friends, whom I much trust, before the debate in council, and desired them to consider the matter, and laid the inconveniency I apprehended before them, and desired them to take notice, that I had warned them; but they told me, that they did not foresee any hurt it would be to his grace. And I pray God it may not; though I am afraid it may give him some trouble.

The citizens have taken it heinously; and, as I hear, met to-day, and in common council repealed the by-law, and have chosen alderman Barlow again. I think them wrong in both, and a declaration of enmity against the council and government, which feud is easier begun than laid. It is certain the council must disapprove their choice, it being against the new rules, as well as good manners; and what other steps will be made to correct them, I cannot say; whereas, if they had appointed a committee to view and report what old obsolete by-laws were become inconvenient, and repealed this among the rest, it would not have given offence; and if they had chosen another instead of Barlow, I believe he would have been approved, and there had been an end of the contest.

You must know this is made a party affair, as Constantine sets up for a high churchman, which I never heard he did before: but this is an inconveniency in parties, that whoever has a private quarrel, and finds himself too weak, he immediately becomes a zealous partizan, and makes his private a publick quarrel.

Perhaps it may not be ungrateful, nor perhaps altogether useless to you, to know the truth of this matter; for I imagine it will be talked of.

I believe

I believe the generality of the citizens and gentlemen of Ireland are looked on as friends to the whiggish interest. But it is only so far as to keep out the pretender, whom they mortally fear with good reason; and so many villanous papers have been spread here, and so much pains taken to persuade them that the tories design to bring him in, that it is no wonder they are afraid of them; but God be thanked, this ministry and parliament has pretty well allayed that fear, by their steady and prudent management. And if his grace the duke of Ormond prosecutes the same measures the ministry does in Britain (as I believe he will), I persuade myself, that the generality here will be as zealous for this as any ministry we ever had.

The death of the earl of Rochester is a great blow to all good men, and even his enemies cannot but do justice to his character. What influence it will have on publick affairs, God only knows. I pray let me have your thoughts on it, for I have some fears, that I do not find affect other people; I was of opinion, that he contributed much to keep things steady; and I wish his friends may not want his influence. I conclude with my prayers for you. WILL. DUBLIN.

SIR,

FROM LORD PETERBOROW.

HANOVER, JUNE 21, 1711.

YOU were returning me to ages past for some expressions in my letter. I find matter in your's to send you as far back as the golden age. How came you to frame a system (in the times we live in) to govern the world by love?

I was much more surprised at such a notion in your first, than to find your opinion altered in your last letter. My hopes were founded more reasonably upon the contrary principle. I wish we could keep ourselves steady by any; but I confess it was the hatred and contempt so justly conceived against our late governors, that gave me some little expectations we might unite, at least in order to prevent a relapse.

The consequences of places not given were apparent; the whole party were then dissatisfied; and when given, those are only pleased who have them. This is what the honest management of past administrations has brought us to: but I should not yet despair, if your loving principle could but have its force among three or four of your acquaintance. Never persons had more reason to agree; nor was it ever in the power of a few men to bring greater events to bear, or prevent greater inconveniencies; for such are inevitable, without the nicest management: and I believe no person was ever better prepared to make this out than myself.

I wish before I left England, that I had mct, either in your letters or discourse, any thing like

VOL. X.

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what you hint in your last: I should have found great ease, and you, some satisfaction; for, had you passed these six months with me abroad, I could have made you sensible, that it were easy to have brought the character and influence of an English peer, equal to that of a senator in old Rome. Methinks I could have brought it to that pass, to have seen a levee of suppliant kings and princes, expecting their destinies from us, and submitting to our decrees; but if we come in politicks to your necessity of leaving the town for want of money to live in it, Lord, how the case will alter!

You threaten me with law, and tell me I might be compelled to make my words good. Remember your own insinuations: what if I should leave England in a week's time, and summon you in quality of chaplain and secretary, to be a witness to transactions perhaps of the greatest importance; so great, that I should think you might deserve the bishoprick of Winchester at your return. Let me know, in a letter directed to Parson's-green, the moment you receive this, whether you are ready and willing; but you must learn to live a month, now and then, without sleep. . As to all other things, we should meet with no mortifications abroad, if we could scape them from home.

But, without raillery, if ever I can propose to myself to be of any great use, I foresee this will be the case. This is so much my opinion, that I conclude, if it falls out otherwise, I shall never concern myself in any publick business in England; that I shall either leave it for a better climate, or marry in a rage, and become the hero of the October club. Yours, &c. PETERBOROW.

5

TO ARCHBISHOP KING.

MY LORD,

LONDON, JULY 12, 1711.

I NOW conceive your grace begins to be a busy

person in council, and parliament, and convocation; and perhaps may be content to be diverted now and then by an idle letter from hence. We have an empty town, the queen being settled at Windsor, and the ministers often there. We are so weary with expecting farther removals, that we begin to drop the discourse; neither am I sure, whether those in power may not differ a little in opinion as to the matter. However, it seems generally agreed, that there will be many changes before next session, and that it is necessary there should be so. My lord Peterborow has been some time returned, and I have had a good deal of talk with him; or rather he has talked a good deal to me. He is mightily discontented with what I writ to him, and which he finds to be true, that there seems a general disposition among us towards a peace. He thinks his successful negotiations with the emperor and the duke of Savoy, have put us in a better condition than ever to continue the war, and will engage to convince me, that Spain is yet to be had, if we take proper measures. Your grace knows he is a person of great talents, but dashed with something restless and capricious in his nature. He told me he came over without being recalled, and without one servant, having scattered them in several parts of Germany. I doubt he will not have credit enough with the ministry to make them follow his plans;

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