_Dr. John Ward, Professor of Gresham College, to Dr. Cary, Bishop of
Clonfert._
[MS. Donat., Brit. Mus., 6226, p. 16.]
My Lord,
While there was any expectation of your Lordship's speedy return to
England, I forbore to congratulate you on your late promotion. For though
none of your friends could more truly rejoice at this news than I did, both
on your own account, and that of the public; yet in the number of
compliments which I was sensible you must receive on that occasion, I close
rather to be silent for fear of being troublesome. But as I find it is now
uncertain, when your affairs may permit of your return hither, I could not
omit this opportunity by your good Lady to express my hearty congratulation
upon the due regard shown by the Government to your just merit; and shall
think it an honour to be continued in your esteem as _ultimus amicorum_.
I doubt not but your Lordship has seen Mr. Horsley's _Britannia Romana_
advertised in some of our public Papers; but I know not whether you have
heard that the author died soon after he had finished the work, before its
publication. When it was hoped that the credit of this book might have been
of some service to him and his large family, he was suddenly and
unexpectedly taken off by an Apoplexy. Such is the uncertainty of all human
affairs. That your Lordship may be long preserved in your high station for
the good of the Protestant Religion, and the support of public liberty, are
the sincere wishes of,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's obed^t Serv^t.
JOHN WARD.
Gresham College,
April 24, 1732.