Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/100

Rh Queen Caroline, according to a practice which had commenced when she was Princess of Wales, some of the principal persons were Doctors Clarke, Hoadley, Berkeley, and Sherlock. The debates which occurred were chiefly conducted by Clarke and Berkeley, and Hoadley adhered to the former, and Sherlock to the latter. Hoadley affected to consider the immaterial system of Berkeley, and his scheme of founding a college at Bermuda as satisfactory proofs of his being a visionary. Dr. Sherlock carried a copy of the "Minute Philosopher' to the Queen; and left it to her majesty to decide, if such a work could have been produced by a man of a disordered understanding. The Queen honoured Berkeley by admitting him to frequent visits, and took much pleasure in his conversation on subjects relating to America. That discerning princess had such a value for him, that on a vacancy in the deanery of Derry, he was nominated to it; but as Lord Burlington had neglected to give proper notice in time to the Duke of Dorset, then lord-lieutenant, and to obtain his concurrence, the Duke was offended, and the appointment was not urged any further. Her majesty, however, did not lose sight of Dr. Berkeley's interests, and declared, that as he could not be made a "dean" in Ireland, he should be made a "bishop;" and accordingly, on a vacancy in the see of Cloyne, in March 1798, he was promoted by letters patent to that bishopric, and consecrated at St. Paul's Church, in Dublin, by Theophilus Arcbbishop of Cashel, and by the Bishops of Raphoe and Killaloe His lordship attended diligently to the duties of his episcopal office; revived the useful office of rural dean, which had gone into disuse; visited frequently the different parishes, and confirmed in several parts of his see. He constantly resided at bis manse-house at Cloyne, except one winter that he attended the business of parliament at Dublin. He was anxious to promote the industry, and advance the prosperity of the remote part of the country from which he derived his revenues, and would purchase nothing for