfory^ is become vacant, and in the gift of your Excellency. As LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 219 As your Lordfhip was pleafed to promlfe me the difpofal of the firft living I defired, upon my relin- quilhing a living in the diocefe of Qngher^ to Dr. Delany^ I make it my reqiieft to your LordHiip, that you would be pleafed to order the faid union to be given to the Rev. Mr. John Richard/on^ on whom I did intend to have bellowed the living I then re- linquiflied, I am, Your Excellency's, &c. 'To Lord Townfliend, My Lord, Dublin, Jan. 16, 1728. TH E age and frequent returns of illnefs the Archbifhop of Dublin has laboured under the greateft part of this winter (though I do not apprehend that he is in any immediate danger of dying) have made me think it proper to write a few lines to your Lordfhip about a fucceffor to him, if he fhould fall, that there may be no furprife. It is certain that it is of the laft confequence to the King's fervice that he be an E?tglijhman ; whe- ther it will be thought beft to fend one from the Bi- fhops bench in England, or to remove one from the bench here to that poll, I fubmit to your Lordfhip's wifdom : if the former be thought of, the perfon I fhould be mofl defirous to fee here, as being one of the oldeft friends I have on the bench there, that would be willing to come, is the Bifhop of St. David's, of whofe behaviour your Lordlhip mud have fomt knowledge, as he has been in the houfe about five years : if the latter be Judged beft, I think the Bifhop of Femes is the moft proper that can be thought of here ; he behaved himfelf very well lafl feffions of parliament here ; he is one of courage, and very hearty for the Englijh intereft, and is a good fpeaker ; and I am fatisfied he is one tliat 220 LETTERS by that would concur with me in promoting his Majef- ty's fervice ; he is very well liked of here for an En^IiJhman. But I mud beg to fpeak freely that I hope nobody will be fent hitlier, becaufe he is troublefome or un- eaiy elfewhere. It is of great confequence that there be a gcx)d agreement between the Primate and the Archbifhop of Dublin ; and one in that poft who v/ould fet up himfelf againft the Primate, would be fure of being carefled, flattered, and followed by the IriJIi intereft here. / cannot on this occafion omit my thanks to your Lordfbip for your Jupporting me here ever Jince I carne^ as you gave me hopes you would^ and I hope the good effeBs of it have appeared. And I think the Englifb intereft is at prefent on that good footing, headed by my Lord Chancellor and myfelf, that the continuance of the fame fupport, promifes a pretty quiet ftate of things for the future. I fhould hardly have given your Lordfhip this trouble before-hand, if we had not reports from time to time that endeavours are ufing to fecure this poft either for fome dangerous perfon here, or not very promifmg on the other fide *. I am, &c. I'o Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin^ Jan. ic;^ 1728. ON the 23d inflant I had the honour of your Excellency's of the 1 1 th, which I this day communicated to the Lords Juftices, and upon ad- vifmg with Lord Chief Juftice Roger/on, who hap- pened to be at the caflle, and the Prime Serjeant with * His Grace feeins to place his chief confidence in my Lord Ttrwnjkend. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 221 with the Attorney and Sollicitor-general, we find k proper to have his Majefly's commands for what al- terations are to be made in the occafional offices, as h'kewife for the late alterations in relation to the Roy- ^1 family which his Majefty has been pleafed lately to order in council in England-, and we find that in the feveral proclamations ilTued on the like occafions, mention is made of our having received his Majefty 's commands. 1 fhall look over the alterations made in the occa- ■fional offices in England^ and likewife fee what alte- rations may be neceilary to be made in the occafional office for the 23d of 051obei\ which is not obferved in England^ and tranfmit them to your Excellency by the next poft, together with a copy of the letter your Excellency was pleafed to fend us, relating to the alterations made in the prayers for the Royal Family at his Majefty's acceffion ; that fo your Lordfliip may fee what form was then ufed to fignify his Majefty's pleafure to us ; and as foon as we re- ceive his Majefty's commands, we ftiall iifue a pro- clamation accordingly. I fhall by this poft write to England for the form of prayer appointed for the inauguration- day, to fee whether there is any thing in it that need be changed here ; and ftiall after perufing it, acquaint your Excellency whether it will require any change, or be •proper as it ftands in England^ that we may accord- ingly receive his Majefty's commands. I am. My Lord, &c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, Jan. a8, 1728. IN mine of Saturday laft I promifed your Excel- lency by this poft, on account of what alterations Avould be proper to be made in the feveral occafionai offices. 222 L E T T E R S BY offices, purfuant to what has been done in England, and I had accordingly drawn them up. But as your Lordfhip hinted in yours that it fhould be done in the beil manner which you thought I knew, I went on at the fame time with an enquiry at the council and the fecretaries office, into what method was purfued when thofe forms of prayer were laft altered, which was in the year 1715 : and by the books in tlie fecretary's office I found things then took a longer train than any body was able to inform me of, which I iliall communicate to the other Lords Ju ft ices to-morrow, that we may purfue the fame method again, and when things are fettled with them, fhall fend your Lordfhip an account of it. As the time is too fhort to make any fuch altera- tion againft the o,o\h of January now approaching, there will be time enough to have that affair purfued in the way formerly obferved, before the 29th of ilf^y, and care fhall be taken accordingly. Bat the alterations his Majefty has been pleafed to order lately in relation to the Royal Family, can be enforced here as foon as your Excellency pleafes to fend us his Majefty's commands about them. And I have here fent your Excellency an extradt of your letter of the i6th of June 1727, in which you fent us his Majefty's firft commands on that fubjedt, in purfuance of which we then iifued a pro- clamation, as we lliall now, fo foon as we receive the like orders. I am, my Lord, 5fc. To thtf fame. . My Lord, Buhlin, Feb. i, 1728. HUMBLY thank your Excellency for your kind order to have Mr. Richard/on