Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 11.djvu/82

70 is wonderful a great minister should make no difference between a grant, and a promise of a grant; and it is as strange that all I could say would not prevail on him to give me leave to solicit the finishing of it at the treasury, which could not have taken the least grain of merit from him. Had I the least suspected it had been only a promise, I would have applied to lord Wharton above two months ago; and so, I believe, would the archbishop of Dublin from Ireland; which might have prevented, at least, the present excuse, of not having had the same application; although others might, I suppose, have been found.

I sent last post, by the lord lieutenant's commands, an enclosed letter, from his excellency, to the lord primate. In answer to a passage in your former letter; Mr. Stoughton is recommended for a chaplain to the lord lieutenant. His sermon is much recommended by several here. He is a prudent person, and knows how to time things. Others of somewhat better figure are as wise as he. A bold opinion is a short easy way to merit, and very necessary for those who have no other.

I am extremely afflicted with a cold and cough attending it, which must excuse any thing ill expressed in this letter. Neither is it a subject in the present circumstances very pleasant to dwell upon.

I am, &c. MR.