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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at |http: //books .google .com/I 3 3433 07608296 9 r l(iiii(-l-r.tt ColL-rlu.ii. f^cr \ THE BRITISH CLASSICS: TOLUME THE FIFTY-ITINTH. COMTl.IMINa TBB FIFTEENTH VOLUME SWIFT'S WORKS. 1813. TH£ WORKS -T> OF THB BEV. JONATHAN SWIFT, D. D. VEAN OF ST. Patrick's^ Dublin. ARftANGSD BT THOMAS SHERIDAN, A. M. wiTir KOTES, HISTORICAL Ain> CRITICAL. 1 NEW XDITION, IK nnCNT7»F0UB YOLUIOUi. COBBICTIO AND KXVI8XO BT JOHN NICHOLS, F. J. S. EDINBVROITAin) FERTH. VOLUME XV. • fVBLISHED BT iriLLIiJtl^:6li}:ijANtX CO. J 8 I'm. ^ I . ' I ■• / ' CONTENTS OF THE FIFTEENTH VOLUME. LITTBKf. To the Rer. John Kendall, -- 1 To the Athenian Society, ....... 4 To Mr. WilUam Swift, To Mr. Deane Swift, 7 To Sir William Temple, » ToVarina, . - . .^ H To Mrs. Jane Swift, 17 To the Rev. Mr. Winder, 19 Mrs. Jane Swift to Mr. Deane Swift, - - - - - 22 To Miss Jane Waryng, --......-23 To Dr. King, Bishop of Derry SB To the Rev. Dr. TisdaU, ib. To the same, --.----.-..31 To the same, --.....-..35 To Archbishop King, 38 From the Earl of Berkeley, ......*. 41 To Archbishop Kiig, ' 42 To the same, ..........44 From Mr. Addison, - .......48 To Dr. Sterne, -~-.--..,--47 To the same, --.--.----49 To Archbishop King, .......«jjq From Anthony Henley, Esq. ..-.-..jj^ From the same, ...-.•..«.^ To Archbishop King, -.......^ij From Archbishop King, ^.---...59 To the Lord Frimate, - - «2 vi CONTENTS. To0euiSCcne, ^ ToArchbidiopKiDg, 68 To Mr. HoDter, - ' - . . ^ - 60 ¥nm Arehbiflfaop King, --..-. 72 Mr. le Oerk to Mr. AddiiQBf 7B From Archbidiop Kin^^, ----- 77 To Mr. Hunter, TO To the Lord Primate Mardi, 82 To Archbishop Kins, - * - - - - 83 From Mr. AddisoD, - 86 From the Mme, .-..---ib. Fromtibeamie, .....••mr FramEarioTHalifia, ib. From Mr. Steele, 88 From Mr. Addison, ...... 99 To Dean Sterne, 90 Swift*! Account of his Mother*! deatk, - - - 82 From Mr. Addiaoo, ...... 93 From Sir Andrew Foontaine, ----- 94 F^rom Mr. Henley, ------ ib. To Mr. Benjamin Tooke, - -- - - ' .^ Mr. Tooke an aaiwer, .---.. 101 From Mr. Addison, - - - - - . - 102 Irish Bishops to the Bishop of Ossory and KiUakiey - - 108 To Archbishop King, 104 From Archtnshop Kiag^ ...... 107 To Dean Sterne, • - . - - - - 100 A Memorial to Mr. Harley, - • - - - 111 To ArcUnshop Kins, 114 From Archbishop King, - - - - ... 119 IVom Lord Primate Marsh and Archbishop KinCt - - 120 From Archbishop King, ...... 121 To Archbishop King, 122 From Archbishop King, .----- 124 To Archbishop King, - 125 To the same, ..-.--. 127 From Archbishop King, - - - - - - 131 From the same, - - - - - - - 133 To Archbishop King, 134 TothesaoM, 130 From Mr. Secretary St. J<^, 140 The Answer, ...«.-. ib. From Archbishop King, - . - - . . 141 From the same, -------143 TotheEarlofPeterborow, .... - 144 From Mr. Nelson, - - •» - •■ - 144 0ONT£IfTS. rii 1*9 Arebbidiop King, - - •> -147 Wtom Archbiflhop Kmg^ . . ^ . , . |jp mrom Lord Peterborow, --.-•.. 152 To Archbisbop King, - « ^ - -> • - 154 From Archbishop King, -«•«.. 1^ To Lord Peterborow, - - - . « - - 158 To Archbishop King, - - - v . « f 02 To Mr. Secretary 8t> John, - - - • - 105 Wrom Archbishop King, - » ••- -t . . 160 From Lord Peterborow, •>•>•--. iio To Archbishop King^ ---•*-- ITS From Archbishop King, --.-.. 175 CVom the tame, •-<"«•-..• 178 To the Archbithop, <* & - - . - 180 To the same, -------184 TothflTsame, ..« . « . -180 From the same, - - >. ^ . . .. |g| To Dr. Francis Atterbtny, . . . ^ . igg To Archbishop King, . ^ . .. ^ . |^ From the same, •> - ^ - /> . . 200 ftmn the same, -•-•>... 204 From the same, ------- ib. From the same, - . ^ . . . . 20O FVonMr. Secretary St John, ----- 200 From the same, --...... 210 From Mrs. Long, - - * - - - ib. Mr. Shower to the Lord High Treasurer Oxford, " - 212 Lord Oxford's Answer, . - . . ^ . 213 On Mrs. Long's death, - v. ... . 215 To Dr. Sterne, ..-.-.. 217 To Archbishop King, ..... ^ 221 From Dr. Sacheverell, ..... 4. 225 To Archbishop King, ....... 220 To the same, ...... ^ 228 To Mrs. Hill, * 231 To (General Hill, . • ^ . . . 232 Lord Bolingbroke to Mr. Prior, . . « ^ 234 To Archbishop King, . . . ^ . . 230 From the Countess of Orkney and Mrs. Ramsay, - - 242 From the Countess of Orkney, - . - - - • 243 To Archbishop King, *'■---- ib. From the Countess of Orkney, ...... 240 To the same, -------ib From the Countess of Orkney, ^ - - - » 249 From Thomas Harrison, Esq. - • - > - ib TotbeDncheflBofOrmond, - - - • . 253 • !• E 3 r_- umn CONTENTS. yI lidiopKiiis, 117 rhbishop King, ...... 159 pd Peterborow, ------ ISf lishopKiag, ]5| ^hbishop King, -.-.-. 155 Peterborow, - - - - - . 159 dshop King, .-..-. ||Q ecretary St. John, - - . . . 1^ rhbishop King, .--... ifiS d Peterborow, ------ 179 'isbop King, - - .... 172 hbishop King, --.-.. 175 same, -.-.... ]79 'chbishop, -..-.. lad ne, IM ne, 186 same, -----.. 191 -ancis Atterbuiy, ..... 193 ishop King, - I93 same, ----... 209 8anie, 2M same, ib. same, ------- . Secretary St. John, . - . . . same, --.---- 2J0 3. Long, ----- - lb. 'er to the Lord High Treanrer Oxford, - - 212 )rd's Answer, - - - * - - 213 lfOng*8 death, - ... - • 215 «me, ----..- 217 tishop King, --.-.- 221 Sacheverell, ------ 225 ishop King, - - - - - - 228 me, - - - - - - - 229 Hill, 231 alHUl, - - - - - - - 232 Ingbroke to Mr. Prior, . - - - 234 lishop King, ------ 239 Countns of Orkney and Mrs. Ramsay, - " 212 Counteiw of Orkney, ----- 243 >ishop King, . - - - - - u,^ Countess of Orkney, ----- 246 me, - - - - - * ' • ib^ Orkney, - - - " - 249 , Esq. - • - - - ib, d, 2*3 J ^ CONTENT*. To Archbishop King, - - - - 255 ]^m Lord Bolinsbroke, - - - ^ 25f To the Duke of Argyll, - - - fti. From Robert Hunter, Esq. - - - - 260 From the same, - , - - . 261 To Archbishop King, - - . ■• 262 From Mr. Prior, - - " . "* * ^66 From Lord Poulett, ----- 267 TotheRe^. Mr. William Draper, - ib. From Dr. Atterbury, - . - - - 269 To Archbiihop King, - - - - Ib. To Chancellor Harcourt, - - - - 270 To Mr. Addison, - - - - - 271 From Mr. Steele, - - - » - 273 To Mr. Steele, - - - - - 273 From Sir T. Hanmer, - - r - 278 To Archbishop King, - " - - ib. From Mr. Steele, - - - - - 278 To Mr Steele, - - - - - 2T9 From Elrasmm Lewis, Elsq. . .■ _ - 280 From the Rev. Mr. Sharpe, .... - 281 To Miss Vanhomrigh, - - - - 2B3 From Erasmus Lewis, Esq. - - - . 284 To Ardibishop King, - - - - 2B5 From Erasmus Lewis, Esq. - - . - - 281 To Bishop Atterbury, - . _ . 287 From Mr. Prior, - - - - . 289 From Mr. Ltwis, ----- 201 From Dr. Smalridge, . . - . 288 To Archdeacon Walla, - - - - 203 From Lord Chancellor Phipps, - - . 294 To Archdeacon Walls, .... 295 To the same, - ' - - - - 297 To Archbishop King, .... 299 From Lord Chancellor Phipps, - v. - soi From Dr. Davenant, - - _ . 302 Extract from the MS. diary of Bishop Kennett, in the Library ofthe Marquis of Lansdowne, ... 304 From the Duchess of Ormond, .... 30^ To Lord Treasurer Oxford^ - - -^ 306 Tim BBinSH CLASSICS VOLUME THE FORTY-NINTH. COKTAIVIKO THB FIFTEENTH VOLUME ov SWIFT'S WORKS. 1813. WORKS OF THE REV. JONATHAN SWIFT, D. D. i>EAN OF ST. Patrick's, DUBLra. ARRANGED BT THOMAS SHERIDAN, A^M. iriTu NOTES, HISTORICAL AND GRItlCAL. A VIEW EDITION, IN TWENTr<-FOUR YOLVHUk CORBSCTID AMD RXYISID BT JOHN NICHOLS, F. A. S. EDINBURGH AND PERTH. VOLUME XV. IfEW^YORKt rVBLISHSS BT WILLIAM DimELL AND CO, 1813. 4 LETTERS TO AND FROM should not have behaved myself after that manner I did in Leicester,* if I had not valued my own enter- tainment beyond the obloquy of a parcel of very wretch- ed fools, which I solemnly pronounce the inhabitants of Leicester to be ; and so I contented myself with retalia- ^k lion. I hope you will forgive this trouble ; and so with ~ my service to your good wife, I am, good cousin. Your very afTectioDate friend and servant, J. SWIFT. TO THE ATHENIAN SOCIETY.! Moor Park, FeL 14, 169 1-2. Gentlemen, Since every body pretends to trouble you with their follies, I thought I might claim the privilege of an Eng- lishman, and put in my share among the rest. Being last year in Ireland (from whence I returned about half a year ago,t) I heard only a loose talk of your society ; self so as thni my friends need not be ashamed of the name.* If the noon be used, it should have its corresponding pronoun; if the verb, its adverb. S. * Where, in 1688, Swift resided some months with his mother. On this head see Mr. Sheridan's Life of Swift; and the JDean*s letter to Mr. WorreU, Jan. 18, 1728-9. W. f This letter first appeared in tiie Supplement to the fifth volvme of the Athenian Gazette. A periodical collection of answers sent, or supposed to be sent to the several letters addressed to the publisher, John Dunton. N. 1 By this expression, and some particulars which follow, it appears that Dr. Swift, on his retum from Ireland, did not immediately go back to Moor Par'k; as, in the letter to Mr. Kendall, dated only three days before this to the Athenian Society, we £nd he had been but seven weeks with Sir William. The intermediate time, from the sub- ject of the letter to Mr. Kendall, appears to have been principally passed witli his mother at Leicester, from which place he made Ox- Cord in his way to Moor Park. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 5 aod believed Ihe design to be only some new folly just suitable to the age, which God knows I little expected ever to produce any thing extraordinary. Since my being in England, having still continued in the country, and much out of company, I had but little advantage of knowing any more, till about two months ago, passing ,W through Oxford, a rer^ lewned gentleman there fii*st showed me two or three of your volumes, and gave me his accouDi aod opinion of you. A while after I came to ibis place, upon a visit to Sir William Temple,* where I have been ever since, and have seen all the four vo- lumesf with their supplements ; whic!) answering my ex- pectation, the perusal has produced w hat you find en- closed. As I have been somewhat inclined to this folly, so I have seldom wanted somebody to flatter me in it. And for the ode enclosed, I have sent it, to a pejrsoo of very great learning and honour, and since, to some others, the best of my acquaintance (to which I thought vtsj pro- per to enure it Ust a greater light;) and they have all been pleased to tell me, that they are sure it will u^t be unwelcome, and that* I should beg the honour of "^j^stw to let it be printed before your next volume (which I think ^ is soon to be published ;) it being so usual before most books of any great value among poets : and before its seeing the world, I submit it wholly to the correction of your pens. I entreat therefore one of you would descend so far as to write two or three lines to me of your pleasure up- on it : M'hich as I cannot but expect from gentlemen, who have so well shown, upon so many occasions, that gi^atest character of scholars in being favourable to the • His great patron. N. t The folio edition of the Alheniaft Oracle. N, e LETTERS TO AND FROM ignorant; so, I am sure, nothing at present can more highly oblige me, or make me happier. I am, gentle- men, your ever most humble, and most admiring^ ser- vant, JONATHAN SWIFT. -'»S TO MR. WILLIAM SWIFT.» Mow Parky Nov. 29, 1 692* SIR, My sister told me you was pleased, when she wag here, to wonder I did so seldom write to you. I hope you have been so kind to impute it neither to ill man- ners or disrespect. I always have thought that sufficient from one who has always been but too troublesome to you. Besides, I know your aversion to impertinence :* and God knows, so very private a life as mine can fiir^ uish a letter with little else, for I often am two or three monUis without seeing any body l^ide the family ; and now my sister is gone, I am likely to be more solitary than before. I am still to thank you for your care ii>. my testmomum;\ and it was to very good purpose, for I never was more satisfied than in the behaviour of the university of Oxford to me. I had all the civilities 1 could wish for, and so many substantial favours, that I am ashamed to have been more obliged in a few week^ to strangers, than ever I was in seven years to Dublin * This letter to his uncle (though somewhat imperfect and mani- festly written in a hurry) certainly merits our regard, as helping to clear up some passages in the writer's life* N. f From the certi6cate of his degree, in consequence of which he wa^. admittwl ad eittidcm at Oxford,, June 14, leeSL D.S. DOCTOR SWIFT. 7 coHege. I am not to take orders^ till the kiog gives me a prebend; and Sir William Temple, though he. promi- ses me the certainty of it, yet is less forward than T could vish,f because (I suppose) he believes I shall leave him,| and, upon some accounts, he thinks me a little ne- cessary to him.§ If I were affording entertainment, or doing you any satbfactiao l^fldy letters,^!: should bor very glad to perform it thiit way, as I am bound to do it by all others. T am sorry my fortune should fling me so far from the best of my relations ; but hope that I shall have the happiness to see you some time or other. Pray, my humble service to mj good aunt, and the rest of my relations, if you please. TO MR. DEANE SWIFT.|| Leicester^ June 3, 1 604. I RBCEiVED your kind letter to-day from your sister; and am very glad to find you will spare time from busi- ness so far as to write a long letter to one you have none at all with but friendship, which, as the world passes, is perhaps one of the idlest things in it. It is a pleasure to me to see you saUy out of your road, and take notice of curiosities of which I am very glad to have part, and desire you to set by some idle minutes for a commerce * It mdLjrhe observed from this passage, that he 'does not qpeak of goibg into the church as a pointrof news to his uucle. D. S. f Here are the grounds of a quarrel which happened between him and Sir Wimam Temple in 1604. D. S. I Wlikhat last was the cause of much anger in Sir William Tem- ple. D.S. \, Dr. Swift was at this time employed in revising Sir William' Tcmple*s Works for the press. N. It ▲.couiin of Dr. Swift^s, then at Lisbon. N. rHi 2 LETTERS TO AND FROM which shall ever be dear to me, and from so good ao ob- server as you may easily be, cannot fail of being useful. I am sorry to see so much superstition in a country so given to trade ; I half used to think those two to be in- compatible. Not that I utterly dislike your processions iil^ for rain or fkir weather, which, as trifling as they are, yet have go^^ eflfecfs to quiet common heads, and in- fuse a piping devotion* among the rabble. But your burning the old woman, unless she were a duenna, I shall never be reconciled to ; though it is easily observed that nations which have most gallantry to the young, are ever the severest upon the old. I have not leisure to descant farther upon your pleasing letter, nor any thing to return you from so barren a scene as this, which I > shall leave in four days toward my journey for Ireland. I had designed a letter to my cousin Willoughby ;f and , the last favour he has- done me requires a great deal of acknowledgment; but the thought of my sending so many before, has made me believe it better to trust you with delivering my best thanks to him, and that you will endeavour to persuade him how extremely sensible of his goodness andgenerosity I am. I wish and shall pray he may be as happy as he deserves, and he cannot be more. My mother desires her best love to him and to you, with botb our services to my cou2in, his wife. I forgot to tell you I left Sir William Temple a month ago, just as I foretold it to you ; and every thing hap- ' pened thereupon exactly as I guessed. He was ex- tremely angry I left him ; and yet would not oblige him- self any faither than upon my good behaviour, nor would * Swift, at this time, little expected that the seal ofthe Inqui^itiott should extend to any of his wtirical Writings ; part of which they iiowever actuallr burnt. See the Vindication of Bickerstaffe, in the foiirth volume of this collection. N. f A very considerable merchant at Lisbon. 0. S. DOCTOR SWIFT. 9 promise any thing firmly to me at all ; so that eveiy body judged I did best to leave him. I design to be or- dained in September next, and make what endeavours I can for something in the church. I wish it may ever lie in my cousin'^s way or yours to have interest to bring me in chaplain of the factory. If any thing offers from Dublin that may serve either to satisfy or divert you, I will not fidl of contributing, and giving you con«jUuit intelligence from thence of whatever you shall desire. I am. Your affectionate cousin and servant, J. SWIFT. TO SIR WI14-IAM TEMPLE.* DublinyOct. 6, 16^4. Mat it plbase tour Honovb, That I might not continue the many troubles I have given you, I have all this while avoided one, which I fear prcnK^ necessary at last. I have taken all due methods to be ordained, and one time of ordination is al- ready elapsed since my arrival for effecting it. Two or three bishops, acquaintance of our family, have sig- nified to me and them, that after so long standing in the uni^eraity, it is admired I have not entered upon some- thing or other, (above half the clergy in this town being Diy juniors,) and that it being so many years since I * Tbb very ciurious letter was transcribed firora the original to Sir William Temple; endorsed by Mr. Temple, " Swift's Penitential Lietter ;*' copied by Dr. Shipman, late Fellow of All Souls College, O^cford, and Rector of Compton near Winchester, who was a relation to Sir WiUiam Temple. N. 10 LETTERS TO AND FROM left this kingdom^, they could not adroit me to the mimii^ try without some certificate of ray behaviour where 1 Mved ; and my Lord Archbishop of Dublin''*' was pleased to say a great deal of this kind to me yesteirday ; con- cluding against all I had to say, that he expected I should have a certificate from your honour of my con- duct in yS&t family. The sence I am in, how low I am fallen in your hotiottr's thoughti, has denied me assur- ance enongh to beg this favour, till I find it impossible to avoid : and I entreat your honour to understand^, that no person is admitted here to a living, without some knowledge of bis abilities for it : which it being reckoned impossible ta judge in those who are not or- dained, the usual method is fo admit men first to some small reader's place, till, by preaching upon occasions,, they can value themselves for bettfer prefercnent. This (without great friends) is so- general, that if I were four- score years old I must go the scMne way, and should at that age be told, every one must have a beginning. If entreat that your honour will connder this, and will please to send me some certificaite of my behaviour du- ring almost three years in your family; wherein I shall stand in need of alt your goodness to excuse my many weaknesses and oversights, much more to say any thing to my advantage. The particulars expected of me are what reliate to morals and learning, and the reasons of quitting your honour's family, that is, whether the last was occanoned by any ill actions. They are all left entirely to your honour's mercy, though in die first I think I cannot reproach mysdf any farther than for infiamdlies. * Dr. Nareimu Manh, Archbishop of Dablin, lOM— 1702 ; after- mwtdM ArchhiBhop of AroBSiKh, till 171S. Sm a letter, datedFeb. 3* . DOCTOR SWIFT. U This is all I dare beg at present from your honour^ under circumstances of life not worth your regard : what is leA me to wish (next to the health and prosperity of your honour and family) is, that HeaTen would one day allow me the opportunity of leaving my acknowledg- ments at your feet for so many favours I have received ; which, whatever effect they hiMT^^ad upon my fortune, shall never fail to have' ibe greatest upon my miody iu approving myself, upon all occasions, your honour's most obedient and most dutiful servant, &c. I beg my most humble duty and service be presented to my ladies your honour's lady and sister* The ordination Is appointed by the archbishop by the beginning of November; so that, if your honour will not grant this favour immediately, I fear it will come too late. TO VABINA.* Ih PATiSNCB is the most inseparable quality of a lover, and indeed of every person who is in pursuit of a de- sign whereon he conceives his greatest happiness or mi- sery to depend. It is the same thing in war, in courts, 'and 10 common business. Every one who hunts aftet * Sister to Mr. Warjng, Swift*B chamber-fellotr at college. This letter was first printed in Mi*. George Monck Berkeley's Literary Relics, 1789. A second letter to Miss Waryng, May 4, 1700, will be Ibimd in tlie present voliinie. Three other letters, directed to her tit Bellatt, are existing; thoogh we are unable to give morethan their dates ; Dec. 20, 1605, from Dublin ; June 29, 1686, and Aug. 28, 1697, from Moor F^k. K 12 XETTERS TO AND FROM pleasure, or fame, or fortune, is still resUess and uoeasy till he has hupted down his game : and all this is not only very natural, but something reasonable too ; for a yioient desire is little better than a distemper, and there- fore men are > not to blame in looking after a cure. I find myself hugely infected with this malady, and am easily vain enough to believe it has some very good rea- sons to excuse it. For ipdeed, in my case, there are some circumstances which will admit pardon for moie than ordinary disquiets. That dearest object upcn which all my prospect of happiness entirely depends, is in perpetual danger to be removed for ever from my sight. Varina's life is daily wasting ; and though one just and honourable action could furnish health to her« and unspeakable happiness to us both, yet some power that repines at human felicity has that influence to hold her continually doating upon her cruelty, and me upoa the cause of it. This fully convinces me of what we are told, that the miseries of man^s life are all beaten out on his owa anvil. Why was I so foolisli to put m^ hopes and fears into the power or management of an* other ? Liberty is doubtless the most valuable blessiag of life ; yet we are fond to fling it away on those who have been th^se 5000 years using us ill. Fbilosopby advises to keep our desires and prospects of happiness as muc h as we can in our own breasts, and indepeudest of any thing without. He that sends them abroad u likely to have &s little quiet as a merchant whose stoci depends upon winds, and waves, and pirates, or upon the words and faith of creditors, every whit as dangerdu an d inconstant as the other. I am a villain, if I have not been poiing this half hem ov er the paper merely for want of something to say U you : or is it ratlier that I have' so much to say to yon DOCprOR SWIFT. 13 ibat I know not where to begin, thougb at last it^s all very likely to be arrant repetition ? Two strangers, a poet and a beggar, went to cuffs yes- terday in this town, which minded me heartily to curse both employments. However, I am glad to see those two trades fall out, because I always heard they had beefi constant cronies: but what was best of all, the poet got the better, and kicked the gentleman beggar out of doors. This was of great comfort to me, till I heard the victor himself was a most abominable bad rhymer, and as mere a vagabond beggar as the other, which is a very great offence to me; for starving is much too honourable for a blockhead. I read some of his verses printed in praise of my lady Donegal], by which he has plainly proved that fortune has injured Mm, and that he is dunce enough to be worth five thou- fand pounds a year. It is a pity he has not also the ^ qualifications to recommend himself to your sex. I dare engage no ladies would hold him long in suspense with their tinkindness : one settlement of separate mainte- nance, well engrossed, would have more charms than all the wit or passion of a thousand letters. And I will maintain it, any man had better have a poor angel to his rival than the devil himself if he was rich. Tou now have had time enough to consider my last letter, and to form your own resolutions upon it. I wait your answer with a world of impatience ; and if you think fit I should attend you before my journey, I am ready to do it. My Lady Donegall tells me that it is feared my lord deputy will not live many days ; and if that be so, it is possible I may take shipping from hence, * otherwise I shall set out on Monday fortnight for Dub- lin, and, after one visit of leave to his excellency, hasten to England : and how far you will stretch the point of your unreasonable scruples to keep me here, will de- 16 LETTERS TO AND FROM up for a virtue : but when they are grounded at first upon reason, when they have taken firm root, and grown up to a height, it is folly — folly as well as injustice, to withstand their dictates ; for this passion has a property peculiar to itself, to be most commendable in its ex- tremes ; and it is as possible to err in the excess of piety as of love. These are the rutoei I have long followed with you, Varina ; and had you pleased to iiuitate them, we should both have been infinitely happy. The little disguises, and affected contradictions of your sex, were all (to say the truth) infinitely beneath persons of your pride and mine ; paltry maxims that they are, calculated for the rabble of humanity. O, Varina, how imagination leads roe beyond myself and all my sorrows! It is sunk, and a thousand graves lie open ! — No, madam, I will give you no more of my unhappy temper, though I derive it all from you. ' Farewell, madam ; and may love make you a while forget your temper to do me justice. Only remember, that if you still refuse to be mine, you will quickly lose him that has resolved to die as he has lived, "aU yours. JON. SWIFT. I have here sent you Mr. Fletcher's letter, wherein I hope I do not injure generosity or break trust, since the contents are purely my own concern. If you will pardon the ill hand and s[>elling, the reason and sense of it you will find veiy well and proper. DOCTOR SWIFT. i7 TO MRS. JANE SWIFT.* 1606. I BECSiVKD your kind letter from Robert by word of mouth, and thiDk it s vast condeicensioo io you to thlok of us in all your greatoetB ; now shall we hear m>thiDg from you for five months but iVe courtiers, hoory is well, and presents his humUe ^uty to my lady, and love te his fellow servant ; but he is the miserablcst creature in the world ; eternally in his melancholy note, what- ever I can do; and if hb finger does but ache, I am in such a fright you would wonder at it. I pray return my service to Mrs. Filby,^ in payment of her's by Robert. * The Doctor's nster. See May 28, 1696. Thitlady, who wsi/then at her ancle Swia*s in Bride^treet, Dub- IId, was married about Dec. 13, 1699, to Joseph Feotoa of the city of Dobiio, as appears from the license of that date, granted by the Dean of St Patrick's (Dr. Jerom Ryves,) in whose liberties she was then an inhabitant. At the time of her marriage, she was actually worth 300L; and on representing to her brother, that this. sum was insuffi- cient to support her, he promised to settle upon her 5001. being all he was then possessed of in the world, the very hour that he should get some benefice in the church, which he daily expected, provided she would reject this overture of marriage with a proper disdain. But she suffered herself to be guided by the advice of her uncles; and the event of the match proved unfortunate. The husbai\d (who is repre*' sented as an old tyrannical vicious rake, and scarcely worth half the sum he bad pretended) broke, and died, leaving his wife with two or three children in very deplorable circumstances. On this event. Dr. Swift acquainted her by message (for he would never be so far ream- ciled as to see her face) that he would allow her twenty pounds a year during her life, provided she would live in England, but not otherwise; which condition she accepted, and constantly received that annuity until the time of her decease ; which happened in 1738 ; at which time the Dean put on mourning for her. N. t An elder sister to Filby. Her husband, Mr. Filby, was a botch- er in Lnndon. F. VOL. XV 18 LETTERS TO AND FROM Nothing grows better by your absence but my lady's chamber floor, and Tumble down Dick. Here are three letters for you, and Molly will not send one of them ; she says you ordered her to the contrary ; Mr. Mose* aild I desire you will remember our love to the king, and let us know how he looks. Robert aays, the czarf ig. there, and is fallen in love with you, and designs to carry you to Muscovy ; pray provide yourself with muffs and sable tippets, «&c. iEolus has made a strange revolution in the rooks* uests ; but I say no more, for it is dangerous to meddle witli things above us. I desire your absence heartily ; for now I live ip great state, and the cook comes in to know what I please to have for dinner ; I ask very gravely what is in the house, and accordingly give orders for a dish of pigeons,^ or, &c> You shall have no more ale here, unless you send us a letter. Here is a great bundle and a letter for you ; both came together from London. We all keep home like so many cats. * Steward to Sir William Temple, after whoae death be married Mrs. Johnson, Stella^s sister. N. f Peter the Great was then in England. N. ^ DOCTOR SWIFT. ^9 TO THE REV. MR. WINDER,* PREBEN- DARY OF KILROOT. [to be left at BELFAST, IN THE COUNTY OP ANTBIM, IHSLAND.] Moor Parky Jan. 13, 1698-0. I Am not likely to be so pleased ^rith any thing again this good while, as I was with your letter of December 2O9 and it has begun to put me into a good opinion of my own merits, or at least ray skill at negotiation, to find I have so quickly restored a correspondence that I feared was declining, as it requires more charms and ad- dress in women to revive one fainting flame than to kin- dle a dozen new ones if but I assure you I was very far from imputing your silence to any bad cause (having never entertained one single ill thought of you in my life,) but to a custom which breaks off commerce be- tween abundance of people after a long absence. At first one omits writing for a little while, and then one stays a while longer to consider of excuses, and at last it grows desperate, and one does not write at all : At this rate I have served others, and have been served myself. * This gentleman was Swi(l*i immediaffe successor in the prebend of Ireland. In 1714 he printed a sermon, which he preached at St. Mary's, Dublin, May 30, 1714, ** on the mischief of faction to church and state/' Elizabeth the youngest daughter of Mr. Winder was mo- ther to the first Lord Macartney. N. f Mr. Sheridan notices a preceding letter to Mr. Winder from Moor Park, in 1698; in which Swift says, ** I remember those letters to Eliza j they were writ in my youth. Pray burn them. Yea mention a dangerous rival for an absent lover ; but I mast take my fortuoet If the npport proceed, pray inform me.*' N. 20 LETTERS TO AND FROM I "wish I had a lexicon by me to find whether your Greek word be spelt aod accented right ; and I am verj Sony 70U have made an acuttan in uUima^ as if you laid the greatest stress upon the worst part of the word. However, I protest against your meaning, or any inter- pretation you shall ever make of that nature out of my letters. If I Uiought you deserved any bitter words, I should eitlier deliver them plainly, or hold my tongue altogether ; for I esteem the custom of conveying one's resentments by hints or innuendoes to be a sign of ma* lice, or fear, or too little sincerity ; but I have told yoii; coram et absens, that you a^e in your nature more sen- sible than you need be, and it is hard you cannot be satisfied witli the esteem of the best among your neigh- bours, but lose your time in regarding what may be thought of you by one of my privacy and distance. I wish you could as easily make my esteem and friendship for you to be of any value as you may be sure to com- mand them. I should be sorry if you have been at an inconve- nience in hastening my accounts ; and I dare refer you to my letters, that they will lay the fault upon yourself; for I think I desired more than once, that you would not make more despatch than stood with your ease, because I was in no haste at all. I desired of you two or three times that when you had sent me a catalogue of those few books, you would not send them to Dublin till you had heard again from joe : The reason was, that I did believe there were one or two of them that might have been useful to you, and one or two more that were not worth the carriage : Of the latter sort were an old musty Horace, and Foley's book ; of the former were Reynolds* Works, Cle's Miscellanea instead of it, which is a good book, worth your reading. If Sceptis ScierUifica comes to me, I'll bum it for a fustian piece of abominable curious vir- tuoso stuff. The books missing are few md inconsi- derable, not worth troubling any body about.' I hope .this will come to your hands, before you have sent your cargo, that you may keep^ those books 1 mention ; and desire you will write my name, and ex dono before them, Jo laroe letters. ■ I desiie ray humble service to Mrs. Winder, and that you will let her know I shall pay a visit at Carmony some day or other, how little soever any of you may think of it. But I will, as you desire, excuse you the deliveiy of my complimeuts to poor H. Clements, and hc|>e you will have much better fortune than poor Mr. Davis, who has left a family that is like to find a cruel want oi him. Fray let me hear that you grow very rich, and begin to make purchases. I never heard that H. Clements was dead : I was at his mayoral feast : Has he been mayor since ? or did he die then, and every body forget to send me word of it ? Those sermons you have thought fit to transcnfte will utterly disgrace you, unless you have so much cre- dit that whatever comes from you will pass : They w.ere wbat I was firmly resolved to bum, and especially some of them the idlest trifling stuff that ever was writ, cal- culated for a church without company, or a roof, like our *****^*** Oxford. They will be a perfect lampoon upon me, whenever you look on them, and re- member they are mine. I, remember those letters to Eliza ; they were writ in my youth; you might have sealed them up, and no- 22 LETTERS TO AND JbROAl body of my friends would have opened them : Pray burn them. There were parcels of other papers that I would not have lost ; and I hope you have packed them up so that they may come to me. Some of them were abstracts and collections from reading. You mention a dangerous rival for an absent lover : but I must take my fortune: If tlie report proceeds, pray inform me; and when jou have leisure and hu- mour, give me the pleasure of a letter from you : And tliough you are a man full of fastenings to the world, yet endeavour to continue a friendship in absence ; for who knows but fate may jumble us together again : And I believe, had I been assured of your neighbour- hood, I should, not have been so lusatisfied with the ro» gion I was planted in. I am, aad will be ever entirely, Yours, &c. J. SWIFT. P. S« Pray let me know something of my debt being paid to Tailer, the inkeeper of ; I have forgot the town * , between Dromore and Newry, MRS. JANE SWIFT TO MR. DEANE SWIFT. May 26, 1 699, Mt poor brother has lost his best friend Sir William Temple, who was so fond of him whilst he lived, that he made him give up his living* in this countiy, to stay with him at Moor Park : and promised to get him one iu England. But death came in between, and has left him unprovided both of friend and living \ * The prebeo4 of Kilroot, in the diocese of Connor^ ^0 we^tb a^ui 1902.. a year, and^^ 1716 w^x^ al^ut |70(. ^. DOCTOR SWIFT, 23 TO MISS JANE WARYNG.* Dublin, May A, noo. MAD AM, I AM extreme! J concerned at the accoum you gi^e of jour heaJtb ; for my uocle told ine he found ybu in ap- pearance better thao you had been in some yeariR, and I :iir^ in hopes you had still continued so. God forbid I should ever be the occasion of creating more troubles to yotiy as you seem to intimate ! The letter you desired me to answer I haTe frequently read, and thought I had •replied to every part of it that required it ; however, since you are pleased to repeat those particulars ivhere- in you desire satisfaction, I shall endeavour to give it - yon as well as I am aWe." You would kuow what gave my temper that sudden turn, as to alter the style of my letters since I last came over. If there has been that alteration you observe, I have told you the cause abun- dance of times. I had used a thousand endeavours and arguments, to get you from the company and place you are in ; botli on the account of your health and humour, which I thought were like to suffer very much in such ■an air, and before such examples. Ail I had in answer from you, was nothing but a great deal of arguing, and sometimes in a style so very imperious as I thought might have been spared, when I reflected hoi^ much you iiad been in the wrong. The other thing you would know is, whether this change of style be owing to the thoughts of a new mistress. I declare, upon the word of a christian and a gentleman, it is not ; neither had I f A young lady of family in the North of Ireland. It was written BOt long before the time of Stellate fixing her residence in that king- 24 LETTERS TO AND FROM ever thoughts of being married to any other person but yourself. I had ever an opinion that you had a great s veetDCss of nature and humour; and whatever appear* ed to the contrary, I looked upon it only as a thing put on as necessary before a Jover : but I have since observ- ed in abundance of your leltei-s such marks of a severe indilT'eieuce, that I began to think it Mas hardly possible for one of my few good qualities to please you, I never knew any so hard to be worked upon, even in matters where the interest and concern are entirely your own ; all which, J say, passed easily while we were in the state of formalities and ceremony ; but, since that, there is no other way of accounting for this untractabie behaviour in you, but by imputing it to a want of common esteem and friendship for me. When I desired an account of your fortune, I had no lucb design as you pretend to imagine. I have told you * many a time, that in England it was in the power of any joung fellow of common sense to get a larger fortune than ever you pretended to : I asked, in order to con- sider whether it were sufficient, with tlie help of my poor income, to make one of your humour easy in a married state. I think it comes to almost a hundred pounds m year ; and I think at the same time that no young wo- man in the world of the same income would dwindle away their health and life in such a sink, and among such family conversation : neither have all your letters been once able to persuade that you have the least value for me, because you so little regarded what I so often said upon that matter. The dismal account you say I have given you of my livings'''' I can assure you to be m true one; and, since it is a dismal oue even in your own opinion, you can best draw consequences from it. The * Thoie of laracor and Ratkbeggfo. F. DOCTOR SWIFT. 25 place wbere Dr. Bolton.^ lived is upon a liviog whidi he keeps vith the deanery ; '^ut the place of residence for that they have given me is within a mile of a town called Trim, twenty miles from hence ; and there is no other way, but to hire a house at Trim, or build one on the spot : the first is hardly to be done, and the other I am too poor to perform at present. For coralbg dowa to Belfast, it is what I cannot yet think o( my attendance is so close, and so much required of me ; but our govern^ ment sits very loose, and I believe will change in a few months) whether our partf will partake in the change, J know not, though I am very apt to believe it ; and then I shall be at leisure for a short journey. But I hope your o(her friends, miure powerful than I, will before that time persuade you from the place where you are. I desire my service to your mother, in return for her re- nembraoce : but for any other dealings that way, I ea- Ireat your pardon ; and I think I have more cause to re- sent your desires of me in that case, than you have to be angry at my refusals. If you like such company and conduct, much good do you with them ! My education has been otherwise'. My uncle Adam^ asked me one * Tliisgentlemao, as well as Dr. Swift, was chaplaiatoLord Berke- ley when ooe of the lords justices in Ireland ; aud was promoted to the deaoeiy of Derry, which had been previously promised to Dr. Swift: but Mr. Bush, the principal secretary, for weighty reasons best known to himself, laid Dr^ Swift aside, unless he would pay him a large sura; which the Doctor refused with, the utmost contempt and icom. F. — ^Dr. Bolton, who was also Minister of St. WerburghV, Dublin, was advanced to the bishoprick of Clonfert, Sept. 12, 1722; trandated to Elphin, April 16, 1724; to Cashel,. Jan. 6, 1729; and died in 1744. He was one of the mo^ eloquent speakers of his tiine, and was patticularly skilled in ecclesiastical history. N. f Meaning Lord Berkeley, who was then one of the three lordsjusti'* ces. The Earl of Rochester was appointed lord lieutenantin Septem- ber following. N. X Whose daughterm a comparison of the Journal to Stella^ Oct 20,4710, with Mr. Deane Swift's Essay, p. 87) illaatrate an ias- portant part of our aothor's private history. JX^ 30 LETTERS TO AND FROM should we wonder at that, when the very ladies are split asunder into high church and low, and out of zeal for religion, have hardly time to say their prayers ? The masks will have a crown moi-e from any man of the dther party, and count it ft high point of merit to a mem- ber, who will not vote on their side.* For the rest, the whole body of the clergy, with a great majority of the liouse of commons, were violent for this bill. As great a majority of the lords, among whoro^ all the bKhops, but four, were against it : the coui't and the rabble (as extremes often agree) were trimmers. I would be glad to know men's thoughts of it in Ireland : for myself, I am much at a loss, though I was mightily urged by some great people to publish my opinion. I cannot but think (if men's highest assurances are to be believed) that se* Veral, who were against tliis bill, do love the churchy tod do hate or despise presbytery. I put it close ta my Lord Peterborough just as the bill was going up, who assured me in the most solemn manner, that if he bad the least suspicion the rejecting this bill would hurt the church, or do kiudness to the dissenters, he would lose his right hand rather than speak against it. The like profession I had from the Bishop of Salisbury,f my Lord Somen, and some others; so that I know not what to think, and therefore shall think oo more ; and you will forgive my saying so much on a matter, that. i^ll our heads have been so full o( to a degree, that while St was on the anvil, nothing else was the subject of conversation; I shall return in two months, in spite s ti my heart. I have here the best friends in nature^ only want that little circumstanee of favour and power; * This accoont of the bmtle^ the harry, and tumult, whilst the Oe- eariooal ConfonnHy bin was dqiendiqi;, ^ ^ i>^ Urely tpwiiw ff oar Author's .wit an4 humour. H^ i Dr. Gilbwt Bunet, K* DOCTOR SWIFT. 31 but nothing is so civil as a cast courtier. Pray let the ladies* know I had their letter, and will answer it soon f and that I obeyed Mrs. Johnson's commands, and wait* ed on her mother, and other friend. You may add, if you please, that they advise her clearly to be governed by her friends there about the renewing her lease, and she may have her mortgage taken up here whenever she pleases, for the payment of her fine ; and thai we have a project for putting out her money in a certain lady's hands for annuities, if the parliament goes on with them, and she likes it. I'll teach you a waj to outwit Mrs. Johnson : it is a new fashioned way of being witty, and they call it a bUe. You must ask a bantering question, or tell some damned lie in a serious manner, and then she will ao- awer or speak as if you were in earnest : and then crf you, "" Madam, there's a bite.''^ I would not have yea undervalue this, for it is the constant amusement in court,, and every where else among the great people ; and I kt you know it, in order to have it obtain among you, aod teach you a new refinement. TO THE SAME. London, Feb. 3, 1703-4. I AM icontent you should judge the order of friendship you are in with me by my writipg to you, and accord ingly you wSFfind yourself the first after the ladies ;f for I never write to any ether, either friend or relation, till long after. I cannot imagine what paragraph yoa • Mrs. JfAmaavuiMn* DtBgkT* I^> t Ditto. 