Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/116

104 serviceable to the business, or yourself, you may command, sir, yours, &c.

WILL. DUBLIN.

MY LORD,

AM most unhappily engaged this night, where I cannot write to your grace so long a letter as I intended: but I will make it up in a post or two. I have only now to tell you, that Mr. Harley has given me leave to acquaint my lord primate and your grace, that the queen has granted the first-fruits and twentieth parts to the clergy of Ireland. It was done above a fortnight ago; but I was then obliged to keep it a secret, as I hinted to your grace in my last letter. He has now given me leave to let your grace and my lord primate know it; only desires you will say nothing of it until a letter comes to you from my lord Dartmouth, secretary of state. All I know yet is, that the bishops are to be made a corporation for the disposal of the first-fruits, and that the twentieth parts are to be remitted. I will write to your grace the particulars of my negotiation, and some other amusements very soon. I humbly beg your grace to acquaint my lord primate with this. I had your grace's letter last post; and you will now see that your letters to the archbishop here are unnecessary. I was a little in pain about the duke of Ormond, who, I feared, might interpose in this matter, and be angry it was done without him: but Mr. Harley has