prefentcd to the union of Burn-church -, but as tl^ere is fome rea- fon LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 223 fon to apprehend that the Crown and the Bifhop * of OJfory prefent alternately to that union, and that this is the Bifhop's turn, the lafl turn having been filled by the Crown, we have ordered enquiry to be made in the feveral offices, to learn how that affair flands, before we make a prefentation, which we fear can be of no effect ; as foon as we can learn any thing certain in this bufinefs, I (hall acquaint your Lordfhip with it. I am, &c To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, Feb.i^, ijzS. IH A V E lately received a letter from Mr. Ratcliff^ in which he acquaints me that he has made appli- cation to your Excellency for the new profeflbrfhip in the oriental tongues, and defires me to give your Lordfhip a charader of him. As I do not know how thofe profefTorfhips are to be beflowed, whether on thofe who are adually of the College, or indiffe- rently on any who are qualified for them, I cannot tell what to fay on this occafion : but I muft do him the juftice to acquaint your Excellency that I have heard him fpoken of as one that underflands the ori- ental tongues the beft of any body in this country. I am, my Lord, &c. To the Archbijhop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin, Feb. 13, 1728. I A M glad to hear your Grace is mended, and flill likely to mend in your health, which I hear- tily wifli a continuance of. We * Sir Thomas Vefey, ]3art. 224 L E T T E R S BY We are endeavouring by a * fubfcription to raife money and buy corn, to fupply the nec'ellities of the north, and have hitherto kept the markets there from rifmg unreafonably, and hope to do fo till next harveft. We think this will put fome flop to the great defertion we have been threatened with there : and fo far as they may be concerned in it, I hope the landlords will do their part by remitting fome arrears or making fome abatement of their rents. As bad as things have been here, I am fatisfied the bulk of thefe adventurers worft themfelves by removing to America^ and hope the frenzy will gradually abate. I have lately received a letter from your Grace re- lating to one Mr. Carol^ a convert, which I had an- fwered fooner, but that I flaid till I had an opportu- nity of talking with my Lord Chief Baron about his cale, who tells me he has an extraordinary bad cha- rad;er, whatever his religion may be, that he has been convieted of endeavouring to fuborn witneffes, and that a profecution has been ordered againfl him in the Exchequer for making a rafure in a record ; fo that he thinks Carol will hardly venture into this kingdom. 1 Ihall always be ready to fupport any real pro- teftant here who fuffers from the malice of the pa- pifts, fo far as lies in my power, and ftill the more upon your Grace's recommendation ; but 1 fubmit it to your Grace whether there be a polfibility of fhewing * There is no doubt but his Grace contributed largely to this fubfciiption ; but what he did in the year 1739-40, in the great froft, almoft exceeds belief j there was not a poor diftreffed perfon in the great city of Dublin who applied, that was not daily re- lieved to the full, and chiefly by his bounty : the Houfe of Com- mons took this fo well, that they voted him very juftly their thanks on this very remarkable inftancc of his goodnefs. The fums he then expended muft have been very great indeed, yet when he hath been complimented on this and frequent other occafions of the like fort, his ufual anfwer was, that he rtiould die IhamefuUy rich. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 225 fhewing any countenance to one who has ib bad a charadter. I am, My Lord, &c. To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, 'Dublin, Feb. 18, 1728. TH E occafion of my troubling your Grace at prefent, is that it is generally talked here, that the affair of the new profeiforfhips is juft fettling, and the profeiTors going to be named. I find that bufi- nefs has been wholly managed with Dr. Coghill, without acquainting my Lord Chancellor or me with what has been doing *. Dr. Coghill has indeed had fome difcourfe with me about what ledures it might be proper to oblige the profeiTors to read, and under what penalties ^ but we liave neither of us been let into the fecret who are defigned for the new profef- fors. 1 could therefore wifh that before the perfons are fettled, we might be acquainted who they are to be, that your Grace may be informed whether they are fuch as the King's friends here wifh were put in, I cannot omit mentioning on this occafton, that we the Lords Juftices here were fome what furprized that Dr. Coghill was rather employed than the Lords Juflices, to acquaint the College that it would be agreeable to the court, if the t Prince of Wales were to be eledted Chancellor of this Univerfity. \ hope you will excufe this trouble. I am, Your Grace's, &c. Vol. I. P eople by what we could fay againft tliem in publick, whereas the people could have known nothing of what palTed in a debate in the council. As the memorial was fent to your Excellency I thought it would be wrong to print it without your leave ; but I have no thoughts of printing that or any thing elfe on the fubjed, till the people are grown cool, and my Lord Chancellor thinks it adviiable ; and then it fhall be fuch a one as he approves of, but we will carefully avoid doing any thing in this matter that may enflame the nation. What has been hinted to me, as a tiling that would oblige the bankers to keep more calli by them than they do, and would probably by degrees bring the merchants to keep their own cadi is, if the ofticers of the revenue were ftridlly enjoined to take only cafh, and hot bankers notes for payments in the re- venue, thegreateft part of which are at prelent made in bankers notes : befides it would have another great advantage, which is, that as things now ftand, if any run fhould happen upon the bankers, the go- vernment has not one "penny of money to go on with ; but in the other cafe, they would have fome money at command. But I do not fpeak of this as a thing any ways proper to be done at prefent ; fincc I fear in our prelent diftrefs, if the government were LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 249 were to refufe taking the notes of bankers, it would caufe an immediate run upon them ; which as our circumllances now (land, would put a ftop to all trade and payments amongft us : but I mention it as a thing worth your Excellency's confideration, when we have the happinefs of your prefence with us. As every