Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 18.djvu/361

Rh which I have. I am collecting them as fast as I can from among my papers; and he shall have them in a post or two, so please to tell him.

Three old women were lately buried at the foot of our steeple here; and so strong was the fermentation of their carcases, that our steeple has visibly grown forty foot higher; and what is wonderful, above twenty small ones are grown out of its sides. What surprises me most is, that the bell rope is not one foot higher from the ground. Be so good as to communicate this to the provost of the college, or archdeacon Wittingham, or archdeacon Wall. I would be glad to have all or either of their opinions, as they are the chief virtuosi in this kingdom.

I wish you all happiness, and hope you will out live every enemy, and then we may hope our church and kingdom will flourish, and so will your obedient and very humble servant, THOMAS SHERIDAN.

SIR,

HAD the favour of a letter from you about two months ago; but I was then, and have been almost ever since, in so ill a state of health and lowness of spirits,