Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/41

Rh grateful and dutiful subjects could pay to a prince. That I had the misfortune to be altogether unknown to his lordship, else I should presume to ask him, whether he understood any particular acknowledgments? He replied, By acknowledgments, I do not mean any thing under their hands; but I will so far explain myself to tell you, I mean better acknowledgments than those of the clergy of England. I then begged his lordship to give me his advice, what sort of acknowledgements he thought fittest for the clergy to make, which I was sure would be of mighty weight with them. He answered, I can only say again, such acknowledgments as they ought. We had some other discourse of less moment; and after license to attend him on occasion, I took my leave. I tell your grace these particulars in his very words, as near as I can recollect, because I think them of moment, and I believe your grace may think them so too. I told Southwell all that had passed, and we agreed in our comments, of which I desired him now to inform you. He set out for Ireland this morning: I am resolved to see my lord Sunderland in a day or two, and relate what my lord treasurer said, as he has commanded me to do; and perhaps I may prevail on him to let me know his lordship's meaning, to which I am prepared to answer, as Mr. Southwell will let you know. At evening, the same day, I attended my lord lieutenant, and desired to know what progress he had made; and at the same time, proposed, that he would give me leave to attend lord treasurer, only as a common solicitor, to refresh his memory. I was very much surprised at his answer, that the matter was not before the surer,