thing is very quiet here, and we hope likely to continue fo, 1 cannot apprehend that there is any neceflity of your Lordfhip's coming hither be- fore Septetnber ; whenever I can learn that there is oc- cafion for it, I will not fail giving your Excellency advice of it. Since we fent to your Lordfhip Mr. E/pin's and Mr. Faughafi's memorials, I have learned that Mr. Efpin has already about 200/. per ann. in the church, and as much temporal eflate ; whereas Mr. Faughan has nothing but a curacy, fo that the vica- rage given to him, will be bellowed on one who very much wants it. ■ I am, &:c. To the fame. My Lord, Dublin, Jtine ^^ '729- IH A V E the honour of your Excellency's of the 29th paft, and thank your Lordfhip for your kindnefs to the Bifhop of St. David's^ in the affair of the archbifhoprick of Dublin, with which he ac- quainted me with great acknowledgments of the obligations you had laid on him. I am forry that affair is likely to be kept long in fufpenfe, fince I think it would rather be for his Ma- jefly's fervice, that the new Archbifhop whomfoever his Majefly pleafes to pitch upon, were well fettled in his ftation before the parliament meets. Several here fcem fenfible of the folly of the cla- mour raifed againfl regulating our coin, but all that is 250 LETTERS by is left to be done at prefent, is flaying till the great- iiefs of the evil makes them importunate for a re- medy. I am glad your Excellency approves of the perfons I mentioned as proper to fill fome vacancy, if there (hould be any removes here. I am, my Lord, &c. TV the Duke, of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin^ June lo, 1729- I Have lately troubled your Grace with two or three letters on occafion of the death of the Arch- bifhop of Dublin., with my opinion whom I thought moil proper to fucceed to that fee, according as his Majefty (hould pleafe to pitch upon one on the bench in England ot here. I am fenfible his Majefly was in fuch a hurry, as he was juft then going abroad, when the firft advice of his Grace's death came, that it could not be expeded that affair fhould be fettled before his departure : but I am forry to hear that it is generally talked at London^ that the archbifhoprick is not likely to be difpofed of till his Majefty's return. As our parliament will probably meet in Septem- ber^ or the beginning of Oifober^ I cannot but think it would be for his Majefty's fervice here if a fuc- ceflbr were fettled in the archbifhoprick time enough for him to form fome acquaintance and interefl here before the parliament is opened, and to let the dif- appointments of fome who are feeking for that fta- tion, be a little digefted before that time ; for I very ' much fear, that notwithftanding all precautions, we are in danger of having a troublefome feffion, as the debts of the nation are very much .increafed within a few years. I thought LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 251 I thought it my duty to his Majefly humbly to make this reprefentation. I am. My Lord, &c. To the BiJIdop of London. My Lord, Dublin, June 12, 1729. I Have been favoured with your Lordfhip'sof the 3d inftant. I am glad that thofe who make an unjufl: clamour about tythes here, have had more modefty than to think they could perfuade- people on your fide of the water to believe that to be one of the caufes of pro- teil:ants going hence to America. I thank your Lordfhip for defigning to attend when the caufe Mr. Horan is concerned in comes before the Lords ; it is a caufe ot fome confequence to this country. There had been formerly fome objedlion made to Mr. Stephens being Canon of Cbriji Church, on ac- count of there being a want of perfons to bear office there : but I hoped it had been removed by his of- fering to be treafurer, and finding one to a6l under him, for whofe honefty lie would be fecurity. I be- lieve half the treafurers there have tranCaCled their bufinefs by one of their fervants, (and pollibly the Bifhop of Oxford did fo) without being fecurity for them. I cannot but think I am hardly ufed in this affair, to have a ftop put to a promife made me fome years ago and fince renewed, to gratify the oppofition made by my fuccefTor, who neither has done, nor is capable (if I may fay fo without vanity) of doing that fervice to the crown which I have done here and at Oxford. ' I thank 252 LETTERS by I thank your Lordfhip for the fervice you have done Mr. Stephem in this affair, and recommend him to your farther pro'teflion. Your Lordfhip I dare fay, does not doubt of my friendfhip to the Bifhop of St. David's, and I am thoroughly fatisficd of his being a good church- man, and as fait a friend to that branch of our conftitu- tion as any man. And 1 did not fet up a rival againll liim, but your Lordlhip knows in all recommenda- tions on thefe occafions I have thought it prudent to mention two perfons ; fince if one Ihould prove lefs acceptable, I am not prefent to recommend a fecond. And I have reafon to believe that great intereft has been formed for the Bifhop of Femes on the other . fide of the water two years ago, and fince often re- newed there for the pofl now vacant. For this rea- fon I thought proper to narne him with the Bifliop of St. Davitfs •, fince it is very much for his Majefly's fervice that there fhould be a good undcrftanding between the new archbifbop and myfelf ; as I am fure there will be, whether his Majefty pitches upon the Bifhop of St. David's or the Bifhop of Femes ; and as to the latter, I can affure your Lordfhip he has given here no occafion to be thought no friend to the Church, and is allowed by every body to be a good fpeaker in the Houfe of Lords, and confe- quently will be fo in tne council : and 1 muft inform your Lordfhip that is of no fmall confcqaence to the fupport of his Majeily's fervice and the Englijh in- terefl here. I am very forty to find the choice is likely to be put off for fo long a time, {".qq. it is of moment to our af- fairs here, that the new ArciibiHiop fhould be fetded and have time to look about lum. if poluble, before our parliament meets, which will be the latter end of September or beginning of Q5ii,ber. But there is one thing I mufl beg of your Lordfliip to guard againfb, ^that under a notion of not offending the friends of either LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 253 either of the prefent candidates, a new perfon may not beclapt upon us. I can eafily fee and no one here doubts, but there is fuch a perfon in view, wl]o will neither be ac- ceptable here, nor of fervice to the Englifh intereft. I hope, after what I have written in many letters before, I need