32 LETTERS TO AND FROM meaa id my former, that was calculated for lord primate ;^ or how 70U could show it him without beiog afraid~he might expect to see the rest. But I will take better methods another time, aud you shall never, while you live, receive a syllable from me fit to be shown to a lord primate, unless it be yourself. Montaigne was angry to ^ee his essays lie in the parlour window, and therefore wrote a chapter that forced the ladies to keep it in their closets. After some such manner I shall henceforth use you in my letters, by making them fit to be seen by none but yourself. I am extremely concerned to find myself unable ta persuade you into a true opinion of your own littleness^ Dor make you treat me with more distance and respect ; and the rather, because I find all your little pretensions are owing to the credit you pretend with two ladies who came from England. I allow indeed the chaml>er iu William-street to be Little England by their influence ; as an ambassador's house, wherever it is, hath all the privileges of his master's dominions : and therefore, if you wrote the letter in their room, or their company (for in this matter their room is as good as their company) I will indulge you a little. Then for the Irish legs you reproach me with, I defy you. I had one indeed whea I left your island ; but that which made it Irish is spent and evaporate, and I look upon myself now as upon a new foot Tou seem to talk with great security of * Dr. Narcissus Marsb, of whom Swift entertained no very favoura- ble opinion, and whose eharacter he drew with much severity, was made Bishop of Ferns, Feb. 27, 1682; translated to Dublin, May 24, 1604; to Armagh, Feh. 18, l702 ; and died in 1713. By two of his private letters, dated Sept. ^, 1703, and June 16, 1704-5, (preserved among Bishop Gibson^s manuscript papers in the Lambeth library, 1. 56. 95.) it appears that he was jealous of Archbishop King's endea- vouring to procure to himself a Uecnue to pteride iR the CofiTOcath>n» ,«Bd iBvadiDg the preiideacy. N. ... DOCTOR SWIFT. 33 your establishment near the ladies ; though perhaps, if you knew what tbey say of you in their letters to me, you would change your opinion both of them and yourself. A bite !* — And now you talk of a bite, I am ashamed of the ladies* being caught by you, when I had betrayed you, and given them warning. I had heard before of the choking, but never of the jest in the church : you may find from thence that women's prayers are thingi perfectly by rote, as they put on one stocking after ano- ther, and no more. But, if she be good at bluoden^ she is as ready at comeoffs ; and to pretend her senses were gone, was a very good argument she had them about her. You seem to be migDty proud (as you have reason if it be true) of the part you have in the ladiei' good graces, especially of her you call the party. I am very much concerned to know it ; but, since it is an evil I cannot remedy, I will tell you a story. A cast mistress went to her rival, and expostulated with her for roblnng her of her lover. After a long quarrel, finding no good to be done ,• •* Well," says the abdicated lady, ** keep him, and ***'* *** ♦* **** **♦*."—" No,** says the other, that will not^be altogether so convenient; however, to oblige you, I will do something that is very near it** — DixLj I am mightily afraid the ladies are very idle, and do not mind their book. Pray put them upon reading ? and be always teaching something to Mrs. Johnson, be- cause she is good at comprehending, remembering, and retaining. I wonder she could be so wicked as to let the first word she could speak, after choking, be a pun. I differ from you ; and believe the pun was just com- * Alladiog to his fonner letter. N. f Dr. Swift, it must be acknowledged, has bere adopted too much of the plan of Montaigne, which he mentions in the beginning of thif letter. N. 34 LETTERS TO AND FROM iog up, but met with the crumbs, and ,so, struggling for the wall, couki neither of them get by, and at last came both out together. It is a pleasant thing to hear you talk of Mrs. Ding- ley's blunders, when she has sent me a list with above a dozen of yours, that have kept me alive, and I hope will do so till I have them again from the fountain head. I desire Mrs. Johnson only to forbear punning^ after .the Finglas rate when Dillyf was at home. I thank you for your bill, which was a cunning piece of civility to prevent me from wanting. However, I shall buy hats for you and Tom Leigh: for I have lately a bill of twenty pounds sent me for myself, and shall take up ten more here. I saw Tom Leigh's bro- .ther in the court of requests, and, knowing him to be J^our friend, I talked with him ; and we will take some occasion to drink your health together, and Tom Leigh^s. I will not buy you any pamphlets, unless you will be piare particular in telling me their names or their na- tures, because they are usually t!ic vilest things in na- ture. Leslie has written several of late, viplent against .presbyterians and low churchmen. If I had credit enough with you, you should never write but upon some worthy subject, and with long thought. But I look npon you as under a terrible mistake, if you imagine you cannot be enough distinguished without writing for the public. Preach, preach, preach, preach, preach, preach ; that is ceitainly your talent ; and you will some years hence have time enough to be a writer. I tell you what I am content you should do : choose any 4Bubject you please, and write for your private diversion, * Dr. Tisdall, whom his friends used familiarly to call Black Tis- dall, was author of *^ Tom Pun-sibi metamorphosed, or the Giber jibed;** a satire against Swift and SheridaB,ia the Gulliveriana. N. f The Rev. Dillon Ashe. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 35 ox by vf9j of trial ; but be not liasty to vrite for the world. Besides, who that has a spirit would write iti such a scene as Ireland ? You and I will talk an hour on these matters. [Pox on the dissenters and inde- pendents ! I would as soon trouble vaj head to write against a louse and a flea. I tell you what ; I wrote against the bill that was against occasional conformity ^^ but it came too late by a day, so I would not print it. But you may answer it if you please ; for you know you and I are whig and tory-.^ And, to cool your in- solence a little, know that the queen and court, and house of lords, and half the commons almost, are whigB{ and the number daily increases.^} • I desire my humble service to the primate, whom I liave not written to, having not had opportunity to peiw {orm that business he employed me in ; but shall sood, flow the days are longer. We are all here in great im- jBtiepce at the ^ing of Spain's delay, who yet cootiouea in the Isle of Wight.]: My Jiumble service to Dean By ves, Dillyr JoQes,^ '• * Dr. Tisdall ^vras^a zealous o)iarch*tory ; and used to entertahi Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Dlngley with convocation disputes. See Jotirnal to Stella, Oct. 20, 1710. f The Tines included in these hooks were printed in one of the -tsrly editions, and there called, " Part of a Letter.*' Perfaapt they were taken from the Dean*s first draught. They were introda- «ed. by the following sentence, which Swift seems to have dropt for the sake of enlarging on his first thoughts: ** I have been 90 long and ■D freqiientiy pursued with a little paltry ailment of a noise in my cars, that I could never get humour and time to answer your letter." X The Archduke Charles arrived at Spithead, in his way from Hol- land to Portugal, Dec. 2G, ]7o3. By invitation from Queen Anne, lie visited her rajyesty at Windsor on the 29th. On the 31st he went to the seat of the duke of Somerset at Petworth in Sussex ; and set sail for Portugal, Jan. 5^ but, being driven back by contrary winds, it jras the27Ui of February before he arrived at Lisbon. N. ' ) See an anecdote of Deaa Jones, in Dr. Kin^*s Works, \ti 177^ ^ 70l, ii. p. 2iK?. N, 36 LETTERS TO AND FROM and other friends And I assure you nobody can possi-" bly be more, or, I believe, is half so entirely, yours, as JON. SWIFT. TO THE SAME. London, April 20, 1 704. Testsrdat, coming from the country, I found jour letter, which had been four or five days arrived, and by neglect was not forwarded as it ought. You have got three epithets for my former letter, which I believe are all unjust : you say it was unfriendly,, unkind, atid «»- oficouMtahle, The two first, I suppose, may pass but for jone, saving (as Capt. FluelHu says, the phrase is) a little variation, I shall therefore answer those twa as I can^ and for the last, I return it you again by these present^ assuring you, that there is more uuaccountability in your letter's little finger, than in mine's whole body. And one strain I observe in it, which is frequent enough ; you talk in a mystical sort of way, as if you would have me believe I had some great design, and that you had found it out : your phrases are, '* that ray letter had the effect you judge I designed ; that you are amazed to re- flect on what you judge the cause of it; and wish it may be in your power to love and value me while you live," &c. In answer to all this, 1 might with good pretence enough talk starchly, and afTect ignorance of what you would be at ; but my conjecture is, that you think I ob- structed your inclinations to please my own, and that my intentions were the same with yours. In answer to aH which, I ,will upon my conscience and honour tell yo^ the naked truth. First, I think I have said to }'ou be- fore, that if my fortunes and humour served me to think DOCTOR SWIFT. 3T •f that state, I should certainly, among all persons on earth, make your choice ; becailse I never saw th^t per- son whose conversation I entirely valued but hers ; this was the utmost I ever gave way to. And, secondly, I must assure you sincerely, that this regard of mine never once entered into my head to be an impediment to you ; but I juds;ed it would, perhaps, be a clog to your rising in the world ; and I did not conceive you were then rich enough to make yourself and her happy and easy. But that objection is now quite removed by what you have at present ; and by the assurances of Eaton's livings. I told you indeed, (iiat your authority was not sufficient to make overtures to the mother, without the daughter's giving me leave under her own or her friend's hand, which, I think, was a right and a prudent step. How- ever, I told the mother immediately, and spoke with all the advantages you deserve. But the objection of yqur fortune being removed, I declare I have no other ; nor flbail any consideration of my own misfortune of losing so good a friend and companion as her, prevail on me, against her interest and settlement in the world, since it is held so necessary and convenient a thing for ladies to marry ; and that time takes off from the lustre of virgins la all other eyes but mine. I appeal to my letters to herself whether I was your friend or not in the whole concern; though the part I designed to act in it was purely passive, which is the utmost I will ever do in things of 4his nature, to avoid all reproach of any ill consequence, that may ensue in the variety of worldly accidents. Kay, I went so far both to her mother, her- self and I think to you, as to tl^ink it could not be de- cently Inroken ; since I supposed the town had got it in their tongues, and therefore I thought it could not miacarry without some disadvantage to the lady's credit. I have always described her. to you is a manner difib*- I 38 LETTERS TO AND FROM ent from those, who would be discouraglDg^; and must add) that though it has come in my way to converse with persons of the first rank, and of that sex, more than is usual to men of my level, and of our function ; yet I have no where met with an humour, a wit, or conversa- tion so agreeable, a better portion of good sense, or a truer judgment of men and things, I mean here in £n^ land; for as to the ladies of Ireland, I am a perfect stranger. As to her fortune, I think you know it al- ready ; and if you resume your designs, and would have farther intelligence, I shall send you a particular ac- count I give you joy of your good fortunes, and envy very much your prudence and temper, and love of peace and settlement ; the reverse of which has been the great uneasiness of my life, and is likely to continue so. And what is the result ? En quels cansevimus agros ! I find nothing but the good words and wishes of a decayed ministry, whose lives and mine will probably wear out before they cau serve either my little hopes, or their own jimbitioD. Therefore I am resolved suddenly to retire, like a discontented courtier, and vent myself in study and speculation, till my own humour, or the scene here^ shall change. * TO ARCHBISHOP KING.* 7Vtiii,I>^. 31, 1704. Bpr iiOBD, I Did intend to have waited on your grace before you went for England ; but, hearing your voyage b • Dr. WUliui King, Ardibidiop of Dublin, 1702— 172Z. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 3(1 fixed for the first opportunity of the wind, I could not forbear giving you a few minutes interruption, which I hope your gi*ace will believe to be without any other design than that of serving you. I believe your grace may have heard, that I was in England last winter, when the dean and chapter of Christ Church had, I think, with great wisdom and discretion, chosen a most miklicious, ignorant, and headstrong creature to repre- sent them 9 wherein your grace cannot justly tax their prudence, since the cause'^ they are engaged in is nol otherwise to be supported. And I do assure your grace (which perhaps others may have been cautious io telling you) that they have' not been without success* For not only the general run in Doctors Commons was wholly on their side, which my Lord Bishop of Cloynet observed as well as I; but that little instrument of ihem did use all his power to misrepresent your grace^ and your cause, both in town and city, as far as his naiw row sphere could reach. And he spared not to say, that your grace had personal resentment against him ; that yoa sought his ruin, and threatened him with it. And I remember, at a great man's table, who has as much infiu* eoce in England as any subject can well have, after din- ner came in a master in chancery, whom I had before observed to be a principal person in Doctors Commons, when your grace's cause was there debating ; and, upon occasion of being there, fell into discourse of it, whereia he seemed wholly an advocate for Christ Church ; for aH his arguments were only a chain of misinformations, which he had learned from the same hand ; insomuch, * A lawsuit between the Archbiihop of Dublin and the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral of Christ Church, Dublin, about his right of visiting them, which was given in favour of his grace. B. f Dr. Charles Crow, 1702-1726. N. 40 LETTERS TO AND FROM that I was f(»t;ed to give a character of some persoss, which otherwise I should liave spared, before I could set him right, as I also did in the affair of the late Dean of Derry,^ which had beeu told with so many falsehoods and disadvantages to your grace, as it is hard to imagine. I humbly presume to say thus much to your grace, that, knowing the prejudices that have been given, you may more easily remove them, which your presence will infallibly do. I would also beg of your grace to use some of your credit toward bringing to a good issue the promise the queen made,~at my Lord Bishop of Cioyne's interces-' sion, to remit the first fruits and tenths of the clergy ; ilnless I speak ignorantly, for want of information, and that it be a tiling already done. But what I would mind your grace of is, that the crown ront should be added, which is a great load upon many poor livings, and would be a considerable help to others. And, I am confident, with some reason, that it would be easily granted ; being, I hear, under a thousand pounds a year, and the queen's grant for England being so much more considerable than ours can be at best I am very certain, that, if the Bisliop of Cloyne had continued to solicit it in England, it would easily have passed : but, his lordship giving it up wholly to the Duke of Or- mond,''^ I believe it has not been thought of so much as it ought. I humbly beg your grace's pardon for the baste and hurry of this, occasioned by that of the post, , which is not very regular in this country ; and, implore Ing your blessing, and {H-aying to God for your good • Dr. Bolton. N. i Lord Lieotenant of -IrelaDd. N. J DOCTOR SWIFT. 41 voyage, success, and return, I humbly kiss your grace's bands, and remain, my lord. Tour grace's most obedient, and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. FROM THE EARL OF BERKELEY.* Crcarfurd, Friday Night, 1 706-7. I HOPK you continue in the miudof coming hither fo-morrow ; for upon my sincerity,, i^ich is more than most people's, I shall be heartily glad to see you as much as possible before you go to Ireland. Whether you are or are not for Cranford,t I earnestly entrea you, if you have not done it already, that you would not fail of having your bookseller enable the Arch- bishop of Tork:^ to give a book§ to the queen ; for with' Mr. Nelson,!! I am entirely of opinion, that her ma« jesty's reading of that book of the project for the. in- crease of morality and piety, may be of veiy great use to that end. * He had been envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States General in 1689; and in 1699 and 1700 one of the lords Justices oT Frdand, where Dr. Swift had been his chaplain. This letter is endorsed by Dr. Swift, '' Qld £arl of Berkeley , about 1706 or 1707.*^ He died Sept. 24, 1710. N. f Where a portait of the Dean is still preserved. N. / X Dr. John Sharpe, 1691-1713. N. \ 8wift*s Prcjcct for the Advancement of Religion, and the Refor- mation of Manners. N. II Robert Nelson, E^q. the worthy and pioas author of many ex- cellent religioiM publications. N. Toil. XT. C 42 LETTERS TO AND FROM TO ARCHBISHOP KING. London, Feb. 5, ITOT-S. MY LORD, I Have been above a month expecting the represeo- taiioQ your grace was pleased to promise to send me, which makes me apprehend jour grace has been hin- dered bj what jou complained o^ the clergy's I>ack- wardness in a point so very necessaiy to their service; and it is time ill lost at this juncture, while my lord lieutenant* is here, and in great credit at court, and would perhaps be more than ordinarily ready to serve the church in Ireland. If I have no directions from your grace by the end of this month, I shall think of my return to Ireland against the 25th of March, to eu'' deavour to be chosen to the living of St. Nicholas, as I have been encouraged to hope ; but would readily re- turn at a week's warning, to solicit that affair with my lord lieutenant while he stays here, or in any other man- ner your grace will please to direct. Tour grace knows long before this, that Dr. Millesf is Bishop of Waterford. The court and Archbishop of Canterbury}: were strongly engaged ibr another per- son, not much suspected in Ireland, any more than the choice already made was, I believe; either here or there. * Thomas Herbert Earl of Pembroke. N. f Dr. Thomas MUles was rimde Bishop of IValerford, May 11, 1707, and contiDued in that see till his death, in 1740. He was uncle to Dr. Pococke (bishop saccessivelj of Osaory and of Meatli,) autlior pf " Travels to the East," who died in 1765 j and uncle to Dr. Jere- miah Milles, the late Dean of Exeter, and President of the Society of Antiquaries, to whom Bishop Milles left the whole of his fortiinr. IV. X Dr. Thomas Tenisoo. K. DOCTOR SWIFT. 43 The two houses are still busy in Lord Peterborough's affair, which seems to be little more than an amuse- inent, which it is conceived might at this time be spared, considering how slow we ai-e said to be in our prepara- tions; which, I believe, is the only reason why it was talked the other day about the town, as if there would be sooo a treaty of peace. There is a report of my Lord Gal way's death, but it is not credited. It is a perfect jest to see my Lord Peterborough, reputed as great a whig as any iu England, abhorred by bis own party, and caressed by the tories. The great question,^ whether the number of men iu Spain and Portugal, at , the time of tlie battle of Al- manza, was but 8,600, when there ought to have been 29,600, wash carried on Tuesday in the affirmative against the court, without a division, which was occa- noned by Sir Thomas Ilanmer's oratory. It seems to have been no party question, there being many of both glad and sorry for it. The court has not been fortunate in their questions this session ; and I hear some of both parties expressing contrary passions upon it. I tell your, grace bare matters of fact; being not inclined to make re- flections ; and if I were, I could not tell what to make, €0 oddly people are subdivided. I am, my lord. Your grace's most obedient^ and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. 44 LETTERS TO AND FROM TO THE SAME. London, Feb. 12, 1707-8. Having irritten what I had of business about three posts ago (ivhereof I wait an answer,) perhaps it maj be some amusement to you for a few minutes to hear some particulars about the turns we have had at court. Yes- terdaj the seals were taken from Mr. Harley, and Sir Thomas Mansel gave up his staff. They went to Ken- sington together for that purpose, and came back imme- diately, and went together into the house of commoos. Mr. St John designs to lay down in a few days, as a friend of his told me, though he advised Him to the con- trary ; and they talk that Mr. Bruges, and Mr. Ceke» the vice chamberlain, with some others, will do the like. Mr. Harley had been for some time, with the greatest art im- aginable, carrying on an intrigife to alter the ministry, and began with no less an enterprise than that of remov- ing the lord ti easurer, and had nearly effected it, by the help of Mrs. Masham, one of the queen's dressers, who was a great and growing favourite, of much industry and insinuation. It went so far, that the queen told Mr. St John a week ago, ^ that she was resolved to part with lord treasurer;" and sent him with a letter to the Duke of Marlborough, which she read to him, to that purpose ; and she gave St. .dTohn leave to tell it about the town, which he did without any reserve ; and Harley told a friend of mine a week ago, thai he was never safer in fa- vour or employment On Sunday evening last, the lord treasurer^ and Duke of Marlborough went out of the council ; and Harley delivered a memorial to the queen, / • Sidnex Lord Godolphin. If. DOCTOR SWIFT. 45 relatiog to the eiuperor and the war. Upon which the Duke of Somerset rose, and said, "if her majesty sufTei- ed that fellow (pointing to Harley) to treat affairs of the war without advice of the general, he could not serve her ;" and so left the council. The Earl of Pembroke, though in milder words, spoke to the same purpose : so did most of the lords: and the next day the queen was prevailed upon to turn him out, though the seals were Dot delivered till yesterday. It was likewise said, that Mrs. Masham is forbid the court ; but this I have no as- surance of. Seven lords of the whig party are appoint^ cd to examine Greg^, who lies condemned in Newgate ; and a certain lord of the council told me yesterday, that there are endeavours to bring in Harley as a party in that business, and to carry it as far as an impeachment. AiU this business has been much fomented by a lord wbom Harley had been chiefly instrumental in impeach-^ iqg some years ago. The secretary always dreaded hiiii» md made all imaginable advances to be reconciled, but could never prevail ; .which made him say yesterday to some who told it to me, " that he had laid his oeck un- der their feet, and they trod upon it.'^ I am just going this mof ning to visit that lord, who has a veiy free way of telling what he cares not who hears ;'' and if I can learn any more particulars worth telling, you shall have them. I never in my life saw or heard such divisions and complications of parties as ther^ have been for some time ; you sometimes see the extremes of whig and tory^ driving on the same thing. I have heard the chief whigs blamed by their own party for want of moderation, and I know a whig lord in good employment who voted with the highest tories against the court, and the ministry, with whom he is nearly allied. My Lord Peterborow's affair^ is yet upon the anvil, and what they will beat it * See the preceding letter. N» 46 LETTERS TO AJSTD FROM out to, DO man can tell. It is said that Harley bad laid a scheme for an entire new ministry, and the men are named to whom the several employments were to be given. And though his project has miscarried, it is reckoned the greatest piece of court skill that has been acted there many years.-*— I have heard nothing since morning, but that the attorney^ either has laid down, tt will do it in a few days. FROM MR. ADDISON. Feb. 29, 1 707-& SIR, Mr. Frowdef tells me, that you design me the honoi^ of a visit to-moiTow morning but my Xiord Sunderland^ having directed me to wait on him at nine o'clock^ I shall take it as a particular favour, if you will give me your company at the George in Pall Mall aliout two§ in the afternoon, when I may hope to enjoy your conversa- tion more at leisure, which I set a very great valu^ upon. I am, sir, Your most obedient humble servant, J.ADDISON. Mr. Steele and Frowde will dine with us. * Sir Simon Harcourt, knight, then attorney general, afterward9 Lord Harcourl. N. f Philip Frowde, Esq. son of Ashburnham Frowde, Esq. comptroUer of the foreign Office at the post office. He was the author of two tragedies, and was much beloved for his genius and learning, and the amiableness of his character. B. I To whom Mr. Addison was secretary . B. i Then the fashionable hoor'for dining. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 47 TO DR. STERNE.* London^ April 1 5, 1 70S. ■ SIR, I T¥OND£R whether in the midpt of your biiildiDgs, you ever consider that I have broke my shius, and have been a week confined, thb charming weather, to my chamber, and cannot go abroad to hear the uightingaleF^ or pun with my Lord Pembroke. Pug is veiy well, and likes London wonderfully, but Greenwich belter, where we could hardly keep him from hunting down the deer. I am told^ by some at coiut, that the Bishop of Kildaref is utterly bent upon a removal on this side, though it be 4oSt. Asaph: and then the question must be, whether Dr. Pratt will be dean of St. Patrick's, minister of St. Catherine's, or provost ? For I tell you a secret, that tbe queeu is resdved the ne&t promotion shall be to one of Dublin education : this she told the lord lieutenant Your new Waterford bishop| franks his letters, which no bishop does that writes to me ; I suppose it is some pe« culiar privilege of that sec. The dissenters have made very good use here of your frights in Ireland upon the. intended invasion ; and the aichbishop writes me word, that the addiess of Dublin city will be to the same pur- pose, which I think the clergy ought to have done their best to prevent, and I hope they did so. Here has the Irish speaker§ been soliciting to get the test clause re- * Dean of St. Pairiek^s, Diiblio ; and afterward Bishop of Clog- ber. N. f Dr. William Ellis. He continued at Kildare from 1705, till 1731. N. tDr. Millcs. Scebefore, p. 42. N. \ Alan Broderick, Esq. afterward Ix)rd Chancellor of Ireland, and ereatcd Lord Moleewortb . H . 48 LETTERS TO AND FROM pealed by an act here^ for which I hope he^will be im- peached when your parliament meets again, as well as fbr some other things I could mention. I hope you will be of my opinion in what I have told the archbishop about those addresses. And if his grace and clergy of the province send or address, I desire I may present it, as one of the chapter, which is the regular way ; but I beg you will endeavour among you, that the church of Ireland gentlemen may send an address to set the queen tnd court right about the test ; which every one liere is of opinion you should do; or else I have to fear it will be repealed here next session; which will be of terrible consequence, both as to the thing and the manner, b^ parliament here interfering in things purely of Ireland, that have no relation to any interest of theirs. If you will not use me as your book-buyer, make use •f Sir AndrewFountaine, who sends you his humble ser- vice, and will carry over a cargo as big as you please toward the end of summer, when he and I intend my lord lieutenant* shall come in our company without fail, and Jn spite of Irish reports, that say we shall come BO more. I reckon by this time you have done with masons ^d carpenters, ^tid are now beginning with upholster- jsrs, wiUi whom you mfy go on as sl^w and soberly as jou please. But pray keep the garden till I come. I am, sir, , Tour most faithful humble servant, J. SWIFT. Direct the enclosed, and deliver it to the greatest person in your neighbourhood. • TkovAs Earl of Pembroke. H. DOCTOR SWIFT. 4a TO THE SAME. June^ 1708. Sir, I WRIT to jou some weeks ago, and enclosed (as DOW,) a letter to your neighbour. But I fear it was kidnapped by sbme privateer, or else you were lazy or forgetful ;' or which is full as good, perhaps it had no need of an answer, and I would not for a good deal,, that the former had miscarried, because the enclosed was wonderfully politic, and would have been read to you, as this, I suppose, wjll, though it be uot half sa profound. Kow are jou gone some hummer ramble, and will not receive this in a -fortnight; nor send the en* closed to as much more. I have often begged you would let me buy you one fifty pounds i^orth of books;, but now I have been here so long, I believe you will have reason to apprehend I may sink the money. Sir Andrew Fountaiue* will never be satisfied till he gets into tbe little room,, with the three Ashes, the bishop of KiUalaf and myself, to be happy at the expense of youc wine and conversation.. Here is a nghi of two girls joined together at the back, which, in the newsmonger's phrase, causes a great many speculations; and raises abundance of questions ID divinity, law, and physic.} The boys of our town are mighty happy, for we are to have. a beheading next • Ih. Swift, ia 1708, Qsed to lodge with Sir Andrew Foontaine,' vbeD he was in London. Hk f Dr. WiUiam Lloyd, 1690-1716. N. X There is a particular account of thea in Ibe Fhiloiophicili l!nHMaclioii8 for the year 176S, rclL I. p. 311, B. C Z 60 LETTERS TO AND FROitt week, unless the queen will interpose her mercy.** Here is a Itfng lampoon publicly printed, abusing by name at length, all the young people of quality that walk in the park.f These are effects of our liberty of the press. I long to know what is become of your new house, whether there is yet a union between that and the little one, or whether the work stops for want of money ; and you pretend it is only, that the boards may have time to ^ seasoh. We are still in pain for Mr. Dopping^s being in one of the packet boats that were taken, He and many mcnre have vowed never to return to England Again ; which, if they forget, they may properly be calF- ed vows written in water* Fray, fdr, let me hear from you some time this bot^ weather, for it will be very refreshing ; and I am coor fined by budness to this ugly town, which, at this seft- sQiD of the year, is almost insufferable. I am, Sir, Tour most faithful humble servant, J. SWIFX- TO ARCHMSHOP KING. Landany June 10, 1709. , My lord, I SENT your grace a long letter several weeks agt^ epclosed in one to the dean.t I know not whether it * Of £dward Lord Griffio, who had been attainted hy ootlawiy £c(r htgbtreaion committed ja the reiga of King William, and was, OQ theisth of May, 1706, ordered for execution ; but reprieved from time to time, till bis deatli^ B. . f A poem by OldiBwortb, under the title of *< St. James^3 Park." N, 4 Di". Sterne. H(, DOCTOR SWITT. 51 <:aine to your Iiaods, having not since been lionoured with your commands. I believe I told your grace, that I was directly advised by my Lord Sunderland, my Lord Somers, Mr. Southwell, and others, to apply to mj lord treasurer,* in behalf of the clergj' of Ireland ; and Lord Sunderland undertook to bring me to lord treasurer, which was put off for some time on account of the invasion. For, it is the method here of great minis- ters, when any public matter is iu hand, to make it an excuse for putting off all private application. I deferred it some time longer, because I had a mind my Lord Sunderland should go along with me,* but either the one or the other was always busy, or out of the way ; however, his lordship had prepared lord treasurer, and engaged him (as he assured me) to think well of the matter; and the other day lord treasurer appointed me to attend him. He took me into a private room, and I told him my story; ** that I was commanded by your grace, aqd desired by some other bishops, to use what little credit I had, to solicit (under the direction of my lord lieutenant) the remitting of the first fruits; which, from the favourable representation of his lordship to the queen about four years ago, the clergy were encouraged to hope would be granted : that J had been told it might be of use, if some person could be admitted to his pre- sence, at his usual times of being attended, in order to put him in mind ; for the rest, they relied entirely on bis excellency's good odice, and his lordship's disposi« tions to favour the church," He said, in answer, ^' he was passive in this business : that he supposed my lord lieutenant wouldfengage in it, to whom, if I pleased, he would repeat tvhat I had said." I replied, " I had the honour of being welj knpv ii to his excellency ; that ■ * Earl of Godolpliin. N. c 3 52 LETTERS TO AND FROM > I intended to ask his leave to solicit this matter with bis^ lordship, but had not mentioned it yet, because I did not know whether I had credit enough to gain that access he was now pleased to honour me with : that upon his lordship's leave to attend him, signified to me by the Earl of Sunderland, I went to inform his excellency^ Dot doubting his consent ; but did not find him at home, therefore ventured to come : but, not knowing how his excellency might understand it, I begged his lordship to say nothing to my lord lieutenant, uniil 1 had the honour to wait on him agaiu.'' This my lord treasurer agreed to, and entering on the nibject, told me, ^' that since the queen's grant of the first fruits here, he was confident, not one clergyman in England was a shilling the better.'' I told him, ^^ I thought it lay under some incumbrances." He said, ''it was true ; but beside that, it was wholly abused in the distribution ; that as to those in Ireland, they were an inconsiderable thing, not above 1000/. or 1200/. a year, which was almost nothing for the queen to grant, upon two conditions : first, that it should be. well dbposed of: and, secondly, that it should be well received, with due acknowledgments; in which cases he would give his consent : otherwise, to. deal freely with roe, he never would^" I said, *' as to the first, that I wa^ confident the bishops would leave the methods of disposing it eur tirely to her majesty's breast ; as to the second, her ma- jesty and his lofdship m%ht count upon all the acknow* ledgments that the most jgrateful and -dutiful subjects could pay to a prinCe. That I had the misfoitune to be altogether unknown to his lordsl^ip, else I should presume to ask him, whether he udderstood any par> Scalar acknowledgments ?" He replied, ^ By acknow- ledgments, I do not mean any thing under their hands; btttl wiliao fur explain mysftlf tatell jw^ I 'mean beU DOCTOR SWIFT. 53 tfir acknowledgments than those of the clergy of Eng- land." I then besfged his lordship " to give me his advice, -what sort of acknowledgments he thought fittest for the clergy, to make, which I was sure would be of mighty weight with them." He answered, " I can only say^ again, such acknowledgments as they ought." We had some other discourse of less moment; and after license to attend him on occasion, I took my leave. I tell your grace these particulars in his very words* BB near as I can recollect, i)ecau8e I think them of mo> ment, and I believe your grace may think them so too* I told Southwell all that had passed, and we agreed in our comments, of which I desired him now to inform you. He set out for Ireland this morning. I am resolved to aee m^ Lord Sunderland in a day or two, and relate what my lord treasurer said,.a8 he has commanded me ta do; and perhaps I may prevail on him to let me know his lordship's meaning, to which I am prepared to an^ swer, as Mr. Southwell will let you know. At evening, the same day, I attended my lord lieur tenant, and desired to know what progress he had made i and at the same time proposed, ^ that he would give me leave to attend lord treasurer only as a common so- hcitor, to refresh his roemor}\" I was very much sur- prised at his answer, " that the matter was not before the treasurer, but entirely with the queen, and therefore it was needless ;" upon which I said nothing of having been there. He said, '^ he had writ lately to your grace an qccoiint of what was done; that some, progi'ess was made ; but they put it off because it was a time of war, but that he had some hopes it would be done :" but this is only such an account as his excellency thinks fit to give^ although I sent it youi^ grace by hit orders. I 54 LETTERS TO AND FROM hope that io his letters he is fuller. My lord treasurer OD the other hand assured me, ^ he had the papers'*^ (which his excellency denied;) and talked of it as a matter that had long lain before him, which several per- sons in great employments assure me is and must be true. Thus your grace sees that I shall have nothing more to do io this matter, farther than pursuing the cold scent of asking his excellency, once a month, how it goes on ; which, I think, I had as good forbear, siijice it will turn to little account. All I can do is, to engage my Lord Sunderland's interest with my lord treasurer, wheuever it is brought before him ; or to hint it to some other per« sons of power and credit ; and likewise to endeavour to take off that scandal the clergy of Ireland lie under, of being the reverse of what they really are, with respect Io the revolution, loyalty to the queen, and settlement of the crown ; which is here the construction of the word Tmy. I design to tell my lord treasurer, that, this being a matter my lord lieutenant has undertaken, he does not think proper I should trouble his lordship ; after which, Ijecommending it to his goodness, I shall forbear any farther mention. I am sensible bow lame and tedious an account this is, and humbly beg your grace's pardon ; but I still insist, that if it had been solicited four years ago by no abler a hand than. my own, while the Duke of Orroond was in Ireland, it might have been done in a month : and I believe it may be so still, if his excellen- cy lays any weight of his credit upon it ; otherwise, God knows when. For myself, I have nothing more to do here but to attend my lord lieutenant's motions, of whose return we are very uncertain, and to manage some personal affairs of my own* I beg the continuance o{ DOCTOR SWIFT. 5t5 your grace's favour, and your blessing ; and am, m\h all respect, Your grace's most obedient, &c* FROM ANTHONY HENLBY,* ESQ,, Orange, SepL 16, 1708. Ybsterdat the weatherglass was at 28 inches^ which is lower than ever I saw it ; the wind was at east, a very dull quarter; the garden so wet, there was no looking into it; and I myself, by consequence, in the spleen. Sefore night, the glass rose, the wind changed, the gar^ den dried, I received your letter, and was as well as ever I was in my life, to my thinking, though perhaps you may tliiak otherwise. The reason why your letter was so long a coming to my hands, was, its being direct- ed to me near Winchester ; and Ahesford is the post town nearest to me. If the officera should come to you^ doctor, if you want a secuiity, that your children shan't be troublesome to the parish, pray make use of me ; I'll stand for 'em all, though you were to have as many as the Holland countess. We have had a tedious expec- tation of the success of the seige of Lisle : the country people begin to think there is no such thing, and say. the newspapers talk of it to make people bear paying taxes a year longer. I ^on't know how Steelef will get off of it ; his veracity is at stake in Hantshure. Pray de- sire him to take the town, though he should leave the * or the Grange, id the Couoiy of Sootbampton, member ofpar* iiameut for Melcombe Regis. He was a person of great abilities and learning : who mixed hamour in the most serious debates. He was father of the lord chancellor, Robert Earl of Northington. B. f Then writer of the (Hactte. B. SQ LETTERS TO AND FROM citadel for a nest-e^g. I han't the honour ta know Go- lonel Hunter ; but I never saw him in so good company as youliavc put him, Lord Halifax, Mr. Addison, Mr. Cougreve, and the Gazetteer.* Since he is there, let him stay there. Pray doctor, let me know whether writing letters be talking to one's sel^ or talking to other folks : for I think the world has settled it, that talking to one's self, which oiTends no body, is madness ; and talking to other people^ which generally is not quite so harmless, is wit, or good breeding, or religion, or — I won't write a word more till you have satisfied me what I have been doing all this while. I am sure one need not have writ two pages to introduce my assuring you^ that I am Your most affectionate humble servant, A. HENLEY. FROM THE SAME. JVw. 2, 170S. SIAR'DOCTOR^ Though you wont send me your broomstick,! 141 tend you as good, a reflection upon death as even Ad* fian's himself though the fellow was but an old farmer •f mine, that made it He had been ill a good while ;:_ and . when his friends saw him a going, they all came croaking about him as usual f and one of them asking how he did ? he rqilied, in great pain, ^ If I could but get this same breath out of my body, I'd take care, by G — y how I let it come in again.** IhiS) if it were put • Steele. N. t lltditatioB 01 a BrooBiUdCr writtn^y Dr. 8iria is 17()8. If. DOCTOR SWIFT. $7 ID fine Latin, I faocj would make as good a sound ts any I have met with. I ara, Your most affectionate humble servant, A. HENLET. TO ARCHBISHOP KING. London^ Nov. 9, 1 708. MY LORD, Your grace's letter of September 7, found me io Kent, where I took the opportunity to retire, daring my Lord Pembroke's absence with his new lady, who are both expected tomorrow. I went afterward to Epsom, and returned but yesterday : this was the cause of my sa long omitting to acknowledge your letter. I am ready to agree with your grace, that very wrong repre- sentations are made of things and persons here, by peo- ple who reside on this side but a short time, converse at second or third hand, and on their return make a vanity of knowing more than tiiey do. This I have observed myself in Ireland, even-among people of some rank and quality ; and I believe your grace will proceed on much better grounds, by trusting to your own wisdom and ex* perieoce of things, than such intelligence. I spoke formerly all I knew of the twentieth parts ; and whatever Mr. D has said in hia letters about staying until a peace, I do assure your grace, is nothing but words. However, that matter is now at end. There is a new world here ; and yet I agiee with you, that if there be an interregnum, it will be,tbe properest time to address my lord treasurer; and I shall second it with nil the credit I have, and very openly ;. and I know not d8 LETTERS TO AND FROM (if one difficulty lies in the waj) but it may prove ft lucky juncture. On my return from Kent (the night of the prince's* death,) I staid a few days in town before I went to Ep- som : I then visited a certain great man, and we entered very freely into discourse upon the present juncture. He assured me, there was no doubt now of the scheme holding about the admiralty,! the government of Ire- land4 and presidency of the council :§ the disposition whereof your grace knows as well as I ; and althougli I care not to mingle public affairs with the iuterest of so private a person as myself, yet, upon such a revolu- tion, not knowing how far my friends may endeavour to engage me in the service of a new government, I would beg your grace to have favourable thoughts of me^ on such an occasion ; and to assure you, that no prospect of making my fortune, shall ever prevail on me to go against what becomes a man of conscience and truth, and an entire friend to the established church. This I say, in case such a thing should happen ; for my own thoughts are turned another way, if the Earl of Berke- ley's journey to Vienna holds, and the ministry will keep their promise of making me the queen's secretary ;|| by which I shall be out of the way of parties, until it shall please God I have some place to retire to, a little above contempt ; or, if all fail, until your grace and the Dean of St. Patrick's shall think fit to dispose of that poor town-living** in my favour. Upon this event of the prince's death, the contention designed with the court about a speaker is dropped, and all agree in Sir Richard Qnslow, which is looked on as * George, Prince of Denmark, husband of Queen Anne. N. i Orford. N. \ Wharton. N. } Somers. N. J To the embassy at VieDoa. N. *• St NicOiolas. N^ DOCTOR SWIFT. 