Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 13.djvu/192

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180
LETTERS TO AND FROM

mer? I have laid aside all my country politicks, sheriffs elections, feasts, &c. And I fancy, it would not be disagreeable to you, to see king Cormack's chapel, his bedchamber, &c. all built, beyond controversy, above eight hundred years ago, when he was king, as well as archbishop. I really intend to lay out a thousand pounds to preserve this old church; and I am sure, you would be of service to posterity, if you assisted me in the doing of it; at least, if you approved the design, you would give the greatest pleasure, I assure you, to your most affectionate and faithful humble servant,





Merchant in Wrexham, Denbighshire; to be left at the Customhouse Warehouse in Chester, and given to Stephen Lovel, esq., collector of the customs in Chester.


SIR,
DUBLIN, APRIL 12, 1735.


AFTER the fate of all Poets, you are no favourite of Fortune; for your letter of March 31 did not

  1. Mr. Thomas Beach, the person to whom his letter is addressed, was a wine merchant at Wrexham, in Denbighshire. He was a man of learning, of great humanity, of an easy fortune, and was much respected. He published in the year 1737, in 4to, "Eugenio, or Virtuous and happy Life," a poem inscribed to Mr. Pope; a work, by no means destitute of poetical merit. He is said by some to have entertained very blamable notions in religion; but this ap-
come