Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/550

 546 SKELTON. usually sent for him, after he had bestowed a good prefer ment upon another, and gave him, “by way of a sop,” ten guineas, which Mr. Skelton frequently presented to a Mr. Arbuthnot, a poor cast-off curate, who was unable to serve through age and infirmity. At length, Dr. Delany, who had been his tutor at college, perceiving him to be thus neglected, procured for him an appointment to the curacy of St. Werburgh's, in Dublin. This would have been highly acceptable to Mr. Skelton, and Dr. Delany would have been much gratified to place such a man in a situation where his merits were likely to be duly appre ciated: it is painful to relate in what manner both were disappointed. When he was on the point of leaving the diocese of Clogher, Bishop Sterne perceiving that it would be to his discredit if a person of such abilities should leave his diocese for want of due encouragement, sent a clergy man to inform him, “that if he staid in his diocese he would give him the first living that should fall.” Relying on this, he wrote to Dr. Delany, and the curacy of St. Werburgh's was otherwise disposed of. The first living that fell vacant was Monaghan, where he had so long officiated, which the bishop immediately gave to his nephew, Mr. Hawkshaw, a young gentleman that had lately entered into orders. It would even appear, that he had made his promise with a determination to break i t for, when h e bestowed the preferment o n h i s nephew, h e i s reported t o have said, “I give you now a living worth S00l. a year, and have kept the best curate i n the diocese for you, who was going t o leave it: b e sure take his advice, and follow his directions, for h e i s a man o f worth and sense.” But Skelton, with all his “worth and sense,” was not superior t o the infirmities o f his nature. He felt this treacherous indignity very acutely, and never attended a visitation during the remainder o f the bishop's life, which continued for a series o f years; nor did the bishop ever ask for him, o r express any surprise a t his absence. Under Mr. Hawkshaw, however, h e lived not unhappily. Mr. Hawkshaw submitted t o his instructions, and fol