not again urge the neceffity of the fee not be- ing filled with a native of this country. I am forry peace and war continue ftill (o un- certain : and fear the Spaniards are trifling with us, (b as to lofe the time of adion for this year, which if they fhould do it will light heavy on the minitlry. I am. My Lord, &:c. To Sir Robert Walpole. Sir, Dublin, June 14, 1729. TH E repeated accounts we have here that the archbifhoprick of Dublin is not likely to be difpofed of till his Majefly's return, are the occafion of my giving you this trouble. If things are not already fixed otherwife, I would beg leave to reprefent that I think it would be for his Majefly's fervice here to have that affair fettled as foon as it conveniently can. The feflion of our par- liament will come on in September or 05iober ; and I could wifh that thofe here who may be difpleafed that they are not confidered on this occafion, or that the poft is beftowed on an Englijhman, may have time to cool before the meeting of the par- liament. If his Majefl:y fliall pleafe to fend us an Arch- bifhop from England, it would be of fervice to the King's affairs here that he ihould be fettled and form fome acquaintance, and begin to have weight againft the feflion. Or if his Majefty fhall pleale to fii' that ftation 254 L E T T E R S BY ftation with one from the bench here, I think it would be bed to have the confequent removes over by that time. I have fo often before the vacancy happened, wrote of the neceflity of filling the place with an Engli(b- man, that I hope I need not make any new repre- feiitation on that head. It is jikewife of fome confequence that the perfon pitched upon be one whom 1 may depend upon for ihere being a good agreeaient betwixt him and me, which I am fure will be the cafe, if either the Bilhop of St. David's or the BiHipp of Femes be the perfon. And I fhould be very forry if the effedl of this delay fhould be the bringing on the flage fome other candidate, which is what is by many here appre- hended to be in fome meafure airned at, by deferring this matter for fo long a time. Whether any fuch thing be defigned you are beft able to judge, and I beg leave to recommend it to you to prevent any fuch ufe being made of it. I am, gicc. T'o the Archbijhop of Canterbury. My Lord, Dublin, July 3, 1729. SINC E I had the honour of your Grace's rela- ting to Mr. Bury of Finglafs ; Mr. Baron Pock- lingion has given me a very good character of him; and Sir Ralph Gore, a peribn of diftindion here, has introduced him to me, and confirmed what Mr. Baron had faid of him. 1 fhall upon your Grace's recommendation have a regard to him, and endea- vour on a proper occafion to help him to fomewhat iii the Church. I am, my Lord, &c. fo LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 255 'to Sir Robert Walpole. Si r, Dublin, July 8, 1729. AS I troubled you with a letter not long ago, relating to the Archbilhoprick of Dublin, I fhould not fo foon have given you a new trouble, but that we are informed, that great endeavours arc ufed and much art to bring into play on this occafion, fome new perfon on this fide of the water. I can affure you, lb far as I may be fuppofed capable of judging, there is nobody on the bench here fo able to do hisMajefty fervice in this country, nor I think of thofe who would willingly tske the archbifhop- rick, any fo acceptable to the well afFeded of this kingdom, nor can 1 depend fo firmly on being aflifted in all publick affairs by any one here, as the Bifliop of Femes, 1 beg leave to lay thefe things plainly before you, and to defire your help, that fome other perfon here may not be worked in, who may be of little or no fervice, (and perhaps diifervice) where all pollible help is little enough. I am, &c. 'To the fame. Sir, Dublin, Aug. 12,, 1729. I Had fooner anfwered the letter you honoured me with of the 19th pad, but that I received it when 1 was upon my vifitation, from which I am lately returned. / am very much obliged to you for the kind opinion you are pleafed to exprefs of my endeavours to fupport the King's inter efi here, and I can ajfure you they Jhall never be wanting. And I am fenfible how much I am indebted 256 L E T T £ R S BY indebted to you for the perfonal regard you are pleafed to honour me with. I am glad to hear the affair of the archbifhop- rick continues in fo good a way ; I could heartily wifh that the two Bifhops in Enj^land who oppole one another in this bufinefs, could be brought to agree, they are both my very good friends, as are the Bi- fhops of St. David's and F ernes ^ and I hope the com- petition betwixt them, will not make way for fome third perfon to be let into the archbifhoprick that may be lefs acceptable, and with whom I cannot promife myfelf to have the fame good correfpon- dence as with either of them. I fhould have been glad that this affair had been .fettled before my L©rd Lieutenant's arrival here ; but am very eafy, as you give me hopes the delay will be of no prejudice. I beg leave to take this opportunity to thank you for the fupport you have given me on this and all other occafions fihce my coming hither. I am. Sir, ficc To Lord Carteret. My Lord, Dublin, Aug. 12, 1729. UPON my return from my vifitation I had the pleafure of receiving one of Lady * Difert^s favours, for which I beg leave to trouble your Excel- lency to make my compliments, with my mofl fin- cere congratulations to the bride and bridegroom, for in that light they appear yet to me at thisdiftance : as it is a marriage which has the approbation of your Excel lei. cy and my Lady Carteret, I queftion not but * One of the daughters of Lord Carteret, who was married to the Earl of Difivt, a Scotch nobleman. