TO BISHOP ATTERBURY. MY LORD, DUBLIN, MARCH 24, 1715-16. party, I am here at As much as your lordship's thoughts and time are employed at present, you must give me leave to interrupt them, and, which is worse, for a trifle; though, by the accidents of time and of some consequence and great vexation to me. the head of three and twenty dignitaries and prebendaries, whereof the major part, differing from me in principles, have taken a fancy to oppose me upon all occasions in the chapterhouse; and a ringleader among them has presumed to debate my power of proposing, or my negative, though it is what the deans of this cathedral have possessed for time immemorial, and what has never been once disputed. Our constitution was taken from that of Sarum; and the knowledge of what is practised there in the like case would be of great use to me. I have written this post to Dr. Younger*, to desire he would inform me in this matter; but, having only a slender acquaintance with him, I would beg your lordship to second my request, that the dean would please to let me know the practice of his cathedral, and his power in this point. I would likewise desire your lordship to let me know how it is at Westminster, and the * D. D. of Magdalen College, Oxford. He obtained the deanery of Salisbury in 1705; died Feb. 27, 1727-8, and was buried under the south isle of St. Paul's cathedral, without any monument. C 4 two two other cathedrals with whose customs you may acquainted. be Pray, my lord, pardon this idle request from one that loves and esteems you, as you know I do. I once thought it would never be my misfortune to entertain you at so scurvy a rate, at least not at so great a distance, or with so much constraint: "Sis felix, nostrumque leves [I do not like quicunque *] laborem : 66 "Et quo sub cœlo tandem, quibus orbis in oris Jactemur, doceas." 66 The greatest felicity I now have is, that I am utterly ignorant of the most publick events that happen in the world: "Multa gemens ignominiam plagasque," &c. I am with the greatest respect and truth, my lord, your lordship's most dutiful and most humble servant, J. SWIFT §. * The quæcunque of Virgil was more favourable to the zealous admirers of the memory of queen Anne. + "But tell a stranger, long in tempests toss'd, "What earth we tread, or who commands the coast.” Dryden, Æn. i, 457. This phrase seems to have been deeply impressed on the dean's mind. He uses it again, in a letter to Mr. Pope, Oct. 30, 1727; "I forgave sir Robert a thousand pounds, multa gemens." The line above is from Virg. Georg. iii, 226. § Bishop Atterbury's answer to this letter, dated April 6, 1716, is printed in vol. XI, p. 438. ΤΟ TO BISHOP ATTERBURY. MY LORD, APRIL 18, 1716. I AM extremely obliged to your lordship for the trouble you have given yourself in answering at length a very insignificant letter. I shall entirely follow your lordship's advice, to the best of my skill. Your conjectures from whence my difficulties take their rise are perfectly true. It is all party. But the right is certainly on my side, if there be any thing in constant immemorial custom. Besides, though the first scheme of this cathedral was brought from Sarum, yet, by several subsequent grants, from popes, kings, archbishops, and acts of parliament, the dean has great prerogatives. He visits the chapter as ordinary, and the archbishop only visits by the dean. The dean can suspend and sequester any member, and punishes all crimes except heresy, and one or two more reserved for the archbishop. No lease can be let without him. He holds a court leet in his dis trict, and is exempt from the lord mayor, &c. No chapter can be called but by him, and he dissolves them at pleasure. He disposes absolutely of the petty canons and vicars choral places. All the dignitaries, &c. swear canonical obedience to him. These circumstances put together, I presume, may alter the case in your lordship's judgment. However, I shall, as your lordship directs me, do my utmost to divert this controversy as much as I can. I must add one thing, that no dignitary can preside without without a power from the dean, who, in his absence, makes a subdean, and limits him as he pleases. And so much for deaneries, which I hope I shall never trouble your lordship with again. I send this enclosed, and without superscription, to be sent or delivered to you by a famous friend of mine, and devoted servant of your lordship's. I congratulate with England for joining with us here in the fellowship of slavery. It is not so terrible a thing as you imagine; we have long lived under it; and whenever you are disposed to know how you ought to behave yourselves in your new condition, you need go no farther than me for a director. But, because we are resolved to go beyond you, we have transmitted a bill to England, to be returned here, giving the government and six of the council power for three years to imprison whom they please for three months, without any trial or examination: and I expect to be among the first of those upon whom this law will be executed. We have also outdone you in the business of Ben Hoadly; and have recommended to a bishoprick one whom you would not allow a curate in the smallest of your parishes. Does your lordship know that, as much as I have been used to lies in England, I am under a thousand uneasinesses about some reports relating to a person that you and I love very well? I have writ to a lady upon that subject, and am impatient for an * answer. * Dr. Charles Carr, bishop of Killaloe. + From the following note the person alluded to appears to be lord Bolingbroke. Lady Bolingbroke; who, in her answer, dated Aug. 4, 1716, says, "To my misfortune, I am still kept in town, soliciting my "unfortunate business. I have found great favour from his ma"jesty. But form is a tedious thing to wait upon. Since it is my fate, answer. I am gathering up a thousand pounds, and intend to finish my life upon the interest of it in Wales. God Almighty preserve your lordship miseris succurrere rebus, whether you understand or relish Latin or no. But it is a great deal your fault if you suffer us all to be undone; for God never gave such talents without expecting they should be used to preserve a nation. There is a doctor in your neighbourhood to whom I am a very humble servant. I am, with great respect, your lordship's most dutiful, &c. J. SWIFT. Some persons go this summer for England; and if Dr. Younger be talked with, I hope you will so order it that it may not be to my disadvantage+. "fate, I must bear it with patience, and perfect it if I can; for "there is nothing like following business one's self. I am un"willing to stir without the seals, which I hope to have soon. I ❝ hope, one time or other, his majesty will find my lord has been "misrepresented; and, by that means, he may be restored to his "country once more with honour; or else, however harsh it may "sound out of my mouth, I had rather wear black." * Dr. R. Freind; from whom there is a letter to Swift in this collection, vol. XI, p. 436, in which he says, "The bishop [At"terbury] and my brother are much yours, and very desirous of a "happy meeting with you. Before this can be with you, you "will be able to guess how soon that may happen." + This seems to imply a wish in Swift to exchange his deanery of St. Patrick's for that of Sarum. ΤΟ |