vocation; and fear we fhall be upon the fame foot at this meeting that we have been at all the others. For which reason (as your Lordship will find in the book I fent) I have, by precedents, prepared the way for a separate application of the Lower House to the Queen or Parliament, for a determination of our difference, if our members fhall think it advifeable, or be driven to make such an application, the event of which I have no very promifing apprehenfions of as affairs stand. But if we can no other way come at peace, I believe your Lordship will be of opinion, that it must be ventured. When your Lordship comes to town, it will be proper to come to a refolution on that head. I cannot yet give your Lordship any account of P. B. though I have endeavoured it late and early. I humbly beg your Lordship's bleffing, and am your Lordship's ever obliged and most dutiful fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. LET LETTER XXVII. To Bp. TRELAWNY. Chelfea, March 30, 17039. MAY BT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, D R. Radcliffe was taken ill on Wednesday laft*, with fomething like a pleurify; neglected it, and drank a bottle of wine at Sir Juftinian Ifham's + on Thursday, and took his bed on Friday; and is now fo ill that it is fcarce thought he will live longer than to-morrow. The Dean of Canterbury and Mr. Whitfield were his confeffors: He fent for them, and defired them to affift him. He hath, by a will made two days ago, disposed of the greatest part of his eftate to charity; and several thousand pounds, they tell me, he gives for the relief of fick feamen fet afhore. I have not yet been able to get intelligence, whether Howlet's northern wife be living; if I find I cannot learn that, I will wait upon the Archbishop §, as your Lodship hath com* March 24. M. P. for the county of Northampton. Dr. Hooper, afterwards Bp. of Gloucefter. of the Queen's Chaplains. § Of York, Dr. John Sharpe. See his character at large in the Examiner, vol. IV. N° 22. F 7 manded manded me. Since my fending your Lordship that "Poft-man*,"I hear from good hands, that the Queen's Commiffioner hath diffolved the general affembly of Scotland, they protesting against it, and hath ordered the four outed Bishops (who, befides the two Archbishops, who are wealthy, are the only furviving ones) the half of the revenues of their fees; and many addreffes are coming up to her from the clergy and laity in the North, to defire that Epifcopacy may be re-fettled there; not without fome underhand countenance (as it is faid) from fome great men here in England. Thefe, compared with fome late steps, are fuch riddles as we here know not the meaning of. I delivered your Lordship's meffage to Dr. South+, who did not fpare his rhetorick on that occafion. He is going down to Caufam ‡, more out of humour with the prefent pofture of affairs than he was feven years ago. I beg your Lordthip's bleffing, and am your Lordship's most dutiful humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. A news-paper fo called, The celebrated Prebendary of Westminster; of whom Wood obferves, that," notwithstanding "his various preferments, he lived upon none of "them, but upon his temporal eftate at Caversham "near Reading, and, as the people of Oxford "imagined, in a difcontented and clamorous con"dition for want of more." He died, far advanced in years, July 18, 1716.' + Caversham, fo pronounced. LET LETTER XXVIII. To Bp. TRELAWN Y. Chelsea, April 1, 1703 MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, TH HERE are now hopes that Dr. Ratcliff may escape. Charles Bernard* hath taken an hundred ounces of blood from him; and he yesterday took a ftrange refolution, of being removed to Kenfington, notwithstanding his weaknefs. From this the preffing intreaties of all his friends could not divert him. So in the warmest time of day he rose, and was carried by four men in a chair to Kensington, whither he got with difficulty, having fainted away in his chair. Being put to bed, he fell asleep immediately, and waked wonderfully altered, and it is concluded now that he may do well. So that the town physicians, who expected to share his practice, begin now to think themselves difappointed. I cannot, for my life, get intelligence about Howlet's wife, whether she *F. R. S. and Serjeant-furgeon. be be dead or living; and therefore resolve now to carry your Lordship's message to the Archbishop of York, and leave that matter with him. The Dean of Gloucester is not yet come to town; but, they tell me, at his old lodging, is expected there this evening. I will be fure to make Mr. Archdeacon Drewe * speak plain, as your Lordship directs. I have had the ill luck very lately to be taken with an illness, which will make travelling very troublesome to me; however, I am refolved that it fhall not hinder my refolutions of paying my duty to your Lordship at Trelawn, if it be poffible. I am your Lordship's most dutiful and most humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. *Edward, M. A. Archdeacon of Cornwall. LET. |