Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/469

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MY LORD,

HAVE been here some days, to finish the purchase of a glebe for my country parish. I prevailed on a gentleman to alienate twenty acres for 200l. to be had from the trustees of the first fruits. He then sets me twenty-three acres more for 999 years. Upon these last twenty-three acres, I am, by agreement, to lay out the said 200l. in building, and to give the gentleman immediately 55l. out of my own pocket, and to pay him 14l. per annum, for ever, which is near the value of the whole forty acres; these last twenty-three acres, after I have built and improved, I design to leave my successors; who will then have forty-three acres of good glebe, with house, gardens, &c. for 14l. per annum. I reckon to lay out of my own money about 250l. and so to be an humble imitator of your grace, longo intervallo. This expedient was a project of Dr. Raymond, minister of this town, to deal with a Jew, who would not lessen his rent-roll to save all the churches in Christendom. Dr. Coghill, and every body else, approves the thing; since it is a good bargain to the church, a better to the gentleman, and only a bad one to myself; and I hope your grace will have the same thoughts.

Since I came down here, I received the honour of a large, and therefore an agreeable letter, from your grace, of November 22. I have reason to think myself hardly dealt with by those of the side in power, who will not think I deserve any place in your