50 aaother argumeot for the scheoie succeeding. Tlib I had from the same hand. . As to a comprehension which your grace seems to doubt an intention of, from what was told me, I can say nothing : doubtless, it must be intended to come to that at last, if not worse ; but I believe at present, it was meant, that there should be a consent to what was endea-' voured at in your parliament last session. I thought to have writ more largely to your grace, iipagining I had much matter in my head ; but it fails, or is not convenient at present. If the scheme holds, J shall make bold to tell your grace my thoughts as for* merly, under cover, because I believe there will be a great deal to be thought of and done. A little time may produce a great deal. Things are now in great suspense both at home and abroad. The parliament, we think, will have no prorogation. There is no talk of the Duke of Marlborough's return yet. Speculative people talk of a peace this 'winter, of which I can form no prospect, according to our demands. I am, my lord, Your grace's most obedient humble servant, J. SWIFT. Your grace will please to direct your commands tO me at St. James's coffee-house, in St. James's-street. FROM ARCHBISHOP KING. Duhim, Nov. 20, 1 708r. REVEREND SIR, I HAVE yours of the 9th instant, and if the scheme of alteration holds, as represented, I despair of our twen- tieth parts is the present method ; yet I can't think it 60 LETTERS TO AND FROM proper to move in any new course, till the declaratioe of what is iuteaded be more authentic. I have do good grouad for my doubt ; and yet in ray own mind, I make some question, whether all things will be just as surmised. If I find this to be so in earnest, I will then endeavour to obtain an address to my lord treasurer, which^ I suppose, has been hitherto wanting: but, if the matter stick on any considerations not agreeable, there is an end of it. To deal freely, I have very little hope of succeeding any way ; but it will not make things worse to try the experiment. I understand some dissenters from hence will apply to the parliament of England this session, to obtain ^ repeal of the test, and for a toleration on a larger foot than in England ; and that a fund is raised, and agents a^ppointed to solicit their affairs, by the presbyters of the north. I have had some intimation, that all dis- senters are not of a mind in this point ; the other sects, if I am rightly informed, being as much afraid of them as of us ; and that they would rather be as they are, than run the hazard of coming under the jus dtvumm of presbytery. Something pleasant enough is said to have happened on this cccasion. A ceilain person endeavour- ed to comfort them, and remove their jealousy, by tel- fing them they needed not to fear ; for that the greatest friends to dissenters, and who would be most zealous for toleration, never designed to establish any church, but only to destroy that, which had the protection of the laws. Whether this will give them satisfaction I can't tell ; but am certain, that if any have so wicked a de- sign, they will fail in it. I am often alarmed with the fears of some good men, who would persuade me, that religion is in danger of being rooted out of the hearts of men ; and they m on- dered to see me so >anguiue in the cause. But I tell DOCTOR SWIFT. €1 them, that I believe it is with religion, as with paternal aifectioD ,* some profligate wretches may forget it, and some may dose themselves so long with perverse think- ing, as not to see any reason for it : but in spite of all the illnatured and false philosophy of these two sorts of peo- ple, the bulk of mankind will love their children. And so it is, and will be with the fear of God and religion : whatever is general has a powerful cause, though eveiy .one cannot find it out But I have forgot my dissenters : the reason of their applying in Great-Britain is, because they see little rea- son to hope for success here ; and if I can judge of the sense of gentlemen that compose the parliament, they never seemed to be farther from the humour of gratify- ing them. As to your own concern, you see hardly any thing valuable is obtained any otherwise than by the govern- ment; and therefore if you can attend the next lord tieutenant, you, in my opinion, ought not to decline it I assure myself that you are too honest to come oa ill terms; nor do I believe any will explicitly be pro- posed. I could give several reasons why you should embrace this, though I have no exception against your secretaiyship :* except that you may lose too much time in it, which, considering all things, you cannot se well spare at this time of the day. As to my own part, I thank God, I was never much frightened by any alterations: neither King James, nor the Earl of Tyrconnel, shocked me. I always comforted my^lf with the 112th psalm, 7th verse.t I never was a favourite of any goverament, nor have I a prospect of • To the embassy at Vienna. N. f '' He shall not be afi>aid of evU tidings; hit heart is fixed, trustlas the Lord." B. X2 LETTEBS TO AND FROM being 90, though I beKeve I have seen forty changes; oor would I advise any friend to sell himself to any, so as to be their slave. I could write some other things, that you would desire to know ; but pen and ink are dangerous tools in some men's hands, and I love a friend with an appetite. I am, <&c* W. DUBLIN. TO THE LORD PRIMATE.* MY LORD, Londcn^ Nov, 30, 1 708. I WRIT to you about a fortnight ago, after my return from the country, and gave you some account of an in- tended change at court, which is now finished. Care was taken to put Lord Pembroke in mind of the first fruits before he went out T)f his office ; bnt it was need- less, for his excellency had it at heart, and the thing is done, of which, I suppose, you have an account. Tou know who goes over chaplain ; the archbishop of Canter- bury, and several other bishops, and the lord treasurer himself solicited that matter in a body : it was thought absolutely necessary, considering the dismal notion they 'have here of so many high church archbishops among you ; and your frlendf made no application, for reasons left you to guess. I cannot yet learn whether you are to have a new parliament ; but I am apt to think you will, and that it must be thought necessary. The affair of Drogheda| has made a noise here, and like every * See before, Feb. 3, 1703-4. N. t He means himself. Tlie archbishop had advised him to apply for the chaplainship to Lord Wharton, but Dr. Lambert was appointed*. W. t Some disputes in corporation aflfairs. F. . DOCTOR SWIFT. Q3 thing else jm your side, is used as a handle : I have had it rung in 017 ears from a certain person. I' hope you are prepared to take off the sacramental test, because that will be a means to have it taken off here among us ; and that the clergy will be f<»r it, in consideration of the queen's bounty ; and that men in employment will be so wise as to please the court, and secure themselves ; but, to think there is any design of bringing the Scotch into offices, is a mere scandal. Lord Pembroke is to hare the admiralty only a few months, then to have a pension of 4000Z. a year, and to retire ; and it is thought Lord Orford will succeed him, and then it is hoped, there will be an entire change io the admiralty ; that Sir John Leake will be turned out, and the whigs so well confirmed, that it will not be in the power of the court, upon a peace, to bring the ba* lance on the other side. One Mr. Shute is named for secretary to Lord Whar- ton: he is a young man, but reckoned the shrewdest head in England : and the person in whom the presbyte^ rians chiefly confide ; and, if money be necessary toward the good work in Ireland, it is reckoned he can com- maod as far as 100,000/. from the body of dissenters here. As to his principles, he is truly a moderate man, frequenting the chui-ch and the meeting indifferently, &c.* The cleigy are liere in an uproar upon their being prorogued : the archbishop of Canterbury takes pains to • On this passage it has been observed hy Mr. Lusod (Duncombe's Collection, Append, to vol. II. p. xliii.) ** This fair character of a whig from Swift is so extraordinary, that it seems as if nothing but truth could have extorted it. It is, however, observable, that with no other correspondent, the extravagance of SwiljIJs humour, and the virulence of his prejudices, are half so much restrained, as in his let- ters to Dr. King. He certainly either feared or respected this pre- late, more than any other person with whom he corresponded.** N. t4 LETTERS TO AJ^^D FROM have it believed it was a thing done without his know- ledge. A divine of note (but of the wrong side) was with me the other day, and said, he had it from a good hand, that the reason of this proceeding was an intention of putting the parliament on examining and correcting courto ecclesiastic) &c The archbishop of Dublin^ is represented here as one that will very much oppose our designs ; and, although I will not saj that the Observator is paid for wriiing as he does 4 yet I can positively affirm to you, that what- ever he says of that archbishop, or of the alTairs of Ire- land, or those here, is exactly agieeable to our thoughts and intentions. Thb is all I can recollect, fit to inform you at present If you please, I shall from time to" time send you any thing that comes to my knowledge, that may be worth your notice. I am, &c. TO DEAN STERNE. SIR, Nov. 30, i70S. I RECEIVED a letter from yoti the Lord knows wheni for it has no date ; but I conceive it to have been a month ago, for I met it when I came from Kent, where, and at Epsom, I passed about six weeks, to divert mysell the fag-end of the summer, which proved to be the best weather we had. I am glad you made so good a pro- gress in your building ; but you had the emblem of in- dustry in your mind, for the bees begin at the top and work downward, and at. last work themselves out oi house and home, as many of you builders do. • Dr. WiUiam King. N. X This if pretty aearly faying it N. DOCTOR SWIFT. dS You know, before this the great revolution we have had atHK>urt;^ and that Dr. Lambert is chaplain to the lord lieutenant : the Archbisliop of Canterbury, several other bishops, and my lord treasurer himself would needs have it so. I made no manner of application for that post, upon certain reasons, that I shall let you know> if ever I have the happiness to see you again. My Lord Sunderland rallied me on that occasion, and was very well pleased with my answer, " that I ob- served one thing in all new ministries : for the first week or two they are in a hurry, or not to be seen ; and when 70U come afterward, tbey are engaged.*' What I have to say of the public, &c. will be en« closed,! which, I suppose, will be shown you, and you #]11 please to deliver as formerly. Lord Pembroke takes all things mighty well, and we pun together as usual ; and he either makes the best use, or the best ap- pearance with his philosophy of any man I ever knew ; for it is not believed he is pleased at heart upon many accounts. Sir Andrew Fountain^ is well, and has either writ to you last post, or designs it soon. Dr. Pratt is buying good pennyworths of books for the college, and has made some purchases that would set you a longing. Tou have heard our mighty news is:^ extremely dwindled in our last packets. However, we expected a very happy end of the campaign, which this sudden thaw and foul weather, begun here yester- jday, will soon bring to an issue. I am, <&c * On the 25th of Norember, 1706, the Earl of Pembroke was made •lord high admiral, the Earl of Wharton Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, end Lord Somen Lord Preudent of the CouneiL H. f This was a letter, of the same date, to Archbishop King. N. i On the 11th of November, 1708, the Earl of Marlborough and Prince Eugene obliged the Elector of Bavaria to raise the riege of , BroHni* n* VOL. XT. D 6« JLETTEKS TO AND FROM TO ARCHBISHOP KING. IjendoHy Jan. 6, 1 70d-9. AY LORD, Before I lec-eived the honour of your grace^s of No- vember 20, I had sent one enclosed, &c. with what ac- count I could of affairs. Since that time, the measures are altered of dissolving your parliament, which, doubt- less, is their wisest course, for certain obvious reasons, that your grace will easily apprehend ; and I suppose you have now received directions about proroguing it, for I saw the order some days ago. I should have ac- knowledged your grace's letter, if I had not been ever Bince persecuted with a cruel distemper, a giddiness in my head, that irould not suffer me to write or think of any thing, and of which I am now slowly recovering. I sent yon word of the affair of the first-fruits being performed, which my Lord Pembroke had the goodness to send me immediate notice of. I seldom see his lord- ship now, but when he pleases to command me ; for he sees nobody in public, and is very full of business. I fancy your grace will think it necessary that in due time his lordship should receive some kind of thanks in form. I have a fair pretence to merit in this matter, although, in my own conscience, I think I have very little, except my good wishes, and frequent reminding my Lord Pembroke. But two great men in office, giv- ing me joy of it, very frankly told me, ^' that if I bad not smoothed the way, by ^ving them and the rest of the ministry a good opinion of the justice of the thing, it would have met with opposition ;" upon ^rhich I only remarked what I have always observed in courts, that when a favour is done, there is no want of persons ta DOCTOR SWIFT. 67 cliallenge obligations. Mean time, I am in a pretty condition, who have bills of merit given me, that I must thankfully acknowledge, and yet cannot honestly offer them in payment. I suppose the clergy will, in due time^ send the queen an address of thanks for her favour. I very much applaud your grace's ^ sanguine tem- per," as you call it, and your comparison of religion to paternal affection ; but the world is divided into two sects, those that hope the best, and those that fear the vorBt : your grace is of the former, which is the wis^r, the nobler, and most pious principle ; and altfao«gh I en- deavour to avoid beiogof the other, yet upon this artid€ I have sometimes strange weaknesses. I compare true religion to learning and civility, which have ever been in the world, but very often shifted their scenes ; some- times entirely leaving whole countries where they have long flourished, and removing to others that w:ere before barbarous ; which has been the case of Christianity itself, particularly in many parts of Africa ; and how far the wickedness of a nation may provoke God Almighty to inflict so great a judgment, is terrible to think. But as great princes, when they have subdued all about them presently have universal monarchy in their thoughts ; 80 jour grace, having conquered all the corruptions ia a diocese, and then pursued your victories over a pro- , vince, would fain go farther, and save a whole king- dom, and would never be quiet, if you could have your willy until you had converted the world. And this reminds me of a pamphlet lately come out, pretended to be a letter hither from Ireland, against re- pealing the test;*" wherein your grace's character is jugtly set forth : for the rest, some parts are very well, * His own ; lee the fowtii ToUiine of this collection. N. A LETTERS TO AND FROM and others puerile, and some facts, as I am informed wrong represented. . The author has gone out of his way to reflect on me, as a person likely to write for re- pealing the test, which I am sure is verj unfair treat- ment. This is all I am likelj to get by the company I keep. I am used like a sober man with a drunken face, have the scandal of the vice, without the satisfac- tion. I have told the ministry, with great frankness, my opinion, that they WQuld never be able to repeal it, unless such changes should happen as I could not foresee ; and they all believe I differ from them in that point Mr. Addison, who goes over first secretary, is a most excellent person ; and being my most intimate friend, I shall use all my credit to set him right in his notions of persons and things. I spoke to him with great plaim ness upon the subject of the test ; and he says, he is confident my Lord Wharton will not attempt it, if he finds the bent of the nation against it.^ — I will say nothing farther of his character to your grace at pre- sent, because he has half persuaded me to have some thoughts of returning to Ireland, and then it will be time enough : but if that happens otherwise, I presume to recommend him to your grace as a person you will think worth your acquaintance. My Lord Berkeley begins to drop his thoughts of going to Vienna ; and indeed I freely gave my opinioa against such a journey for one (^ his age and infirmities. And I shall hardly think of going secretary without liim, although the emperor's ministers here think I will, and have writ to Vienna. I agree with your grace, that such a design was a little too late at my years ; but, considering myself wholly useless in Ireland, and • i c. Takint it e£ N. DOCTOR SWIFT- 69 in a parish with an audience of half a score, and it be- ing thought necessary that the queen should have a se- cretary at that court, my friends telling me it would not be difficult to compass it, I was a little tempted to pass some time abroad, until my friends would make me a little easier in my fortunes at home. Besides, I had hopes of being sent in time to some other court, and in the mean while the pay would be forty shillings a day, and the advantage of living, if I pleased, in Lord Berke- ley's family. But, I believe, this is now* all at au end. I am, my lord, with the greatest respect, Your grace's most obedient and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. My LorclWfaartoQ says, he intends for Irelaxkl the iMf^nniug of March. A MONSIEUR MONSIEUR HUNTER, GENTILHOMME ANGLOIS, a PARIS. London^ Jan* 12, 1708-9. SIR, I KNOW no people so ill used by your men of business, as their intimate friends. About a fortnight after Mr. Addison had received the letter you were pleased to send me, he first told me of it with an air ot recollection, and after ten farther of grace, thought fit to give it me ; so you know where to fix- the whole blame that it was no sooner acknowledged. 'Tis a delicate expedient you prisoners have of diverting yourselves in an enemy's coantry, for which other men would be hanged. I am considering, whether there be no way of disturbing your quiet by writing some dark matter, that may give the 70 LETTERS TO AJNTD FROM French court a jealousy of you. I suppose, Monsieiir ChamiUard, or some of his commissaries, must have this letter interpreted to them, before it comes to your hands ; and therefore I here think good to warn them, that if they exchange you under six of their lieutenant-gene- rals, they^wili be losers by the bargain. But, that they may not mbtake me^ I do not mean as viceroy de Virgin niOy mms ccmme le Colonel Hunter. I would advise you to be very tender of your honour, and not fall in love ; because I have a scruple, whether you can keep your parole, if you become a prisoner to the ladies; at least it will be scandalous for a free Briton to drag two chaibg at once. I presume, you have the liberty of Paris, aud fifty miles round, ami fe*ve a rcty Mght pair of fetters contiived to ride or dance in, and see Yersailles, and every place eke, except St Germain.^ I hear the ladies call you already fwtreprisonnier Hunter, leplus honnete gar ion du monde. Will you French yet own us Britons to be a brave people ? Will they allow the Duke of Marlborough to be a great geqen^l f Or, are they all aa partial as their gazetteers? Have you yet met any French colonel whom you remember to have formerly knocked from his horse, or diivered at least a lance against his breastplate ? Do you know the Wounds you have given, when yon see the scars ? Do you salute your old enemies with — " Stetimus tela aspera contra, Contulimusque manus.'* Vous savez que — Monsieur d^Jddison, i^uftre bon and, est fait secretaire d^itat d'lrhmde ; and unless you make haste over, and get my Virginian bishoprick, he will * Then the palace of tl^e queen 4owager of James 11. an4 thep^^^ tender. H. DOCTOR SWIFT. 71 persuade me to ^ with him, for the VieDna project is off; which is a great disappointment to the design I had of displaying my politics at the emperor's court. I do DOt like the subject you have assigned me to entertain you with. Crowder is sick, to the comfort of all quiet people, and Frowde is reoevr h peindre, Mr. Addison and I often drink your health, and this day I did it with Will Fate,^ a certain adorer of yours, who is both a hel esprit and a woollen draper. The whigs carry all before them, and how far they will pursue their victories, we underrate whigs can hardly tell. I have not yet observ- ed ^ tories' noses; their number is not to be learnt by telliog of noseS) for every tory has not a nose. — 'Tk a lossj you are not here to partake of three weeks frost,, and eat gingerbread in a booth by a fire u\h»i the Thamea Mrs. Flojd looked out with both her eyes, and we had one day's thaw ; but she drew io her head^ and it now freezes as hard as ever. As for the convocation, the queen thought fit to pro- rogue it, though at the expense of Dr. Atterfoury's dis- pleasure, who was designed their prolocutor, and is now raging at the disappointment I amuse myself sometimes with writing verses to Mrs. Finch, and'sometimes with projects for the uniting of parties, which I perfect over night, and burn in the morning. Sometimes Mr. Addison and I steal to a pint of bad wine, and wish for no third person but you; who, if you, were with us, would never be satisfied with- out three more. You know I believe that poor Dr. Gregory t is dead, and Keilf solicits to be his successor; but party reaches even to lines and circles, and he will hardly carry it, being reputed a tory, which yet he . * See Journal to Stella, Sept. 17, Oct. 6, 1710. H. I Two famous mathematicians, who published several treatises io ^atineooeaadioastrimomf. H. 12 LETTERS TO AND FROM utterly denies. We are here aioe times madder aftei operas than ever : and have got a new castrato from It- aly, called Nicolini, who exceeds Vaieotiol, I know not bow many bars length. Lords Somers and Halifax are as well as busy statesmen can be in parliament time. Lord Dorset is nobody's favourite but yours and Mr. Prior's, who has lately dedicated his book of poems to him : which is all the press has furnished us of any ralue since you went. Mr. Fringle, a geqtleman of Scotland, jsucceeds Mr. Addison in the secretary's office ; and Mr. Shute, a notable young, presbyterian gentlemaa under thirty years old, is made a commissioner of the customs. This is all I can think of, either public or private, worth telling you ; perhaps you have heard part or all of both, from other hands, but you must be content ; pray let us know what hopes we have of seeing you, and how soon ; ai^ be so kind, or just, to believe me always, Your most faithful, humble servant, JON. SWIFT. P. S. Mr. Steele presents his most humble service to you ; and I cannot forbear telliog you of your m€chancet6 ty impute the *' Letter of Enthusiasm" to me; whea I h^ve some good reasons to think the author is now at Paris. FROM ARCHBISHOP KiNG. Dublm, Feb. 10, 1708.9. REVEREND SIR, I RECEIVED yours of last January the 6th, and you will fiud but a sorry correspondent of me.* I have beea confined near two montbs thb winter, and forbid peu DOCTOR SWIFT. 73 and ink by my physician ; though, I thank God, I was more frightened, as it happened, than hurt. I had a colic about the year 1690, that brought me to extremity, and all despaired of my life, and the news-letters reported me dead. It began at the same time of the year, and iht same way it did then, and the winters were much alike ;. and I verily believe had I not had the assistance of my old physician, Sir Patrick Dun,* I should have run the same course, which I could not have supported. But with a little physic, and the Spa and Bath waters, I escaped without other hardships, than keeping at, home ; and so much for private affairsv As to4he-pi^Iic, I had a letter from my Lord Pem- broke, wherein he told me the first-fruits and twentieth parts were granted, and that my lord lieutenant will bring over tlie queen's letter for them. I returned him my thanks, and as soon as the order comes, be wiU have a public acknowledgment* I have seen a letter, that passes as from a member of the house, &c. . I think yoiu* judgment concerning it ia very just. But pray by what artifice did you con- trive to pass for a whig ? As I am an lionest man, I courted the greatest whigs I knew, and could not gain the reputation of being counted one. But you need not be concerned ; I will engage you will lose nothing by that paper. I wish some facts had been well considered before vouched : if any one mat- ter in it prove false, what do you think will come of the paper ? In shorty it will not be in the power of man i^ hinder it from a wai*m entertainment. As to the test,^ I believe that matter is over for thx» season. I was much for dissolving this jHresent parlia- * This gentleman founded three professorships in the university of Dublin ; viz. theory and practice of phync, chirurgery and midwi^ ry» pharmacy and the tnuUria meiica, HI 2> 2 - 74 UETTERS TO AND TROPJ ment, and calling a new one this spring. I had a pret- tj good account of the future elections, which, as far as my acquaintance reached, were settled ; and I was sure, that without great force and artifice, the new members trould never have repealed the test; but I did not know what the influence of a lord lieutenant* (when well acquainted in the kingdom, and who kacw how to take his measures justlj) might have effected, and we know very well what force, management and timing matters have ; and there is hardly any thing but powerful per- suasions, terror, and ostentation of interest may effect^ especially in popular elections. And to confess the truth to you, I am not altogether ea^^ in that matter yet, especially if things take any new turn in England. It is whispered, but I know not by what authority, that the queen herself was at the bottom of what passed in the house of commons with you, and that the ministry screened her in that affair, for reasons that may be guess- ed at. I am wonderfully pleased at the good character you ^ive Mr. Addison. If he be the man that you repre* sent him to be, (and I have confidence in your judgment,) be will be able to serve his lord effectually, and pro- cure himself love and respect here. I can't say it will Ito in tny power to do him any service ; but my good wishes and endeavours shall not be wanting. Mr. Stoughton preached a sermonf here on the 30t]i •f January, King Charles's mailyrdom, that gives great offence : the government heard it, but I was ilF at home, -which Dean Stertie will needs have a providence. If the representation I have of it be true, I am sore I * ThomaBf.Earl of Wharton,, had been, appointed to that post, Nov, 20, no8. B. f This sennoB, preached at Christ Chureh, Dublin, was burnt hy flie common hangman,. Nov, 9, 1711. See SwUVb opinion of iht preacher, in a letter to the Lov^ Primate, March 26, 1711. N. DOCTOR SWIFT- 1^ should have suspended him, if it had cost me both my reputation and interest. I have represented what I have beard of it, and have discoursed my lord chancel- lor about it, and told him of what consequence I think it to be, both to him and us, and that it should not pass without ceusiure. I have not as yet seen my lord pri- mate. Wise m.en are doing all th^y can to extinguish faction; and fools and elves are throwing firebrands. Assure yourself this had an ill effect on the minds of most here ; for, though they espouse the revolution, they heartily abhor forty-ooe» And nothing can create the ministry more enentiesy and be a greater handle for calumny, than to represent them, and those that espoused them, to be such as murdered King Charles I» and such are all, that approve or excuse it. As to your own affairs, I wish you could have come over chaplain as I proposed ; but since a more powerful interest interposed, I believe you had best use your en- deavours there f bat if nothing happens before my lord lieutenant comes over,, you had best make us a visitJ^ Had you been here, I believe something might have been done few you before this. The deanery of Down is fallen, and application has been made for it to my lord lieutenant, but it yet hangs^ and I know not what will become of it f but if you could either get into it, •r get a good man- with a comfortable benefice removed to it, it might make presfsnt provision for you. I have many things more to say f but they are so much of & piece with these I have writ already, that you may guess at them all by this sample. God be with you r •iiieB* WILLIAM DUBLIK. o3 76 LETTERS TO AND FROM MR. LE CLERC TO MR. ADDISON- A Amsterdam, le 12 de Fevrier^ 1709. Je m*€tois c1odq€ rhonoeur de vous €crire, monsieur^ d^s le commencement de cette anuee, pour vous prier surtout d'une chose, qn'il me seroit important de savoir au plutdt. Cependant'je n'ai re9u aucune de vos Douvelles. J^ai appris seulement, que vous quittiez le poste, od vous €tiez, pour aller en Irlande en qualite de secretaire de mylord Wharton. Je m'en r^jouis avec Youss, dans la supposition, que ce dernier emploi vaut raieiix que le precedent, quoiqUe je sente bien, que je perdrai par votre ^loignement. Je ne laisse pas de vous souhaiter toute sorte de satisfaction dans votre nouvel emploi, et de prier Dieu qu'il vous donne un heureux succ^s en tout ce que vous entreprendrez. Je Tous avois pri€, monsieur, de m'envoyer le nora propre ct les titres de rojlord Halifax, et de lui demander roSme, si vous le trouviez a propos, la permission de lui dedier moh Tite-Live. Comme vous ro'aviez mar- que par Mr. Philips, que vous aviez oublie la feuille» qui me roanquoit du recueil de Mr. Rymer, je vous avois mande, que c'est la feuille 10 T. ou les 4 page«, qui precedent imm^diatement I'indice des noms, dans le Lome I. Si vous I'avez eue depttis^ &ite§ moi la grace de Penvoyer a Mess. Touttoo et Stuiguer, bien en- velopp^e, et de mettre mon addresse au dessus. Je suppose, monsieur, que cette lettre vous trouvera encore ^ Londres, parce qu^on dit, que mjlord Wharton oe partira que vers le mois d'Avril. II ne se passe rien de nouveau ici dans la r^publique des lettres, qui m^- lite de veus Itre mand6. Les jesuites de Paris ont Xosdamo^ en termes tris-forts les eentiaeos du P. Hiip* DOCTOR SWIFT. 7^ iloui'o, et Toot cootraint de les r^tracter d'uoc manidre hooteuse. On Terra quelle en sera la suite. Je vou- drois pouvoir Tous dtre utile ici aquelque chose : voub veiriez par-la, combieo je suis, monsieur, votre trea humble et tres ob^issaot serriteur, J. LE CLERC. FROM ARCHBISHOP KING. Dublin, March 12, 1708-9. RBVXREND SIR, The business of the twentieth parts and first-fruits is still on the anvil. We are given to understand, that her majesty designs, out of her rojal bounty, to make a grant of them for charitable tt^ and that it is designed this grant should come over with his excellency the lord lieutenant The bishops in this totrn at present fought it reasonable to apprise his excellency of the affair, and to address him for his favour in it, which ac» cordingly is done by this post. We have sent with this address the representation made at first to her majesty about it ; the reference to the commissioners of the re- venue here, and their report, together with the memorial to the Lord Pembroke. In that there is mention of the state of the diocese of Dublin, as a specimen of the con^ dition of the clergy of Ireland, by which it will appear how much we stand in need of such a gift. This we eould not well send to his excellency, because it is very long, and we apprehend, that it might be improper to give him so much trouble at first, before he was any way apprised of the matter ; but if you think that his excellency may judge it agreeable that it should be laid before bim> I entreat the favour of you to apply to my 78 LETTERS TO AND FROM Lord Pembroke's secretary, with whom it is, for tlic original, or a copy of it, and present it to my lord Heu- teoant, or leave it wilh his secretary. I have engaged for you to my brethren, that you will be at this trouble : and there is a memorial to this purpose, at^ the foot of the copy of the representation made to the Earl of Pembroke, transmitted with the other papers. What charges you are at upon this account, will be answered by me. The good impression you have given roe of Mr. Ad- dison, my lord lieutenant's secretary, has encouraged mc to venture a letter to him on this subject, which I have enclosed, and make you the full and sole judge, whether it ought to be delivei^d. I can't be competently in- formed by any here, whether it may be pertinent or no; but I may and do depend on your prudence in the case, who, I believe, will neither omit what may be useful^ nor suffer me to do an officious or improper thing. I mix no other matter with this, beside what agrees with all occasions, the tender of the hearty prayers and wifihes for you of, sir. Your, &c. WILL.DUBLm. The reversal of my Lord Slane's* outlawry makes a mighty noise through this kingdom : for aught I can re- member, the destroying of our woollen manufactory did not cause so universal a consternation. * Christopher Fleming, Baron of Slane,. haviog taken up arms for Kins James in 1688 in Ireland, where he was colonel of a regiment of foot, afterward lost his estate, and was outlawed, till Queen Anne reversed his attainder; upon whicih the house of commons of Ireland^ on the 3d of Juue 1709, unanimously resolved, that an address be made to the queen, ** setting forth the fatal consequences of reversing ihe outlawries oi persons attainted of treasoB fcH* the rebellions is. 1688/* Lord Slane was^ in November 1713^ created by h^ BMjjeitgr viacouat liODgford. B» DOCTOR SWIFT. 7% A MONSIEUR MONSIEUR HUNTER. OENTILHOJMIME ANGLOIB, a PARIS. London, March 22, 1 708-9» Sir, I AM very much obliged to you for the favour of a kind reproach you sent me, io a letter to Mr. AddisoD, which he never told me of till this day, and that acci- dentally; but 1 am glad at the same time, that I did Dot deserve it, having sent you a long letter, in return to that you was pleased to honour me with ; and it is a pity it should be lost ; for as I remember, it waq full of the (Hei fabtdas, and such particularities as do not usual- ly find place in newspapers. Mr. Addison has been so taken up for some months in the amphibious circum* stances of premier c to my Lord Sunderland, and secretary of state* for Ireland, that be is the worst maa I know either to convey an idle letter, or deliver what he receives; so that I design, when I trust him with this, to give him a memorial along with it ; for if my former has miscarried, I am half persuaded to give hian the blame. I find you a little lament your bondage^ and indeed in your case it requires a good share of phi- losophy : but if you will not be angry, I believe I may have been the cause you are still a prison^; for I ima- gine my former letter was intercepted by the French court, when the most christian king reading one pas- sage in it, (and duly considering the weight of the per- son who wrote it) where I said, if the French under- • PHacipal secretirj to the £ttrt of Wharton, Lord Lieateaaal oT hvland. H. •■J.' to LETTER^ TO AND FROM stood your yaliie as well as we do, he would not ex* change jou for Count Tallard, and all the Debris of BleDheim together ; for I must confess, I did not rally when I said so. I hear your good sister, the Queen of Pomunki, waits with impatience till you are restored to your dominions : and that your rogue of a viceroy returns money fast for Ei^land, against the time he must retire from his go- vernment. Mean time Philips writes veirses in a sledge,"^ upon the frozen sea, and transmits them hither to thrive in our warmer clime under the shelter of my • Lord Dorset. I could send you a great deal pf news from the Republica Grubstreetaria^ which was never \u greater altitude^ though I have been of late but a small coutributer. A cargo of splinters from the Arabian rocks have been lately shipwrecked ia the Thames, to* . the irreparable damage of the virtuosi. Mrs. Longt ' and I are fallen out ; I shall not trouble you with the cause, but don't you think her altogether in the wrong ?{; But Mrs. Barton is still iu my good graces ; I desigi^ .to make her tell me when you are to be redeemed, and will send you word. There's it new,^ you think I ai» in jest ; but I assure you, the best intelligeuce I get of . public affairs is from ladies, for the ministers never tell soe any thing ; and Mr. Addisora is nine times more secret . ko me than any body else, because I have the happiness -to be thought his friend. The company at St. James's coffee-house is as bad as ever, but it is not quite so good. The beauties you left are all gone off this frost, and we have gpt a new set for spring, of which Mrs* Chetwlnd I * Ambrose Philips, Esq. See his Lapland, and other pastorab, ia Iiis I^ms. H. • f See an account of this lady, and of her death, in a letter dated Dec. 26, 1711. N, X See in vol. xxiv. a ** Decree for ending the treaty between J)t* Swift and Mrs. Loog.^' N.^ DOCTOR SWIFT. tl and Mn. Worslej are the principal. The Togue of •peras holds up wonderfully, thou|^h ve have had them a jear; but I design to set up a party among the wits to run them down by next winter, if .true English ca« price does not interpose to save us the labour. Made- moiselle Spanheim is going to marry my Lord fltzhard* ing, at least I have heard so ; and if you find it other* wise at your return, the consequences may possibly be survived ; liowever, you may tell it the Paris gazetteer* and let me have the pleasure to read a lie of my own sending. I suppose you have heard, that the town has lost an old duke, and recovered a mad duchess. The Duke of Marlborough has at length found an enemy that dares face him, and which he will certainly jQy be- fore with the fii^t opportunity, and we are all of opinion it win be his wisest course to do so. Now the way to be prodigiously witty, would be, by keeping you in sus- pense, and not letting you know that this enemy is no- thing but this north-east wind, which stops his voyage to Holland. This letter going in Mr. Addison's packet will, I hope, have better luck than the former. I shall go for Ireland sometime in summer, being not able to make my friends in the ministry consider my merits, or their pi-o- mises, enough to keep me here : so that all my hopes now terminate in my bishoprick of Yiiginia: in the mean time I hold fast my claim to your promise of cor- yesponding with me, and that you will henceforward ad- dress your letters for me at Mr. Steele's"^ office at the cockpit, ii'ho has promised his care in conveying them. Mr. Domvil is now at Geneva, and sends me word, he is become a convert to the whigs, by observing the good and ill effects of freedom and slavery abroad. I am now with Mr. Addison, with whom I have fifty times drunk your health since you left us. He is hurry^ ^ Afterward Sir Richard, then under secretarjr of itatc H.] t3 LETTERS TO AND FROM log awaj finr Ireland, and I can at present lengthen mj letter oo farther; and I am not certain whether you will have any from hint or not till he gets to Ireland. How- ever, he commands me to assure you of his humble ser- vice; and I pray Grod too much business may not spoil Ufbu honnUe homme du tnand$ ; for it is certain, which of a man's good talents he employs oo business, must be detracted from his conversation. I cannot write longer m 10 good company, and therefore conclude Your mofit foithful and most humble servant^ J. SWIFT. TO THE LOED PRIMATE MARSH.* MY LoiD, London^ March 24, 1 709. I AM commanded by his excellency the lord lieute- nant to send the enclosed to your grace, in ansMfCr to a letter his excellency lately received (Wmh your grace, and several^ bishopo, relating to the first-fruits of Ire* land. This will spare your grace and their lordships Ihe trouble of any feirther account from me. I shall therefore only add, that his excellency commands me to assure your grace of his heorty tM^naJtimiX in favour of the church of Ireland ; and am, with great respect, my lord, your grace's mast dutiful^h and mo^ obedient ser- vant, J. SWIFT, * Endorsed bj'Sirift, *'Copj of a letter to tlieford primate of Ire- land by Lord Wharton's order." N. f At 6rgt vrritten, some 9th«r, N. X In the first copy, enUrt disposition to do, N. ( Originally, most oMUnit and most hwnbU serwaU, N. DOCTOR SWIFT, 8^ TO ARCHBISHOP KING. MY LORD, March 2Qj ]70d» I SHOULD have acknoi^leclged your's of February 1 0, loDg ago, if I had not stayed to see what became of the first*fruit8. I have likewise yoiu'^s of the 12th instaDt. I will now tell you the proceedings in this unhappy af- fair. Some time after the piince's deaths Lord Fern- broke sent me word by Sir Andrew Fountaine, that the queen had granted the thiu^ and afterward took the compliment I made him upon it. He likewise (I sup- pose) writ to the same purpose himself to the archbishop of Dublin. I was then for a long time pursued by a cruel illness, that seized me at fits, and hindered me from ned Lord Wharton, which was the first attendance I ever paid him. He was then in a great crowd; I told him my business; he said, ^he could not then discourse of it with me,* but would the next day.'' I guessed the meaning of that, and saw the very person I expected, just come from him. Then I gave him an account of my errand. I think it not convenient to repeat here the ^particulars of his answer ; but the formal part was this: " That lie was not yet properly lord lieutenant, until he was sworn : that he expected the same applica- tion should be made to him, as had been done to other lord lieutenants ; that he .was very well disposed," &c. I took the boldness to begin answering those objections, and designed to offer some reasons ; but he rose sudden* ly, turned off the discourse, and seemed in haste ; so I was forced to take my leave. I had an intention to of^ fer my reasons in a memorial 5 but was advised, by very good hands, to let it alone, as infallibly to no purpose. And, in short, I observe such a reluctance in some friends, whose credit I would employ, that I begin to think no farther of it. I had writ thus far without receiving a former letter* • •The letter of March 12, 1708-9. See p. 77. N. nOCTOB SWIFT. 8S from the archbidiop of Dublin, wherein he tells me pod- tively that Lord Pembroke had sent him word the fiist- firuits were granted, and that Lord Wharton would carrj oyer the queen's letter, &c. I appeal to you, what anj man could think after this? neither indeed had I the least suspicion, until Mr. Addison told me he knew Bothing of it ; and that I had the same account from the treasury. It is wonderful a great minister should make no difference between a grant and a promise of a grant ; and it is as strange that all I could say would not pre- vail on him to give me leave to solicit the finishing of it at the treasury, which could not have taken the least grain of merit from him. Had I the least suspected it had been only a promise, I would have applied to Lord Wharton above two months ago; and so, I belieye^ would the archbishop of Dublin from Irelaad; which might have prevented, at least, the present excuse, of not having had the same application ; although others might, I suppose, have been found. I sent last post, by the lord lieutenant's commands, an enclosed letter, from his excellency, to the lord primate. In answer to a passage in your former letter: Mr. Stoughton is recommended for a chaplain to tlie lord lieutenant. His sermon is much recommended by seve- ral here. He is a prudent person, and knows how to time things. Others of somewhat better figure are ad wise as he. A bold opinion is a short easy way to merit, and very necessary for those who have no other. I am extremely afiUcted with a cold, and cough at- tending it, which must excuse any thing ill expressed in ^13 letter. Neither is it a subject in the present cir- ' Constances very pleasant to dwell upon. I am, &c. * to L£TT£BS TO AND FROM FROM MR. ADDISON. Duhlm, April 22, AlOQ. 9SAR SIR, I AH in a very great hurry of business, but cannot forbear thanking jou for your letter at Chester, which iras the only entertainment I met with in that place. I hope to see you very suddenly, and will wait on our friend the Bishop of Clogher* as soon as I can possibly. I have had just time to tell him, en passant, that you were well I long to see you, and am, dear sir, your most faithful, and most obedient servant, J. ADDISON. We arrived yesterday at Dublin. FROM THE SAME. Dublin Castle, June 25, 1 709. DBAS SIR, I I AM heartily glad to bear you are so near us. If you will deliver the enclosed to the captain of the Wolf, I dare say he will accommodate you with all in his power. If he has left Chester, I have sent you a bill according to the Bishop of Clogher's desire, of whom I have a thousand good things to say. I do not ask your excuse about the yacht, because I donH want it, as you shall hear at Dublin: if I did, I should think myself •Dr. St. George Ashe, 1697— 1717. N. BOCTO^iSWIFT. 