Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/106

94 sometimes half. Some of these parishes yielding no income to the vicar; by the increase of graziers, are seized on by the crown, and cannot pay the reserved rent. The value of all these impropriations are about 2000l. per annum to her majesty.

If the queen would graciously please to bestow likewise these impropriations, to the church, part to be remitted to the incumbent, where the rent is large, and the living small, and the rest to be laid out in levying glebes and impropriations, and building churches, it would be a most pious and seasonable bounty.

The utmost value of the twentieth parts, first-fruits, and crown rents, is 3000l. per annum, of which about 500l. per annum is sunk among officers; so that her majesty, by this great benefaction, would lose but 2500l. per annum.

MY LORD,

HAD the honour of your grace's letter of September 16, but I was in no pain to acknowledge it, nor shall be at any other time, until I have something that I think worth troubling you, because I am very sensible how much an insignificant letter is worse than none at all. I had likewise the memorial, &c. in another packet: and I beg your grace to enclose whatever packets you send me (I mean of bulk) under a paper directed to Mr. Steele, at his office in the cockpit, and not for me at Mr. Steele's.