LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 275 



government of the thoughts ), and that he now meant 

 to buy one of my coronation sermons, and present it 

 to her. I told him, he should 7iot need to buy one, 

 for I would send her one ; and that when my sermon 

 came out, I would send one for my Lady Clayton, and 

 therewith one for the princess; which accordingly 

 I did the next day. This I think was on Thurs- 

 day. But when I came to reflect on this act of 

 mine, which was occasioned by my sudden 

 promise to him, not thinking what I did, I very 

 well saw what prejudice it might do me. And 

 thereupon resolved to get this sermon into my 

 hands again, if it was possible ; and accordingly, 

 on Saturday morning, I took coach, and went 

 to my Lady Clayton's, and begged of her to let 

 me have that sermon again ; or, if Mr. Toland 

 already had it, that she would command it from 

 him. But, unfortunately for me^ she told me 

 that Mr. Toland that very day on which she 

 had received the sermon, had got his for the 

 princess; and the wind proving favourable (which 

 it had not been for a fortnight before), he had 

 that very night set sail for Holland, in order to 

 go to Hanover. So that it was impossible to 

 retrieve my sermon. This is a faithful account 

 in short of that business." 



He received, however, some months after, 

 from the Electress, a letter of thanks for his 

 sermon, with many obliging expressions in it ; 



T 2 