8Y inexcusable. I loag to talk over all affairs with you, and am ever, dear sir, Your's most entirely, J. ADDISON. P. S. The yacht will come over with the acts of par- liament, and a convoy, abo^t a week hence, which op- portunity you may lay hold of, if you do not like the Wolf. I wUl give ordeiB ^accordingly. FROM THE SAME. Nine o*clo€ky [About Jvdy^ 1709.] Mimday morning, BEAR SIR, I THINK it very hard I should be in the same king- dom with Dr. Swift, and not haye the happiness of his company ODce in three days. The Bbhop of Clogher intends to call on you this meraing, as will your hum- ble servant in my return from Chappie Izzard, whither I am just now going. Your humble servant, J. ADDISOXr. FB.OM THE JSARL OF HALIFAX. Oct. 6, 1709. Our friend Mr. Addison telling me that he was to ;vrite to you to night, I could not let his packet go away without telling you how much I am concerned to find them returned without you. I am quite ashafned tt LETTERS Ta AKD FROM for m^nBelf and my friends, to 8^ 70U left in a place a» incapable of tasting you ; and to see so much merit, and 80 great qualities unrewarded bj those who are sensible of Uiem. Mr. Addison and I are entered into a nevr confederacy, never to give over the pursuit, nor to cease reminding those, who can serve you, till your worth is placed in that light it ought to shine. Dr. South holds out still, but he cannot be immortal. The situation of bis prebend would make me doubly concerned in serv- ing you. And upon all occasions, that shall offer, I will be your constant solicitor, your dncere admirer, and your unalterable friend. I am your most humble and obedient servant, HALIFAX. FROM MR. STEELE. Lord SuMderkuuTs Office^ Oct. 8, 1709. BEAR SIR, Mr. Secretary Addison went this morning out of town and left behind him an agreeable command for me, vis. to foTwai'd the enclosed,* which Lord Halifax sent him for you. I assure you no man could say more in praise of another, than he did in your behalf at that noble lord's table on Wednesday last. I doubt not but you will find by the enclosed the effect it had upon him. No opportunity is omitted among powerful men, to up- braid them for your stay in Ireland. The company that day at dinner were Lord Edward Russel, Lord Essex, .Mr. Maynwaring, Mr. Addison, and myself. I have *11i«prceediocletter,ofOet6. K. DOCTOR SWiFT. 90 heard such tJmgi said of that same Bishop of Cloghar with you, that I have oden said he must be entered ad tundem io our house of lords. Mr. Philips^ dined with me yesterday ; he is still a shepherd, and walks very lonely through this unthinking crowd in London. I wonder you do not write sometimes to me. The. town is in great expectation from Bickerstafie ;f vhat passed at the election for his first table being to be imblished this day sevennight. I have not seen Ben Tooke| a great while, but long to usher you and yours into the woild. Not that there can be any thing added by me to your fame, but to walk bareheaded before you. I am, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, RICHARD STEELE. FROM MR. ADDISON. St. Jameses Place, April 11, 1710. SIR > I HAVE run so much in debt with you, that I do not know how to excuse myself, and therefore shall throw myself wholly upon your good nature; and promise, if you will pardon what is passed, to be more punctual wttb you for the future. I hope to have the happiness of waiting on you very suddenly at Dublin, and do not .at all regret the leaving of England, while I am going to « pluce, where I shall have the satisfaction and honour irf Dr. Swift's convei-sation. I shall not trouble you with • Ambrose Philipi. $ee before, March 22, 1708^. N. f The Dame assumed by tiie author of the Tattler. H. t Swifl*s bookseller. Seep. 99. N. VOL. XV. * 00 LETTERS TO AND FROM any occurreoces here, because I hope to have the plea- sure of talking over all affairs with you very suddenly. We hope to be at Holyhead by the 30tb instant. Lady Wharton stays in England. I suppose you know, that 1 obeyed your's, and the Bishop of Clogher's commands, in relation to Mr. Smith ; for I desired Mc Dawson to acquaint yoii with it. I must beg my most humble duty to the Bishop of Clogher. I heai-tily long to eat a dish of bacoQ and beans in the best company in the world. Mr. Steele and I often drink your heaUh. I am forced to give myself airs of a punctual corres* pondence with you in discourse with your friepds at St. James's coffee-house, who are always asking me quea* tions about you, when they have a mind to pay their court to mie, if I may use so magnificent a phrase. Pray, dear doctor, continue your friendship toward me, who love and esteem you, if possible, as much as you deserve. ' I am ever, dear sir, Your's entirely, J. ADDISON. TO DEAN STERNE, WITH A PROXY FOR HIS APPEARANCE AS PREBEN- DARY OF DUNLAVAN, AT THE ARCHBISHOP's Vltt- TATION. «IR, LaraccTy April 17, 1710. You have put me under the necessity of writing you a very scurvy letter, and in a very scurvy manner. It Is the want of horses, and not of inclination, that hinders itt fmn attending on you at the chapter. .But I would DOCTOR SWIFT. f 1 l« siocerity aird esteem, dear sir, .' Your most faithful, most humble, and most obedient servant, J. ADDISON. matter poblir, which she was now {oiag to commanicate to her : **l have a spark in this town, that I carried on a correspondence with while I was in England. He wilt be here presently, to pay his ad- dreases ; for he has heard by this time of my arrival. But I woald not h^ve the matter known.** Soon after this, a rap was heard at the door ; and Dr. dwift walked up stairs. Mrs. Brent retired ; bnt irflera little time, she was called ; and then Mrs. Swift iotrodnced lier visiter, and said, ** This is my spark I was telling yon of: this it my lover : and ihdeed the only one I shall ever admit to pay their ad d r e swi s to me." The doeior smiled at his mother*i humoar, and afterward paid his doty to her every day onsospeoted by Mrs. Brent, whom he invited some years afterward to take care of his &- mily afikirs, when he became Deiin of St. Patrick's. And when she died, he continued her daoghtler (Mrs. Ridgway, then a poor widow) io the sune office. N. 94 LETTERS TO AND FROM FROM SIR ANDREW FOUNTAINE. June 27, 1710. I NEITHER can Dor will have patience any longer ; and, Swift, you are a confounded son of a . May your half acre turn to a bog, and may your willows pe- rish ; may the worms eat your Plato, and may Farvisol* break your snuff box. What ! because there is never a bishop in England with half the wit of St George Ashe, nor ever a secretary of state with a quarter of Addison's good sense ; therefore you can't write to those that love you, as well as any Clogher or Addison of them all. You have lost your reputation here, and that of your bastard the Tattler is going too : and there is no way left to recover either, but your writing. Well ! 'tis no mat- ter ; I'll e'en leave London. KingsmiU is dead, and you don't write to me. Adieu. FROM MR. HENLET. 4 t iiEV^END SIB, [About 1709or 1710.] It is reported of the famous Regioroontanus, that be framed an eagle so artfully of a certain wood, that upon the approach of the Emperor Maximilian to the opulent city of Nuremberg, it took wing, and flew out of the gates to meet him, and (as my author has it) appeared as though alive. Give me leave to attribute this excellent * The Dean*s steward. H. DOCTOR SWIFT. 95 iDvention to the vehanent desire be had to entertain his master with sometliing extraordinary, and to say with the poet, Amor addidit alas. I am trying a like experiment, whether I cannot make this composition of old rags, galls, and vitriol, fly to Dublin ; and if (as the moving lion, which was composed by an Italiao chymist, and opened his breast, and showed the imperial arms painted on its heart) this could dis- close itself, and discover to you the high esteem and affection I have for you, I should attain my end ; and not only sacrifice a hecatomb, but cry out, with extatic Ar- chimedes, £v^9««. I should not have presumed to imagine, that you would deign to cast an eye on any thing proceeding from so mean a liand as mine, had I not been encouraged by that character of caudour and sweetness of temper for which you are so justly celebrated and esteemed by all good men, as the delicias kumani generis f and I make DO question, but like your predcceflsor [an emperor again'^] you reckon every day as lost, in which you have not an opportunity of doing some act of benefi- cence. I wasi moreover emboldened by the adage, which does not stkk to affirm, that one of the most des- picable of animals may look upon the greatest of queens; as it has been proved to a demonstration by a late most judicious author, whom (as I take it) you have vouch- % safed to immortalize by your learned lucubrations.f And as proverbs are the wisdom of a nation, so 1 take naturalizing such a quantity of very expressive ones, as we did by the act^of union, to be one of the consldera- * These words are crossed over in the original. N. t Steele adopted in his Tattler the name of Isaac Bickerstafle. N. 96 LETTERS^TO AND FROM blest advantages ve shall reap from it : and I do not question but the nation will be the wiser for the future. But I have digressed too far, and therefore resume my thread. I know my own unworthiness to deserve your favour ; but let this attempt pass on any account or some merit. In tnagnis voluisse sat est. And though all cannot be sprightly like F— ^, wise like T -rs, agreeable like B- th, polite like P — r-^dc, or, to sum up -all, though there be but one phoenix, and one Upidissimus homundoy T — p — m ; y«t, since a cup of cold water was not an unacceptable present to a thirsty emperor, I may flatter myself that this tender of my services (how mean soever) may not be contemned; and, though I fall from my great attempt, Spero irovar pieta non che perdono^ as that mellifluous ornament of Italy, Franciscus Pe^ trarch, sweetly h^s it. Mr. Crowder, I have often heard affirm, and the fine thinkers of all agea havleasures should re- * Thomas Earl of Pembroke. H. 98 LETTERS TO AND FROM member the Roman executiooer : and I have beeo a^ sured, that had it not been for tl>e unfortunate loss of his royal highness the pwnce,* Sir Charles Duncombej would have revived that useful ceremony, which might be very properly introduced in the lord mayor's cavalcade. I would not be mistaken either in what has gone be- fore, or in that which is to follow, as if I took you to be a belly god, an Apieius, or him that wished his neck as long as a craneX that he niiglit have the greater plea- sure in swallowing. No, dear doctor, far be it from m^ to think you Epicuri de grege porcum, I know indeed you are helluo^ but 'tis librorum, as the learned Dr. Ac- cepted Frewen, some time archbishop of York, was; and ingenii, as the quaint Dr. Offspring Black all, now bishop of Exeter, is. Therefore, let us return to the use wliich may be made of modern travels, and apply Mr. Morrison's to your condition. You are now cast on an inhospitable island : no ma- thematical figures on the sand, no vestigia hominnm to be seen; perhaps at this very time reduced to one single baiTel of damaged biscuit, and short allowance even of salt water. What's to be done ? Another in your condi- tion would look about ; perhaps he might find some po- tatoes; or get an old piece of iron, and make a harpoon, and if he found Iliggoa sleeping near the shore, strike him and eat him. The western islanders of Scotland say, 'tis good meat, and his train oil, bottled till it man- tles, is a delicious beverage, if the inhabitants of Lap- land aie to be credited. Put this I know is too gross a pabulum for one, who (as the chameleon lives on air) has always hitherto lived » Of Denmark, who ^ed October 28, 1708. H. 't Lord Mayor of London, in 1708. H. DOCTOR SWIFT. 09 * 00 wit ; and whose friends (God be thanked) design he should continue to do so, and on nothing else. There- fore, I would advise you to fall upon old Joan ; eat, do 1 live to bid thee, eat Addison :* and when you have eat eveiy body else, eat my lord lieutenantf [he is some- thing lean] God help the while ; and though it will, for aught I know, be treason, there will be nobody lefl to hang you, unless you should tliink fit to do yourself that favour ; which if you should, pray don't write me word of it, because I should be very sorry to hear of any iH that should happen to you, as being, with a profound Tcneration, one of the greatest of your admirers, T. B. or any other two letters you like better. Pray direct your answer to me, at the Sergeant's Head in Cornwall ; or at Mr. Sentiment's, a patt^ carrier^ in Common Garden, in the Phhs. ' TO MR. BENJAMIN TOOKE. SIR, Dublin^ June 29, 1710. I WAS in the country when I received your letter with the apology enclosed in it ;| and I had neither health nor humour to finish that business. But the blame rests with you, that if you thought it time, you did not print it when you had it. I have just now your last, with tlie complete key. I believe it is so perfect a Grub- street piece, it will be forgotten in a week. But it is strange that there can be no satisfaction against a book- seller for publishing names in so bold a manner. I wish * Then secretary to the Earl of Whafton, lord lieutenant of Ire- land. IT. t Earl of Wharton. H. i The Apology prefixed to the Tale of a Tub. N, lOjO LETTEBS TO AND FROM 8om9 lawyer ke bis staf^ and fiung the pieces iA Ae chiffloey, desiring Mr. Smith to be witness that be kad obeyed the queen's commands ; and sent him to the |fteen with a letter and a message, which Mr. Smith de* ivif^red, and at the same time surrendered up his own aftce« Tlie parliament is certainly to be dissolved, al« liough the day is yet uncertain. The remainder of irhigs in employment are resolved not to resign ; and a certain lord told me, he had been the giver of that ad- rice, and did in my presence prevail on an acquaint- toce c^ mine in a great post to promise the same thing ; «ly Mr. Boyle,* they say, is resolved to give up« * Toongest ton of Charles, Lord Clifibrd. He was appointed haoceUor of the exchequer to King William in March, 1701 ; and 106 LETTERS TO AND FROM Every body counts iofailiblj upon a general rexnoTal. The Duke of Q^ueensbury, it is said, vfiW be steward ; my Lord Cholmondeley is gone over to the new interest, ivith great indignation of his friends. It is affirmed by the tories, tliat the great motive of these changes v as the absolute necessity of a peace, ivhich they tliought the whigs were for perpetually ilclaying. Elections are now managiug with greater violence and expense, and more competitors, than ever was known ; yet the iown is much fuller of people than usual at this time of the year, waiting till they see some issue of the matter. The Duke of Ormond is much talked of for Ireland, and I imagine he believed something of it himself. Mr. Harley is looked upon as first minister, and not my Lord Shrewsbury, and his grace helps on the opinion, whether out of policy or titith ; upon all occasions pro- fessing to stay until he speaks with Mr. Harley. The queen continues at Kensington indisposed with the gout, of which she has firequent returns. I deferred writing ta your grace as late as I could this post, until I might have something to entertakk you : but there is such a universal uncertainty amodg those who pretend to know most, that little can be de« pended on.* However, it may be some amusement to tell you the sentiments of people here, and, as bad as they are, I am sure they are the best that are stirring ; for it is thought there are not three people in Englaod entirely in the secret; nor is it sure, whether even those , was much- esteemed by that prince. He continued in that post tiU Feb. 12) 1707-8, when he, was made one of the principal secretaries of state, in which station he remained till Sept 20, 1710. On the ac- cession of George I. Mr. Boyle was created Lord Carleton, and sooa after made president of the council. He died unmarried, March 14, 1T24-5. To the intervention of Mr. Boyle, and the friendship of Lord Halifax, Mr. Addison was indebted for his first introduction to iiord Godolphin. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 107 three are agreed in what they iDtend to do. I am, ivith great respect, my lord, Your gi:ace'8 most obedient and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. I have not time to read this, and correct the literal mistakes. J was to wait on the Duke of Ormond, to set him right \n the story of the college, abotit the statue, &c. FROM ARCHBISHOP KING. REVERENp SIR, DuhUuj Sept. 16, 1710. I RECEIVED your's by the last packets, of September the ninth ; and because you have missed the two bbhops, I send you, with thisi» the papers relating to the first- fruits, and twentieth parts. I send them in two bundles^ being too big for one letter. The bishops, so far as I can learn from the Bishop of Ossory, have not made any step since I left London. I will endeavour to get you a letter from the bishops to solicit that affair. Id the mean time, open the letter to the two bishops^ and make use of it as occasion shall serve. The sdieme I had laid for them is crossed by my lord treasurer's being out ; though, perhaps, that would not have done ; but her majesty's promise I depended on, and I had engaged tlte Archbishop of York in it. When he comes to London, I will give you a letter to him. I can likewise find means, I beiieve, to possess . my Lord Shrewsbury and Mr. Harley, with the rea- fonableness of the affair. I am not courtier enough to know the properness of the thing ; but I had once an imagination to attempt her majesty herself by a letter, lOS LETTERS TO AND FROM modestly putHog her in mind of the matter ; and no time so proper, as when there is no Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, which perhaps may be soon ; but this needs advice. There are great men here as much out of humour, as you describe your great vLsitee* to have been ; nor does the good news from Spainf clear them. I believe, how- ever, they are glad at it, though another would have served their occasions as well. I do not apprehend any other secret in all this affair, but to get whigs out of alT places of profit and trust, and to get others in them. As for peace it must be on no Other terms than the preKminaries ; and you'll find a tory parliament will give mo^ey as freely^ and be as eager to prosecute the war, as the whigs were,, or they dre not the wise men T take them to be. If they do so, and take care to have the money well disposed of when given, they wiU break the King of France's heart, and the wh^s together, and please the nation. There's an ugly accident, that happens here in relation to our tweiH tieth parts and first-fruits ; at midsummer, 1 709, there was ready money in the treasury, and good solvent debts to the queed to the value of 70,000Z. Now I am told, by the last week's abstract, there is only 223^ id the treasuiy, and the army unpaid, at least uncleared for a year; and all others,. except pensioners, in the same condition. Now the great motive to prevail with her *" Probably tbe Esrl of Oodolphia, who was, perhaps, moeh vkited by his friends and party, after the resignation of his staff of lord trear surer. B.^This conjecture of Dr- Birch was very ingenious. The archbishop's alhision, however, related only to the private visit of Br. Swift to his lordship, which he mentions in his letter of Septem- ber 9. N, f Probably of the battle near Saragoza, in which King Charles of Spain gaiDcd a complete victory over his competitor, King Philip, OB the lOtii of August, 1710. B. DOCTOR SWIFT, 109 majesty to ^jve the cler^ the bounty petitioned for, was the clearness of the revenue here ; but if that be anticipated, perhaps it may make an objection.' I will add no more, but my prayers for you. I am, &c. WILL. DUBLIN. TO DEAN STERNE. stR, Ltmdony Sept 26, 1710. One would think this an admirable place from whence to fill a letter, yet when I come to examine particulars, I find they either consist of news, which you hear as soon by the public papers, or of persons and things, to which you are a stranger, and are the wiser and happier for being so. Here have been great men every day re- ugning their places ; a res%nation as sincere, as that of of a usurer on his death bed. Here are some, that fear being whipped because they have broken their rod ; and some that may be called to an account, because they could not cast one; up. There are now not much above a do2ien great employments to be disposed of, which, ac* Gorcting to our computation, may be done in as many days. Patrick''^ assures me, his acquaintance are sdl very well satisfied with these changes, which I take for no ill symptom^ and it is certain the queen has never appeared so easy or so cheer^l. I found my Lord Go* doipbki the worst dissembler of any of them, that I bave talked to ; and no wonder, since his loss and dan^' ger are greater, beside the addition of age and com- l^lexion. My lord lieutenantf is gone to the country, to txistle about elections. He is not yet removed,* ht* • Dr. Swift's servatit. H. f £arl of Wharton. B. 119 LETTERS TO AND FROM cause they say it wilt be requisite to supersede him by a succesi^or, which the queen has not fixed on ; nor is it agreed whether the Duke of Shrewsbury or Ormond* stand fairest. I speak only for this morning, because re- ports usually change every twenty-four hours. Mean time the pamphlets and half sheets grow so upon our hands, it will very well en^>loy a man every day from morning till night to read them, and so out of pei'fect despair I never read any at all. The whigs, like an army beat three quarters out of the field, begin to skir- mish but Mntly ; and deserters daily come over. We are amazed to find our mistakes, and how it was possible to see so much merit where there was none, and to over* look it where there was so much. When a great minis- ter has lost his place, immediately virtue, honour, and wit fly over to his successor, with the other ensigns of his office. Since I \eh oflf writing, I received a letter from my Lord Archbishop of Dublin, or rather two let- ters, upon these memorials. I think immediately to begin my soliciting, though they are not very perfect ; for I would be glad to know, whether my lord arch- bishop would have the same method taken here, that has been done in England, to settle it by parliament : but, however, that will be time enough thought of this good while. I must here tell you, that the Dean of St. Patrick's lives better than any man of quality I know; yet this day I dined with the comptroller,! who tells me, he drinks the queen's wine to day. I saw Collector Sterne,! who desired me to present his service to you, * The Duke of Ormond was appointed lord lieutenant, Oct 2^ 1710. H. f Sir John HoUand, Bart H. X Enoch Sterne, Esq. CoUector of Wicklow, and Cl^k oT the House of Lords in Ireland. F. . DOCTOR SWIFT. Ill and to tell jou he would be glad to hear from you, but not about busioess ; hj which, I told him, I guessed he was putting you off about something you desired. I would much rather be now in Ireland drinking your good wine, and looking over, while you lost a crown at penny ombre. I am weary of the caresses of great men out of place. The comptroller expects every day the queen's commands to break his staff. He is the last great household of^cer they intend to turn out. My lord lieutenant is yet in, because they cannot agree about his successor. I am your most obedient humble lervant, J. SWIFT. A MEMORIAL OF DR. SWIFT'S TO MR; HARLEY, ABOUT THE FIRST FRUITS.* Oct. 7, 1710. In Ireland, hardly one parish in ten has any glebe, and the rest very small and scattered, except a very few ; and these have seldom any houses. . There are in proportion more impropriations in Ire- laod than in England, which, added to the poverty of the country, make the livings of very small and uncer-^ tain value, so that five or six are often joined to make a revenue of bOL per annum: but these have seldom above one church in repair, (be rest being destroyed by frequent wars, &c. * This wai drawn up by Dr. Swift i the memorial I)e received ft-om the bishops having been too long, and not to the purpose* S«e bis letter of Oct. 10. N. 1 12 LET TEES TO AND FROM The clergy i for want of glebes, are forced, in tbeir own or neighbouriDg parish, to take farms to live on at rack rents. The queen having some years since remitted the first^^ fiiiits to the clergy of England, the bishop of Clojne^ being then in London, did petition her majesty for the same favour in behalf of the clergy of Ireland, and re- ceived a gracious answer. But this affair, for want of soliciting, was not brought to an issue during the governments of the Duke of Ormond, and Eai'l of Pem- broke. Upon the Earl of Wharton's succeding, Dr. Swift (who had solicited this matter in the preceeding go- vernment) was desir^d^ by the bishops of Ireland to apply to his excellency, who thought fit to receive the motion as wholly ne^:, and what he could not consider till he were fixed in the government, and till ihe same application were made to him as had been to his pre- decessors. Accordingly, an address was delivered to fais lordship, with a petition to the queen, and a me- morial annexed from both houses of convocation ; but a dispute happening in the lower house, wherein his chaplain was concerned, and which was represented by the said chaplain as an affront designed to his excelleD*- cy, who was pleased to understand and report it so to the cou't, the convocation was suddenly prorogued, and all farther thoughts about the first-fruits let fall as des« perate. Tife subject of the petition was to desire, that the twentieth parts might be remitted to the clergy, and the first-fruits made a fund for purchasing glebes and impro- priations, and rebuilding churches. The twentieth parts are twelve pence in the pounds- * Originally written, directed. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 118 $aid annuallj out of all ecclesiastical benefices, as they were valued at the reformation. They amount to about 5001 per annum ; but of little or no value to the queen, after the officers and other charges are paid, though of much trouble and vexation to the clergy. The first-fruits paid hj incumbents upon their promo- tion amount to A50L per armitm ; so that her majesty, iu A remitting about \000L per annum to the clergy, will teally lose not above 5002. Upon August 31, 1710, the two houses of convoca- tion being met to be farther prorogued, the archbishops and bishops conceiving there was now a favourable juncture to resume their applications, did, in their pri- vate capacities, sign a power to the said Dr. Swift, to solicit the jremitting of the first-fruits and twentieth parts. But there is a greater turden ihan this, and almost intolerable, upon several of the clergy in Ireland ; the easing of which, the clergy only looked on as a thing to be wished, without making it part of their petition. The queen is impropriator of several parishes, and the iqcumbent pays heir half-yearly a rent generally to the third part of the real value of the living, and somc- iimes half. Some of these parbhes [yielding no income to the vicar,"^] by the increase of graziers, are seized OD by the crown, and cannot pay the reserved rent. The value of all these ioipvopriatioDB are about 2000/. per annum to her majesty. If the queen would graciously please to bertow like- wise these impropriations, to the church, part to be re- mitted to the incumbent, where the rent is large and the living jmall, aad the rest to be laid but in levying * The words in books are erased. T^. VOL. XV. if 114 UBTTEBS TO AND FROM glebes and impropiiatioos, and building churches, ii would be a most pious and seasonable bounty. The utmost value of the twentieth parts, fii*&t-fruiti and crowD rents, is 3000/. per ajmum^ of which aboui bOOL per annum is sunk among officers ; so that her ma jesty, bj this great benefaction, would lose but 2500£ per annum. TO ARCHBISHOP KING. M7 LORD, London^ Oct. 10, 1710. I HAD the hoDOur of your grace's letter of Septeflt< ber 1 0, but I was in no pain to acknowledge it, oor sbal be at any other time, until I have something that 1 think worth troubling you, because I am very sensible how much an insignificant letter is worse than none a all. I had likewise the memorial, Sic, in anothe packet: and I beg your grace to enclose whateve packets you send me (I mean of bulk) under a pape directed to Mr. Steele, at his office in the Cockpit, an jnot for me at Mr. Steele's. I should have been glad tli bishops had been here, although I take bishops to b the worst solicitoi-s in tlie world, except in their own coi cerns. . They cannot give themselves the little troubh of attendance that other men are content to swallow else, I am sure, their two lordships might have au ceeded easier than men of my level can reasonably ho( to do. As soon as I received the packets, I went to wa upon Mr. Harley. I had prepared him before by ai other hand, where he was veiy intimate, and got mysc represented (which I might justly do) as one extremel ill used by the last ministry, after some obHgatiom^ b DOCTOR SWIFT. 115 cause I refused to go certain lengths thej would have nic. This happened to be in some sort Mr. HaHcy's own case. He had heard very often of roe, and re- ceived me with the greatest marks of kindness and es- teem, as I was whispered that he would ; and the mwe, upon the ill usage I had met with. I sat with him two hours among company, and two hours we were alone ; where I gave him a history of the whole business, and the steps that had been made in it ; which he heard as I could wish, and promised with great readiness his best credit to effect it. I mentioned the difficulties we had met with from lords lieutenants and their secretaries, yiho would not suffer others to solicit, and neglected it themselves. He fell in with me entirely; and said, neither they nor himself should have the merit ot it, bat the queen, to whom he would show my memorial with the first opportunity ; in order, if possible, to have it done in this interregnum. I ssdd, ^ it was a great en- couragement to the bishops that he was in the treasury, whom they knew to have been the chief adviser of the queeo to grant the same favour in England : that the honour and merit of this would certainly be his, next the queen^s; but that it was nothing to him, who had done 80 much greater things ; and that for my part, I thought he wqs obliged to the clergy of Ireland, for giving him an occasion of gratifying the pleasure he took in doing good to the chuich.''* He received my compliment extremely well, and renewed his promises. Tour grace will please to know that, beside the first- fruits, I told him of the crown-rents, and showed the na- ture and value of them ; but said, my opinion was, that * Dr. Campbell, id his Philosophy of Rhetoric, prodiiers this pat* Mge at a fine example of aDiodirect, hut succetsful manner of praisiog, bj leemiBK to invert the coarse of the obligatioo, and to represent the penoBoUigiogai the penoa obliged. N, lis LETTERS TO AND FBOM irhoever has so little to do, as to desire some knowledge in secrets of state, must compare \vhat he hears from several great men, as from one great mao at several times, which is equallj diiTerent. People were sur- prised, wheu the court stopped its hands as to farther re- niovals: the comptroller, a lord of the admiralty, aod some others, told me, they expected every day to be dbmissed; but they were all deceived, and the higlier tories are very angry : but some time ago, at Hampton- court, I picked out the reason from a dozen persons; and told Sir John Holland, I would lay a wager he would not lose his .staff so soon as he imagined. The ministry are afraid of too great a majoiity of their own side in the house of commons, and therefore stopped short in their changes; yet some refinf rs think they have gone too far already, for of thirty new members in the present elections, about twenty -sis are tories. The Duke of Ormood seems still to stand the fairest for Ire- land; although I hear some faint hopes they will not nominate very soon. The ruiu of the late party was owing to a great number, and a complication of causes^ which I have had from persons able enough to inform me ; and that is all we can mean by a good hand, for the veracity is not to be relied on. Tlie Duchess of Marl- borough's removal has been seven years working ; that bf the treasurer above three^ and he was to be dismissed before Lord Sunderland. Beside the many persona] causes, that of breaking measures settled for a peace four years ago, had a great weight, when the French fiad complied with all terms, &c. In short, they appre- hended the whole party to be entirely against a peace, for some time, until they were rivetted fast, too fast to be broke, as they otherwise expected, if the war should conclude too soon. I cannot tell (for it is just come into my head) whether soioe unaaimous addressee, from tbgse DOCTOR SWIFT. 119 who love the church in Ireland, or from Dublin, or your l^ace and the clergy, might not be seasoDable; or, whether mj Lord Wharton's beuig not yet suspended may yet hinder it. I forgot to tell your grace, that the memorial I gave Mr. Harley was drawn up by myself, and was an ab* stract of what I had said to him : it was as short as I could make it '^ that which you sent being too long, and of another nature. I dined to-day with Mr. Harley ; but I must humbly beg your grace's pardon if I say uo more fit present, for reasons I may shortly Jet you know. In the mean time, I desire your grace to believe me, with the greatest re- •pect, my lord, Your grace's most dutiful and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. FROM ARCHBISHOP KING. REVEREND SIR, DttftZm, Oct 24, 1710. I THANK you for your's of the loth instant, and send you enclosed a farther power by my lord primate and me. My lord is not able to come to town, which obliged me to;wait on him at Johnston, and hindered the joining of two or three bishops in it who are yet in town : but I suppose our signing is sufficient. I went in the rooming to wait on his grace, and icTtended, when he had signed it, to have applied to other bishops; but he was abroad taking the air, and I could not get it until it was late, and thought it better to sign and send it as it is, than wait for another post. You may expect by the next a faettei: to hia grace of Canterbury, and another to the 120 LETTERS TO AND FROM archbishop of York. I apprised them both of the busl- ness. The latter, if I remember right, spoke to her mH^ jesty about it ; I am not sure, that her majesty remem- bers irhat I said on that subject ; but am sure she was pleased to seem satisfied with it, and to scruple only the time : I suppose, uot thinking it fit to confer the favour she designed the clergy of Ireland by the hands it must theo have passed through, but said, that in the interval of a change, or absence of a chief governor, it should be done. I hope now is the proper time, and that her ma- jesty will rather follow the dictates of her own bountiful inclinations, than the intrigues of cunning covetous couu^ sdllors. I' thought to have troubled you with a great many things; but such a crowd of visitors have broken in up- on me before I could lock my gates, that I am forced to break off abniptly, recommending you to God's care^ I am, &c. WILLIAM DUBLIN. PROM LORD PRIMATE MARSH AND ARCHBISHOP KING. SIR, Dublin, Oct. 24, 1710. We directed a letter to the Bishops of Ossory and Killaloe last August, desiring and empowering them to solicit the affair of our first-fruits and twentieth parts with her majesty ; which has depended so long, notwith- standing her majesty's good intentions, and several pro- mises of the chief governors here to lay our addresses before her majesty in the best manner. We were then apprehensive, that those bishops might return from Eng- land before the business could be effected, and therefore DOCTOR SWIFT. I2T we desired them to concern you in it : having so good assurance of jour ability, prudence, and fitness to pro- secute such a matter. We find the bishops returned home before you came to- London, for which we are very much concerned ; and judging this the most proper time to prosecute it with success^ we entreat you to take the fM mtmagement of it into your hands; and do commit the care of soliciting it to your diligence and prudence ; desiring you to let us know from time to time what pro* gress is made in it. And if any thing farther be neces- sary on our part, on your intimation we shall be ready te do what shall be judged reasonable. This, with our prayers for the good success of your •Ddeavours, is all from, sir, Your, &c NARCISSUS ARMAGH^ WILLIAM DUBLIN. FROM ARCHBISHOP KING: REVEREND SIR, Dublin, Nov. 2, 1710, The declaration of bis grace the Duke of Ormond t»» be our lord lieutenant has stopped the farther lettei^s of recommendation designed to be sent to you, because the bishops were unwilling to solicit the affair of the first- fruits and twentieth parts by any other hand. I gave them some account how far you had been concern- ed in it; and they ordered a letter to Mr. Southwell, ta ipive bim an account, that the papers were in your hands, and to desire you to wait on him with them, and take your own measures in soliciting the affair. I am not to conceal from you, tliat some expressed a little jealousy/ diat yoa woidd not be acceptable to the present coorv- E 2- 122 LETTERS TO AND FROM tiers, intimating that jou were under the reputation of being a favourite of the late partj in power. You may retaiember I asked you the question before you were en- gaged in this affair, knowing of what moment it was ; ftod by the coldness I found in some, I soon perceived what was at the bottom. I am of opinion, that this con- jecture of circumstance will oblige you to exert yourself with more vigour; and if it should succeed, you have gained your point ; whereas, if you should fail, it would cause no reflections, that having been the fate of so many before you. I can be very little useful to you at this distance ; but if you foresee any thin^ wherein I may be serviceable to the business, or yourself you may command, sir, , Your's, &c. ' WILL. DUBLIN. TO ARCHBISHOP KING. MY LORD, London, Nov. 4, 1710. I AM most unhappily engaged thb night, where I can- not write to your grace so long a letter as I intended ; but I will make it . up in a post or two. I have only sow to tell you, that Mr. Harley has given me leave to iK^uaint my lord primate and your grace, that the queen has granted the first-fruits and twentieth parts 'to the clergy of Ireland. It was done above a fortnight ago ; but I was then obliged to keep it a secret, as I hinted to jour grace in my last letter. He . has now given me lettre to let your grace and my lord primate know it{ only desires you will say nothing of it until a letttr comes to you from my Lord Dartmouth, secretary of ftale. Allibwiryetii^thitdiebUiopsaietolieBada DOCTOR SWIFT. 123 *a corporation for the .disposal of the first-fruits, and that the tweutieth parts are to be remitted. I will write to your grace the pariiculars of my negotiation, and some other amusements very soon. I humbly beg your grace to acquaint my lord primate with this. I had your grace's letter last post ; and you will now see that your letters to the archbishop here are unnecessary. I was a little in pain about the Duke of Ormond, wlio, I feared, .might interpose in this matter, and be angry it was done without him : but Mr. Harley has very kindly taken this matter upon himself. It was yesterday I dined with him, and he told me all this ; and to-morrow I dine with hiro a^ain, where I may hear more. I shall obey your grace^s directions, whether my stay here be farther ne- cessary, after you have had the letter from the secreta- ry's office. I know not what it will be ; but, if any forms remain to finish, I shall be ready to assist in it as I have hitherto done. I have all the reason in the world to be satisfied with Mr. Harley's conduct in this whole alTair. In three days he spoke of it to the queen and gave her my memorial, and so continued until he got her grant. I am now in much company, and steal ^ H. time to write to your grace. The queen was reml^ to have the whole merit of this afi*air to herself. Mr. Harley advised her to it ; and next to her majesty, he IB the only person to be thanked. I suppose it will not. be many days before you have the letter from my Lord Dartmouth; and your grace will afterward signify Toor commands, if you have any for me. I shall go to the office, and see that a despatch be made as soon as possi- ble. 1 am, with the greatest respect, my lord,. Your grace's most dutiful and most obedient humble servant, J. SWIFT. B 3 124 LETTERS TO AJ^D FROM FROM ARCHBISHOP KINa. REVEREND SIR, Dublin, Nov, 16, 1710. I HATE before me your's of the 4th instant, which T received two posts ago. It was very grateful to me, and I hope it will have a good effect as to the church in ge- neral, and be of use to you in particular, which I hearti- ly wish. My lord priraate is out of town, and I have not seen him since I received your's, nor do I see any haste Co communicate it to him ; but in due time there will be no need to make a secret of it. I durst not have said any thing of it, if you had not given me the cau- tion, lest any accident should intervene, to which all matters of this nature are liable. It puts a man out of countenance ta raise expectations, if lie should not be able to satisfy them. I understand that her majesty de^ signed this should be her own act ; but the good instru-* ments, that have been subservient, ought not to be for« got; and, with God's help, I will do my endeavour that tbsj shall not. I shall be impatient to see the accom* jMlnient of this charitable work. ^we* are here in as great a ferment about choosing parliament men, on a supposition that this parliament will be dissolved as soon as your's in England. And it h remarj^able, that such as design to betray their coun- iryv-rramore diligent to make votes, than those that' b^ ;i^ U^fiitiritTiiteqtions to serve it. It would prevent a gieat deal of .et. 'I'^iai^es and heats, if we cer^ tainly knew whether Vi'-^^SStf bavea new parliament or not. All business in chancery, and in truth all public busi« nesS) is at a stand, by the indisposition of my lord chaa> cellor. I would tell you, that I am engaged most un- happily this night, to excuse this short letter $ but tbe DOCTOR SWIFT. 