234 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP, 



contributing to the rebuilding of Southwell 

 church ; and, at their desire, I have undertaken 

 to lay this matter before you, and humbly to 

 beg your assistance. 



** Indeed, madam, your encouragement of 

 this good work, as it will be highly acceptable 

 to the country, and much tend to your honour, 

 so I doubt not but it will be very pleasing to 

 God, and prove a means of obtaining his farther 

 blessings upon yourself and all your concerns. 



" Madam, I heartily wish your Grace all hap- 

 piness, both in this world and the other, and 

 am, with the greatest respect, 



** Your Grace's most faithful, 



" And most humble Servant, 



** Jo. Ebor." 



«* Bishopthorp, Janxutry 8, 1712." 



When he came to London, which he did the 

 latter end of the same month, the duchess sent 

 her chaplain to him to know what he thought it 

 was proper for her to give. But decency and 

 his modesty would not suffer him to prescribe 

 to her charity. So she herself determined upon 

 the aforementioned sum ; though she was dis- 

 posed even to a larger benefaction, if he could 

 have asked it of her, as Dr. Brailsford, the late 

 Dean of Wells, who knew her mind on that 

 occasion, was wont to declare. 