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 257 but it will prove happy, which are my moft hearty w idles. We begin now to look with fome pleafure at the near profped of feeing your Lordfhip amongft us, and I doubt not but your prefence will by degrees re- move thofe difficulties we at prefent apprehend in the next felTion of parliament. This city is not fo free from tumults as it ought 10 be, and as we hoped the proclamation publiflied fome time ago would have made it ; but if it be pollible to awaken the magiftrates out of their pre- fent lethargy, we fliall endeavour to have all things quiet here againft your Lordfhip's arrival. I am, My Lord, &c. To the Bijhcp of London. My Lord, Dublin^ Aug. 28, 1729. IN my laft to your Lordfhip I could not help ex- prefnng myfelf with fome refentment that the oppofition made by my fuccelfor againft Mr. Stephens^ fhould have met with fuch fuccefs ; but I was then fenfible how much I was obliged to your Lordfhip for preventing the canonry of Chrijl Church from being a 272 • L E T T E R S BY two Eiiglijijmen the two befl polls in the Church, next to the primacy. The fcheme pitched on with my Lord Lieutenant and Lord Chancellor, confidering the prefent cir- cumftances of the kingdom is, that the Bifhop of Fernes * be tranflated to Dublin, the Billiop of Clon- fert to Femes ; and if there be a difpofition in En- gland to make Dr. Clayton Bifhop here, as we are alTured there is, I have nothing to fay againft his being promoted to Clonfert. As to the archbifhop- rick of Cajhel, it is thought proper to remove the Bifhop of Elphin to Cajhel, the Bifhop of Killalla to Elphin, and Dr. Synge fon to the Archbifhop of T'unm, to Killalla. This is a fcheme I fhould not project, if we were not in a troubled flate here, but circumflances con- fidered, is what I hope will mod conduce to keep things quiet in this country. I am, &c. To the Duke r.f Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin, Dec. 16, 1729. SINCE I had the honour to write to your Grace about the affairs of parliament, the Com- mons have voted that the moidore fhall go for 30 s. f and feem dilpofed to raife all other coins anfwerably to that value. As their votes are not laws, I do not apprehend any thing they can vote can do us any more mifchief than putting off the necefiary redudion of our gold till another fellion of parliament. Though if others of the council were of my ientiments, as we are undone without * Dr. John HeaMy, tranflated to Duhlin, and after the death of Dr. Boulter to the primacy of Ireland. f His Grace foretold this iurprizing event in a former letter. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 273 witiiout a redu6lion of our golii, we would with his Majefty's leave fet thing;s to rights before their next meeting : and I am fansfied the good effefts of the alterations propofed in council would be fo fenfibly felt before that time, that there would be no grumbling about it when the parliament meets next. If they go on farther in the money affair, and addrefs his Majefty to do any thing wrong in it, I fhall trou- ble your Grace with a memorial againlt any fuch deflrudive meafures. The Commons and feveral others without doors, are in a great heat about the alterations made by the council in England to our lefTer money bill. I be- lieve a great many will be for lofmg the bill rather than agree to the alterations. They are by all who know what they are, allowed to be for the better, but the point infilted upon is, that no alteration whatfoever fhall be made either in the Englijh or Irijh council, to a money bill. It is certain the law here is againft thefe warm men, and fo are the prece- dents : and it is hoped that the majority of the houfe will be fenfible of the bad confequences of rejecting that bill, which will run this nation much deeper in debt, and may end in a diflblution ; and that they will take care that the bill pafles ; but it cannot be without much heat and oppofi- tion. On Thurfday the fate of this bill will be de- cided. I yefterday wrote to your Grace about the vacancy on the death of the Archbifhop of Cajhel. I am, &c. OL. I. S To •74 L E T T E R S BY To the fiime. My Lord, Diihlin^ Dec. 20, 1729. N mine of the i 6th I gave your Grace an ac- count of the great ferment we were in here about the alterations made in our httle money-bill by the council in England. Yefrerday came on the debate' about it in th.e lioufe of Comamons, and af- ter about four hours debate, it was carried in favour of the bill, by 124 againfl: 62- There have been other divifions fmce upon every ftep of the bill, with greater inequality ; but the firfh was the great trial. To-day the bill was fent up to the Lords, and wc fuppofe both the money-bills will receive the Royal afient on Monday.' As far as I can find, if the de- bate had come on before there had been time to talk, with the members, the bill had been lofi, the warmth againft the alterations was at firft fo great. And I am of opinion the bill had not been carried by fo great a majority, if it had not been for fear of a diflblution of the parliament, as the greateft part of our commoners are not willing to be at the ex- pence of a new eleftion. The King's bufinefs is now done, of which I am glad, though I could wifh. it had been done with a better grace. I cannot but look on this as a very good feflion, confidering the greateft part of the debts of the na- tion is put in a method of paym.ent, which will cer- tainly be purfued the next feflion. Whether now the commons are got right in one point, and are very much broken among themfelves, they LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 275 tliey may not be brought to think likewife right about the affair of our coin, I cannot yet guefs. I am, My Lord, &:c. To the BiJIjop of London. My Lord, Dublin^ J^^t- Z-, 1729. ON the 15th paft I troubled your Lordlhip with an account of the fcheme about the va- cant archbifhopricks, that was thought moft advifea- ble in our prefent turbulent condition. We yefter- day received his Majefty's orders in purfuance of thofe applications, except that Dr. Clayton is fent to Killalla, and that Qonfert is referved for fome En- glijloman. I cannot but fay we want fome help on the bench here, where at prefent we have but nine EngUjJj Bi- fhops out of 22. The perfon we are told is not fixed upon, and I fhould be obliged to your Lord- fhip if you would endeavour that it may be fome worthy perfon. I do not well know whether Mr. Saul would be willing to come hither, if he would, I fhould think him a very proper perfon for our bench. Of the Englijh here, the only perfon I know is Dr. Longwortht who is alfo known to your Lord- fhip, and who has behaved himfelf very well on his living in the north. I am forry there has been any mifunderftanding betwixt your Lordfhip and me on account of the archbifhoprick of Dublin ; and fhould have been for compromifing matters in favour of the Bifhop of St. David's on the vacancy of Cajhel^ if your Lordfhip had not affured me he would think of nothing here if he failed of Diiblin^ and we had not been in a very uneafy fituatioi; in the Houfe of Commons. But I hope things will again fettle, fmce I defire ftill, S 2, and 276 L E T T E R S BY and hope it is a favour you will grant me, that I may trouble you to difconrfe with the miniflry about what I apprehend to be for his Majefly's fervice in the promotions here. 1 liave read the Bifhop of St. David's book with a trreat deal of pleafure, and am g'ad to hear it takes well in England. We fhall very fpeedily fend over fome bills from hence, and among the reft the glebe bill ; the num- ber of acres mentioned in the bill is 20, but rather than fail, we fhould be glad of 10. We have had a popery bill brought into our houfe, partly for regiftering a number of fecular piiefls, and partly more effedually to diive out the regulars from hence ; but it was tliis day rejeded in the houfe. I muft own I think it is better letting them alone, whatever may otherwife be proper, till after the congrefs at * Soijfons is over. We have liad a very uneafy feffion here, but I hope, as the peace with Spain is fettled, you will have an eafy one m England. I heartily willi ) our Lordlliip many happy new years, and am. My Lord, bcc. 