Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/320

308 I question not but that you will receive the votes, addresses, and representations of both houses from other hands, and therefore I have not troubled you with them: but if the parliament should continue to sit, you may expect a great product of that kind; for the commons have taken upon themselves to be a court of judicature, have taken examinations out of the judges hands about murder (which is treason here) without ever applying to the government for them; and before trial have voted the sheriffs and officers to have done their duty, and acquitted themselves well, when possibly the time may yet come, that some may still be hanged for that fact; which, in my poor opinion, is entirely destructive of liberty, and the freedom of elections.

MY LORD,

OUR grace's letter, which I received but last post, is of an earlier date than what have since arrived. We have received the address for removing the chancellor, and the counter addresses from the lords and convocation; and you will know, before this reaches you, our sentiments of them here. I am at a loss what to say in this whole affair. When I writ to you before, I dropped a word on purpose for you to take notice of; that our court seemed resolved to be very firm in their resolutions about  land.