Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/264

 understand, according to the custom of our country, the sachems are of the poorest of the people. I have got the wrong side of sir Polidore's office; a great deal to do, and nothing to receive. In a word, and to be serious at last, I have spent three years of life in such torment and vexation, that nothing in life can ever make amends for it. ''Tu interim sis lætus et memor nostrûm. Vale''.

R. H.

MY LORD,

LTHOUGH your humour of delaying, which is a good deal in fashion, might serve me for authority and example in not sooner acknowledging your grace's letter, I shall not make that use of it; but naturally tell you, that the publick delay has been the cause of mine. We have lived almost these two months past, by the week, expecting that parliament would meet, and the queen tell them that the peace was signed. But unforeseen difficulties have arisen, partly by some mistakes in our plenipotentiaries, as well as of those of France, too long to trouble your grace with, since we now reckon all will be at an end; and the queen has sent new powers to Utrecht, which her ministers there must obey, I think, or be left without excuse. The peace will be signed with France, Holland, the emperor, Savoy, Portugal, and England; but Spain has yet no minister at Utrecht, the Dutch making difficulties about