'To the Duke of Nev/caflle. My Lord, Dublin., Jan. 3, 1729. IT H I S day received a letter from Mr. Delafaye., by your Grace's order. I am very fenfible of the great hurry your Lordfhip muft be in upon the change made in the other office,, at d the approach of the fellion of parliament in England., where 1 doubt not things will go eafy, fmcc a peace is concluded with Spain. I am * For a general peace among the principal powers of Europe. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 277 1 am very much obliged to the minijiry for the re- gard that has been ffoewn to my recommendations in the late promotions on the bench here. Dr. Synge is a very worthy man, but may very well flay till another op- portunity. I am very glad to hear Clonfert is defigred fo' an Englifljman^ fince there are but nine Englih on the bench, and twelve Irijh^ and it may be very proper to give fome more ftrength to the Englijh there. But I hope the perfon to be fent from England will be a perfon of fome worth, and who is likely to join with us that are here already. I think there can be no grumbling here if Clonfert be beftowed on an Englijlmian, but it may eafily be kept open till the fealun of grumi)ling is over. As far as I can find many among the commons that were concerned in voting to keep up the moi- dore to its prefent value begin to doubt whether they have done right in it -, and the whole affair of our coin feems to reft tliere. We fliall confider whether it may not be proper to take that affair into confideration in the Houfe of Lords after the recefs, and endeavour to redify the miflake of the commons. I have formerly acquainted your Grace that the lefl'er money bill was carried, and paiied in due time. I think there can liardly be any fquabble in either houfe now that can much concern his Majefty. We have a great many bills now before the council from the commons, to which we lliall give all pollible dit- patch. I beg leave to w ifh your Lordfhip many happy years, and am, My Lord, &c. 'To 278 L E T T E R S BY To the fame. My Lord, Dublin^ Jan. 10, 1729. HAVE had the honour of your Grace's of the 30th pad, and had before received an account of the promotions on our bench from Mr. Delafaye^ by your Grace's orders. I am very glad things have ended fo well in the Houfe of Commons as they have, and fhall not be wanting in my endeavours to promote his Majefly's fervice there and elfewhere 10 the utm.on: of my power. It is not certain that they will attempt any thing farther there about our coin, if they do I Ihall trouble your Lordfhip with a memorial on that fub- jedt. , I am obliged to your Grace for the regard you are pleafed to exprefs for my reprefentations, and defire they fhould have no farther weight than the reafons with which I fhall upon occafion fupport them, may defervc. The BilTiop of Cork is at prefent very ill, and there have been reports, though falfe, that he was dead. If he fhould die, as any EngliJIj^nan would rather chufe Cork than Clovfert^ I think Dr. Synge *, (if his Majefty pleales) may have Clonfert bellowed on him, where his father the Archbilhop of I'tiam had rather fee him, on account of its neighbourhood to Tuani^ than in any other billioprick ; and Cork may be beftowed on an EngliJJjman. I was willing juft to inention this, that Clonfert may not be given away till it is known whether Cork will be vacant or no. As * Ednvard Sytige, eldeft foil of the Archblfliop. His other hioihti Nicholas, was advanced to the fee of Killaloe in I745> by the Karl of Chejlerfeld, tiien Loid Lieutenant of Ireland. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 279 As any thing occurs here, worth your Grace's no- tice, I fhall not fail to acquaint you v/ilh it. I am, my Lord, &c. To the Bijhop of London. My Lord, Dublw, Jmi. 10, 17 29. THAVE received your LordHiip's of the 30th pad, and am forry the Bifhop of St. David's has done with all thoughts of Ireland^ fince he might ftill fare better here than he may do in hafte in England. In m.ine of the 2d inftant to your Lordlhip, I took notice of Clonfert being in our lafl promotions referved for an Englijhman., and mentioned two for it, if it was not engaged, one in England^ one here : I find Dean Crofs * would be willing to take it, whom your Lordfhip knows. This week we had a report for two or three days that the Billiop of Cork i" was dead ; but by letters from Cork that came in yefterday, he was not dead but Itill ill. If he dies, Dr. Synge may be gratified with Clonfert^ where his father the Archbifhop of T'uam^ on account of its neighbourhood to Juam, had rather fee him than in any other bifhoprick, and Cork may be referved for an Eng'ijhman. And I am furc * Reftor of St. Mary's, Dublin, who had been chaplain to the Englijh factory in Turkey. •f Dr. Peter Brozvn, was educated in the univerfity of Dubliity was a Senior Fellow and Provoft. He was promoted to the fees of Cork and Rofs in the year 1709, and died at Cork in Auguji, 1735. He was a prelate of great piety, charity and abilities ; a moft eminent preacher ; two volumes of his iermons were pub- liflied fome time after his death. He alfo wrote other tratls, one of which was againft drinking to the memory of the dead. He was fucceeded by Dr. Robert Clayton, from Killalla, who was after- wards tranflated to Clogber. 