FROM ARCHBISHOP KING.

: REVEREND Sir,

Dablin, Feb. 10, 1708-9.

I RECEIVED yours of last January the 6th, and you will find but a sorry correspondent of me. I have been confined near two months this winter and forbid pen and ink by my physician; though, I thank God, I was more frightened, as it happened, than hurt. I had a colick about the year 1696, that brought me to extremity, and all despaired of my life, and the news-letters reported me dead. It began at the same time of the year, and the same way it did then, and the winters were much alike; and I verily believe had I not had the assistance of my old physician Sir Patrick Dun,* I should have run the same course, which I could not have supported. But with a little physic, and the Spa and Bath waters, I escaped without other hardships than keeping at home; and so much for private affairs.

As to the public, I had a letter from my Lord Pembroke, wherein he told me the first-fruits and twentieth parts were granted, and that my lordlieutenant will bring over the queen's letter for

Shaftesbury, and published in 1708, was for a time pertinaciously ascribed to Swift, of which he complains, in the Apology to the Tale of a Tub. It appears from what follows, that he suspected Colonel Hunter, to be the author.

This gentleman founded three professorships in the University of Dublin; viz. theory and practice of physic, chirurgery and midwifery, pharmacy and the materia medica.-H.

them.

I returned him my thanks, and as soon as the order comes, he will have a public acknowledgment.

I have seen a letter, that passes as from a member of the house, &c. I think your judgment concerning it is very just. But pray by what artifice did you contrive to pass for a whig? As I am an honest man, I courted the greatest whigs I knew, and could not gain the reputation of being counted

one.

But you need not be concerned: I will engage you will lose nothing by that paper. I wish some facts had been well considered before vouched: if any one matter in it prove false, what do you think will come of the paper? In short, it will not be in the power of man to hinder it from a warm entertainment.

As to the test, I believe that matter is over for this season. I was much for dissolving this present parliament, and calling a new one this spring. I had a pretty good account of the future elections, which, as far as my acquaintance reached, were settled and I was sure, that without great force and artifice, the new members would never have repealed the test; but I did not know what the influence of a lord-lieutenant (when well acquainted in the kingdom, and who knew how to take his measures justly) might have effected, and we know very well what force, management and timing matters have; and there is hardly any thing but powerful persuasions, terror, and ostentation of interest may effect, especially in popular elections. And to confess the truth to you, I am not altogether easy in that matter yet, especially if things take any new turn in England. It is whispered, but I know not by what authority, that the queen

herself was at the bottom of what passed in the house of commons with you, and that the ministry screened her in that affair, for reasons that may be guessed at.

I am wonderfully pleased at the good character you give Mr Addison. If he be the man that you represent him to be (and I have confidence in your judgment), he will be able to serve his lord effectually, and procure himself love and respect here. I can't say it will be in my power to do him any service: but my good wishes and endeavours shall not be wanting.

Mr Stoughton preached a sermon* here, on the 30th of January, King Charles's martyrdom, that gives great offence: the government heard it, but I was ill at home, which Deane Sterne will needs have a providence. If the representation I have of it be true, I am sure I should have suspended him, if it had cost me both my reputation and interest. † I have represented what I have heard of it, and have discoursed my lord-chancellor about it, and told him of what consequence I think it to be, both to him and us, and that it should not pass without censure. I have not as yet seen my lord-primate. Wise men are doing all they can to extinguish faction; and fools and elves are throwing firebrands, Assure yourself this had an ill effect on the minds

*This sermon, preached at Christ Church, Dublin, was burnt by the common hangman, Nov. 9, 1711, by way of a propitia, tory offering to the new tory ministry

+ Accordingly, it appears from a subsequent letter of the arch. bishop, 10th Nov. 1711, that he did prosecute Stoughton; and, notwithstanding his being protected by the whigs, forced him out of his living, for which he received the thanks of the same housa of commons who appointed the sermon to be burnt.

of most here; for, though they espouse the revolution, they heartily abhor forty-one. And nothing can create the ministry more enemies, and be a greater handle for calumny, than to represent them, and those that espoused them, to be such as murdered King Charles I. and such are all that approve or excuse it.

As to your own affairs, I wish you could have come over chaplain as I proposed; but since a more powerful interest interposed, I believe you had best use your endeavours there; but if nothing happens before my lord-lieutenant comes over, you had best make us a visit. Had you been here, I believe something might have been done for you before this. The deanery of Down is fallen, and application has been made for it to my lord-lieutenant, but it yet hangs, and I know not what will become of it; but if you could either get into it, or get a good man with a comfortable benefice removed to it, it might make present provision for you. I have many things more to say; but they are so much of a piece with these I have writ already, that you may guess at them all by this sample. God be with you: Amen. WILLIAM DUBLIN.

2

MR LE CLERC TO MR ADDISON.

A Amsterdam, le 12 de Fevrier, 1709. JE m'étois donné l'honneur de vous écrire, monsieur, dès le commencement de cette année, pour vous prier surtout d'une chose, qu'il me seroit important de savoir au plutôt. Cependant je n'ai reçu aucune de vos nouvelles. J'ai appris seulement, que vous quittiez le poste, où vous étiez, pour aller

en Irlande en qualité de secrétaire de mylord Wharton. Je m'en réjouis avec vous, dans la supposition, que ce dernier emploi vaut mieux que le précédent, quoique je sente bien, que je perdrai par votre éloignement. Je ne laisse pas de vous souhaiter toute sorte de satisfaction dans votre nouvel emploi, et de prier Dieu qu'il vous donne un heureux succès en tout ce que vous entreprendrez. Je vous avois prié, monsieur, de m'envoyer le nom propre et les titres de mylord Halifax, et de lui de mander même, si vous le trouviez à propos, la permission de lui dédier mon Tite-Live. Comme vous m'aviez marqué par Mr Philips, que vous aviez oublié la feuille, qui me manquoit du recueil de Mr Rymer, je vous avois mandé, que c'est la feuille 10 T. ou les 4 pages, qui précédent immédiatement l'indice des noms, dans le tome I. Si vous l'avez eue depuis, faites-moi la grace de l'envoyer à Mess. Toutton et Stuiguer, bien enveloppée, et de mettre mon addresse au dessus. Je suppose, monsieur, que cette lettre vous trouvera encore à Londres, parce qu'on dit, que mylord Wharton ne partira que vers le mois d'Avril. Il ne se passe rien de nouveau ici dans la république des lettres, qui mérite de vous être mandé. Les jesuites de Paris ont condamné en termes très-forts les sentimens du P. Hardouin, et l'on contraint de les rétracter d'une manière honteuse. On verra quelle en sera la suite. Je voudrois pouvoir vous être utile ici à quelque chose: vous verriez par-là, combien je suis, monsieur, votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, J. LE CLERC. *

* Translation of the above letter:

SIR,

Amsterdam, Feb. 12, 1709.

I DID myself the honour to write to you at the beginning of