126 ain truth, I think, vrill do as irell ; which is, that I aive uo more to say, but my prayers for you, &c. WILL. DUBLIN. . TO ARCHBISHOP KING. KT LORD, London^ Nov. 23, 1710; 1 HAD your grace's letter* not until this day : wbe^ er it lay in the secretary's office, or was kept by tlio nd, I cannot tell ; but I would have exposed it imme- ately whenever it had come. Mr. Southwell told me 'o days ago of the letterf your grace mentions, which rprised me a good deal, when I remembered I had rit to your grace three weeks ago, that the queen had isolutely granted the first-fruits and twentieths, and at Mr. Harley had permitted me to signify the same the primate and your grace. Perhaps that letter [ght not have reached yourgrace before that resolution sending to the Duke of Ormond ; but however, I ve you such an account of my reception from JUk^ iirley, and his readiness to undertake this affair, ana lal steps he had already made in it, as I tliought would ve given you some sight in what way the business was ; t Mr. Harley charged me to tell nobody alive what e queen had resolved on, till he gave me leave ; and the conclusion of a former letten your grace might 2 you were to expect some farther intelligence very )ii« Your grace may f^Snemb&f^ that upon your ling me how backward the bishops were in giving me power, I was very unwilling to go at all, and sent the im of St. Patrick's^ to tell you so ; but you thought > That which is dated Nov. 2. N. - To the Doke of Ormond, probably. N, Dt, Sterne. N. 12« LETTERS TO AND FROM I could DOt handgomely put it off, ^vhen things were gone so far. Your objection then, about the disadvan- tage I lay under in point of party, I knew well enough how to ansvrer, otherwise nothing should have prevailed on me to come hither; and if my lords the bishops doubt whether I have any credit with the present ministry, I will, if they please, undo this matter in as little time as I have done it. I did reckon your grace understood and believed me in what I said ; and I reckon so still : but I will not be at the pains of unde- ceiving so many. I never proposed to myself either credit or profit by my labour, but the satisfaction of doing good, without valuing whether I had the merit of it or not : but the method now taking was the likeliest way to set all things backward, if it were not past danger. It shall be my business (until my lords the bishops forbid jne to engage farther) to prevent any mis- understanding with Mr. Haiiey by this sudden step. The thing was all done before the Duke of Ormond was named for lord lieutenant, so there was no affiront at all' to him ; and Mr. Harley told me more than once, that mph an interest was the properest, because he thought "the queen herself should have the doing of it : but I tsaid a great deal of this in former letters. If your grace has any. commands for me of your own, I shall obey them with all cheerfulness, being, with great re* ipect, my lord, Your grace's roost obedient and moft homble servant, J, SWIFT. I ^ DOCTOR SWIFT. 127 TO ARCHBISHOP KIJS'G. MY LORD, London^ Nov. 28, 1710. A DAY or two after I received your grace's letter, of the second iostant, I diued with Mr. Southwell, who shawed me the letter of the hishops to the Duke of Or- moad, aod another letter from the Bbhop of Kildare^ to Mr. Southwell,! to desire him to get the papers iTom me, which I shall send him as soon as I have looked them out. Mr. Southwell said, that a mo&th or two heoce, when the duke hegau to thiuk of this journey, it would be time enough to solicit this affair. Upon this I told hira frankly, that the queen had already granted the first-fruits, and that I had writ to your grace by Mr. Harley's directions, but that my letter did not reach you until your's was sent to the duke and him ; and that therefore I thought it would be a very odd step to. begin again. He said, he was glad it was done, and that he did not design to take any of the credit from me, die* I told him sincerely, it was what I did not regard at all, and provided the church had the benefit, it was indifljEv- ent to me how it came about; and so we parted. I had told the Duke of Ormond at fii*st that I would apply myself to Mr. Harley if his grace advised it, which he did; and I afterward told Mr. Southwell, that Mr. Harley had been very kind in promising his good offi- ces : farther I durst not speak, l>eing under an engage- ment of secrecy to Mr. Harley ; and the whole ihrag was done before the duke was declared lord lieutenant* If your grace considers the time you sent me the paper, you will judge what despatch was made ; in two day« • Dr. Wclbore Ellis. . ^ Richt Hoa. Edward Southwell, secretary of state (br Ireligid. Ik 1 1 1» LETTERS TO AND FROM: after, I delivered a memorial I drew up to Mr. Harley ;: aud in ]es6 than a fortnight he had treated the matter four times with the queeu, and then told me she had i;raDted it absolutely, as my memonal desired, but charg- ed me to tell no man alive ; and your grace may re- member, that one of my letters ended with something as if I were limited, and would say more in a short time. In about a M^eek after, I had leave to inform the primate aDd your grace, as I did in my letter of the 4th instants- It is to be considered, tliat the queen was all this while- at Hampton Court or Windsor^ so that I think the de- spatch was very great. But, indeed, I expected a letter ^ would have been sent from the seo'etary's office, tO' signify this matter in due form ; and so it will : but Mr. Harley had a mind first to bring me to the queen, for that and some other matters ; and she came to town not a week ago, and was out of order cue day when it . was designed I should attend her, and, since, the parliament's beginning has taken her up : but in a- few days, Mr. Harley tells me he will introduce me. This I tell your grace in confidence, only to satisfy you- in particular, why the queen has not yet sent a lettering form. Upan that despatch to Mr. Southwell, I was perplexed to the last degree. I did not value the slight- ing manner of the Bishop of Kildare's letter, barely de- siring Mr. Southwell to call on me for the papers, with- out any thiAg farther, as if I had been wholly insigni- ficant ; but I was at a loss how to behave myself with ' the duke aad Mr. Harley. I met the latter yesterday in the court of requests, and he whispered me to dine^ with him. At dinner, I told him of the despatch tot Mr. Southwell, and rallied him for putting me under' difficulties with his Fccre's ; that I was running my head, against ^a wall ; that he reckoned he had done the church and me a favour ^ that I should disoblige the Duke of DOCTOR SWIFT. HfiT OrmoDd ; and that the bishops in Ireland thought I bad done notbiog, and bad therefore taken away mj commission. He told me, your lordship bad taken it away in good time, for the thing was done ; and that, as for the Duke of Ormond, I need not be uneasy ; for be would let his grace know it as soon as he saw biro, which would be in a day or two, at the treasury ; and then promiflied again to carry me to the queen, with the first opportunity. Your grace now sees how the afiair* stands, and whether I deserve such treatment from the* Ushops; from every part whereof I wholly exclude your grace, and could only wish my first letter, about the progress I had made, had found so much credit with jou, as to have delayed that despatch until you heard once more from me. I had at least so much discretioo, not to pretend I had done more than I really did, but I rather less; and if I had consulted my own interest, f I should have employed my credit with the present minis- I try another way» The bishops are mistaken in me; it is well known here, that I could have made my markets with the last ministry if I had pleased ; and the present toen in power are very well apprised of it, as your pace may, if I live to see you again ; which I certainly ' never would io Ireland, if I did not flatter myself that I an upon a better foot with your grace, than with some ether of their lordships. Your grace is pleased to com- nand me to continue my solicitations ; but as now there will be no need of then, so I think my commission is at an end, ever since I had notice of that despatch to Mr. Southwell. However, in obedience to your grace, if there be any thing to be done about expediting the formsi wherein my service can be of use, I will readily perform as4ar as I am able : but I must tell your grace what gives me the greatest displeasure, that I had hopes to prevail that the qiieeu should iu some months be 13Q LETTERS TO AND FROM brought to remit the crown rents, which I named in nij memorial, but in an article by itself; and which Mr. Harley had given roe some hopes of, and I have some private reasons to think might have been brought about. I mentioned it in the memorial, only as from myself ; and therefore, if I have an opportunity, I shall venture to mention it to the queen, or at least repeat it to Mr. Harley. This I do as a private man, whom the bishops no longer own. It is certain!} right to pay all civili- ties, and make applications to a lord lieutenant ; but, ifithout some other means^ a business may hang long enough, as this of the first-fruits did for years under the Duke of Ormondes last government, although no mao loves the church 6f Ireland better than his grace ; but such things are forgot and neglected between the governor and his secretaries, unless solicited by some- body who has the bdhiness at heart. But I have done, and shall trouble your grace no farther upon this alTair ; sod on other occasions, while I am here, will endeavour to entertain you ^itb what is likely to pass in this busy scene, nhere all things are taking a new, and, I think, a good turn ; and where, if you please, I will write to you, irith that freedom I formerly did ; and I beg your grace to employ me in any commands you may have here^ which I shall be prouder to obey, than to have ever so much merit with some others ; being, with perfect re- spect, my lord. Your grace's most dutiful, and most obedient humble servant, J. SWIFT. « Tour grace will please to direct iyard. Time, perhaps, will show who was at the bottom of all this; but nothing could happen so unluckily to England, at tliis juncture, as Mr. Hart- ley's death, when he has all the schemes for the greatest part of the supplies in his head, and the parliament can- not stir a step without him. Neither can I altogether fivget mysell^ who^ in him, should lose a person I have more obligations to than any other in this kingdom ; who has always treated me with the tenderness of a pa- rent, and never refused roc any favour I asked for a IKend : therefore I hope your grace will excuse the dis- order of this letter. I was intending, this night, to write one of another sort 1 must needs say, one great rea- son for writing these particulars to yonr grace was, that you might be able to give a true account of the feet, iriiich will be some sort of service to Mr. Hariey. I am, with the greatest respect, my lord, Your grace's most dutiful, and most huoible servant, J. SWIFT. 150 LETTERS TO AND FROM I have read over what I writ, and find it confused and locorrect, which jour grace must impute to the Yiih lent pain of mind I am in, greater than ever I felt in ID7 life. It must have been the utmost height of desperate guilt which could have spirited that wretch to such an action. I have not heard whether his ^ wounds are dangerous ; but I pi'ay God he may re tover, to receive liis reward, and that we may learn the bottom of his villany. It is not above ten days ago, that I was interceding with tht- secretary in hit behalf, because I heard he was just starving ; but the secretary assured me he had 400/. a year peosion* FROM ARCHBISHOP KINO. RXTEREMD SIR, DubUfl, MoTCk 17, 1710-1 L I RETURN you my thanks for your's of the 8th instant. I do not wonder, that you were in some confusion when you wrote it ; for I assure you I i^ead it with great horror, which such a fact is apt to create in every body that is not hardened in wickedness. I received several other letters with narratives of the same, and saw isome that came ta other hands ; but none so particular, or that could be so well depended. upon. I observe, that among them all, there is no isccount of the matters laid to Guiscard's charge^ of his design, or how he came to. be discovered. I suppose those are yet secrets, as it is fit they should be. I do remember something of this Guiscard, and that he was to head an invasion; and that he published a very foolish narrative ;*' but neither remember exactly the time, or under what ministry it * The Marquis de Guiscard^s Memoirs were publit^hed with a ie^ )iicatiOD to Qumd Anse, dated at the Hague, May 10, 1705, B. DOCTOR SWIFT. 151 iraa, or who wei-e his patrons. It seems convenieDt, that these should be known ; because it is reported, tliat Mr» Harley and Mr. St. John were those who chiefly coun- tenanced him, and he their peculiar favourite. One would think this should convince the world, that Mr. Harley is not in the French interest, but it has not yet had that efTect with all : nay, some whisper the case of fieoiufl Rufus, and Scevinus in the ]5(h book of Taci- tOB, aceensis indkdhua ad prodenduoi Eenium Ri^unty fum eundem canscium et inquuntcrem nan t^erabant. Mr. St. John is condemned for wounding Guiscard ; and had he killed him, there would not have wanted some to 8Ug:gest, that it was done on purpose, lest he should tell tales. Wc had a strange piece of news by last packet, that the address to her mijesty met with but a cold reception ftom one party in the house of commons ; and' that all the loi'ds. spiritual and temporal of that party, went out when it passed in the lords' house. Bui I make it a rule, never to believe party news, except I have it im» mediately from a sure hand. I was in hopes to have heard something of our first* fniits and twentietli parts; but I doubt that matter sleeps, and that it will be hard to awaken it. You will expect no news from home. We eat and drink as we used to do. The parties are tolerably silent, bat those for the late ministry seem to be united, keep nnich together, and are so wise as not to make much noise : nor have I heard any thing of their sentiments of late, only what has happened on this accident I heartily recommend you to God's care. I anv &c WILL. DUBUSr. 15i LETTEBS TO AND FROM FROM LORD PETERBOROW. FOB THE BST. DB. SWIFT, BISHOP OF, OB DEAN OF, &Ci UB, Vienna^ April 18, 1711. I HATB oftea with pleasure reflected upoa the glori- ous possibilities^ the English constitution ; but I must applj to politics a French expression appropriated by them to beauty : there is a j« n^ sfai qum among us^ which makes us troublesome with our learning, disagreea- ble with our wit, poor with our wealth, and insignificant with our power. I could never despise any body for what they have not, and am only provoked, when they make not the right use of what they have. This is the greatest mor^ tification* to know the advantages we have by art and nature, and see them disappointed by lelf-conceit and faction. What patience could bear the disappointment of a good scheme by the October club ? I have with great uneasiness received imperfect ac- counts of disagreement among ourselves. The party we have to struggle with has strength enough to require our united endeavours. We should not attack their firm body like Hussars. Let the victory be secure before we quarrel for the spoils ; let it be considered whether their yoke were easy, or their burden light What \ must there ever be in St Stephen's chapel, a majority cither of knaves or fools ? But seriously, I have long apprehended the effects of that universal corruption, which has been improved with 60 much care, and has so fitted us for the tyi-anny de- signed, tliat we arc grown, I fear, insensible of slavery, and almost unworthy of liberty. DOCTOR SWIFT- US The gentleraeo, who gi^e jou do other tatufaction iu politics thaa the appearances of ease and mirth, I wish I could partake with them in their good humour ; but tokay itself has no efibct upon me while I see affairs so unsettled ; faction so strong, and credit so weak ; and all services abroad under the utmost difficulties by past miscarriages and present want of money ; but we ire told here, that in the midst of victory, ordeis are C^ren to sound a parley, I will say a retreat Give mt kave to tell the chuicfaman, that there is not in * ^^ * *f I have rid the resty horse you say they gave me, ia ploagbed lands, till I have made him tame. I wish they manage the dull jades as well at home, and get them for- ward either with a whip or spur. I depend much upon the three you mention;^ if they remember me with Undness, I am their's by the two strongest ties^ I love them, and hate their enemies. Yet you seem to wish me other work. It ia time (he statesmen employ me in my own trade, not tbeira. If they have nothing else for me to subdue, let me command igainst that rank whiggisb puppetsbow. Those junto pigmies, if not destroyed, will grow up to giants. Tell St John, he must find me work in the old world or the new. I find Mr. Harley Ibigets to make mention of tjie moat important part of my letter to him ; which was to let him know, diat I expected immediately for one Dr. Swift, a lean bishoprick, or a fat deanery. If you hap- pen to meet that gentleman at dinner, tell him, that he has a friend out of the way of doing him good, but that be would, if he could ; whose name is F£T£RBOROW. t Some words are here erand. N. \ Probably Harley, Harcoart, and Boliogbrokc. "S', 1S4 LETTERS TO AND FROM TO ARCHBISHOP KING. MT LORD, London^ April 10, 1711. I HAD lately the honour of a letter from your graces and waited to acknowledge it until somethiog material should happen, that m^ht recompense the trouble. My occasion of writing to you at present is purely personal to your gi*ace. A report was beginning to run here, by some letters from Ireland, that your grace had applied the passage you mention of Rufus, iu a speech you made to your clei)^, which I ventured to contradict, as Ian im- possibility, and inconsistent with your general opinion^ and what was in your letter. Mr. Southwell and Mr. Doppiug were of the same mind; and the former says, he has writ to your grace about it. I should have thought no more of the matter, but let it spend like an idle story below notice : only dining last Sunday with one of the principal secretaries of state, he gave me a letter to read, which he had just received from the prin- ter of the newspaper called The Postboy, in which was ft transcript of a letter from Dublin ; and the secretary be- ' log mentioned in that transcript, the man would not publish it without his advice. It contained an account bow the news of Mr. Harley's being stabbed had been received by the whigs in Dublin: of which he produc- ed some instances. Then he mentions the passage out of Tacitus, and concludes thus : " The first that men- tioned it was the archbbbop of Dublin, who took notice of it first at a meeting of his clergy ; and afterward, iu the hearing of several persons, was reprimanded for it in a civil though sharp manner, by one of the chief mini- sters there, well known for his steady loyalty to her ma- jesty, and his zealous service to the church of England, under her late perilous trial." I immediately told the DOCTOR SWIFT. 155 secretaiy, that I knew this must be false and misrepre- sented, and that he roust give me leave to scratch out ^at passage, which I accordingly did ; and for fear of anj mistake, 1 made him give me aAerward the whole letter, that I might have it in my power. The next day I sent for the printer, and told him what I had done ; and upon farther thoughts I stifled the whole letter, and the secretory approved of it. I likewise told the printer, that when he had any thing relating to Ireland, I had the secretary's order (which was true) to send it me, that he might not do injury to men's reputations, bj what was represented to him from ignorant or malicious hands in that kingdom. The letter was to have been printed this day in The Postboy, with that conclusioa r^ecting on your grace, which is happily prevented ; for, although your character and station place you above the malice of little people, yet your friends would be ex- tremely concerned to see your name made so bold with in a common newspaper. I humbly hope your grace will not disapprove of what I have done : at least, I have gratified my own inclina- tion, in the desire of serving you ; and besides, had the qyportunity of giving Mr. Secretary some part of your character. I dare lay a wager, that all this happened by the gross understandings of some people, who misunderstood and misapplied something very innocent that came from your grace. I must be so bold to say, that people in that kingdom do very ill understand raillery. I can rally much safer here with a great minister of state or a duch- ess, than I durst do there with an attorney or his wife* And I can venture to rally with your graces although I could not do it with many of your clergy. I myself have been a witness, when want of common sense has made people ofifended with your grace, where they oug;h| 166 LETTERS TO AND FROM to have beea the most pleased. I say tUngs every day at the best tables, which I should be turned out of com- pany for if I were in Ireland. Here is one Mr. Richardson, a clei^gyman, who is so- liciting an affair which I find your grace approves ;^ and therefore I do him all the service I can in it. We are now fiili of the business of the Irish yam: and I attend among the rest, to engage the membera I am acquainted with, in our interest. To-morrow we ex- pect it will come on. . I will shortly write to your grace some account how public affairs stand; we hope Mr. Harley will be well IB a week. We have news from Brussels that the dauphin is dead of an apoplexy. I am, with the greatest respect^ mylordi Tour grace's most dutiful and mosi humble servant* J. SWIFT. I wish your grace would enclose your commands to me, directed to Erasmus Lewis, Esq. at my Lord Dart- mouth's office at Whitehall ; for I have left off going to coffee-houseSi FROM ARCHBISHOP KING. BSTXRKKD SIB, DlfiMfl, Jpril 11,1711. I HAD the favour of your's of the loth instant, by which I understand how much I am obliged to you for the justice you did me as to the report you let me know t Tbe printioa of Iridi Biblee; N.. DOCTOR SWIFT. 15T iras about to be printed io the Postbqjr, relating to Mr. Ilaricy. I think there is no man in this kingdom, on which such t report coald be fixed witii less colour of tnitli, having been noted for the particular regard I have al- ways had for him. I have suffered in some cases too for my zeal to defend him in the wont of times; for I confess I never could, with patience, bear the treatment he met with in Gregg's aflbir. The truth is, when I re- ceived the news of this last barbarous attempt made on him, I with indignation insulted some^ with whom I used to dispute about the former case, and asked them, whether they would now mvped that he was in the conspiracy to stab himself? The turn they gave it was what I wrot^ to you, that they imagined he might be in it not- withstanding that^ and that his discovering Gnkcard, and pressing so hard on tlie examination, was the thing that provoked the man to such a degree of rage, as ap- peared in that viltanous act. And they instanced the story of 1480 in Tacitus, and the passage of Rnfus. I know very well that they did not believe themselves, and among other things I applied that passage of Hudi- faras, he, that beat's out his brains, &c.^ I believe I have told this passage to several as an example, to show into what absurdities the power of prejudice, malice, and faction will lead some men, I hope with good effect; and added, as several gentlemen that heard me can witness, that it was a strange thing, that Mr. Harley should dis- cover Gregg, and have him hanged, and yet be suspect- ed to be partaker of his crime ; but altogether unaccount- able, that in a cause, wherein his life was so barbarous- ly struck at, it was a thousand to one if he escaped, he * *' Bat he that hangs, or beats oot*f brainp, The devil'f in him, if he feigns.'' 158 LETTERS TO AND FROM* Bhould sdll be under the guspicion of beiog a partj with bis murderer! so that I could never imagioe, that any one should report, that I spoke my own sense in a matter wherein I expressed so great an abhorrence, both of the fact, and the vile comment made upon it. As to anj speech at the meeting of the clergy, or any reprimand g^ven me by any person on this account, it is all, assure yourself, pure invention. I am sensible of the favour you did me, in prevent- ing the publishing of such a false report, and am most thankful to Mr. Secretary St. John for stopping it. I have not the honour to be known to him, otherwise I would ^ve him the trouble of a particular acknowledg- ment. As to Mr. Harley, I have had the happiness to have some knowledge of him, and received some obli- gations from him, particularly on the account of my «ct of parliament, that I obtained for the restitution of Seatown to the see of Dublin. T always had a great honoiur for him, and expected great good from his known abilities^ and zeal for the common interest ; and as I believe he was the principal instrument of settling things •n the present foot, so I believe every one, that wishes well to these kingdoms, is satisfied, tliat there is not any man, whose death would be a greater loss to the public than his. The management of this parliament has, if Dot reconciled his worst enemies to him, at least silenced them ; and it b generally believed that his misfortune has much retarded public affairs. I partly can guess who writ the letter you mention : it must be one of two or three, whose business it is to in- vent a lie, and throw dirt, ever since I was obliged by my duty to call them to account for their negligence and ill practices : they have published and dispersed several libellous prints against me, in one of which I marked forty-three downright falsehoods ui matters of Act. ht DOCTOR SWJFT. 159 another, it is true, tliere was ddIj one such ; the whole and every part of it, from beginning to end, being pure invention and falsehood. But to mj comfort, thej are despised by all good men ; and I like myself nothio^ less for being the object of their hate. You will excuse this long letter, and I hope I may, by aezt, apprise you with something of consequence. In ihe mean time, I heartily recommend you, &c. WILLIAM DUBLIN. I. held my visitation on the 9th instant, where you were excused,* as absent on the public business of ihe church. TO THE EARL OF PETERBOROW, JIT LORD, ^oyA^ 17]1. I HAvs had the honour of your lordship's letter, and by the first lines of it have made a discovery that your lordship is come into the world about eighteen hundred years too late, and was born about half a dozen degrees too far to the Noith, to en. ploy that public virtue I always heard you did possess: which is now wholly useless, and which those very few that have it are forced to lay aside, when tliey would have business suc- ceed. Is it not some comfort, my lord, that you meet with the same degeneracy of maimers, and the same neglect of the public, among the honest Germans, though in the philosopher's phrase, dilFerently modified ? aud I hope, at least, we have one advantage, to be more polite in our corruptions than they. • For his prebend of Dunlavco ; (see April 17, 1710.)— His \w\nffl wwe ia the diocese of Mettk. If. 100 LETTERS TO AND FROM Our divisions rua farther than perhaps jonr lord- ship^s intelligence has jet informed you of: that is, a triumvirate of our fiiends wiiom I have mentioned to you : I have told them more than once, upon occasioQ : *< That all mj hopes of their success depended on their union ; that I saw they loved one another, and hoped they would continue it, to remove that scandal of in- constancy ascribed to court friendships." I am not now so secure; I care not to say more on such a subject, and even this enire nous. My credit is not of a size to do any service on such an occasion : but as little as it is^ I am so ill a politician, that I will venture the loss of it to prevent tliis mischief; the consequence of which I an as good a judge of as any minister of state, and perhapi a better, because I am not one. When you writ your letter, you had not heard cr Guiscard^s attempt on Mr. Harley ; supposing you know all the circumstances, I shall not descant upon it. We believe Mr. Harley will soon be treasurer, and be of the house of peers; and then we imagine the court will begin to deal out employments, for which every Octo- ber member is a candidate; and consequently nine in ten must be disappointed ; the effect of which we may find in the next session. Mr. Harley tvas yester- day to open to tlie house tlie ways he has thougfit o( to raise funds for securing the unprovided debts of the nation ; and we are all impatient to know what his pro- posals are. As to the imperfect account you say you have re- ceived of disagieement among ourselves, your lordslifp knows that the names of whig and tory have quite al- tered their meanings. All who were for turning out the late ministry, we now generally call tories; and in that sense, I think it plain that there are among Uie tories three different interests ; one of those, I mean the minis- DOCTOR SWIFT. 161 tt}% who agree irith jour lordship and mc, in a steady Dianagemeut for pursuing the true interest of the nation : another is, that of warmer head?, as the October club aud their adherents without doors ; and a third is^ I fear, of those who, as your lordship expresses it, would found a parley, and who would make fair weather in case of a change ; and some of these last are not iacon- tiderable. Nothing can be more oblighig than your lordship^s lemembcriug to mention me hi your letten to Mr. Har- icy aud Mr. St. John, when you are in the midst of such great affairs. I doubt I shall want such an advocate as Tmir lordship ; for I believe, every man who has mo- 4aXj or mcriti is but an ill one for himself. I desiro hut the smallest of those titles you give me on the out- -nde of your letter. Mj ambition is to live in England, •nd with a competency to support tne with honour. 'The ministry know by this time whether I am worth keeping ; and it is easier to provide for ten men in the •church, than one in a civil employment. But I renounce England and deaneries, without a promise from your lordship, under youi* own hand aud seal, that I shall have liberty to attend you whenever I please. I foresee we shall have a peace next year, by Ihe same sagacity that I have often foreseen when I was youog. I nmst leave the town in a week, because my money is gone, aud I can borrow no more. Peace will bring your lordship home j and we must have you to adorn yotu: countrj^, when you shall be no longer waul- ed to defend it. I am, my lord, &c. VOL. XV, JI jai LETTERS TO AND FROM please DOt to mention this particular, although it m\\ be soon public, but it is yet kept mightj private. Mr. Harley u to be lord treasurer. Perhaps, before the post leaves this town, all this will be openly tokl, and jiben I may be laughed at for being so mysterious : but 80 capricious are great men in their secrets. The fint authentic assurances I had of these promotions was list Sunday, though the expectation has been strmig for above a month. We suppose likewise that many changes will be made in the employments as soon ai the session ends, which will be, I believe, in less than i .fortnight. Poor Sir Cholmondeley Deering, of Kent, was yesto- day in a duel shot through the body, by one Mr. ThoiD- bill, in Tothilfields, find died in some hours. I never mention any thing of the first-fruits either to Mr. Harley or the Duke of Ormond. If it be done be- fore his grace goes over, it is well, and there's an end: if not, I shall have the best opportunity of doing it in lus absence. If I should speak of it now, perhaps it would be so contrived as to hinder me from soliciting it afte^ ward ; but as soon as the duke is gone, I shall learn at the treasury what he has done in it. I have been at tills town this fortnight for my health, and to be under a . necessity of walking to and from London every day. ' But your grace will please still to direct your letters , .under cover to Mr. Lewis. I am, with great respect, my lord, Tour grace's most dutiful and obliged humble servant, J. SWIFT. DOCTOR SWIFT, 166 TO MR. SECRETARY ST, JOIIX. SIR, Chelsea, May 11, 1711. 3bimg coDVioced, hy ccrtaia oraioous prognostics, that ' life is too sliort to permit me the lionour of ever liog another Saturday villi Sir Simon Harcourt, ight, or Robert HarUy^ Esq. I beg I maj take tlie i farewell of those two gentlemen to-morrow. I made B request 00 Saturday last, unfortunately after, you re gone; and they, like great statesmen, pi-etended 7 could do nothing in it widiout your consent ; par- ilarly my lord keeper, as a lawyer, raised ionumera- difficulties, although I submitted to allow you an ir*8 whispering before dinner, and an hour after. r Lord Rivers would not offer one word in my be- ^ pretending he himself was but a tolerated perboo. e keeper alleged, ^ You could do nothing but when three were capitularly met,^' as if you could never D but like a parish chest, with the three keys toge- r. It grieves me to see the present ministry thus con- stated to pull down my great spirit Fray, sir, ilud expedient. Finding espedieuts is the business of vtaries of state. I will yield to any reasonable con^ ■ ■ ons not below my dignity. I will not find fault with victuals ; I will restore the waterglasa that I stolen solicit for mj lord keeper's salary. And, sir, to w you I am not a person to be safely injured, if you - e refuse mc justice in this point, I will appear before . in a padding sleeve gown, I will disparage your S; write a lampoon upon Nably Car, dine with you a a foreign postday ; nay, I will read verses in your ence, until you soatcli them out of my hands. 166 LETTERS TO AND FROM Therefore pray, sir, take pity upon me and ycmnelf ; and believe me to be, with great respect> sir, Tour most obedient and most humble sen^isnt FROM ARCHBtSHOP KING; BKVEREND BIB9 Dttfrjtft, Moy 15, 1711. I HAD the favour of jour's of the l(Hh instant, b^ the last packets, and cannot return you sufficient aGkooir> ledgment for your kind and prudent management of that aflair, so much to my advantage. I confess that I iSA not much fear that such a vile report would do me any great injury with Mr. Harley ; for I was persuaded be is too wise to believe such an incredible story. But the publishing it to the world might have influenced some to my disadvantage ; and no man can be well pleased to be the subject of a libel, though it often happens to be the fate of honest men. I doubt not but you will hear of an unlucky contest in the city of Dublin about their mayor. Tou may re- member (I think while you were here, that is, in 1 709) Alderman Coustantine, by a cabal, for so I must call it, lost his election; find a junior alderman, one Forrest, was elected mayor for the ensuing year. Consfantioe petitioned the council board not to approve the election ; for you must know, by the new rules, settled in pur- suance of an act of parliament for the better regulation of corpora^ons, their chief officers must be approved of by the governor and council after they are elected, be- fore they can enter into any of their respective offices; and if not approved of in ten day^ the corporatioB that chose them must go to a new election. Now, Alderman Gonstantine, upon the corporation's return of Forrest. DOCTOR SWIFT. 157 eomplaioed of it as wrong, and desired to be heard by couDsel; but mj Lord Wharton, then lord lieutenant, would not admit it. This past on to the year 1710, and then the present mayor was chosen, Aldermen £ccle8, another junior alderman ; and this year one Alderman Barlow, a tailor, another junior. Constautine^ finding the government altered, supposed he should have more favour, and petitions again of the wrong done him. The city replied, and we had two long hearings. The matter depended on an old by-law, made about the 12th of (^ueen Elizabeth ; by which the aldermen, according to thdr anciently, are required to keep their mayoralty, notwithstanding any licenses or orders to the contrary. Several dispensations and instances of contrary prac- tices were produced ; but with, a salvo, that the law of nccession should stand good ; and some aldermen, as ap- peared, had been disfranchised for not submitting to it, and holding in their mayoralty. On the contrary, it was urged, that this rule was made in a time when the mayoralty was looked upon as a great burden, and the seoior aldermen g5t licenses from serving it, and by fac tioo and interest got it put on the junior and poorer^ aad most of the aldermen were then papists, and being obliged, on accepting the office, to take the oath of su- premacy, and come to church, they declined it : but the case was now altered, and most were ambitious of it : and a rule or by-law, that imposed it as a duty and bur- den, must be understood to oblige them to take it, but could not oblige the electors to put it on them ; that it was .often dispensed with, and, as alleged, altogether ab- n^ted by the new rules, tliat took the election out of the dty, where the charter places it, and gave it to the aldermen only : that since those ndes, which were made. in 1672, the elections have been in another manner, ancl bk about thirty-six mayors^ eight or nine were junioi^al- 1C3 LETTERS TO AND FBOM (lermen. Oo the ^vbole, the matter seemed to me 4o hang on a most slender point ; and being archbishop of Dublin, I thought I was obliged to be for the city ; but the majority ^vas for the by-law, and disapproved Al* derm an Barlow, who was returned for major. I did foresee that tliis would beget ill blood, and did not think it fur my lord Duke of Ormondes interest to clasli wiihi 4he city; and I went to several of his grace's friend^ irhom I much.tmst, before the debate in council, and^ desired them to consider the matter, and laid the incoD*' vcuiency I apprehended before them, and desired thcBii to take notice, that I had warned them ; bat they told mc^. that they did not foresee any hurt it would be to hia grace. And I praj God it may not; though I am afraid it may give him some trouble. The citizens have taken it heinously ; and, as I Iiearj. met to-day, and in common council repealed the hy-lav, and have chosen Alderman Barlow again. I think tliem:^ wrong in both, and a declaration of enmity against the. council and government, which feud is easier begun than laid. It is certain the council must disapprove their choice, it being against the new rules,, as well as good planners: and what other steps will be made to correct them, I cannot say ; whereas, if they had appointed a committee to view and report what old obsolete by-laws were become inconvenient, and repealed this among the rest, it would not have given offence; and if they had chosen another instead of Barlow, I believe he would have been approved, and there had been an end of the contest. You must know this is made a party affair, as Cohk stantiue sets up for a high churchman, which I never heard he did before : but this is an inconveniency in parties, thut whoever has a private quarrel, ai](d findis DOCTOR SWIFT. 188 himself tooireat, he irnmediatelj becomes a zealous par- tizan, and makes his private a public quarrel. Perhaps it may not be uDgratefuI, uor perhaps alto- gether useless to jou, to know the truth of this matter; for I imagine it will be talkid of. I believe the generality of the citizens and gentlemen of Ireland are looked on as friends to the whiggish in- terest. But, it is only so far as to keep out the preten- der, -whom they mortally fear with good reason; and so inany villanous papers have been spread here, and so DRich pains taken to persuade them tliat the tories-desiga to bring him in, that it is no wonder they are afraid of them; but God be thanked, tliis ministry and parlia- ■ Brent has pretty well allayed that fear, by their steady htid prudent management And if his grace the Duke * of Ormond prosecutes the same measures the ministry does in Britain (as I believe he will; I persuade myself, that the generality here will be as zealous for this as any ministry we ever had. The death of the Earl of Rochester is a great blow to all good men, and even his enemies cannot but do jus- tice to his character. What influence it will have on public affairs, God only knows. I pray let me have your thoughts on it, for I have some fears, that I do not find affect other people ; I was of opinion that he con- tributed much to keep things steady ; and I wish his friends may not want hb influence. I conclude with my nrayers for you. I ' WILL. DUBLiy, t R 2 UO LETTEBS TO AKB FROM FROM LORD PETERBOROW. aiB, .^Manaoer^ June 21, 1711. You were returning me to ages past for some ezgres- uons in my letter. I find matter in your's to send yoii as far back as the golden age. How came you to frame a system (in the times we live in) to govern the world by love? I was much more surprised at such a notion in your first, than to find your opinion altered in your last let- 1^ ter. My hopes were founded more reasonably upon the contrary priaciple. I wish we could keep ourselves steady by any ; but I confess it was the hatred and coO' tempt so justly conceived against our late governors, that gave me some Cttle expectations we might unite, at lea^t In order to prevent a relapse. The consequences of places not giveo were apparent;, the whole party were then dissatisfied ; and when given, those are only pleased who have them. This is what the Ihonest management of past administrations has brought OS to ; but I should not yet despair, if your loving prin- .ciple could but have its force among three or four of your acquaintance. Never persons bad more reason to agree ; nor was it ever in the power of a few men to bring greater events to bear, or prevent greater incon- .yeoiencies; for such are inevitable, without the nicest paoagement : and I believe no person was ever better pepared to make this out than myself. ](^wish before I left England, that I had met, eitlier ia your letters or discourse, any thing like what you hint in your last : I sliould have found great ease, and you .some satisfaction ; for, had you passed these six months with me abroad, I conld have madarou sensible, that it DOCTOR SWIFT. 171 were easj to have brought the. character and iofluence of an English peer, equal to that of a senator in old Home. Methiuks I could have brought it to that pass, to have seen a levee of suppliant kings and princes, ex- pecting their destinies from us, and submitting to our de- crees; but if we come in politics to your necessity of leaving the town for want of money to live in it, Lord» bow the case will alter ! You threaten me with law, and tell roe I might be compelled to make my words good. Remember yout own insinuations : what if I should leave England in a week's time, and summon you in quality of chaplaiu and secretary, to be a witness to transactions perhaps of the greatest impwtance ; so great, that I should think jrou might deserve the l^hopric of Winchester at your tetum. Let me know, in a letter directed to Parson's- green, the moment you receive this, whether you are -ready and willing ; but you must learn to live a month, DOW and then, without sleep. As to all other things, we should meet with no mortifications abroad, if we could 'scape them from home. But, without raillery, if ever I can propose to myself to be of any great use, I foresee this will be the case. This is so much my opinion, that I conclude, if it fall out otherwise, I shall never concern myself in any pub- lic business in England ; that I shall either leave it for a better climate, or marry in a rage, and become the hero of the October club. Tours, PETERBORQW. B 3 172 LETTERS TO A»D FROM TO ARCHBISHOP KmG. 31Y LORD, London^ July 12, 1711. J Kow conceive your grace begius to be a busj per- son in council, and parliamcnu and conTocation ; and perhaps may be content to be diverted oow and then by an idle letter from hence. Wc have an empty town; the queen being settled at Windsor, and the ministers oAen there. We are so "weary with. expecting farther removals, that we begin to drop the diiicourse ; neither am I sure, whether those in power may not differ a lit? tie in opinion as to the matter. However, it seems generally agreed, that there will be many changes before next session, and that it is necessary there should.be so. My Lord Peterborow has been some time returqed, and J have had a good deal of talk with him^ or rather he has talked a good deal to me. He is mightily discon-. touted with what I. writ to him, pnd which he finds to be true, that there seems a general disposition among us toward a peace. He thinks his successful negotiations, with the emperor and the Thike of. Savoy, have put us ill a better condition than ever to continue the war, and w ill en<:^agc to convince me, that Spain is yet to be had, if we take proper measures. Your grace knows he is a pei'BOD of great talents, but dashed with something rest* less and capricious in his nature. H« told me he came ever without being recalled, and without one servant, Ijaving scattered them in several parts of Germany. I doubt he will not have credit enough with the ministry to ir.ake them follow his plans ; and he is such a sort of person as may give good advice, which wise men may reasonably reftise to follow. It seems to me that tlie ministry lie under a grievous dilemma, from the diffi- t!nlly oT coutiotjung the war, aud the danger of an ill DOCTOR SWIFT. 