“ In 1709 he was appointed a clerk, and in 1715 under-secretary to his second cousin, Joseph Addison, who in those years was Secretary for Ireland. He also held office as chief secretary to the lords justices and deputy clerk of the council, and was elected to the Irish House of Commons. In 1717, upon Addison's departure for England to become first Secretary of State, he obtained through him the lucrative post of Accountant-General. Soon, however, he quarreled with Webster, the new Secretary for Ireland, lost his places, and returned to England. ”