Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 18.djvu/373

Rh

SIR,

SHALL, with great pleasure, bring in your petition to morrow, the house of lords not sitting until then; but I find there is a small mistake in point of form, which will be proper to be set right before the petition shall be presented.

You mention the bill as if it would certainly pass, and be transmitted into England; instead of which, I must beg the favour of you to say, that "there are heads of a bill depending now before your lordship's committee, in order to prevent," &c., &c., for until such time as it shall have gone through that, no one can declare the fate of it.

I should not be so impertinent as to pretend to direct you in this, but that I apprehend you did not know the progress the bill has taken; if you will get it writ over again, my servant shall wait to bring it to me, and I shall take care, as soon as the petition is received, to have a clause ready, in pursuance of it, to except your charity. I am, with great respect, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, MOUNTJOY. Rh