178 peace ; tthich I doubt if hether all their credit with the queen and countiy irould support them. under: but my ]ord tre9surer is a stranger to fear, and has all that cou- rage which innocence and good sense can give a man, and the. most free from avarice of any one living; both which are absolutely necessary for his station in this juncture. He was saying a thing to- me some days ago, which I :believe is the great maxim he procee^isby, that wisdom in public affairs was not, what is commonly believed, the forming of schemes with remote views; bat the making Jipe of such incidents as happen. It was thought my Lord Mar* would have tuceeeded as secre- tary upon the Duke of Queensbury's death; but the- court seems now disposed to have no third secretary ,t which wa9 a useless charge. The queen has been ex- tnemely ill, so as for four-and-twenty hours people were io great pain ; but she has been since much better, and voided abundance of gravel, &c. Our expedition under Mr. Hill is said to be toward the Bduth Seas; but nothing is known : I told a gicat man, who b deepest in tlie'* project of it, that Lhid no good opinion of these expeditions, which hitherto never succeeded with us. He said, he would venture ten to * John Erakiae, the tenth Earl of Mar, was hy Queen Anne made colonel of a regiment of foot, knight of tlie thistle, and secretary of state for Scotland. He was one of the commissioners for the treaty of Union, and was elected one of the sixteen peers in four giiccccding j^Iiameots. He was again made secretary of state, Sept. 1, 1713 ^ in which ofBcc he was succeeded by tlie Duke of Montrose, Sept. 24, 171}. Being dismissed from all employment, he retired into Scotland « and, at the head of six hundred men, proclaimed the pretender. Hit forces being, increased to six or seven thousand men, he fought the Duke of Argyll, who commanded the royal troops. The victory was left undecided; but the Earl of Mar was forced to take refuge in France. He was attainted in 1716, his estate and honours, ^c. being forfeited to the crown ; and died at Aix la Chapelle, in 1732. N* f Tliere. seems. to have beea none. till Sept. 1, 1713. K 174 LETTERS TO AIVB FROM one upon the miccesB of it, provided do ill accident faap- peDed by storms ; and that it was concerted with three er four great princes abroad. As to the first-fruits, I must inform your grace, thai the whole aflfair lies exactly as it did for some months past. The duke and his people never thought, or at least never meddled in it, until some days before they went, and then they were told it was already done ; and my lord treasurer directed that it should be an iostruo* tion to the lord lieutenant to mentioD-in his speech to parliatnent, that the queen had dene it, &e. But they took no sort of care to finish Ae matter, and carry tlw instrument over with them, which they might have done^ bad they begun timely, and applied themselves ; and as the bishops superseded me, I ^d not presume to meddle farther in it : but I think this may be a lesson, that in all such cases as these, it is necessary to have some good solicitor, and not leave things wholly to great men : nay, so little did the duke engage in this matter, that my lord treasurer told me yesterday (although that is a se- cret) tliat the very draught Ihey had made upon my apr plication was some way or other mislaid between the queen and himself, and could not be found ; but how- ever, that another should soon be drawn : and his lord- ship commanded me to inform your gi*ace, and my lor which they tell me DOCTOR SWIFT. 17* thejr win embrace, especially his lordship. He is to erect acme kind of society, gv academy, under the pa- tronage of the ministers and protection of the queen, for correcting, enlaiging, polishing, and fixing our language. The methods must be left to the society ; only I am writing a letter to wj lord treasurer, by way of pn^H>- sals, and some general hints^ which I design to publish^ and he expects from me. All this may come to nothing-, although I find the ingenious and learned men of all my acquaintance foil readily in with.it; and so I hope will your grace if the derign can be well executed. I would desire at leisure some of your grace's thoughts on this matter. I hope your grace will take advantage of the times» and see whether your violent house €i commons will fait in with some good law for the benefit of the church, as^ their much betters have done it here : and I think the convocation could not be better employed, than in con- odering what good law is wanting for the church, and endeavour to have it passed, rather than in brangling upon trifles. The church has so few happy occasions, that we ought to let none of then slip. I take up too much of your grace's time ; and, therefore, begging your prayers and blessings, I remain, with the greatest respect, your grace's most dutifiil humble servant, J. SWIFT. FROM ARCHBISHOP KING. BiVKBKND SIB, Dublvi, July 25, 1 7] ]. Tou must not wonder, that I have been so ill a cor*^ respondent of late, being, as I find, in debt to you for your's of June the 8th, and July the 12th.' This did 170 LETTERS TO ANIJ FROM not proceed from any Degligence, but from the circum^ stances of things here, that were such, that I could not return you any satisfactory answer. We have now got over the preliminaries of our par- liaments and convocation; that is to say, our addresses, &C. and as to the parliament, so far as appears t» me^ there will be an entire compliance with her majesty's occasions, and my Lord Duke of Ormoud's desire ; and that funds will be given for two years from Christmas next ; by which we shall have the following summer ffee from parliamentary attendance, which proves a great obstruction both to church and country business. As to the convocation, we have no license as yet to act. I have heard some whispers, as if a letter of license had come over, and was sent back again to be mended, es- pecially as to direction about a president. I may inform you, that that matter is in her majesty's choice : we have on record four licenses ; the first directed to the Arch- bishop of Dublin in 1614 ; the other three, that are in 1 634, 1 662, 1 665, directed to the then lords primates. I have pot at present die exact dates ; but I have seen the writs, and find the convocation sat in these years. His grace tlie Duke of Ormond, in his speech to the parliament (which I doubt not but you have seen) men- tioned the remittal of the twentieth parts, and the grant of the first-fruits, for buying impropriations; but did not assume to himself any merit lu the procuring of them ; noi; tliat I can find by any intimation, so much as insinuated, that the grant m as on his motion ; not- withstanding, both in tlie house of lords and convocation, some laboured to ascribe the whole to hb grace ; and had it not been for the account I had from you, his grace must, next to her majesty, have had the entire thanks. You'll observe, from tlie lords' address and convocation, tliat bis grace is brought in for a share iPb* DOCTOR SWIFT. 177 ihih. But if the case should be otherwise, jci his grace is do \ra7 to he blamed. The curreDt nius that way ; mid perhaps neither you nor I have bettered our Interest here at present, by endeavouring to stop it. The conclusion was, that all the arclibishops and bi- shops agreed to return tlianks to my lord treasurer of Great Britain, by a letter, which all in town have sin;n- ed, being convinced, that, next to her majesty's native bounty, and zeal for the church, this favour is due to his lordship's mediation. But they have employed no agent to solicit the paariog the act through the offices, believing his lordship will take care of that of-his own mere motion, as he did- of the grant This is meant as an instance of their great confidence of his lordship's concern for thorn, which makes it needless that any should intermeddle in what be has undertaken. If his lordship thinks fit to return any answer to the bishops, I wish he would take some occasion to mention you ill it ; for that would justify you, and convince the bishops, some of whom, perhaps, suspect tlie truth of what you said, of the first-fruits and twentieth parts be- ing granted before his grace the Duke of Ormond was declared lord lieutenant of Ireland. I cannot at present write of several matters, that pei*- Inps I may have opportunity to communicate to you. I faave sent with this the lords' and the convocation's ad* dress to my lord duke. If it may.be proper, I would have my most humble respects to be laid before my lord treasurer. You may be sure I am hu most humble servant, and shall never forget the advantages he has been the author . of to the cliurch and state : and yet I believe, if it please God to prolong his life, greater things may be expected from hun ; my prayers shall not be wanting. 178 LETTERS TO AND FROM As for mjself, I will saj more some other time : and for the present shall onlj assure you, that I am, sir, Your affectionate humble servant, and brother, WILLIAM DUBLINi FROM ARCHBISHOP KING. IdssenhaUt JuUf 28, 1711. Since mj Lord Duke of Ormond's arrival, I have been so continually hurried with company, that I retired here for two or three days. The preliminanes of our parliament are now over f that is to say, addresses, &c and I find the usual funds will be granted, I think unanioKNisly, for two years from Christmas next, which is all the Duke of Ormond desires. I do not see mudi more will be done. You will observe several reflections are in the addresses on the late management here, in which the Earl of Anglesej' and I differed. If we could impeach, as you can in Great Britain, and bring the ma]efact land doubted whether the queen had granted them be- fore the Duke of Ormond was declared lieutenant." ^ Yes," he said, " sure I remembered it was immediate- ly upon my application." I said, ^ I heard the duke' DOCTOR SWIFT. jai bimself took no merit on that account." He answered, No, he was sure he did not, he was the honestest gentle- man alive ; but, said he, " it is the queen tliat did it, and she alone shall have the merit." And I must be so free as to tell jour grace that thft grudging, ungrateful manner of some people, which up- on several occasions I could not but give him hints of lor my justification, has not been prudent. I am sure, it has hindered me from anj thoughts of pursuing another affair of yet greater consequence, which I had good hopes of compassing. What can be the matter with those peo- ple ? do I ask either money or thanks of them ? have I done any hurt to the business ? My lord treasurer told me he bad sent the letter over about the first-fruits. I never inquired into the particulars : he says he will veiy soon answer the bishop's letter to himself, and will show roe both letter and answer ; but I shall not put him in mind, unless he remembers it of his own accord. I^'ori with great submission to your grace, can I pi-evail on'my own pride to de8ii*e he would make any mention of me in his answer. Your grace is convinced, that unless I write a heap of lies, the queen had granted tliat affair before my lord duke was named. I desire to convince nobody else ; and, since the thing is done, it is not of any conse* quence who were instrumental in it. I could not for- bear yesterday reminding my lord treasurer of what I said to Mr. Southwell before his lordship, when he came to take his leave before he went to Ireland ; which waa^ that I hoped Mr. Southwell would let the bishops and clergy of Ireland know, that my lord treasurer had long since (before the duke was governor) prevailed on the queen to remit the first-fruits, &c. and tliat it was his lordship's work, as the grant of the same favour in Eng- land had formerly been. My lord treasurer did then acknowledge it before Mr. Southwell^ and I think Mr. 182 LETTERS TO AND FROM Southwell should have acted accorduiglj; but there is a great deal of ignorauce, as well as ill will, in all thitf matter. The Diike of Orraond himself, had he engaged ID it, could 0DI7 act as a solicitor. Every body knows, that the lord ti-easurer, in such cases, must be applied to ^and only he) by the greatest persons. I should think die people of Ireland might rather be pleased to see one of their own country able to find some credit at court, and in a capacity to serve them, especially one who does it without any other prospect than that of serving them. I know not any of the bishops from whom I can expect any favour, and there are not many upon whom a man of any figure could have such designs : but I will be re? venged ; Tor whenever it lies in my power, I will serve the church and kingdom, although they should use me much worse. I shall dine to-morrow with the lord trea- surer, and perhaps I may then see the answer he is to write. I thought to have sent this letter away to-night; but I have been interrupted by business. I go to Wind- sor again on Saturday for a day or two, but I will leave this behind to be sent to the post. August 21. I had wrote thus far, and was forced to leave off, being hurried away to Windsor by my lord treasurer, from whence I returned but last niglit His lordship gave me a paper, which he said he had promis- ed me. I put it in my pocket, thinking it was about something else we had been talking over ; and I never looked into it until just now, when I find it to be my lord primate's letter to liis lordship, with an enclosed one from the bishops. With submissiou, I take it to be dry enough, although I shall not tell his lordship so. They say, " they are informed his lordship had a great part in," etc. I think they should either have told who it was informed them so, since it was a person commission- ed by themselves : or, at least, have said they were as- DOCTOR SWIFT. 183 sured. Aod as for those words, a great part, I know no- |iod7 else bad any, except the queen herself. I cannot tell whether mj lord has writ an answer, having said no- thing to him of it since he gave me the letters ; nor shall I desh:e to see it. As to the convocation, I remember both my lord trea- surer and Mr. St. John spdie to me about the matter, . and were of the same opinion with your grace, that it was wholly in the queen's choice. I excused giving my opinion, being wholly uninformed; and I have heard nothing of it since. - My lord keeper gave me yesterday a bundle of Irish votes at Windsor, and we talked a good deal about the quarrel between the lords and commons : I said the fault lay in not dissolving the parliament ; which I had men- tioDed to the Duke of Ormond, and often to some of those who were thought to have most credit with him. But they seemed to believe, as I did, that any Irish par- liament would yield to any thing that any chief gover- nor pleased ; and so it would be a needless trouble. We reckon for certain, that Mr. Hill with his fleet is gone to Q^uebec. Mrs. Masham is every minute expecting to lie in. Pray God preserve her life, which is of great imporlr ance. I am, with the greatest respect, my lord. Tour grace^s most dutiful ^nd most humble servant, J. SWIFT. The queen has got a light fit of the gout. The priyy £eal is not yet disposed of. 18i LETTERS TO AND FROM TO ARCHBISHOP KING. MY LORD, Aug, 26, 1711. Perhaps you will be content to know some circum- stances of aflfairs bere.^ The Duke of Somerset usually leaves Windsor on Saturday, when the ministers go doWa thither, and returns not until thej are gone. On Sun- day sevennight, contrary to custom, he was at Windsdr, and u cabinet council was to be held at night ; but, after waiting a long time, word was brought out, that then would be no cabinet. Next day it was held, and theo Uie duke went to a horse-race about three miles oAL This began to be whispered ; and at my return to town ihcy had got it in the city ; but not the reason ; whadi was, that Mr. Secretary^ St. John refused to sit if the duke was there. Last Sunday the duke was there again, but did not offer to come to the cabinet, which f the worlcl and reading, will enable you to furnish such a piec^ with such uncommon remarks, as will render it both pro* fitable and agreeable, above most things that pass the press. Say not, that most subjects in divinity are ex- hausted ; for if you look into Dr. Wilkins's Heads of Matters, which you will find in his ** Gift of Preaching,'' you will be surprised to find so many necessary and useiiil heads, that no authors have meddled with. There are some common themes, that have employed multitudes of authors ; but the most curious and difficult are in ft manner untouched, and a good genius will not fail to produce semetiog new and surprising on the most trite, much more on those that others have avoided, merelj because they were above their parts. Assure yourself, that your interest, as well as duty, requires this from you ; and you will find, that it will answer some objections against you, if you thus show the world that you have patience and comprehension of thought, to go through with such a subject of weight and learning. Tou will pardon me this freedom, which I assure yoa proceeds from a sincere kindness, and true value that I DOCTOR SWIFT. 193 ive for you. i will add do more, but 1x17 hearty ray era for you. I am, Dr. Swift, Your's, WILL. DUBLIN. DR. FRANCIS ATTERBURY, DEAN OF CHRIST CHURCH. 8IB, Sqd. 1, 1711. 1 coNGRATULATs With the College, the univers^lty, id the kingdom, and condole with myself, upon your 5W dignity.* The virtue I would affect by putting y own interests out of the case has failed me in this Acture. I only consider that I sliall want your con- srsation, your friendship, your protection, and your K>d oiHces, when I can least spare tlicm.f I would * The Deanery of Christ Church, to whieb Dr. Attcrbiiry was- omoted from that of Carlisle. N. f As the inlimacy between these two great men had not then been- l mond, procured them, but his grace himself; who, for aught I can learn, never assumed, either publicly or privately, any such merit to himself: and yet, I confess^ it is not amiss, that it should be thought he did those things. For he could not think of governing the Ung- * DomiBie hangtan, clerk, formerly a friar, had aecased Lewis Mean, £gq. and other protectant j^entlemeD of the coiintjr af Weit Meatfa, of enti^rlug into an atsociaiion against the queen and her mi- pifltry; upon which the house of commons in Ireland, on the sixth of Angusty 1711, voted teveral strong refolutions against the said Lang, ton, declaring his charge against Mr. Moars, &c. to he false, ground* less, and malicious ; and resolved, that an address siioiild be present- ed to the lord lieutenant, the Duke of Ormond, to defiire, that hec oajeity would order the said Langton to be itraek off the establiA* ■WDt of Ireland. B. t Se^ befiuv, Dee. 16, 1710. N. 202 LETTERS TO AND FROM dom, if it be oot believed, that he has great interest at court ; and if that did oot appear by some favours of momeut obtained for the kingdom, none would suppose it. He is truly a modest, generous, and honest man ; and assure joturself, that whatever disturbance he has met with, proceeds from his sticking too close to his friends. It is a pity, such a fault should hurt a man. I send you, enclosed, the papers tliat relate to Mr. Hig- gins. Lord Santry was heard against him, before the lord lieutenant and council, October 27 : he was allov- ed only to prove the articles in his petition, that are marked with P, and he seemed to prove them pretty fully ; but Mr. Higgins not having yet made his defence, I can give no judgment. By tlie testimony of the lower house of convocation, in his favour, you will see how heartily they es|)ouse him. And surely both pains and art have been used to sci-eeu him : with what efiect you shall hear when the matter is concluded. I wish every good man may meet with as good and as fast friends aa be has done. I send you likewise the votes, that kept the commons in debate, from eleven in the morning till seven at night. The question was carried in the nega- tive, by two accidents : the going out of one member, by chance, to speak to somebody at the putting the ques- tion ; and the coming in of another, in his boots, at the very minute. If either had not happened, it had gone tlie other way. The personal affection to the Duke at Ormond divided the house. If they could have sepa- rated him from some others, the majority had been great. You may eanly, from this^ see what way the bent of the kingdom goes; and that garbling corporations no way please them. We have several printed accounts of preliminaries of the peace; but I believe them all amusements; for, I imagine none of the common scribblers know any thing DOCTOR SWIFT. 203 of them at all. I praj God llie} m«y be such as may se- cure us from a oew war ; though, I believe the death of the emperor makes a lastiog peace much more difficult than before. That depends on a balance, and to that three things seem so necessarj, that any two may stop the third ; but now all is reduced to two. I reckon, as soon as the peace is settled, the dauphin will be taken out of the way, and then France and Spain will fall into one hand : a surmise I have had in mind even since Philip got Spain ; and I was of opinion, that if we could have been secured against this accident, there had been no need of a war at all. A% to the convocation, I told you formerly how we lost all the time of a recess, by a precipitate adjournment made by five bishops, when the archbishop of Tuam, and as many of us as were of the privy council, were absent, attending at the board, upon a hearing of the quakers against Uie bill for recovery of tithes. Since the meeting of the parliament, after the recess, we have attended pretty closely, have drawn up and agreed to six or seven canons, and have drawn up a representa- tion of the state of religion, as to infidelity, heresy, im- piety, and poperj. We have gone through likewisf^ and agreed to, a great part of this ; but 1 doubt we shall not be able to finish it. We have also before us the consideration of residence, and the meacs of converting papists. This last sent up from the lower house. But I reckon it not possible to finish these things this session. I need not tell you, that my lord primate's indisposition is a great clog to despatch ; but he is resolved none else shall have the chair. So we dispense with many things^ that otherwise I believe we should not. We had only two church bills this time ; one for unions, which was ttrowD out in our house; and another for recovery of ^'04 LETTERS TO AND FROM tithes, which I uoderetand will be tliiown out by the oommoDs. Our session draws near an end, and eveiy kody is tired of it. WILL. DUBLIir. FROM THE SAME. OcL 3i, 1711. To day we had another hearing at council, concern* iDg Mr. HiggiDs's business. Some of his witnesses were examined. So far as we have yet heard, it does not appear to me, that they have cleared him of tampeiinf with witnesses, shifting recognizances, or compoundiog felonies ; but, it is said, these things are common in the Gountrj ; and perhaps that will save him. And I know not how far his other witnesses, that are yet to be ex- amined, may clear him. The hcaiing lasted above three hours. I was un grilling to make this packet too laige, so I have eDcIosed the other prints in another. I want some affidavits of gentlemen, in which they depose Mr. Higgins's case to contain many falsehoods. I am, &c WILL. DUBLIN. FROM THE SAME, llEVEREND SIB, DuhUfi^ NdfO. 1, 171L I HAVE considered that part of your letter that re- lates to your own concerns. I find you, in earnest, very tDdifferent as to making your fortune; but you ought DOCTOR SWIFT. &0d aot to be 80, for a weighty reason you insiouate your- self, that you cannot, without a settlement, be master of your time id such manner, as to apply yourself to do something that may be useful to tlie church. I know it 18 not in your power to do it when you please; but yet something may be done toward it Get but a letter to the goyemment, from my lord treasurer, for the first good preferment ; and you will, at the same time, fill it with a good man, and perhaps preyent a bad one from getting into it. Sure there is no immodesty in getting such a recommendation. Consider that years grow up- on you; and, after fifty, both body and mind decay. I kave several things on the anvil, and near finished, that perhaps might be useful, if published : but the continual ftYOcation by budness, the impositions on me by imperti- ■ent visits, and the uneasiness of writing, which grows nore intolerable to me every day, I doubt, will prevent ny going any farther. Therefore lose no time ; qui non est hodie^ eras mnus aptus erit, I am sure, you are able to do good service ; and give me leave to be importu- nate with you to go about it. Caesar wrote his Com- iaentaries under the hurry and fatigues of a general; and perhaps a man's spirit is never more awakeoed, nor his thoughts better, than in the intervals of a hurry of busi- ness. Read Erasmus's life, and you'll find it ^bs almost a continual journey. You see how malicious some are toward you, in printing a parcel of trifles, falsely, as your works. This makes it necessary that you should shame those varlets, by something that may enlighten the world, which, I am sure your genius will reach, if you ^t yourself to it. If I had the honour to have any cor- respondence with my lord treasurer, I would certainly complain of you to him, and get his lordship to join in tbb request, which, I persuade myself, he would readily do, if put in mind. I do not in the least fear that you 206 LETTERS TO AND FROM %Ti1l be angiy with mh for this, since you caDnot saspect my rincerity and kindness in it: and though I shall be aDg;ry vitli you, if you neglect yourself and interest, yet it shall go no farther, than to be a trouble to myself, but no abatement of the real (neiidship of Tour's, &C. WILL. DUBLIN. FROM THE SAME. SEVEREND SIR, DuhliH, NOU. 10, 17] 1. Perhaps it will not be ungrateful to you, to know our session of parliament ended on Friday last. We threw out in the house of lords, two bills ; that against fines in the city of Dublin, and about quit-rents ; and voted an address, in opposition to the commons* address, about revolution principles. «We likewise burned Mr. Stoughton^s sermon,* preached at Christ Church on the 30 ih of January, some years ago. The house were pleased to vote me tlianks for prosecuting him, which, you may remember, I did in a difTicult time, notwith- standing the opposition I had fi-om the government, and his protection by Lord Ikerin, whicli he pleaded ia court : and }'et I followed him so close, that I forced him out of his living. After this, we burned Mr. Boysc's book of A Scriptural Bishop ;f and some Ob- « Sec before, Feb. 10, 1708-0; March 20, 1700. N. f It was printed in 4to. at Dublin, under the title of, " The Office of a Christian Bishoi) described, and recommended from 1 Tim. rh. iii. ver. 1 ; an ordination sermon. >Vith an appendix to it, and a postscript, containing an apology for the publication of it.** The ap- pendix and postscript were added to the second edition of the Sei*mon. The. author was an eniinrnt dissenting rcinistrr at Diib!in. B. DOCTOR SWIFT. 2^7 vervaton.* Our addresB was brou^t in yesterday ; ia which sure ire are even with the commons. I forgot to tell you, we agreed to another address against dissenting ministers, and their twelve hundred poundsf per tmmmu The commons made an address to my lord lieutenant, in -which they bring- him in for revolution principles. ^* The Memorial of the Church of England"^ was re- printed here, and dedicated to my lord lieutenant. This was bi-ought into the liouse of commons, and I doubt, would not have escaped, if the usher of the black rod had not called them up to the prorogation. Langton^s busi- ness came likewise into the house of lords, and when the house was full of ladies, an olTer was made to receive the report of the committee, which contained many sheets of paper. A great debate happened upon it ; but at last it was waved, and ordeied to be laid before the lord lieutenant. In short, we parted in very ill humour; and I appre- hend that the minds of the gciiiTality arc not easy. My lord Duke of Ormond, so far as I could take it, made a very modest and healing speecii ; and his grace * Papers published under that title, by JobnTutchin, Esq. who had been severely Rcntenced by I^rd Cliief Justice Jeffreys, in King Jamrs the second's reign. He wa<, at last, attacked in the night, for eome oflToncc whlcii he h:id given by his writings, and died in cousc- queocc or the violence used toward him. Dr. JSwift, in his Examiner, - rfo. 15, Nov. 16,1710, speaks of this writer, and of Daniel de Foe, au- thor of " The Review of the State of the British Nation,** as '' Tiro stupid illiterate scribbleni, both of tlicm fanatics by profession.** B* f This address was agreed to upon Nov 9, 1711. The twelve hun- dred pounds per annum was originally a bounty to those ministers from King Charles tiie second, confirmed by King William, and con- tiuned by Uueen Anne. B. ; Published at first in 1705, 4to. under this title, *' The Memorial «f the Church of England, humbly offered to the consideration of all true lx)ver8 of our Church and Constitution.'* — 'J'his libel, upon its first publication, having been pre%nted as such by the grand jury of London and Middlesex, Aug. 31, 1705, wis burnt by the common hnngmnn. B. 208 LETTERS TO AND FROM teemed, iu it, to be altogether disinterested in parties. All these you have in public ; and if 70U think it vorth while, I will take care to send them as they are piiated. As to our convocation, those who had loitered and done nothing before last week, pressed on the representa- tion of the state of religion, as to infidelity, heresy, im- piety, and popery ; it will in some time, be printed. ,1 had many reasons, but insisted only on two; first, its imputing all vices to us, as if we were the worst of peo^ pie in the world; not allowing any good among uSi Secondly, not assigning it a cause of tlie natives coih iinuifig papists, tliat no care was ever taken to preach te them in their own language, or translating the service into Irish. You will find the matter in Heylin's Re- formation, 2d Eliz. 1560, p. 128. I was forced to use art to procure this protest to be admitted, without which they would not have allowed me to offer reasons^ as I had cause to believe. Both the parliament and convocation have been so ordered, as to make us appear the worst people in the world, disloyal to lier majesty, andeuemics to the church; and I suspect, with a design to make us appear unwor- thy to have any couutenauce or preferment in Our na- tive country. When the representation is printed, I will, if you think it worth your while, send you my pro- test We agreed likewise in some canons of no great moment, and sonic forms of prayer, and forms of receiv- ing papists, and sectaries; which, I think, are too strait. I brought iu a paper about residence ; but here was no time to consider it, nor that which related to the means of converting papists. I did not perceive any zeal that way. A great part of our representation relates to sec- taries ; and many things, in the whole, seem to me noi defensible. I told you before, how we lost six weekf, DOCTOR SWIFT. 20& during the adjouromeot of the parliament; and since it sat, ire couid only meet in the afternoon, and I was fre« queutlj in council ; so that I was neither present when it was brought into the house, when it passed for the most part, or was sent down in parcels, in foul rased pa- pers, that I obald not well read, if I had an opportuni- ty ; and never heard it read through before it past. I believe most are agreed, that if mj advice had been taken, this would have l>een the peaceablest session that ever was in Ireland ;. whereas it has been one of the most bdsterous. I believe it was his grace the Duke of Or- nond's interest to have it quiet ; but then the managers' coDduct has showed themselves to be necessary. I have wearied myself with this scroll, and perhaps you will be so likewise. I am, &c. WILL. DUBLIN. PROM MR. SECRETARY ST. JOHN. Hkmptan Courts Nov, 16, 1711. I RSTURN you the sheet,* which is, I think, very cor- rect Sunday morning I hope to see you. I am sin^ cerely your hearty friend and obedient servant, H. ST. JOHN. I have a vile story to tell you of the moral philoso- pher Steele. ' • Probablj of '* Tbe Conduct of the Allies," which was published Nov. 27, 1711. B. VOL. XT. 210 LETTERS TO AND FROM FROM THE SAME. UiUR DOCTOR, Nop, 17, 1711. I A8K pardon for my mistake,* and I send you the right paper. I am, in gSckneiB and in health, ever jour faithful friend, aqd obedient servant, a ST. JOHN. ^ FROM MRS. LONG.t Nov. 18, 1711. If you irill again allow me the pleasure of hearing from you, without murmuring, I will let you enjoy that of laughing at me for any foolish word I mbapply; for I know you are too reasonable to expect me to be nice- ly right in the matter; but then when you take a fancy to be angiy, pray let me know it quietly, that I may' clear my meanings, which are always far from offending niy friends, however unhappy I may be in my expres- sions. Could I expect you to remember any part of my letters so long ago, I would ask you, that you should know where to find me when you had a mind to it : l^ut I suppose you were in a romantic strain, and designed to have surprised me talking to myself in a wood, or by the sea. . Forgive the dullness of my apprehension, and if telling you that I am at Lynnc will not do, I will print it, however inconvenient it may yet be to me ; for I am not the better for the old lady's death, but am put in hopes of being easy at Christmas ; however, I shall still continue to be Mrs. Smyth, near St. Nicholas's church, * AUudlog to the preceding letter. N. f Thus indorsed by the doctor; " Poor Mr:. Long's last letter, Hf ritten five weeks before she died." U. S. ©OCTOR SWIFT. 211 in the town aforesaid ; so much for mj affairs. Now as to my health, that' iras much out of order last summer ; iny distemper was a dropsy or asthma (you know what I mean, but I caouot spell it right) or both, lazy distem- peiSy which I was too lazy to molest while they would let nae sit in quiet ; but #heD they grew so unreasouable as not to let me do that, I applied myself to Dr. loglis, by whose advice I am now welt enough. To give you the best account I can of this place, the ladies will make any returns, if one may believe what they say of one' another; the men I know little of, for I am here, what you have often upbraided me with, a prude in every thing but censuring my neighbours. A couple of di- vines, two aldermen, and a custom-house ofKeer, are all' my men acquaintance ; the gay part of the town I know nothing of, and although for the honour of ^ the place I will suppose there are good poets, yet that. I never in- quired after. I have a shelf pretty well filled at home, but want a Miscellany Mr. Steele put out last year; Miss Hessy promised it me, but has forgot it ; I fancy . you have interest enough with him to get it for me. I wish too at your leisure you would make a pedigree for me; the people here want sadly to know what I am; I pretend to no more than being of George Smyth's fami- ly of Nitly, but do not talk much of it for fear of be- traying myself; so they fancy some mystery to be in the matter, and would give their rivals place to be satisfied. At first they thought I came hither to make my fortune, by catching up some of their youjig fellows ; but having avoided that sort of company, I am still a riddle they know not what to make of. Many of them seem to love me well enough ; for I hear all they say of one another withouX making nriischief among tliem, and give them tea and coiTee when I have it, which are the greatest charms I can boast of : the fine lady I have left to Mdl 4 212 LETTERS TO AND FHOM (who I suppose was at the Bath) or any other that will take it up ; for I am grown a good housewife ; I can pot and pickle, sir, and handle a needle very prettily ^ see Miss Hessy^ scarf, I think that is improTing mightily. If Miss Hessy keeps company with the eldest Hattoo, and U still a politician, she is not the gurl I took her for ; but to me she seems melancholy. Sure Mr. St John Is not so altered but he will make returns; but how can I pretend to judge of any thing, when my poor cousin is taken for ao hermaphrodite ? a thing I as littie suspect- ed her for as railing at any body ; I know so little cause for it, that I must be silent I hear but little of what is done in Uie world, but should be glad the ministry did themselves the justice to distinguish men of merit : may I wish you joy of any preferment ? I shall do it hear- tily : but if you have got nothing, I am busy to as much purpose as you, although my employments are next to picking straws. Oh, but you are acquainted with my Lord Fitzharding, for which I rejoice with you, and am your most obedient servant, ANNE LONG. MR. SHOWER* TO THE LORD HIGH- TREASURER, OXFORD. HT LORD, Landmiy Dec. 20, 1711. Though there be little reason to expect your lord- iihip should interpose in favour of the dissenters, who * An eminent disienting minister. He was born at Exeter in 1657, and officiated in tlie Old Jewry. He died June 28, 1715, after having published a great number of Sermons and otiier religious treatises, which are enumerated in the lafe prefixed to bis Funeral Sermon, by Vt. Tong. Sir Bartholomew Shower was his brother. B. BOCTOR SWIFT. 213 f /-^ ^aye been so shamefiilTy abaodoned, sold, and sacrifi* ced by; their professed friends; the attempt is however so ^lorloiu, in all its views, tendencies, and prospects, that, if it be not too . late, I would most humbly beg your lordship not to be immoveable as to that matter. The fatal consequences of that bill cannot be expressed : I dread to think of some of them ; and shall as much re* joice with many thousands, if you may be instrumen- tal to prevent it. May Heaven direct you in this, and all your great affairs for the public good of your country! I am, my honoured lord. Tour most obedient servant, JOHN SHOWER. LORD OXFORD?S ANSWER TO MR. SHOWER.*. « REVEREND SIR, • DcC. 21, 1711. Had not a very painful distemper conQued roe, I had desired the favour of seeing you some time since ; and I should have spoken very plainly to you, as I shall whenever I see you. I have long foretold, that the dis- senters must be saved whether they will or not ; they resist even restraining grace ; «ud would almost con- vince me, that the notion of man's being a mechanism is true in every part. To see men moved as puppets, with rage for their interest, with envy acting against their • The ansver was written by Dr. Swift, as appears not only from his handwriting, but particularly from a correction in the original draught It appears also, by the Journal to Stella, that another an- swer hacf been written by the Earl of Oxford, *^ which his frieftds wfNild Bot let bioi send, but was a very good one.** 9. 214 LETTERS TO AND FROM own iiitei-est, haviog meu^s persons io adniiratioo : lot only tbose of their own body, who certainly are the first vho pretended to consummate wisdom and deep policyi yet have shown that they knew not the common affairs of this nation, but are dwellers in thick clay. Thej are epicureans in act, puritans in profession, politiciaiia in conceit, and a prey and laughingstock to tlie deists and synagogue of the libertines, in whom thej have trust- ed, and to i\ho6e infallibility they have sold themselves and their congregations. All thej have done, or caa do, shall never make me their enemy. I pitj poor de^ luded creatures^ that have for seventeen years been act- ing against all their principles, and the liberty of this na- tion, without leaving so much salt as to keep the bod j of them sweet : for there has not been one good bill, dur> ing that term of year?, which they have not opposed in the house of commons : contrary to the practice of those very few dissenters which were in the parliament in King Charles tKe Second^s time, who therebj united themselves to the 6duntry gentlemen, the advantage of which they found for many yearslifler. But now they have listed themselves with those, who had first denied our Saviour, and now have sold them. I have written this only to show you, that I am ready to do every thing that is practicable, to save people who are bargained for by their leaders, and given up by their ministers ; I say, their mimsters ; because it is averred and represented, that the dissenting ministers have been consulted, and are consenting to this bill. By what lies and arts they are brought to this, I do not care to men- tion ; but, as to myself the engineers of this bill thought they had obtained a great advantage against me, find- ing I had stopped it iu the house of commons, they thought to bring me to a fatal dilemma, whether it did or did not pass. This wotild have no influence with me ; DOCTOR SWIFT. 215 for I will act what I think to be right, let there be the vorst enemies in the world of one side or other. I guess^ hj, your letter, that you do not know that the bill yester- day passed both houses, the lords having agreed to the aroendmeDtB made by the commons ; so that there u no room to do any thing upon that head. What remains is, to desire that the dissenters may seriously think from whence they are fallen, and do their first works — and recover their reputation of sobriety, in- tegrity, and lore of thehr country, which is the sincere mid hearty prayer of, Reverend sir, your most faithful and most humble servant, OXFORD. ON MRS. LONG'S DEATH.* SIR, London, Dec. 26, 1 71 1. That you may not be surprised with a letter utterly unknown to you, I will tell you the occasion of it. The lady who lived near two years in your neighbourhood, and whom you was so kind to visit under the name of Mrs. Smyth, was Mrs. Anne Long, sister to Sir James Long, and niece of Col. Strangeways : she was of as good a private family as most in England, and had every valuable quality of body and mind that could make a lady loved and esteemed. Accordingly, she was always valued here above roost of her sex, and by most distin- guished persons. But, by the unkindness of her friends and the . generosity of her own nature, and depending * See the Decree for concluding the treaty between Dr. Swift and Mrfi. Long, in 1709, in vol. IV. N. 216 LETTERS TO AND FROM upon the death of a very old graodmother, which did not happen till it was too late, contracted some debts that made her uneasy here, and in order to clear them vas content to retire unknown to yomr town, where I jfear her death lias been hastened by melancholy, and perhaps the want of such assistance as slie might have found here. I thought fit to signify this to you, partly to let you know how valuable a person you have lost, but chiefly to desire that you will please to bury her in seme part of your church near a wall where a plain marble stone may be fixed, as a poor monument for one who deserved so well, and which, if God sends me life, I hope one day to place there, if no other of her friends will think fit to do it. I had the honour of an intimate acquaintance with her, and wbs never so sensibly touch- ed with any one's death as with hers. Neither did I •ver know a person of either sex with more virtues, or fewer infirmities ; the only one she had, which was the neglect of her own affairs, arising wholly from the good- ness of her temper. I write not this to you at all as a secret, but am content your town should know what an excellent person they have had among them. If you visited her any short time befnre her death, or knew any particulars about it, or of the state of her mind, or the Batiire of her disease, I beg you will be so obliging to in- form, me; for the letter we have seen from her poor maid is so imperfect by her grief for the death of so good a lady, that it on|y tells the time of her death; and your letter may, if you please, be directed to fir* Swifi, and put under a cover, which cover may be directed to Erasmus Lewis, Esq. at the Earl of Dartmouth's ofiice, at Whitehall. I hope you will forgiire this trouble for the occasion of it, and give some allowances to so great a loss, not only to me, but to all who have any regard for every perfection that human nature can possess ; aud DOCTOR SWIFT. 217 if'dinfMtj I can serve or oblige you, I shall bie glad 6f aQopportoaitj of obeying your comraaods. lanv&c- J. SWIFT. TO DR. STERNE. 