28o L E T T E R S BY fure any EngHfljman would rather chufe Cork than Clonfert. I only mention this that Oonfert may not be difpofed of till it is known in England whether Cork is like to be vacast rr no. I have this week received a letter from Dr. Jenney^ relating to the deanery of Clogher^ in which he ac- quainted me he had written to your Lordfhip about it. Dr. Jenney is a very Vvorthy man, but as my Lord Lieutenant in his firft commiflion, had the difpofal of deaneries here, and that we think it was a little hard to have thtm taken from him in his fecond corn- million, * I do not care to oppofe his recommenda- tion on the other fide (f the water. I am, My Lord, &c. To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin, Jan. 17, 1729. N my lafl to your Grace, I mentioned that the ger.eral report here was, that the Bifhop of Cork was dead or dying. I do not find that report con- firmed this week, fo that I rather fuppofe he maybe out of danger : as foon as 1 hear any thing to the contrary, I will acquaint your Grace with it. We have fent over to England a bill to make more effeftual an aft to encourage the draining and im- proving of bogs and unprofitable low grounds, &c. v/hich aft was paffed in the fecond year of his late * This was generous in the Primate. But there was fome rea- fon for taking away that power, my Lord Lieutenant had given away three out of four deaneries to high tories, who were Gentle- nien of learning, great abilities, fortune, and good character ^ but the Primate wanted to have the fole appointment of all eccle- fiaftical preferments. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 281 late Majefty. The former a6l propofed draining bogs, &:c. by voluntary undertakers, but as no fuch have fince offered themfelves, this adt provides a fund for doing it, which is computed at about 4000/. per ann. and is like wife defigned for the encourage- ment of tillage here. Laft year we found the terrible effefts of the want of tillage, by a want of corn little fhort of a famine ; and when we endeavoured to cure this want by buy- ing corn by fubfcription, and fending it to the feve- ral parts of the north to be fold there at a reafonable price, we found the land carriage of the corn, for want of fome rivers being made navigable, (that it was hoped would have been fo by the a6t of the fe- cond of his late Majefty) to come to a much greater fum than there was occafion to abate in the price gi- ven for our corn. So that the intention of this ad: is to prevent our falling into the like calamity again, by a mifcarriage of one or two harvefhs here. And this aft is what the whole nation with reafon ap- prehend to be fo much for their common intereft, that I moft humbly intreat it may be fent us back. I am, my Lord, &c. I'd Sir Robert Walpole. Sir, Dublin, Jan. 22, 1729. IH A V E been applied to by a perfon of weight in this country 10 write in behalf of Mr Foulk, who has lately been removed from the place of Exa- minator to the Colledlor in the Port of Dublin. As it is an affair wholly out of my province, I fhall meddle no farther in it than to inform you that upon enquiry into his charafter, I find from good hands, that he has been in the fervice of the revenue for 2^2 L E T T E R S BY for near 29 years, and has for his dihgence and ho- nefty, been advanced from fome of the meanell polls, by one flep after another, to this of Collector in Dtiblin, which is the moft confiderable pofl of that nature in this kingdom, and requires a tho- roughly able and honeft perfon in it. Having faid this, I fhall wholly fubmit it to your pleafure whether you fhall think fit to let him continue in this pofl, in which the commiflioners here have lately placed him, or to appoint fome other to that employment. I am, My Lord, &c. To the fame. Sir, Dublin., Feb. '^.^ 1729. I BEG your patience whilft I lay before you the cafe of a particular friend of mine in England^ Mr. Stephejis., Vicar of Maiden in Surrey, and defire your kind interpofition in his favour. He was formerly Fellow of Merton College in Oxford., and was for fome years Chaplain to the Eng- lifj fadory at Oporto, where he fuffered very much in his eyes. He was always reckoned a good fcholar, and a very ingenious man in the Univerfity ; particu- larly he was valued for his fkill in the claflicks, and polite learning : he has always been a perfon of good morals, and to my knowledge one well affected to the revolution, and to the fuccellion in his Majefty's fa- mily in the worft times. When I was Dean of Chriji Church, I made appli- cation to my Lord TownJJjend and the Duke of New- cafile, to have him preferred to a canonry of Chriji^ Church, where he might be of fervice notwithfland- ing his bad eyes, by encouraging polite learning among the youth of the College ; and I obtained a promife in his favour on the next vacancy by death. Some LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 283 Some time after, when his lateMajefty was pleafed to remove me to the primacy here, I renewed my ap- plications to the miniflry for him, and had a promife that he Ihould be taken care of the next vacancy by death there, and that he Ihould not fuffer by my re- moving to Ireland. Since my coming hither I have frequently put the miniflry in mind of him, and have had repeated aflfurances that he fhould have the next vacant canonry of Chriji Churchy or an equiva- lent. Particularly upon the death of Dr. Gajlre\ late Bifhop of Chejlef\ I renewed m.y applications for him again, but as that happened jufl when Dr. Gil- hert returned from attending his late Majefty at Hanover^ and it was thought proper to reward him for that fervice with fome immediate preferment, I defifted, upon repeated affurances that he Ihould cer- tainly have die next vacancy or an equivalent. Here things refted till the death of Dr. Stratford^ when I renewed my applications again, and with the intervention of the Bifhop of London^ who has been fo kind as to appear for him, it was fettled that Dr. Knipe fhould have the canonry then vacant, but that he Ihould not be put in poflellion of it till Mr. Ste- phens had fome equivalent • given him. And upon this foot that affair ftood, when Dr. Knipe went to Hanover with his prefent Majefty, v/ho was pleafed to fend orders from Hanouer that Dr. Knipe'^ patent for the canonry then vacant, fhould immediately pals, which was accordingly done, and Mr. Stephens had nothing done for him, as had been before intended. The requefl I have to make to you is that you would lay the cafe of this deferving, but unhappy clergyman before her Majefty, and favour his pre- tenfions with your intereft. The misfortune of his eyes has made it fo, that he could not be put in the ufual methods of advancement, by being made Chaplain to the King. His 284 L E T T E R S BY His character I anfwer for, his pretenfions I have laid before yon ; and I mufl add, that as he advances apace towards fixty, there is not much time left to do any thing for him. My Lord Bifhop of London i<;nows him, and all that has been tranfafted in his affair, and 1 am fure is difpofed to ailift him in his application for fome dignity. He is the only clergyman in England I have or fhall recommend to the miniftry