Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 9.djvu/248

238 Sheridan, who, by mere chance-medley, shot his own fortune dead with a single text.

As to the laity, I can hear of but one person of the tory stamp, who, since the beginning of his excellency's government, did ever receive any solid mark of his favour: I mean sir Arthur Acheson, reported to be an acknowledged tory; and what is almost as bad, a scholar into the bargain. It is whispered about, as a certain truth, that this gentleman is to have a grant of a certain barrack upon his estate within two miles of his own house; for which the crown is to be his tenant, at the rent of sixty pounds per annum; he being only at the expense of about five hundred pounds, to put the house in repair, build stables, and other necessaries. I will place this invidious mark of beneficence conferred on a tory in a fair light, by computing the costs and necessary defalcations: after which it may be seen how much sir Arthur will be annually a clear gainer by the publick: notwithstanding his unfortunate principles, and his knowledge in Greek and Latin.