What your Lordship hath had the goodness to write to me fhall be entirely a secret*, till Dr. Jane is actually dead; and I will, as your Lordship orders me, take coach the first day I can afterwards for the Weft, and bring those books your Lordship mentions along with me.

LETTER L.

To Bp. TRELAWN Y.

Chelsea, Dec. 9, 1703.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

TH

mons.

HERE hath been this day a very warm debate in the House of ComThe Bill against occafional conformity was paffed on Tuesday, and then ordered to be carried up. If it had gone up yesterday morning, as was expected, it would have been debated immediately, and thrown out: for the Prince + went yesterday to Windfor; and feven or eight of the Lords who * See above, p. 144.

Prince George of Denmark.

were

were for the bill attended him; Mr. Rowley, therefore, who was to carry up the bill, abfented yesterday. To-day he appeared in the House; and there it was moved, that he fhould carry up the bill. The gentlemen who were for it had, after a long debate, no way of evading it, but by adjourning; which, after another long debate, they, at four a clock this afternoon, carried; and fo adjourned till Tuefday next; the divifion was 181, to 143. Nineteen Proxies were yesterday brought into the House of Lords against the bill, and but six for it; of which your Lordship's was one; the Bishop of London being well enough to come out yesterday, and lodge it. The Prince returns from Windfor to-night or to

morrow.

On Wednesday were carried up two papers to the Bishops; one, a general reprefentation about the mischievous books lately published; the other, a request to join with them in preparing a Bill for the more fpeedy and ef fectual levying of rates for the repair of churches. The Archbishop told us, he had already ordered fuch a bill to be drawn; and fhould be glad if any of our House would come to Lambeth, and view it, and give

him any light in that matter. So we deputed three of our Houfe to wait upon him there this morning. As to the other matters, he faid, he would give us an answer on Wednesday next, when we are to meet again, and expect to be adjourned till after the holidays. He feemed to be in He feemed to be in very good humour, and expreffed himself in fuch a gracious manner as we have not been accuf tomed to.

Letters from Oxford laft night fay, that Dr. Jane had a lucid interval on Monday, which is more than he hath had fince he was first taken ill. However, he ftill continues very weak; and I do not hear that they have any hopes of him.

Archdeacon Drewe is fhyer to me of late than he hath been, for what reafon I know not; but his carriage towards me is manifeftly altered: and therefore I expect, when I attack him upon your Lordship's commands, that he may not give me a very pleafing anfwer. I invite him to dine with me on Monday next, on purpose to sweeten him, if I can, against I have occafion to put him in mind of his promise.

I for

I forgot to tell your Lordship, that the Archbishop, in his speech to us, told us, that he had fhewed the bill he had got drawn to the Bishop of St. Afaph *, and asked his opinion of it. I affure your Lordship, he rides favourite in chief, at prefent, with those that can do every thing.

I am,

with all imaginable gratitude and duty, your Lordship's obedient and humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY.

* Dr. Hooper; of whom fee pp. 22. 49. 94. 96. 98. He was born at Grimley in Worcesterthire about 1640; became ftudent of Chrift church 1656; chaplain to Bifhop Morley in 1672, and to Archbishop Sheldon foon after, who gave him the rectory of Lambeth, and præcentorship of Exeter (an option of his Grace's); D. D. 1677, and the fame year Almoner to the Princefs of Orange; in 1680, after refufing the Divinity Profefforfhip at Oxford, he became King's chaplain; Dean of Canterbury in 1691; Prolocutor (fee p. 22.) in 1701, in which year he refufed the Primacy of Ireland. He was elected Bishop of St. Afaph (fee p.94.) in 1703; and in 1704 was tranflated to Bath and Wells, which he enjoyed till his death, Sept. 6, 1727. A lift of his writings may be feen in the "Biographical Dictionary."

LETTER LI.

To Bp. TRELAWNY.

Chelfca, Dec. 13, 17034

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

TH

HE occafional conformity bill was carried up to-day, but with what fuccefs I know not; having been all this day from Westminster. I apprehend that it will be rejected; perhaps at the first reading. The House of Lords is as nicely balanced this time as it was the laft; one or two votes will turn the fcale. The gentlemen are much difcontented, and particularly express themfelves with great uneafinefs at the laft Windfor journey.

We expect in Convocation to be difmiffed to-morrow for the holidays. Mr. Burscough, I think, intends to fet out on Friday. The new Bishop keeps his præcentorship in Commendam with Bath and Wells, and hath intereft enough, I believe, to name his fucceffor in St, Afaph; he appears against Dr. Ed

wards,