4»89 London^ Dec, 29, 1711. Thb reason I have not troubled you this long time with my letter?, was, because I would not distui-b the ^uiet you live in, and which the greatest and wisest men here would envy, if they knew ; and which it is one part of your happiness that they do not. I have often sent the archbishop* political letters, of which I suppose you liave had part. I have some weeks ago received a let- ter from his grace, which I design to acknowledge in a rfiort time (as I desire you will please to tell him) when things here come to some issue ; and so we expect they will do in a little time. Tou know what an unexpected thing fell out the first day of this session in the house of lords, by the caprice, discontent, or some worse motive •f the Earl of Nottingham.f In above twenty years, that I have known something •f courts, I never observed so many odd, dark, luac- eountable circumstances in any public "affair. A ma* jority against the court, carried l)y five or six depending : • Tbe Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Kiog. B. f The Earl of Nottingham proposed in the heiiae of lords, h clause io be inserted in the address of thanks to the queen for her speech, to represent to her majesty, as the humble opinion and advice of the house, that no peace could be made safe or honourable to Great Bri- tain or Europe, if Spain or the West Indies were to be allowed to any branch of the house of Bourbon. Which motioo was carried bjT/ a lujority of sizty-Qne votefl to fifty-five. B. 218 LETTERS TO AND FROM lords, who owed the best part of theirbread tapenriott from the court, and who were told by the pobMc enemy, that what they did would be pleariog to the queen, though it was openly levelled against the fiTst minister's - bead : again, those, whose purse-strings and heartstrings were the same, all on a sudden scattering their money to bribe votes : a lord,* who had been so far always a tory, as oft^n to be thought in the pretender^s interest, giving his vote for the niin of all his old friends, caressed by those whigs, who hated and abhorred him : the whi^ all "chiming in with a bill against occasional conformity ;t and the very dissenting ministers agreeing to it, for reasons that no body alive can tell 4 a resolution of breaking the treat/ of peace, without any possible scheme for continuing the war : and all this owing to a doubtfulness, or inconstancy in one certain quarter, * Earl of Nottingham. B. f One of the conditions upon which the Earl of Nottingham was «aid to have entered into strict engagements with the lords of the moderate party-, was their concurrence wiUi him in a bill to prevent HeasUnal cov^formit^^ which he had formerly urged, and now de- signed to bring into the house of lords; thougli under another tiUe, and with such clauses as would, in some measure, enlarge the tolera- tion of dissenters, and be a farther security to tlie protestant succes- sion in the house of commons. Accordingly, Dec. 15, 1711, bis IcH'd- ihip brought into the house of lords " A bill for preserving the {H'o- testant religion, by better securing the church of England, as by law ftstnblished ; and for confirming the toleration granted to the pro- testant dissenters, by an aet, intituled, ^ An act for exempting their mystics protestant subjects from the penalties of certain laws ; and for the supplying the defects tliereof ;* and for the further securing the protestant succession, by requiring the practisers of the law, ia North Britain, to take the oaths, and subscribe the declaration therein mentioned.** His (ordship was supported by the Earls of Scarborough and Wharton, and several other lords ; so that the bill was received, and read the first time without opposition ; and Dec. 18, it passed the Jiouse of lords ^ as it did that of the conunOns on th« 20th. B. t It is said the dissenters consented to be kept out, that the pAjnsfn miiht not he let in. tt. toOCTOR SWIFT. 219 ivhich^,£y[ this distance, I dare not describe. Neither do I find nny ooe person, though deepest in affain^ ivho can tell what dteps to^ke. Oo Jaouarj the le- cood, the house of lords & to meet, and, it is expected, Ihey will go on in their votes and addresses against a peace.. . On the other side, we are endeavouring to get a ma- jority, and have called up two earls' sons to the house of peers ; and I thought six more would have been called, And perhaps they may before Wednesday. We ^xpect the Duke of Somerset and Lord Cholmondeley will lose 4heir places ; but it is not yet done, and we wish for one more change at court, which you must guess. To know upon what small circumstances, and by what degrees, this change has been brought about, would require a great deal more than I can, or dare write. There is not one, which I did not give warning of to those cliiefly concerned, many months ago ; and so did some others, for. they were visible enough. This must infallibly end either in an entire change of measures and ministry, or in a firm establishment of our side. Delay, and tenderness to an inveterate party, have beew very instrumental to this i\\ state of affairs. They tell me, you in Ireland are furious against a peace ; and it is a great jest to see people in Ireland furious for oc against any thing. I hope to see you in spring, when travellings weather comes on. But I have a tpind to see the issue of this session. I reckon your hands are now out of mortar, and that your garden is finished : and I suppose you have now one or two fifty pounds ready for books,^ * Dr. Sterne made a large collection of books^ and placed them in the upper part of the Deanery-bouse (then built by him) which he- itted up for this purpose in one great room, with a fire-place at eaclt- twL He enlarged thii collection very much la. the subsequent par-t^ K 3 220 LETTERS TO AND FROM -which I will lay out for you, if you will give me di- rections. I have increased my own little library very consider- ably; I mean, as far aa one fifty pounds, which is very considerable for me. I have just had a letter from the St. Mary ladies, &c.* I thought they were both dead; but I &d they sometimes drink your claret still, and win your money. I am, sur, your moat obedient hum:- ble servant. You know whoir P. S. I had sealed my letter, but have broke it open, to tell you, and all that love the church and crown, that all things are now well. The queen has turned out the Duke of Somerset, and has created twelve new lords, of which three are peers' eldest sons, the rest new created ; so that a majority is past dispute.. We are all in the greatest joy imaginable to find her majesty declare hei'self so seasonably^ of his Hfe, and when he died Bishop of Clogher, in June 1745, he be- queathed such books out of it, to the trustees of the public library is Dublin, founded by primate Marsh, as they wanted. The remainder lie directed to be sold, and the money to be divided among the co- rates .of his diocese ; but as these gentlemea chose rather to have the books divided amongst them, their request was complied with by the bishop's executors; and all the books, being a great number, were divided into lots, as nearly equal as possible in value, and nailed up in boxes that were numbered. Duplicates of these numbers were, written on pieces of paper, and the curates drew for them. F. '^ Mrs. JobssoD and Mrs. Dingley. B. DOCTOR SWIFT. 221 TO ARCHBISHOP KING- MTiiOBD, Londioffi, JoM. 8, 1711-12. I CJLVNOT ia conscieoce take up your grace's time with an empty letter ; and it is not every day one can fturDiah what will be worth your reading. I had all your grace's packets ; and I humbly thank your grace for your good instructions to me, which I shall observe as soon as ever it shall please God to put me into a way of life where I can have leisure for such specu- lations. lu above twenty years that I have known something of courts and ministers, I never saw so strange and odd a complicated disposition of affairs as what we have had for six weeks past The facts your grace may have met with in every common newspaper ; but the springa of them are hardly discoverable even by those who had most opportunity of observing. T^either do I find those ' who should know best, agree upon the matter. There b a perpetual trial of skill between those who are out and those who are in; and the former are generally more industrious at watching opportunities. Last Sep- tember, at Windsor, the Duke of Somerset,^ who had not been at cabinet council for many months,' was advised by his friends of the late ministry to appear there^ but the rest refused to sit with him ; and the council was put off until next day, when the duke went to a horse- race. This was declaring open war; and ever since both he and his duchess (who is in great favour) have been using all sorts of means to break the present minis- try. Mrs. Masham was absent two months from Wind- • This happened August 12, 1711. See Jourml to Stella, Aqimi- 13. N. ,>; - 222 LETTERS TO AND FROM Mur, with Ijing in at Kensingtoivitnd mj lord tceasorer tax weeks by indisposition. Some time before tbe aes- 8100, the duke above mentioned went to all those lords, who^ by the narrowness of their fortunes, have depeod- jcd on the court, and engaged them to vote against-the ministry, by assuring them it was the queen's pleasure^ He is said to have added other powerful motiveau Bothmar's* memorial was published just at that Juncture as Hoflfmao the emperor's resident had some time befoit printed the French king's propositions. It is confident- ly affirmed, by those who should know, that money was plentifully scattered. By these and some other acci- dents, the vote was carried against the ministry ; and every body of either party understood the thing as in- tended directly against my lord treasurer's head. Tbe bouse of lords made a very short adjournment, and were . preparing some resolutions and addresses of the most dangerous importance. We had a very melancholy Christmas, and the most fearless persons were ahakeo ;■ for our gi:eat danger lay where I cannot tell your grace at this distance. The thing wished for was, the remov- al of the Somerset family ; but that could not be dooe^ nor yet is. After some time, the queen declared herself as you have heard, and twelve new lords were created. My Lord I*9^ottiogham's game in this affair has been roost talked of, and several hard things said of him are affirmed to be true. The dissenting ministers in this town were consulted about the occasional bill, and agreed to it, for what reasons I cannot leant ; that which is offered not satisfying me, that they were afraid of .worse. I believe they expected an entire change of ministry and measures, and a new parliament, by which it might be repealed, and have instead some law to theur • Baroa Bothmar, envoy extraordiaary from the eleotor of HaiM»' wer, afterward Kiog George h N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 223 • advantage. The Duke of Marlborough's removal* has passed verj dlentlj ; the particular reasons for it I mutt tell your grace some other time : but how it will pass abroad I canuot answer. People, on both sides couclude from it, that the peace is certain ; but the conchision is ill drawn : the thing would have been done, although we had been sure of continuing the war. We are ter- ribly afraid of Prince Eugene^s coming, and therefore •it was put off until the resolutions were taken. Before -he came out of his yacht, he asked how many lords Were made ? He was a quarter of an hour with the -queen, on Sunday about seven at night. The great 'men resolve to entertain him in their turns; and we suppose it will all end in a journey of pleasure. We are so confidently told of the Duke of Somerset's being out, that I writ so to the Dean of St Patrick's. -A man of quality told me, he had it from my lord keep- er, whom I asked next day, and found it a mistake ; •but it is impossible to fence against all lies; however, ■it is still expected that the duke will be our, and that many other removes will be made. Lord Kanelaghf died on Sunday mornii^ : he was very poor and needy, •and could hardly support himself for want of a pension, -wiiich used to be paid him, and which his friends solicit- ed as a thing of perfect charity. He died hard, as the .term of art is here, to express the woful state of men who discover no religion at their death. * Dec. 30, 1711. See Journal to Stella, Jan. 1, 1711-12. N. f Richard Jones, Baron Jones of Navan, and Viscount Ranelagib, created Earl of Ranelagh, Dec. 11, 1677. He was vice treasurer of Ire^And, constable of Athlone, several years pay-master of the army, and a lord of the privy council. Dying, Jan. 3, 1711, without sur- viving male issue, the title of earl became extinct ; but those of vifr- count and baron reverted to the issue of a second son of Sir Roger Jones, tlie first viscount. See a letter of Lady Catharine Jone% bh daughter, Juq« 11, 1729 j and another, June 15, 1732> N* 224 LET1*ERS TO AND FROBT The town talk is that the Duke of Ormood vill g« DO more to Ireland, but be succeeded by. the Ddke <€ Shrewsbuiy, who is a very great aod excellent person; mnd I will hold a wager that your grace will be an ad- mirer of his duchess : if they go, I will certainly order hex to make all advances to you : but this is only a ge- neral report, of which they know nothing at court, al- though I think it not altogether improbable; We have yet heard nothing of my lord privy seaL Buys, the Dutch envoy, went to Holland, I think, at the same time. Buya is a great pretender to politicly imd always leaves the company with great expressiooft of satisfaction that he has convinced them all; he took much pains to persuade me out of sonue opinions : an^ although all he said did but fix me deeper, he told the ministry how successful he had been. I have got poor Dr. King,* who was some time in Ireland, to be Gazet- teer, which will be worth 250/. per annum to him, if he be diligent and sober, for which I am engaged. I men- tion this, because I think he was under your grace's pror lection when he was in Ireland. By what I gather from Mr. Southwell, I believe your grace stands very well with the Duke of Ormond;. and it is one great addition to my esteem for Mr. South- well, that he is entirely your grace's friend and humble ■ervant, delighting to do you justice upon all occarioos*. I am, with the greatest respect, your grace's most dutiful and most humble servant. * Dr. William King of the Commons; whose Miseellaaeous Wri; tfngt, in verse and prose, were collected in three volumes, small 8vo. 177S, with Biosrtpbicai Memoin, laj tha editor «( thcw rohuner/ DOCTOR SWIFT. 225 -/ FROM DR. SACHEYERELL. BK¥KSB]io SIR, Souih^orky Jan, 31, 1711-12; SiNCB you have beeo pleased to undertake the gene- Foua office of soliciting my good lord treasurer's favour ia my behalf I should be very ungrateful if I did not return you my most hearty thanks for it, and my hum- blest acknowledgments to hb lordship for the success it has met with. I received last Monday a message by my pupil, Mr. J^oyd, (representative of Shropshire,) from Mi. Harlcy, by his lordship's order, to inquire what my brother was qualified for. I told him, having failed in his trade, he had been out of business for some jears) during which time I had entirely maintained him and his family : that bis education had not qualified him for any condderable or nice post : but that, if his lordship thought him aa object of his favour, I entirely submitted him to his dis- posal, and should be very thankful to his goodness to ease me of part of that heavy burden of my family^ that required more than my poor circumstances could allow o£ I am informed also, that I am very much indebted to my great countryman, Mr. Secretary St John^ for his generous recommendation of this matter to his lordship. I should be proud of an opportunity of expressing my gratitude to that eminent patriot, for whom no one. that vishes the welfare or honour of his church or country^ can have too great a veneration. Bui for yourself, (good doctor !) who was the first spring to move it, I can never sufficiently acknowledge the obligation. I should be glad, if you will commaad 226 LETTERS TO AND FROM me, ia any lime or place to do it, which will be a ftrtber favour cooferred on, rcvereiid air, . v Tour most faitbAil lenraDt, H. SACHEYERELL. « P. S. I am told there is a place in the custom-hoiue void, called the searchers ; which, if proper to ask, I would uot presume ; but rather leave it to his kftir sbip^s disposal. TO ARCHBISHOP KING. jrr LORD, London, March 20, 1712. I CANNOT ask pardon for not sooner aekuowledg;lif your grace's letter, because that would look as if I thought mine were of consequence. Either I grow weary of politics, or ara out of the way of them, or there is less stirring than usual ; and indeed we are all in suspense at present ; but I ara told that in teu w twelve days time, we shall know what the issue wHI be at Utrecht. I can only tell your grace, that there are some unlucky circumstances, not proper to be trusted to a letter, which have hitherto retarded this great work; MiM ludibria rerum mortalium cunctis in negotiis cb- .versantur. Mean time, we are with great difficulty raising funds upon which to borrow five millions. One of those funds is a tax upon paper, and 1 think 30 per cent, upon imported books; and of such a nature as I could not yesterday forbear saying to my lord treasurer and the chancellor of the exchequer, that instead of pre- •venting small papers and libels, it will leave nothing else /or the press. I have not talked to the Duke of Argyie upon the aflair^ of Spain, since his return \ but am told DOCTOR SWIFT. 22? lie affirms it impossible for us to carry od the war tliere -by our former methods. The Duke of Ormoad is ex- pected to go ID two or three days for Flanders. And what I writ to your grace some months ago of the Duke of Shrewsbury succeediog to govern Ireland, will, I wppose, be soon declared. I was the other day to see the duchess, and reported your grace's compliments, which she took very well ; aod I told her I was resolved your grace and she should be very good acquaintance. I believe the spirit of your hougbers is got into our mo- hawks, who are still very U'oublesome, and every night cot somebody or other over the face ; and commit a hundred insolent barbarities. There was neve^ the least design of any impeachment against the Duke of Marlborough ; and it was hb owa :g^t weakness, or the folly of his friends, that the thing >irent so far as it djd. I know not whether it is that people have talked themselves hoarse, but for some weeks past we have heard \e8B of the pretender than formerly. I suppose it is, like a fashion, got into Ireland, when it is out here : but^ JD.my conscience, I do not think any one person in the eourt or ministry here designs any more to bring in the pretender, than the Great Turk. I hope Mr. Harley, who is now on his journey to Hanover, will give that epurt a truer opinion of persons and things than they ^ave hitherto conceived. And, if your grace knew the .instrument, through which these false opinions have been infused, you would allow it another instance of the Im' dibrium r&rum mortaUum. And your grace cannot but agree, that it is somethmg singular for the prince in pos- session to make perpetual advances, and the presumptive heir to be standing off and suspicious. 228 LETTEBS TO AND FROM I know net whether yoar grace haffcooadered the sitiou that my lord treasurer is visibty in. The iDioistiy, and their adheveota, confes -themselvea |fi resolved to have his head, wheoera it is in their f er ; and were prepared, upon the beginning of the sions, when the vote was cairied against any pi without Spain, to move that he should be sent to Tower ;"* at the same time, his friends, and the toric general, are discontented at his slowness in the chan| of commisBions and eraploTments, to which the weak 0f the C0U4 1 interest in 4he house of lords is wholly |mted : neither do I find that those in the greatest tions, or most in the confidence of my lord treasurer, able to account for this proceeding, or seem satii with it. I have endeavoured to solve this diffie another way; and I fancy I am in the right, from v I have heard let fall : but, wliatever be the causey consequences may be dangerous* The queen is in very good health, but does not so much exercise as she ought. Fray God preserve many years ! A projector has lately applied to me to reeonilii him to the ministry about an inventioo for fiodiqi; the longitude. He has given in a petition to the qv by Mr. Secretary St. John. I understand notliing of mathematics ; but am told it is a thing as improbaU the philosopher's stone, or perpetual motion. I lately writ a letter of about thirty pages to treasurer, by way of proposal for an academy, to con enlarge, and ascertain the English language. Am and I have named above twenty persons of both pai to be members. I will shortly print the letter, ai * It ia aofe 9uy to conceire upon what grounds. W, DOCTOR SWIFT. 229 lope soinethiog will come of it. Your grace sees I am toprojectottoo. I waoi with great respect, my lord» p^ jmr grace's inoBt dutiful r^ : and most hambk servaut, J. SWIFT. k *•■ TO ARCHBISHOP KING. LOKD) . LoiMfeft,ilfay 20, 1712. ^*Whiii I had the honour of your grace's letter of' 27, I was lying ill of a eruel disorder, which poivues me, although cot with so much violence ; iod I hope your grace will pardon me, if you find my kter to be that of one who writes in pain. Tou sec^ Wy lord, how things are altered. The talk of a new go* ^TDbr for Ireland is dropped. The secret is, that the ^dne of Ormond had a promise of a pension in case he ^ his government : but my lord treasurer is so exces- Ively thrifty, that to save charges, he lets the duke keep t ; and besides, there are some other circumstances, not oiwper for a letter, which have great weight in this mat- isr. I count upon it, that whatever governor goes over Inder (his ministry, a new parliament will be called. Yet t was told that the Duke of Shrewsbury was pitched on« U a sort of medium between, &c. He is a person of admirable qualities ; and if he were somewhat more ac- Jhre, and less timorous in business, no man would be QKNight comparable to him. The moderate of the other party seem now content to iliVe a peace, and all our talk and expectations are full fif it: but I protest to your grace I know not what to Tnite upon this subject, neither could I tell what to say 2M letteAs to Amy from , if I had the honour to be with you. Upon Lord Straf-* ford's* coining over, the stocks are fallen, aUh|QUgb I ex•^ pected, and I thought with reason, that they would rise. There is a trade between some here and some in Hol- land, of secrets and lies: and there are some among ns whose posts let them into an imperfect knowledge of things, which' they cannot conceal. This mixture makes up the town-talk, governs the price of stocks, and his often a great deal of truth in it : besi^les, public aflfain have often so n any sudden turns and itacidents, that even those behind the curtain can hardly pronounce for a week. I am sensible that I have often deceived your grace with my wise inuendoes. Yet, I verily think that my intelligence was very right at the moment I sent it. If I had writ to your grace six days ago, J would hare ventured to have given you hopes that a peace wouU- soon appear, and upon conditions wholly surprising anl unexpected. I say this to you wholly in confidence; and I know nothing yet to change my opinion, except. the desponding talk of the town, for I see nothing yet is the counte£ances of the ministers. It seems generally agreed that the present dauphin cannot live, and apoo that depend many measures to be, taken. This after- noon the bill for appointing commissioi^ers to inquire iyto the grants, &c. was thrown out of the house of lordi^ the voices being equal, which is a great disappcmitroeot to the court, and matter of triumph to the other party. 1 But it may possibly be of the worst consequence to tlie ] giants next session, when it is probable the ministry w31 be better settled, and able to procure a majority. I tfi I with gi-eat respect, my lord, Your gi ace's most dutiful and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. ^ His lordship was one of tlie plenipoieulTaridS at ihc treaty rf Utfecht. N, DOCTOR SWIFT. 231 TO MRS. HILL. JIABAM, Jub/, 1712. I WAS commanded some days ago to do t?hat I had Vnag a miod to, but avoided, because I would not oflfeud ' your prudence, or strain your eyes. But ray Lord > Masham assures me there is no danger of either ; and that you have courage enough to read a letter, though it comes frotn a man, provided it be one of no conse- quence, wliich his lordship would insinuate to be my case ;. but I hope you will not affront me so highly as to understand it so. There is not a grain of news in this town, or five miles about it, worth sending you ; and * what we receive from Windsor is full as insignificant, ex- cept the accounts of the queen's health, and your house- « keeping. We are assured that you keep a constant ta- ble, and that your guests leave you with full stomacjis and full pockets; that Dr. Arbuthnot sometimes leaves - bis beloved green-cloth, to come and receive your chid- . logs, and pick up your money. We intend shortly to represent your case to my lord treasurer, as what de- serves commiseration : but we hope the matter is already settled between his lordship and you, and that you are instructed to be thus magnificent, in order to carry ou the cause. We reckon his lordship's life is now secure, since a combination of bandboxes and inkhorns, the en- gines of late times, were employed in vain to destroy him. He will do me the justice to tell you, that I ne- Ter fail of toasting you under the name of " the go- verness of Dunkirk," and that you have the honour to be very particularly in my good graces. My Lady Ma- sham still continues in a doubtful state of neither up nor down ; and one of her servants told mine, " that they did not expect she would cry out this fortnight." I saw 232 LETTERS TO AND FROM yesterday our brother Hill,* who promisei^ to be more thrifty of his health, and seems io have a pretty good gtock of it I hope you receive bo visits from the head- ach and the spleen : and oDe~who knows your constitu- tion very well, advises you by all means, against sittiiig in the dusk at your window, or on the ground, leaning •n your hand, or at seesaw in your chair. I am, madam, &c. TO GENERAL HILL-t «IR, Windstnr CasiUy Aug. 12, 1712. With great difficulty, I recovered your present of the finest bos in France out of the hands of Mrs. 1011 i she allowed her own to be the prettiest, but then mine was the handsomest ; and in short, she would part with Deither. I pleaded my brotherhood, and got my Lord and Lady Masham to intercede ; and at last she threw it me with a heavy sigh ; but now it is in my possession, I wish you had sent a paper of directions how I shall keep it. You that sit at your ease, and havo nothing to do but keep Dunkirk, never consider the cMcuUies you have brought upon me : twenty ladies hag,)' threatened to seize or surprise my box ; and what are twenty thou- sand French or Dutch in comparison of those ? Mrs. Hill says, it was a very idle thing in you of send such a * An elder brother of the general. He was placed in the cuttoo^ koase by the Duke of Marlborough, and got promotion there. N. f This gentleman was brother to Lady Masham. In 1710, he had a grant oi' 10002. a year out of the Post-ofBce; and in 1712, wascoo- ■lander of six regiments at Dunkirk, which place he had taken posMf- sion of, as a security for the preliminaries of peace being fulfilled on the part of France. He was afterwards employed on an expedition to Canada, and died June 19, 1735. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 23^ present to a man who can neither punbh nor reward you^ since Grub-street is no more ; for the parliament has killed all the Muses of Gruh street, who yet, in their last moments^ cried out nothing but Dunkirk*^ My lord treasurer, who is the most malicious person in the world, saysk you ordered a goose to be drawn at the bottom of my box, as a reflection upon the clergy ; and that I ought to resent it But I am not angry at all, and his lordship obseryes by halves : for the goose is there drawn pecking at a snail, just Its I do at him, to make him mend his pace in relation to the public, although it be hither- " to in vain. And beudes, Dr. Arbuthuot, who b a scholar, says^ "• you meant it as a compliment for us both ; that I am the goose who saved the Capitol by cackling ; and that his lordship is represented by the snail, because he preserves his country by delays.'' But my Lord Ma- sbam is not to be endured : he observed, that in the picture of the inside, which i*epresents a great company dancing, there stands a fool with a cap and bells; and he would needs understand that figure as applied to me. And the worst of it was, that I happened last night to be tt my lady Duchess of Shrewsbury's ball : where, look- ioig a little singular among so many fine ladies and gen- tlemen, his lordship came and whispered me to look at my box : which I resented so highly, that I went away in a rage, without staying for supper. However, consi- dering of it better, after a night's sleep, I find all this is nothing but envy, and a design to make a quarrel be- tween you and me : but it shall not do so ; for I hope your intentions were good, however malice may misre- * I'he uniTennl joy occasioned ia England by the lurrender of Dnnkirk is particnlarly noticed by Swifl| in his ** History of the four last Tears of the Clueen ;^* and some of the Grub-street verses he. al* 1] del to were his own. N. TOL. XT. I* 234 LETTERS TO AND FROM present them. And though I am iised ill bj all the fii>>^ mily, who win 1117 money and laugh at me ; yet, to vex them more, I >vill forgive them for your sake ;^Dd as gooii as I can break loose, will come to Dunkirk for a fortniglit, to get a little ease from my many persecutkxHS by the Harleys, the Mashams, and the Hills: only I in*- tend to change my habit, for fear Colonel Killigrew should mistake me for a chimney-sweeper. In the mean time, I wish you all success in your government, loyal French subjects, virtuous ladies, little champaign, and much health : and am, with the truest respect and es- teem, sir, Tour most obedient humble servant ^d brother. LORD BOLINGBROKE TO MR. PRIOR.* September 10, 1712* I WAS equally surprised and vexed to find that by the uncouth way of explaining the queen's sense, you bad been led to imagine that it was intended my Lord Lexington should make any difficulty tj seeing and complimenting the King of Spain as sucli. We spe6t above three hours in petining minutes yesterday upoo this head, which was long ago adjusted. I suppose the instructions will be at last clear ; but my Lord Lexing- ton having been present at the debate, his understanding of the matter will make amends for any dark ambiguous article which may be in them. Dartmouth is to communicate the queen's orders here- in to you, that so you may be able to satisfy the French * This letter particularly illastratei the negotiatioiii relative t* the peace of Utrecht. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 235 ainisten^ and they to prepare the SpaDisb iDiaisters. However, I will venture to tell jou in a few w6rd8 what I understaad is to be the measure of Lord Lex- ington's conduct. As soon as he anrives at Madrid, he will notify his arrival to the secretary of state. He will, when he sees this minister, let him know, ^' That the queen has sent him thither to compliment the king in her name ; to be a witness of the several renunciations and other acts requbite .to complete the execution of the article agreed upon as necessary to prevent the union of the two monarchies : That, afler this, he is to proceed to settle such matters of commerce, and other affairs, as are for tl^ mutual interest of both nations, and to take the character of ambassador upon him." My lord will at the same time produce his credentials, and give the secretary a copy of them if he desires it. In this con- ierence, he will failher take notice of the several cessions made by the king of France, in behalf of his grandson, to the queen ; and will speak of them as points which he looks upon to be concluded. He will likewise give a memorial of them in writing, signed by himself, to the secretary : and expect from him an assent in the kiugV name, in writing also, and signed by the secretary.' This seems natural, civil, and unexceptionable ; but any other tfheme is absurd, and inconsistent with all the rest of our proceedings. ^ For God's sake, dear Matt, hide the nakedness of thy country ; and give the best tqrn thy fei-tile brain irill furnish thee with, to the blunders of thy countiy- men, who are not much better politicians than the french are poets. I have writ in great haste a prodigious long letter to Monsieur de Torcy, which, I believe, he will show you ; but, for fear he should not, I enclose in thb an extract of part of it, which relates to a matter thai has givca 236 LETTERS. TO AND FROM lord treasurer and your humble servant no small trouble in the cabinet The copy of the plenipotentiaries* de- apatch of the 2d of September, which I likewise send, will diow jou how a dispute, now ob Soot at Utrecht, begas ; you will observe, their lordships are very warm initt and I can assture you, we have those who are not a jot cooler. The solution of this difficulty must come from yoa; ^ it is matter of management and appearance, mere tban \. •f substance ; and the court of France must be less pon- tic than I think them at any time, and more unreasons* < ble than I think them at this time, not to come into a j temperament upon a matter unnecessarily started. Toa '■ n^ust begin by making Monsieur de Torcy not only to it understand, but own he understands, the proposition fi which I am sure be remembers I more than once repeat- t ed to him, when I was in France, upon various oecir i sions, and which I have again stated as clearly as I an able. The queen can never do any thing, which bIuU look like a direct restraint on her allies from demanding what they judge necessary ; but as long as they act the part which they now do, she can very justly be passive and neuter as tQ their interests : and if her peace l)e made before theirs, which she will not delay for tbeia, she can with the same justice leave tliem to make their •wn bargain. This is advantage enough for France f and such a one, fairly speaking, as a year ago they would have given more than Tournay to have been sure •f ; they roust not therefore press us to go farther thao this; nor do any thing which may seem contradictoiy to what the queen delivered from the throne.* That speech they have always owned as the plan they sub- * See thifl speech is " Swia*i History of the Foar last Tears of the 'ISoaeD.'' n. DOCfTOR SWIFT. ?37 taitted to; and it varies but Kttle from that brought hith- er by Gualtler. la a word, the use which the French will make of the unaceouotable ob8tiQaG7 of the Dutch, and the other allies, may in several respects, and parti- cularly for aught I know iu this instance of Tournay^ ^ -give them an opportunity of saving and gaining more than they could have hoped for ; and tlie queen may in the present circumstances contribute passively to this end, imt actively she nevfr can in any circumstances. I think in my own opinion, and I believe speak the •queen's upon this occasion, that it were better the French ihouhl in the course of the treaty declare, " That what- '«vcr they intended to have given the Dutch when the -queen spoke firom the throne, their conduct has been such, and the situation of aflfairs so altered, that the kini; Is resolved to have Tournay restored to him." I say, I believe this were better than to expect that we should consent to an exposition of the queen^s words, by which her majesty would yield the town up. Let the conferences begin as soon as they can, I dare say, business will not be very speedily despatched in them : iu the mean time we shall go on to ripen every thing for a conclusion between lis and Savoy, and Francie •tod Spain ; and this is the true point of view, which the Fretich ought to have before their eyes. iTou will be very shortly particularly and fiilly in- fracted to settle the article of North America, and thosh points of commerce still undetermined : that done, the ministers may sign at Utrecht, as soon as they can hear fiom Lord Lexington. My Lotd Dartmoutli writes to you concerning a cla- mour which our merchants have raised, as if, under pre- tence of not cariyiug to Lisbon or Barcelona des pravi* tionft depterre mt de bouche^ they shall be debarred from their usual traffick of com and fish, which at those pla- .23S LETTERS TO AND FROM GC8 there are great demancb for, in time of peace as well as war, and without any consideration of the armies. The difficulty as to Lisbon seems to be removed, by the Portuguese submitting to come into the suspension of aims; and he proposes to you an expedient as to Bar- celona : but in truth that war must be ended of course BOW, since the queen supports it no longer, and the Dutch are recalling their fleet from the straits. The Duke of Arg^il is going immediately now away ; and the moment he comes to Minorca, he draws to him every thing belonging to the queen out of Catalonia ; the im- perial troops must in my opinion that moment submit, and compound for transportation : and when the war is at an end, I think there can be no pretence of qua^ relling with us for carrying our goods to the people of the country. It is now three o^clock in the morning; I have been bard at work all day, and am not yet enough recovered to bear much fatigue : excuse therefore the confusedness of thu scroU, which b only from Harry to Matt, and not from the secretary to the minuter. Your credentials of minister plenipotentiaiy will be .sent you, together with your full powers, by the next boat : and before Duke Hamilton goes, I will move to have you removed to Utrecht ; which thore will be a natural handle for, as soon as you shall settle the pilots ef commerce, and in doing that, have given the last atrdbs to the finishing the treaty with France. Make my compliments to Madam Teriol ; and let her know that I have, I hope, put her affair into a way d being finished to her satisfaction. I have spoke veij earnestly to Maffei, and have used the proper argumenti to him. Adieu ! my pen is ready to drop out of my hand x: DOCTOR SWIFT. 239 Believe that oo man loves you better, or is more faitli- fiilly yours, &c. BOUJ^GfiROKE. P. S. I had almost forgot to tell yon, that the queeo is pleased to discliarge the Mareschal Tallard's parole : which you may assure him, With my complimeots, of; and give any sigoificatioa necessary iu form. TO ARCHBISHOP KING. MY LORD, Kensington, Sep, 30, 1712. I HAVE two or three times begun letters to your {race, aud have toro what I writ, hoping I might send you something decisive about the peace. But all still continues to lie very loose, and I continue to be very despouJiog, although tlie people in alFuirs laugh at me {or it. I have one plain maxim in dealing with those, who have more cunning, and less honesty than myself, wluch is, what we call keeping tlic staff in my own hand, and contriving that they shall trust me rather than I them* A man may reason until he is weary upon this proceeding of the Dutch. The soldiers tell me that the Duke of Ormond could not possibly take possession of Dunkirk, since the foreigu troops have refused to march, and that the states will not suffer us to-go through their towns. But I had a whisper from one who should know best, ^' that Dunkirk might now have been ours, if right methods had beeu takeu.'' And another great man said to a friend of mine, above a fortnight ago, '^ that the least wrong step on that side the water might have very ill consequences at this juncture." Meantime, the ditj- €onteuted paity seems full of hopes, -and many of the 240 LETTERS TO AND FROM court side, beside mjeelf, despoodiog enough. The necessity of laying the proposals before the parliament drew us Into all this; for no\r we are in a manner pinned down, and cannot go back an inch with any good grace : so that if the French play us foul, I dread the effects^ which are too visible to doubt.* And on the other side, if the per.ce goes smoothly on, I cannot but think that some severe inquiries will be made ; and I believe, upon very manifest grounds. If there be any secret in this matter of Dunkirk, it must be in very few hands ; and those who most converse with men at the helm, are, I am confident, very much in the dark. Some people go so far as to think that the Dutch will hinder even the Engliibh forces under the Duke of Ormond from going by the French country to Dunkirk : but I cannot be of that opinion. We suppose a few days will decide this matter ; and I believe, your grace will agree, that there was never a more nice conjuncture of affairs ; however, the court appears to be very resolute : several changes have been made, and more are daily expected. The Dutch are grown so unpopular, that, I believe, the queen might have addresses to stand by her against them with lives and fortunes. I had your grace's letter of May 29, written in the time of your visiting ; from whence, I hope, you are re- turned with health and satisfaction. The difficulties in the peace, by the accidents in the Bourbon family, are, as your grace observes, very grea^ and what indeed our ministers chiefly apprehend. Bat we think Philip's renouncing to be an effectual expedi- ent; not out of any regard he would have for it, but because it will be the interest of every prince of the blood in France to keep him out, and because the • It should !»e— « too viBible to be dmibUd qfJ* S. DOCTOR SWIFT. 241 Spaniards will never assist him to uoite the two king- doms* I am in hopes yet that jour grace may pay yoar treat ; for it is yet four weeks to T^orember, at least I belleye we shall be happy, or ruined, before that time. It is certain that there is something in what people say But the court is so lucidly constituted at present, that eveiy man thinks the chief trust cannot be any where else so well placed ; neither do I know above one man that would take it, and it is a great deal too soon for him to have such thoughts^ I humbly thank your grace for your concern about my health : I have still the remainder of some pains, which has partly occasioned my removing hither about diree weeks ago ; I was recommended to country air, and chose this, because I could pass my time more agreeably near my friends at court. We think the queen will go to Windsor in three weeks ; and, I be^ lieve, I shall be there most of the time I stay in Eng- land, which I intend until toward the end of summer. My lord treasurer has often promised he will advance my design of an academy ;^ so have my lord keeper, and all the ministers ; but they are now too busy to think of any thing beside what they have upon the an- yil. My lord treasurer and I have already pitched upon twenty members of both parties ; but perhaps it may all come to nothing. If things continue as they are another session^ perhaps your grace may see the bill of resuming the grantsf carried on with a great deal more rigour than it lately was. It was only desired that the grabtees* * For ftiiifkg a itaadard to the Snglish laQfoai^e. fSf,. t This bill was negatived. Pf. 242 LETTERS TO AND FROM should pay six years purchase, and settle the remaiader on them hj act of parliament, and those grants are now irorse than other lands by more years purchase than fiix ; so that, in effect, they would have lost nothing. I am, with the greatest respect, Your graceV most dutiful and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. FROM THE COUNTESS OF ORKNEY* AND MRS. RAMSAY. Indorsedy * 1 712, 1 supposeJ*i I HAVE had. great satisfaction in the favour of your letter, though disappointed, since not occasioned by your* self. When one is too quick, misjudging commonly fol- lows. At first I feared Mr. Collier was taken with a fit of an apoplexy ; the next line I read, I wished be had one. in did not apprehend, by your knowing me but a little, that I might grow troublesome where I distin- guished, you should not want any conveqiency to bring .you hither to Mrs. Ramsay and mc, who are both, with- out compliment, truly mortified, intending ever to be^ sir. Your sincere humble servants, E. ORKNEY. ELIZ. RAMSAY. Cl^Ofii Monday: m * This ladj had been mistrett to Kiog William III. H. f ProbaUj in September. See Journal to Stella, Septemlier U^ 1712. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. 