The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 11/From Jonathan Swift to Archdeacon Walls - 3
TO THE SAME.
I WRIT to you immediately upon receiving your former, as I do now upon your last of the tenth instant. As to the business of being prolocutor[1], I will tell you the short of my story. Although I have done more service to Ireland, and particularly to the church, than any man of my level, I have never been able to get a good word; and I incurred the displeasure of the bishops, by being the instrument, sine qua non, of procuring the first-fruits: neither had I credit to be a convocation man in the meanest diocese of the kingdom, till poor dean Synge, who happened to think well of me, got me to be chosen for St. Patrick's; so that I think there will be a great change if I am chosen prolocutor. And yet, at the same time, I am so very nice, that I will not think of moving toward Ireland, till I am actually chosen: you will say, "What then must the clergy do for a prolocutor?" Why, I suppose they may appoint a vice prolocutor, until my coming over, which may be in ten days. But this perhaps is not feasible: if not, you may be sure I shall not so openly declare my ambition to that post, when I am not sure to carry it; and if I fail, the comfort of mecum certasse feretur, will not perhaps fall to my share. But I go on too fast; for I find in your next lines, that the archbishop says there will be an indispensable necessity that I should be there at the election. Why, if the bishops will all fix it, so as to give a man time to come over, with all my heart; but, if it must be struggled for at the election, I will have nothing to do with it. As for the bishops, I have not the least interest with above three in the kingdom: and unless the thought strikes the clergy in general, that I must be their man, nothing can come of it: we always settle a speaker here, as soon as the writs are issued out for a parliament; if you did so for a prolocutor, a man might have warning in time; but I should make the foolishest figure in nature, to come over hawking for an employment I no wise seek or desire, and then fail of it. Pray communicate the sense of what I say to the archbishop, to whom I will write by this post. As to my private affairs, I am sure they are in good hands; but I beg you will not have the least regard or tenderness to Parvisol, farther than you shall find he deserves. I am my gossip's very humble servant; and the like to Mr. Stoyte, his lady, and Catharine, and Mr. Manley, and his lady and daughter.
I am,
Your obedient humble servant,
I wrote lately to Dr. Synge; twice in all.
I think you should force the St. Mary ladies[2] to town, toward Christmas.
My duty to the bishop of Dromore.
Dr. Synge wrote me word a month ago, that Rosingrave, our organist, was at the point of death. Is he dead or alive?
- ↑ The convocation did not meet in Ireland, after the year 1710.
- ↑ Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Dingley.