LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 233" 



much as to be known to your Grace, to pre- 

 sume to write to you about such an aifair as I 

 now do. But the post I am in, and the urgency 

 of the occasion, together with the honourable 

 thoughts I have of your Grace's goodness, will, 

 I trust,^ so far apologize for me, as that I shall 

 at least obtain your pardon for my boldness, if 

 not (which I humbly hope) your gracious an- 

 swer to my petition. 



** Your Grace, no doubt, has heard of the 

 dismal accident that lately happened at South- 

 well, in Nottinghamshire, where the greatest 

 part of the collegiate church was burnt by 

 lightning. 



" Sure no Christian that has any concern for 

 the honour of God, or his worship, can think 

 that so ancient and useful a church ought to lie 

 in ruins, but that all imaginable care should be 

 taken for the restoring of it. This all the coun- 

 try, as well as we of the clergy, are desirous of. 



" But there is no other way to repair these 

 ruins, but by the charitable contributions of 

 well-disposed persons, especially of those who^ 

 have concerns in the county where this church 

 stands. 



** Now, it being the honour of Nottingham- 

 shire, that your Grace has a near relation to 

 them, they do presume that your Grace's good- 

 ness is such, that you will not be backward ia 