for any thing there, and your kind patronage of him in his juft pretenfions to their Majefly's favour, will always be efleemed a ve- ry great obligation laid on. Sir, your humble fervant. To the BiJJjop of London. My Lord, Dublin, Feb. ci^, 1729. I HAVE received your Lordfhip's of the 15th pafl, and thank your Lordfhip for your readinefs to do any fervice to the general ftate of the Church of Ireland, and have hopes your LordlTiip will reconfider the affair of promotions here, and will at the leaft for the good of his Majefly's fervice here, be willing to be concerned with me in recommending to va- cancies here. Your Lordfhip is too fenfible of the ill effeds of throwing the great preferments of the Church into a fcramble, and I fhall be very forry to be under a neceflity of applying to the miniftry by any other hand than your Lordlhip ; and I flill flatter myfclf the long friendfhip 1 have had with your Lcrdfliip, will on farther confideration, prevail with your Lordfhip to re-aiTume the kind part you have hitherto aded on that occafion. I fome LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 285 I fome time ago mentioned to your Lordlliip that Dean Crofs had applied here for the bifhoprick * of Clonfert. What is fettled about that bifhoprick I do not know : if it be ftill at liberty, I have no objedion to Dean Crofs having it ; he is an hearty EngliJJjman, and we begin to grow weak on the bench, I have by this poft written a letter to Sir Robert TValpole in purfuance of your directions to be laid be- fore her Majefty, relating to Mr. Stephens' % affair -, and I hope, as your Lordlliip is fo kind as heartily to efpoufe his intereft, that he will at lafl meet with better fuccefs than he has hitherto. It was with great pleafure I yefterday read your LordlTiip's of the 27th ult. with an account that our glebe bill was palled as we fent it over, and I thank your Lordfhip for your kind alTiftance in that af- fair. I am, My Lord, &c. To the Duke of Newcaftle. My Lord, Dublin, Mar. 10, 1729. OU R feffion advances towards a conclufion, and I hope will laft but a fhort time after the reft of our bills come from England. But there is ftill a turbulent fpirit in too many of the Houfe of Com- mons : it is rather expeded that they will next week take fome farther wrong ftep about our coin, but what it will be we cannot yet learn. We are gene- rally very thankful here for the favour intended us in taking off the duty on wocA and yarn exported from hence to England ; I am fully fatisfied it is the only effectual • This fee was filled up by Dr. Arthur Price, foon after tranf- lated to the united biOioptick of Leighlin and Femes; and to the fee of Meath in 1 73 3. a86 L E T T E R S BY cffedliial way to prevent the running of Irifh wool to France. We have a very ftrong report that there is an addi- tion likely to be made to the privy council here : as they are already 60, we find it pietty difficult to carry on tlie King's fervice there as we could wifh, and if the nunnber be increafed, it v/ill be flill more difficult. I am afraid the weight and power of the privy council is not fufficiently undeiflood in England^ which makes me beg leave to acquaint your Grace, that the approving or rejccfting of the magift rates of all the confidprable towns in this kingdom is in the council here ; and that as the correfting or reje(5ling of any bills from either Houfe of Parliament is in them, if they are increafed much more, the privy council of England may, have more trouble fiom a feffion of parliament here than they have at prefent, I can afiiare your Grace the EngliJJj intereft was much llronger at the board four years ago than it is now. * I mufl at the leaft beg the favour that no addition be made to the council here, till my Lord Chancellor and I are acquainted who are defigned to be added, and have time to give our fentiments about them ; though it will be lels invidious to make no addition at all. I wifh there may not be a neceflity before many years are over of reducing the number of the prefent members. I do not write barely my own fenfe but that of others of his Majefty's faithful fervants here. I am, My Lord, &:c. * His Grace was much in the right to defire this of the Duke of Neixicajile, and had the more reafon for it, as Lord Carteret had ufcd him but fcurvily in the appointment of privj counfel- lors, without any participation of fuch nomination with his Lordihip. LORD PRIMATE BOULTER. 287 To the fame. My Lord, Dtihlin^ Mar. 19, 1729. ON Monday lafl: the Lords fent down to the Commons, the bill for preventing riots in the city of Dublin and liberties adjoining, where after a firfl reading, the queflion was put for a fecond read- ing ; when after mofl furious fpeeches, it was carried by ^Q^ againfl 54, that it fhould not be read a fecond time. Though the bill in our prefent circumflances, " as we have fufFered very much from riots and tu- mults laft fummer, and even during the prefent fitting of the parliament, would be of great fervice, if it be not abfolutely necefTary to the keeping of the peace of this city, yet I fhould hardly have troubled your Grace with an account of the mifcarriage of this bill, if the chief argument made ufe of to in- flame the Houfe againft the bill had not been fuch as I think myfelf obliged to acquaint the miniftry with, which is its arifing originally in the privy council here : a thing common to many bills from time to time, and to which the council have an unqueftiona- ble right. It is very common in debates in the Commons to abufe the privy council, but this is the firft time fince my coming hither, that a bill has been in plain defi- ance of our conflitution, thrown out for rifing in the privy council. I fliall, as foon as the parliament rifes, give your Grace an account of the right and power of the privy council here, and of the confequence it is of to his Majefty's fervice here, to have their authority fup- ported ; as likewife of the prefent difpofition of the Houfe of Commons, that the miniftry may take it into their confideration what will be the mofb proper method efFedually to fupport the privy council. We 288 LETTERS, &c. We had yeflerday a motion made in the Houfe of Lords by the Earl of Barrimore^ for a bill 'to enable his Majefty to re-affume all penfions granted by the crown from Lndy-day 1702 to Lady- day 1727; the confideration of which motion is put off for a fort- night, and will from thence be adjourned till the parliament rifes, by a majority of about five to one. I am, Your Grace's, &c. The End of the First Volu ME. 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