who were in the King’s service or council, would take upon them to advise how any material person or papers might be sent over on this occasion, &c.”  And this is often repeated and represented as “a proceeding that seems very extraordinary, and that in a matter which had raised so great a clamour in Ireland, no one person could be prevailed upon to come over from Ireland in support of the united sense of both Houses of Parliament in Ireland, especially that the chief difficulty should arise from a general apprehension of a miscarriage, in an enquiry before His Majesty, or in a proceeding by due course of law, in a case where both Houses of Parliament had declared themselves so fully convinced, and satisfied upon evidence, and examinations taken in the most solemn manner."[4]

[Footnote 4:  Commenting on this Monck Mason has the following note.  This learned biographer’s remarks are specially important inasmuch as he has fortified them with letters from Archbishop King, unpublished at the time he wrote:  “But this [referring to the extract from the Report given by Swift] will not appear so strange or inexplicable after perusing the following letter from Archbishop King ... to Edward Southwell, Esq. ...; this important state paper may, therefore, be considered as an official communication of the sentiments of the Irish Privy Council upon this matter.

“Letter from William King, Archbishop of Dublin, to Edward Southwell, Esq., dated the 23d March, 1723.

“’I have not had any occasion of late to trouble you with my letters; but yesternight I came to the knowledge of an affair which gave me some uneasiness, and, I believe, will do so to the whole kingdom, when it becomes public.  My lord lieutenant sent for several lords and commoners of the privy council, and communicated to them a letter from my Lord Carteret, writ by his majesty’s command, in which was repeated the answer given to the addresses of the lords and commons, about one William Wood’s farthings and halfpence; and his grace is required to send over witnesses and evidences against the patentee or patent:  this has surprised most people, because we were borne in hand that that affair was dead, and that we should never hear any more of it.

“’His grace’s design was, to be advised by what means and methods he might effectually comply with his majesty’s commands; and, by what I could perceive, it was the sense of all, that it was not possible, in the present situation of affairs, to answer his majesty’s expectations or those of the kingdom; and that, for these reasons: 

“’1st, because this is a controversy between the parliament of Ireland and William Wood, and, the parliament being now prorogued, nobody either would, or durst, take on them to meddle in a business attacked by the parliament, or pretend to manage a cause which so deeply concerned the parliament, and the whole nation, without express orders.  If this letter had come whilst the parliament was sitting, and had