LETTER CII. To Bp. TRELAWNY. June 24, 1710. MY LORD, TH HE last time but one (fince your late return to Chelsea) that I was to wait on your Lordship, your porter told me, that I was expected by your Lordship fome day the week before; and that he had orders accordingly for my admittance. By whom your Lordship had been pleased to fend that meffage, I know not; but am fure it was never brought to me. Thus much I faid to one of your Lordship's fervants (who has feen me alfo twice more at your door, in order to have waited on you); and I defired him to inform your Lordship of it. But, left he fhould not, I take leave in this manner to affure your Lordship of it; being very loth to be thought difrefpectful in any degree to your Lordship, to whom I fhall always, while I live, approve myself a moft faithful and moft obedient fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. LET LETTER CIII. To Bp. TRELAWNY. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, [No date *.] HAD received the fame intelligence, that the Dean, on Monday in the afternoon, began to be much better; and was going this moment to fend your Lordship word of it. God knows, I am far from being fond of that Deanery. But it hath been promised me ever fince I was Dean of Carlifle; and, had it fallen, I should have thought it proper to put Lord, Treasurer in mind of that promife, which * Probably at the beginning of December, 1710. I can by no means fatisfy myfelf about the exact date of this letter. By the mention of "the Lord Treasurer," it must have been before Aug., 10, 1710, on which day that office was taken from Lord Godolphin, and put into commiffion. The Deanery, in all probability, was that of ChriftChurch; and it is not unlikely that Dr. Aldrich might have had an illness in the fummer of 1710. He lived, however, till the 14th of December that year; and Dr. Atterbury, after a long delay, was appointed to fucceed him. See p. 299. was was made me without my afking it. Indeed, I never asked any thing of his Lordship perfonally, but a Canonry of Chrift-Church, which he readily affured me of. But the Deanery of Carlifle being given me, I acquiefced in it, and never fince troubled my Lord Treasurer, or any body elfe, with the least request. I will wait upon your Lordship fome time before evening prayers to-day, in order to receive your commands; which, as they are always kindly meant, so shall they ever have the greatest weight with, my Lord, your ever obliged and most obedient fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. LETTER CIV. To Bp. TRELAWN Y. MY LORD, Chelfea, Tuefday morning, [June 26, 1711.] RETURN my humble thanks to your, your Lordship's kind intentions of seeing me at my house. I beg your Lordship to believe that I am, and ever will be, while I live, the the fame faithful and grateful fervant to your Lordship that I was at the time when you conferred the greateft favours upon me. Those early obligations, my Lord, can never be forgotten by me; and if Providence shall dispose of me fo as to put it any way in my power to return them to your Lordship or your family, I fhall look upon that as one Í of the most pleafing circumstances of my preferment. Thus I defire your Lordship always to think of me: for thus you fhall always' find me difpofed. Whatever misunderstandings there may be between me and any of those who are about your Lordfhip, they fhall not in the least affect the entire refpect and gratitude with which I am, my Lord, your ever faithful and most obedient servant, FR. ATTERBURY. * In a letter of Swift to Stella, dated from Chelfea the fame day with this, he fays, "They "ftill keep my neighbour Atterbury in fufpence "about the Deanery of Chrift-Church, which has "been above fix months vacant, and he is heartily "angry." It was not till Aug. 28, that he was finally fixed on as Dean. See fome curious anecdotes on this subject, in vol. II. p. 37. LET TH HE Queen having been pleased to confer the Deanery of Chrift-Church upon me, I am haftening down thither, and hope to be there in a fortnight's time *. The beft part of my entertainment in the hall must be venifon, if, at this ill feafon of the year, I can procure it. Your Lordship's kind regard for that body, and the many favours I have received from you, encourage me to hope, that you will please to bestow a brace of bucks upon me. I am fure, a pre fent of that kind will not be fo welcome to the College from any hand as from your Lordship's; nor will any fubject's health be *See Dr. Atterbury's fpeech at Oxford, on the day of his admiffion to this Deanery, in vol. I. p. 319. drunk |