243 ^ re design to be at Windsor on Wednesdayv where I hope you will meet me in the drawing-room, to tell me when you can dine with us. t FROM THE COUNTESS OF ORKNET. Monday Morning. Indorsed ' 1 7 1 2, 1 believe,^ I AM. sure you are very ill oatured (I would not have \)eevL so cross to you) to have known Mr. Lewis and me so long, and not have made us acquainted sooner, when you know too that I have been in search of a rea- sonable conversation. I have no way to excuse you but doubting his to be so agreeable at a second meeting,, which I desire you will make when it is most conve- nient to both. It is not from custom I say, I am extreme- ly, sir, Your humble servant, E. ORKNEY. When you read this, I fancy you will think, what does she write to me ? I hate a letter as much as my lord treasurer does a petition. TO ARCHBISHOP KING. jnr LORD, London, Oct 21, 1712. * Since I had the honour of your grace's letter of July 29, which found me at Windsor, I have been extremely out of order with a giddiness in my head, which pursu- ed me until very lately ; but, by an uneasy course ot physic, I hope I have in some sort overcome it. L 3 2U LETTEBS TO AND FROM We are now in very near expectation of a peace • and your grace, I hope, will believe it as good a one as the circumstauces of things would allow. I confess I agree with your grace, that the great difficulty was about the danger of France and Spain being united un- der one king. To my knowledge, all possible means have been taken to secure that matter : and yet, after all, the weakest side will be there. Renunciations by France have very justly so little credit, that I do not wonder so little weight is laid on them. But Spain, we are sure, will, for their own sakes, enter into all securi- ties to prevent that union ; and all the allies must be guarantees. If you still object that some danger still remains, what is to be done ? Your grace is altogether misiDformed, if you think that this is at all tlie difficulty which so long made the Dutch untractable. It was^ nothing less : neither have they once mentioned, during all the negotiation at Utrecht, one syllable of getting Spain out of tlie Bourbon family, or into that of Austria, as the cliief men have assured me not three days ago. Buys offered last winter to ease us immediately of the trouble we were in by Lord ^ Kottiugham's vote, if wc would consent to let them share with us in the advanta- ges we had stipulated with France ; which advantagesi however, did by no means clash with Holland, and were only conditional, if peace should ensue. But, my lord, we know fariher, that the Dutch made offers to treat with France, before we received any from thence ; and were refused, upon the ill usage they gave Mr. Torcy at the Hague, and tlie Abbe de Polignac afterward al Gertriiydenberg : and we know that Torcy would have been forced to apply to them again, if, after several re- fusals, we had not hearkened to their overtures. What I teil your grace is infallibly true; and care shall be iaken very soon to satisfy the world in this^ and many DOCTOJl SWIFT. 24fi ^heir (wrticalars at large, which ought to be knowa : for, the kiogdom is very miich ia the dark, after all the pah» hitherto taken to ioform. it Tour grace's conjectures are vety right, that a genera] peace would not be for our uiterM, if we had made ours with France. And I re> member a certain great man used to say two months ago, ^ Fight OB, fight on, my menrj men all.'' I believe like- wise, that such a peace would have happened, if the Dutch had not lately been more compliant ; upon which our ministers told those of France, that siiice the States were disposed to submit to the queen, her majesty must enter into their interests : and I believe they have as good conditions as we ever intended they should. Tour- nay, I hope, will be yielded to them : and Lisle we ne- ver deseed they should have. The emperor will be lised as he deserves; and having ptM nothing for the war, shall get nothing by the peace. We are most con- cerned (next to oor regard to Holland) for Savoy,* and France for Bavaria.t I believe we shall make them both kings, by the help of Sardinia and Sicily. But I know not how plans may alter every day. The queen's whole design, as your grace conjectures, is to act the pan of a mediator ; and our advantages, too many to insert here, must be owned very great. As for an academy to correct and settle our language, lord treasurer talked of it often very warmly ; but I doubt, is yet too busy until the peace be over. He goes down to Windsor on Friday, to be chosen of the gaiter, with five more lords. I know aothing of premises of any tbiug intended for vyaelf $ but, I thank God» I an^ not very warm in mj • Victor Amadeug, Boke of Savoj, wai madeKios of Sardinia \j "this treaty. N. 'f All bad policy, ai thiogi then itood. H> "I 245 LETTERS TO AND FROM ezpectatioDs, and know courts too well to be aurpriaedift disappoiDtineats; which, however, I shall have nogreal reason to fear, if I gave my tlioughts any trouble thai waj, which, without affectation, I do not : although I cannot expect to be believed when I saj so. I aai> &xk FROM THE COUNTESS OF ORKNEY. London^ Nop. 21, 1712. This key will open treasures; but vain in me t9 know them** Your convenience is my satisfaction. If I can or may read what will be in thb table, it ought and shall be my happiness. You must discern tins comes from the most interested joiner that ever made a thing of this nature.. Peruse narrowly, and what faults you find, they shall be mended in every particular, to the utmost capacity o( sir. Your obliged humble servant, E. ORKNEY. TO THE COUNTESS OF ORKNEY. XADAH, Nov. 21, 1712; When, upon parting with your ladyship, you were pleased to tell me I should find your [wesentf at bome^ natural justice pronipted me to resolve, that the first use I made of it should be in paying acknowledgments to * ThisItHer was accompanied' wifh a prcflentof a writing-tatfe^ teal, paper, wax, &c. H, :|; Seethe preceding letter. VL DOCTOR SWIFT. 249 my beaefactor. But, when I opened the writuig-table» mrbich I must qow call mine, I fouud jou had ueither sent penf, ink, uor paper, sufficient for such an under- taking. But I ought to tell yoar ladyship in order, that I firs( got there a much more valuable thing : and I cannot do gi-eater honour to my scrutoiie, than to assure your ladyship tliat your letter is the first tiling I have put in it, and shall be the last I ^ill ever take out. I must tell your ladyship, that I am this moment under a very great concern. I was fully convinced that I sliould write with a new spirit by the influence of the materials you sent me; but it is quite otherwise : I have not a grain of invention, whetlier out of the confusion which attends us when we strive too much to acquit ourselves, or whether your pens and ink are sullen, and think them- selves disgraced, since they have changed their owner. I heartily thank your ladyship, for making me a present that looks like a sort of establishment. I plainly see, by the contrivance, that if you were first minister,, it would have been a cathedral. As it is, you have more coa» ti'ibuted toward fixing me, than all the ministry together; for it is difUcult to travel with this equipage, and it will be impossible to travel or live without it. You have an undoubted title to whatever papers this table shall ever contain (except your- letter) and I desire you wiU^ please to have another key made for it ; that when the court shall think fit to give me a room worth putting it into, your ladyship may come and search it whenever you please. \ir i beg your ladyship to join in laughing with me, at my unreasonable vanity, when I wished that the motto written about the wax was a description of yourself. But, if I am disappointed in that, your ladyship will be so in all the rest; even this ink will never be able to- convey your ladyship's note as it ought. The paper Un LETTERS TO AND FROM; will cootaiQ no wonders, but when it mentions you; fieither is the leal any otherwise an emblem of my life^ than by the deep impressiou your ladyship has made, which nothing but my death can wear out By the in- flcripiioQ about the pens, I fear there is some mistake; and that your ladyship did not design them for me. However, I will keep them until you can find the per- son you intended should have them, and who will be able to dispose of them according to your predictions. I cannot find that the workman you employed and direct- ed, has made the least mistake : but there are four im- plements wanting. The two first I shall not name, be- cause an odd superstition forbids us to accept them, from our fi lends; tlie third is aspunge, which the people long have given so ill a reputation to, that I vow it shall be DO gifl of your ladyship : the last Is a flat ivory instru- ment, used in folding up letters, which I insist you must provide. See, madam, the first fruits this unlucky present of yours has produced. It is but giving a fiddle to a scra- per, or a pestle and mortar to an apothecary, or a torf pamphlet to Mrs. Ramsay. Nothing is so great a dis^ couragement to generous persons, as the fear of being worried by acknowledgments. Besides, your ladyship is an insufferable kind of giver, making every present fifly times the value, by the circumstances and manner- And I know people in the world, who would not oblige me so much, at the cost of a thousand pounds, as yoa iiave done at that of twenty pounds: which, I must^ Deeds tell you, is anunconscionable way of dealing, and whereof, I believe, nobody alive is so guiify as yoitf- self. In short, you deceive my eyes, And corrupt my judgment r nor am I now sure of any things, but that of l^ing, Sic^ DOCTOR SWIFT. 24t FROM THE COUNTESS OF ORKNEY. Nmf. 22, 1712. Yov an extremely obliging to wrhe how well jon take my whim, id telHog mj trae tbougbts of your mind : for I was ashamed when I reflected, and hoped I should see you sooo after expressing the value I have of you io an ttncommon way. But this I write with assurance ibat I am, very sincerely, sir, Your obliged bumble servant, E. ORKNEY. FROM THOMAS HARRISON, ESQ.^ Utrecht, Dec. IC, 1712. Your thanks of the 25th of November, sir, come be- fore their time; the condition of the obligation being • This letter is iodorsed, •• Th. Harrison, Esq. secretary of the embassy; since dead, the same year.** He owed his post of seereta* • ry to the British embassy at Utrecht to the recommendation of Dr^ Swift, and was eminent for his genius ahd learning, was educated at Queen*8 College, in Oxford, where he took the degree of master of arts, December 13, 1795. Mr. Tickell, who was of the same college, is hii poem to his excellency, the lord privy seal, on the prosiiect of .jpeace, pays a comi^iment to his friend Mr. Harrison, in theie Ulke$< '** That mirch-loT*d youth, whom Utrecht*s walls confine, ** To Bristol's praises shall his Strafford's join.*' The reader will find some circamstancet relating to him and bis last yickness in Dr. Swift's letter, or journal, written to Mrs Dingley, bc- ginnhig January 25, 1712-13, by which it appears, that Mr. Harri- son coming over to England from Utreeht with the barrier treaty, died Feb. 14, 1712-13. Jacob, in his Lives of the En/i^ish IV)et», ▼•U 1) P* 70, has committed two nil takeif in calling him. William iMT 250 LETTEBS TO AND FROM that you should receive twelve shirts, which number •hall be completed bj tlie first proper occasioo. Your kind letter, however, is extremely seasonable; and (next to a note firom the treasury) has proved the most vivify- ing cordial in the world. If you please to send me now and then as much of the same as will lie upon the tqp of your pen, I should be contented to take sheets ibr shirts to the end of the chapter. Since you are so good as to enter into my affairs, I shall trouble you with a detail of them, as well as of my conduct since I left England : which, in my opinion, you have a right to inspect, and approve or condemn as you think fit. During my state j)f probation with the Earl •f Strafford, it was ray endeavour to recommend myself to his excellency rather by fidelity, silence, and an en- tire submission, than by an affectation to shine in his service : And whatever diilicuUies, whatever discou- ragements fell in my way, I think it appears that they were surmounted in the end ; and my advancement fol- lowed upon it sooiier than I expected ; another would say, much sooner tlian I deserved, winch I should easi- ly agree to, were it not, that I flatter myself there is some merit in the behaviour I kept, when the hopes and . temptation of being preferred glittered in my eyes. All the world knows upon' what foot Mr. Watkins* thought himself with my Lord Strafford ;t and though all the world does not know what I am going to -tell you, yet Mr. Watkins does on one hand, and my Lord Strafford on the other, that all the credit I had with either, was stead of Thomas, and in saying, that he died in Holland in 1713. He Bentions among Mr. Harrison's works, ^ Woodstock Park, idscribed to the lord chancellor Cowper.** . B. • Henry Watkins, Esq. late secretary. H. f Thomas, Earl of Strafford, ambassador extraordinary and pkirir foteotiaiT U the StaWi QviMiaX. H. . DOCTOR SWIFT. 251 heartily, and without reserve, employed to make mat- ters easy ; and to cultivate, in my humble station, that good understanding, which our court desired should be between them. I had my reasons for this, and such per* haps as flowed from an inclination to promote my own interest. I knew as well as any man living almost, how much Mr. Watkins was valued by my Lord Bolingbroke and others. I foresaw the danger of standing in compe- tition with him, if that case should happen : and, to tell you the truth: I did not think myself ripe in regard of interest at home, or of any service I uld pretend to have done abroad, to succeed Mr. Watkins in so good an employment. Above all, I protest to you, sir, that if I know my own heart, I am capable of sufiering the utmost extremities rather than violate the infinite duty and gratitude I owe my Lord Bolingbroke, by doing an ill office to a person honoured with such particular marks of his lordship's esteem. I might add to this, that I really loved Mr. Watkins; and I beg you, sir, to urge him to the proof, whether my whole behaviour was not such, as might justify the warmest professions I can make of that kind. After all this, how comes it, that he, either in raillery or good earnest, accuses me of hav- ing any resentment against him ? By word of mouth when he left us, by letters so long as he allowed me to coiTCspond with him, and by all the people that ever went from Utrecht to Flanders, have I importuned him for the continuance of his friendship : and, perhaps, evea in his absence (if he pleases to reflect) given him a very essential proof of mine. If any body has thought it worth their while to sow division between us, I wish ha thought it worth his to let me into the sf cret ; and nothing, he may be sure, shall be wanting on my side to defeat a stratagem, which, for aught I know, may end in the starving of bis humble servant* 252 LETTEBS TO AND FROM • Which leads me oaturallj to die second thio^ propos- ed to be spoken to in my text; namely, my circurostaD- ces : for between you and me, sir, I apprehend the trea- sury will issue out no money on my account, till they know what is due on that of Mr. Watkins's. And if he lias any pretensions, I have none, that I know of, but what are as precarious to me, as a stiver I gave away but now to a be^ar, was to him. Is it possible, that Mr. Watkins can demand the pay of a commission, which is, by tlie queen herself, actually superseded, during his ab- aence from his post ? Or is it not as plainly said in mine, that I am her majesty's secretary during such his absence, as in his that he was so, while he resided here? If I must be crushed, sir, for God's sake let some reason be alleged for it ; or else an ingenuous confession made, that Stat pro ratiaae vaUmias, If you can fix Mr. Watkins to any final determination on this subject, you Iriil do roe a singular service, and I shall take my mea^ aures accordingly. Though I know your power, I can- Bot help distrusting it on this occasion. Before I con- clude, give me leave to put you in mind of beating my Uianks into my Lord Bolingbroke's eais, for his late ge- nerosity, to the end that his lordship may be wearied oat •f the evil habit he has got, of heaping more obligations and goodness on those he is pleased to favour, than their shoulders are able to bear. For my own part, I have so often thanked his lordship, that I have now no more vays left to turn my thoughts ; and beg if you havQ any right good compliments neat and fine by you, that yda Irill advance the necessary, and place them, with the Other helps you have given me, to my account; which 1 question not but I sliall be able to acknowledge at one and the same time, ad Qracas calmdas. In the mean time, I shall do my beat to give you just ifuch hints as you dcsixeby V\^ t«3X.v^V\ ^^W4^\ t»ae DOCTOE SWIFT. 2&3 ]U»t but th^k there are some letters id tbe office, yilnch would serve yoijgr turu a good deal better thao any things I cao tell jou about the people at the Hague. Tour access there abundantly prevents my atlerapting to write you any news from hence. Aad I assure you, sir, you dm write me none from England (however uneasy my 49KCumstance8 are) which will be so agreeable^ as that of your long-expected advancement. It grieves me to the spuli that a person, who has been so instrumental to the raising of me from obscurity and distress, should not be* yet set above the power of fortune, and the malice of those enemies your real merit has created. I beg, dear flur, the coDtinuauce of your kind care and inspection over ipe ; and that you would in all respects command, re. prove, or instruct me, as a father; for I protest to yot^ sir^ I do^ and ever shall, honour and regard you with tfaitf alTectiou of a son. TO THE DUCHESS OF ORMOND. r UADAM, Dec. 20, 1712. Ant other person, of less refinement and prudence than myself, would be at a loss how to thank your grace, upon the surprise of coming home last night, and finding two pictures^ where only one was demanded. But I understood your grace's malice, and do here affirm you to be the greatest prude upon earth. Tou will not so much as let yoiu* picture be alone in a room with a nanj no, not with a clergyman, and a clergyman of five-and- * " The Duchess of Ormond promised me her picture ; and comiQg )iome to-Dight, I foond her*8 and the 4Hke*f botli im my dkvmhety Journal to StelLi, Dec. It, 1712. K. 254 LEtTERS TO AISTD FROM ibrty : and therefore resolved my lord duke should ac- company it, and keep me in aive, that I might not pre- fume to look too often upon it For my own part, I be- gin already to repent that I ever begged your grace^s picture ; and could almost find io my heart to send it you back : for, although it be the most beautiful sight I ever beheld, except the original, yet the veneration and respect it (ills me with, will always make me think I am in your grace's presence ; will hinder me from saying and writing twenty idle things, that used to divert me : will set me labouring upon majestic, sublime ideas, at which I have no manner of talent ; and will make those who come to visit me, think I am grown, on the sudden, wonderful stately and reserved. But, in life, we must take the evil with the good ; and it is one comfort, that I know how to be revenged. For, the Bight of your grace's resemblance will perpetually re- mind me of paying my duty to your person; which will give your grace the torment, and roe the felicity of a more frequent attendance. But, after alJ, to deal plainly with your grace, your picture (and I must say the same of my lord duke's) will be of very little use, farther than to let others see the honour you are pledged to do me : for, all the accom- plishments of your mind and person are so deeply print* ed in the heart, and represent you so lively to my ima- gination, that I should take it for a high aflfront, if you believed it in the power of colours to refresh my memo- ry : almost as high a one, as if your grace should deny me the justice of being, with the most profound respect and gratitude, madam, your grace's, &c. / DOCTOR SWIFT. 255 TO ARCHBISHOP KING. KT L0s3Di» London, Jan. 3, 1712-13. Since I had the honour of your ix^ce's letter, we have had a dead time of news and politics ; and I make a couacieDce of writiDg to jou without something that will recompense the trouble of reading. I cannot but grant that jour grace, who are at a distance, and aigue from your own wisdom. and general observations and reading, is likely to be more impartial than I, who, in ^lite of my resolutions and opinion to the contrary, am forced to converse only with one side of the worl<]^ which fastens prejudices io me, notwithstanding all I can do to avoid them. Your grace has certainly hit upon the weak side of our peace ; but I do not find you have prescribed any remedies. For, that of limit- ing France to a certain number of ships *and troops, wa% I doubt, not to be compassed. While that mighty king- dom remains under one monarch, it will be always ia some degree formidable to its neighbours. But we flat- ter ourselves it is likely to be less bo than ever, by the concurrence of many circumstances too long to trouble you with. But, my lord, what is to be done ? I will go so far with your grace as to tell you, that some of our friends are of opinion with the other party, that if this last campaign had gone on with the conjunction of the British troops, France might have been in danger of being driven to great extremes. Yet I confess to you, at the same time, that if I had been first minister, I should have advised the queen to pursue her measureg toward a peace. Some accidents and occasions have put it in my way to know every step of this treaty better, I think, than any man in England. And I do ase^iV Vft -^wix ^^^r^^ 256 LETTERS TO AND FROM that if FraDce had been closety pushed this campaign, they would, upon our refusal, have made offers to Hol- land, which the republic would certalolj have accepted ; and in that case the interests of England would have been wholly laid aside, as we saw it three years at the Hague and Gertruydenberg. The Marshal D'Uxilles and Mesuager, (wo of the French plenipotentiaries, were wholly inclined to have begun by the Dutch ; but the third, Abb^ de Folignac, who has most credit with Monsieur Torcy, was for beginning by England. There was a great faction in France by this proceed- ing: and it was a mere personal resentment, in the French king and Monsieur Torcy, against the States, which hindered them from sending the first overture there. And I believe your grace will be convinced, by considering, that the demands of Holland might be much more easily satisfied, than those of Britain. The States were very indifferent about the article of Spain being ill the Bouibon family, as Monsieur Buys publicly own- ed when he was here, and among others to myself. They valued not the demolition of Dunkirk, the fron- tier of Portugal, nor the security of Savoy. They ab- horred the thoughts of our having Gibraltar and Minor- ca, nor cared what became of our dominionlB in Noith America. All they had at heart was the^^overeignty of Flanders, under the name of a barrier, and to stipu- late what they could for the emperor, to make him easy under their encroachments. I can farther assure your grace, before any proposals were sent hei*e from France, and ever since, until within these few months^ the Dutch have been endeavouring constantly, by private intrigues with that court, to undermine us, and put themselves at the head of a treaty of peace ; which is a truth that perhaps the world may soon be informed in, with seve- ral othen that ate WlAe \awti, l&e&ldes, my lord, I DOCTOR SWIFT. 257 doubt whether you have sufHcientlj reflected oq the conditjop of thk kiogdom^ and the possibility of pursu- ing the war at that ruinous rate. This argument is not the weaker for being often urged. Besides, France is likely to have a long minority ; or, if not, perhaps to be en«:aged in a civil war. And I do not find that in pub- lic affairs, human wisdom is able to make provisions for futurity, which are not liable to a thousand accidents. We have done all we can ; and for the rest, curenl pos- ierL Sir William Temple's Memoirs, which you mention- ed, is his first part,* and was published twenty years ago ; it is chiefly the treaty of Nimeguen, and was so well known, that I could hardly think your grace has not seen it. I am in some doubt, whether a fall from a horse be suitable to the dignity of an archbishop. It is one of the chief advantages in a great station, that one is ex- empt from common accidents of that kind. The late kingt indeed got a fall ; but his majesty was a fox-hunt- er. I question whether you can plead any precedent to excuse you ; and, therefore, I^hope you will commit no more such errors : and in the mean time, I heartily congratulate with your grace, that I can rally you upon this accident. I am in some fear that our peace will hardly be con- cluded in several weeks, by reason of a certain incident that could not be foreseen ; neither can I tell whether the parliament will sit before the conclusion of the peace; because some persons differ in their politics * That ig, tb^ first part existing ; for the first part wriften was de- stroyed by Sir William Temple himself: of the tiiird, Dr. Swift was tJie editor. N. f King William 111. who died by a faU from his horse. N.' VOL. XV. M K^ I25S LETTERS TO. AND FROitf aboiit the matter. If others were not wiser thaa I> your sesdon abould not^be deferred upon that account. I am, with the greater respect, . -*** Your grace's most dutifiil and humble servant VROm LORD BOLmGBROKE, Thursday marmng, two o^clock^ Jan. 5, 1712-13. Though I have not seen, yet I did not fail to write to lord treasurer. Nan tua res agiiur^ dear Jonathan. It is the treasurer's cause ;* it is my cause ; it is every, man's cause, who is embarked on our bottom. Depend upon it, that I never will neglect any opportunity of showing that true esteem, that sincere affection, and honest friendship for you, which fill the breast of your, faithful friend, BOLINOBROKE. TO THE DUKE OF AROTLL. act LORD, January 20, 1 7 1 2-1 3. I WOULD myself have delivered the answer I aeot yesterday to your grace at court by Dr« Arbuthoot, if I bad not thought the right of complainipg to be on ray side : for, I think it was my due, that you should have * Tbii seems to relate ta tiie promodoo of Dn Swift, ia wlikli Lord Bolmgbroke, in one of his letters, chaises the. lord treMorer with being extremely backward. See also Journal to Stella, A|Kril7, 1713. Dr. Swift was xoade Dean of St. Patrick's oQ.the 23d oC that DOCTOR SWIFT^ m !mm(^(liateljr told me whatever you had heard aaiiflB of my oondud to ymxt grace. Whenl bad the honour to be first known to those in the ministry, I made it an eX" press condition, ^ that whoever did me ill offices, they should inform roe of what was said, and hear my viodi- cation ; that I might not be mortified with countenan- ces estranged of the sudden, and be at a loss for the cause." And I think, there is no person alive, whose flavour or protection I would pui-chase at that expense. I could not speak to the disadvantage of your grace without being ungrateful (which is an ill word) since you were pleased voluntarily to make so many prefer* sions of favour to me for some years past $ and your be* iog a duke and a general, would have swayed me not at all in my respect for your person, if I had not thouglit you to abound in qualities, which I wish weie easier to be found in those of your rank. I have indeed some* times heard what your grace was told I reported ; but as I am a stranger to colTee-houses, so it is a great deal below me to spread coffee-house reports. This accusa- tion is a little the hai'der upon me, because I have al- ways appeared fond of your grace's character ; and have, with great industry, related several of your gene- rous actions, on purpose to remove the imputation of the only real fault^ (for I say nothing of common frail- ties) which I ever heard laid to your chai;ge. I confess, I have often thought that Homer's description of Achil- les bore some resemblance to your grace, but I do not remember that ever I said so. At the same time, I think few men were ever bom with nobler qualities to fulfil and adorn every office of a subject, a fiienufimd a protector, &c. * In hit ** Mem^rt relating to tHe Changes in the Queen^s Minifi. try," Dr. Swift speaki of the Duke of Ai^yll'* " iaLttf!5»RX.'K^^'«^- hitioui spintf oerer euy uhlle there ww «By oofc ^XR»t\i»w^^^ "^ f«k) LETTERS TO AND FROM ■ ■ . FlR)M ROBERT HUNTER, ESQ,."^ ' New-York, Match 1, 1712-13. I THINK I am indebted to j'ou for twp letters, and shovild have continued so, tiad it not been for the appre* hension of your ^"tting a wrong construction upon my neglect. My friends being few in number, I would not williiigly, or by my own fault, neglect nor lose those I have. The true cause is this. My unhappy circum- stances have so soured me, that whatever I write must be vinegar and gall to a man of your mirth. For the bet- ter understanding of which, be pleased to read them in the words of one of my most renowned predecessors : Quando pens^ venir a este govierno a comer caliente, y a hover fno, y a rccrear il cuerpo entre sahanas de Olanda Sobre colchones depluma^ he venido a haser penitencia, eo- mo scfitcra Ermctanno, y coino no la hago de me volontad^ f. pcnso que al caho al cabo, me ha de jfevar el diablo, »w This worthy was indeed but a type of me, of which I '^"^ could fully convince you by an exact parallel between ' our administrations and circumstances^ wliich I shall re- serve to another opportunity. The truUi of the matter is this : I am used like a dog, after liaving done all that is in the power of man to de- serve a better treatment, so that I am now quite jaded. Mali vehi malo alio gubeniante, quam tarn malts recto- rihus bene gubernare. The approaciiiijg peace will give leisure to the minis* . tiy to tfijnk of proper remedies for thedigtracled state of aJltl^jjrovinces ; but of this more particul?irly, ihe im- portance of it by its situation being greater, and the dan- * B/ijfadier Hunter, jovemor of New-Yoric and New-Jersey, who wa^ a/iterward appointed governor w\^ c"aL\>\.^\w-^"Kv\^^'\l of Jamaica, Xu the room of tha Duke ^Pon\auA,\;)tvtTe,V\\7 \,Y?a. ^. ^ - DOCTOR SWIFT. 2Q ger bj their conduct more immiaeDt, than that of the rest. I haye dpqe toy duty la represeoting their ipro^ ce^dlngSy'and^ warning them of the consequences; and there I leave it. . Neque tarn me tvtXvt^tet consoUdur ut anlea quam xi't^^optet qud nulla in re tarn utor qudm in hdc civili et pvJblicd. I have purchased a seat for a bishop, and by orders from the society have given direc- tion to prepare it for .his reception. You once upon a day gave me hopes of seeing you there. It would be to me no small relief to have so good a friend to complain to. Wliat would it be to you to hear me when you could not help me, I know not. Ccctera desunt — for the post cannot stay. Adieu. I am very sincerely your's, R. HUNTER. FROM GOVEJEINOR HUNTER. New-York, March 14, 1712-13. QUONORGH quanimi diadadejga geaeroghqua ague^ gon ichitckendgarei ; or, lest you should not have youp Iroquoise Dictionary at hand, " Broihqr, I honoui'you, and all your tribe;" though that is to be taken cum. grano salts ; for one of them has done me much harm. God reward him, &c. For that, and what you want to know besides, relating to me, I refer you to the bearer, Mr. Sharp, our chaplain ; a very worthy, ingenious, and conscientious clergyman. I wrote to you .spme time ago by a merchant ship, and therein gave you some hints, of my sulfenngs, which aire not diminished sjnce that time. In hopes of a better settlement, I wished for your company. Until that comes, I can contribute to nothing^ but your spleen. Here is the Jiaest ot Vq \\s^ w^^\i.\!o^ sW XETTEBB TO ANB ^JPROM die uiiTene: and if our trees and bfards coold wptiUkt mad our aBaemUTmeD be-aUeut, tiieJBflest conyex^tfeD .loo. Fcft0iiiiiifi tellwfj bat not for me. For joa mut •uiidarBtazid, according to the custom of our eountry, the jlichqns are of the poorest of thftj ieople, I hare got the wrong side of Sir Folklore's office; a great deal to do, and nothing to receive. Ic( a word, and tobe serious at last, I have spent three years of life in such torment and vexation, that nothing in life can ever make amends for it. Tu interim sis ketusy ei memor nostrikn. Vale^ 'It* '£[«- TO ARCHBISHOP KmC. r MY LORD^ London^ March 28, 1^13. Although your humour of delaying, which is a good deal in fashion, might serve me for authority and exam- ple in not sooner acknowledging your grace's letter, I shsll not make that use of it; but naturally tell.yOO, that the public delay has been the cause of mine. We have lived almost these two months past by the week, expecting that parliament would meet, and the ^ueen tell them that peace was signed. But unforeseen diffi- culties have arisen, partly by some mistakes in our {>le* Kiipotentiaries, as well as of those of France, loo long to ttrottble your grace with, since we now reckon all will be at an end ; and the queen has sent new powers to }Jtrecht, which her ministers there must obey, I thinks or be left without excuse. The peace will be g%ned with France, Holland, the emperor. Savoy, Portugal, and England : but Spain has yet no minister kt Utrecht, tlie Dutch making difficulties about the Duke d'Os- sane^B passports ; but the Marquis de Montellion i?in 0" DOCTOR SWIFT. 2« . • ^ soda begin his journey ; at least he telh me so. How- '-^vtx^ it 18 of DO great momeDt wliether Spain comes in .'now, or a month hence ; and the parliament will be sa- tisfied with the rest. People here have grumbled at those prorogations until they are weary ; but they are not very convenient, considering how many funds are out, and how late it is in the year. They think of tak- ing off two shillings in the pound from the land-tax; "which I always argued earnestly against : but the court lias a mind to humour the country gentlemen, and the thing is popular enough ; but then we must borrow upon new funds, which it will be of the last difficulty to in- vent or to raise. The other party are employed in qpreadiog a report most industriously, that the lord treasurer intends, afler the pe^c^ to declare for the vhigs. They have spread it in Scotland, to prepare people for the next election ; and Mr. Annesly told me the other day at my lord steward's, that he had heard I writ the same to my friends in Ireland ; which, as it is wholly without ground, so the fact is what I never had the least belief of, although your lordship is somewhat of his grace's mind, in not refusing to converse with his greatest enemies ; and therefore he is censured, as you say you are, upon the same account. And to those who tsharge him with it (as some are free enough to do it) he only says, his friends ought to tiust him ; and I have some reason to believe, that after a peace, the direct contrary will appear. For my own part, I entirely agree with your grace, that a free man ought not to con* fiiie his converse to any one party ; neither would I do 00 if I were free ; but I am not, and perhaps much less is a great minister in such a juncture as this. Amodg many qualities I have observed in the treasurer, there is one which is something singular, that he will be under an imputation, how wttag soever, without the paiins of .264 LETTERS TO AND FROM clearing himself to his nearest friends, ixhkh is owing to ^ great integrity, great courage, or great contempt of cen- sure. I know he has abundance of the two last, aud I believe he has the first Your grace's observations on the French dexterity in negotiation, as well as their ill faith, are certainly right ; but let both be as great as possible, we must treat with them one time or other ; and if ministers will not be up- on their guard against such notorious managers, tliey are altogether inexcusable. But I do assure your grace, that as it has fallen in my way to know more of the steps of this whole treaty, than perhaps any one man beside, I eannot see that any ihing in the power of humaa pru- dence, under many difficult conjunctures, has been omit- ted. We have been forced to conceal the best side^ which I agree has been unfortunate and unpopular ; but you will please to consider, that this way of eveiy sub- ject interposing their sentiments upon tlie management of fereign negotiations, is a very new thing among us ; «nd the suffering it has been thought, in the opinion of wise men, too great a strain upon the prerogative ; espe- cially giving a detail of particulars, which, in the varie- ty of events, cannot be ascertained during the course of a treaty. I could easily answer the objection of your grace^s friends in relation to the Dutch, and why they made those difficulties at the Hague and Gertruyden- berg. And when the whole stoiy of these two last in- triguing years comes to be published, the world will have other notions of our proceedings. This periiaps will not be long untold, and might already have been, if other people had been no wiser than I. After all, my lord, I grant that from a distant view of tilings, abun- dance of objections may be raised against many p&rts of our condiict. But the difficulties which gave room to these objections are iiol sfe^u, wA^«x\\«^ ^ms of them DOCTOR SWIFT. 265 f^ will never appear; neither maj it b6 coavenient they should. If in the end it appears that we have made a good bargain for you, we hope you will take it without entering too nicely into the circumstances. I will not undertake to defend our proceedings against any man wlio will not allow this postulatum, that it was impossible to' carry on the war any longer : which, whoever denies^ either has not examined the state of the nation with respect to its debts, or denies it from the spirit of party. • When a friend of mine objected this to-Lord Nottingham, he freely confessed it was a thing he had never consider- ed. But, however, be would be against any peace with- out Spain ; and why ? because he was- not privy seali^ But then, why does he vote with the whigs in every thing else, although peace has no concern ? because he was not privy seal. - I< hope, my lord,' we shall in time unriddle you many a dark problem, and let you see that faction, rage, rebellion, revenge, and ambition, were deep> ly rooted in the hearts of those who have been the great- obstructors of the queen's measures, and of the kingdon^g liappiness; and if I am not mistaken, such a scene may open, as will leave the present age and posterity, little ■ room to doubt who were the real friends, and real eae- * mies of their country.* At the same time I know nothing : IS so rash as predicting upon the events of public coun-^ cils ; and I see many accidents very possible to happen i which may soon defeat all my wise conjectures. I am^v my lord, Your grace's most dutiful - and most humble obedient servant • ^Seehia^HistoryoftheFoarlast Years of tbeQueea.'* I^* M 2~ v> h 266 LETT^ERS TO AND FROM FROM MR. PRIOR.* Pdiris, Aprils, 1713. Pray take this word, writ after our packet is closed, aDd the messenger staying for it, as ao equivalent for- your despatches at midnight when the writer was half • asleep. Hang me if I know how to go on, though I am in atcountry where every body does not only write let- ters but print them. Our great affair goes on very suc- cessfully. We tiAismit the Spanish treaty, concluded at Madiid, for your approbation in England, and trans- mission to Utrecht : after which I think, pctx sit will be- come authentic Latin ; after which, I suppose, our socie- ty will flourisli, and I shall have nothing to do but to partake of that universal protection, which it will re- ceive. In the mean time, pray give my great respects to our brethren ;t and tell them that, while in hopes of being favoui'ed, they are spending their own money. I am advancing mj interest in the French language, and forgetting my own mother tongue. But we shall have time enough to perfect our English, when we have done jvith other matters. I want mightily to hear from lord treasurer. Tell him so. I owe brother Arbuthuot a letter. Excuse my not wriiingto him, till I know wliat to say. I cannot find Yanhomrigh^ since he brought me your letter. I have a rari(y of a book to send you by the first fair occasion. It makes but little of the English wit, " The Guardian ;" but, possibly, I do not enter in- to his design. Let Lord Bolingbroke know, I love him * At that time pleuipoteotiary to France. H* f The sixteen. Sec note to a lettei: from Lord Harley to Swift, dated Julj 17, 1714. H. t One of the brothers ot Vaneisai. ^t^ ^^ Vi\.\.« \s) Mm £«ther rairhomrigh, datedJuly »,A7\^. H» DOCTOB SWIFT. 267 f* mightily ; and praj do you as much for Dick SkeltoD* Adieu, my good friend* I am veiy truly, Your obedient and faithful sei-vaut, M. PRIOR. FROM JOHN EARL POULETT.* Afrit, Suhday afternoon. I WAS called a\^ay presently after chapel, upon some business which hindered me going up stairs at St. James's, and occasions Dr. Swift the trouble of this, to make my excuse for not returning the paper, which I here send you ; and though it is not in my power to serve you in any proportion to my unfeigned respects for you, yet I would not be wanting, on my part, in any opportunity, where! can, to express myself. Sir, your most faithful humble servant, POULETT. TO, THE REV. MR. WILLIAM DRAPER, DEAN, NBAH BASINGSTOKE, UAHPBHIR£.f SIB, London, April ISylll 3, I A5I ashamed to tell you how ill a philosopher I am, and that a very ill situation of my affairs for three weeks' past, made me utterly incapable of answering your * Indorsed / Lord Steward, 1713.' N. f First printed in Mr. Seward's Qiogi-aphiana, 1719, from the origi- nal in the possession of thatexcelleiitvii^mtVst Qili^>aJ0ci^"^\.,'^'^^5v^ ^ of Readiog- W. 268 LETTERS TO AND FROM obliging letter, and thaokiug jou for jour most agreeable copy of verses. The prints will tell joa that I am con- demned again to live in Ireland ; and all that the court and ministry did for me was to let me choose my situa- tioQ in the country where I am banished. I could not forbear showing both your letter and verses to our great men, as well as to the men of wit of my acquaintance ; and they were highly approved by all. I am altogether a stranger to your friend Appian ; and am a little angry when those wiio have a genius lay it out in translations. I question whether ' Res angusta domi' be not one of your motives. Perhaps you want such a bridle as a translation, for your genius is too fruitful, as appeai-s by the freqency of your similies ; and this employment may teach you to write like a modest man, as Shakspeare ex- presses it. I have been minding my Lord Bolingbroke, Mr. Harcourt, and Sir William Win(4ham, to solicit my lord chancellor to give you a living, a>s a business which be- longs to our society, Avho assume tl)^e title of re warders of merit. They are all very well G^isposed, and I shall not fail to negotiate for you while I a^y in England, which will not be above six weeks; but I Bope to ^^J^tn in October, and if you are notUien provided for, I ^« move heaven and earth thatd^omethiog may be done for you. Our society has not ro^t of late, else I would have jtnoved to have two of us sent in form to request a living for you from my lord chancellor ; and, if you have any wayto employ my ^rvices, I desire you will let me knowlt, aB^HWievfi me, to be very sincerely, Sir, Yonr most faithful humble servant, JON. SWIFT. f DOCTOR SWIFT. id w FROM DR. ATTERBURY.- ChdsctJLy Tuesday Mormtf^ «R. DEAN, April 21, 1713.* Give me leave to tell you, that there is do man in England more pleased with your beiiag preferred than I am. I would have told you so myself at your lodgings, but that my writing confines me. I had heard a flying report of it before ; but-my Lord Bolingbroke yesterday confirmed the welcome news, to me. I could not ex- cuse myself without saying thus much ; and I have DOt time to say more, but that I' am your most affection^ ate and fiaiithful servant,. FR. ATTERBURY. TO ARCHBISHOP KING. j»nr LORD, London^ AprH 30, 1713, I HAD the honour of your grace's letter of the 14tb, which at present I cannot answer particularly : I send this to welcome your grace to the Bath, whei'e we con- clude you are now arrived ; and I hope the design of your journey is more for prevention than cure. L sup- pose your grace has heard that the queen has made Dr. Sterne Bishop of Dromore,. and that I am to succeed him in his deanery. Dr. Farnell, who is now in town, writ last post to your grace, to desire the favour of you that he may have niy small prebend :f he thinks it will be some advantage to come into the chapter, where it may * Indorsed hy Dr. Swift, " Dr. Attcrbury^ M^^ *iV> VIA^^ ■ifc«5X eleven ia the morolog. I believe a\\ to wo ^tvow^.^*^ "^^ / Of Dtmhyla. See a Itttet toI>«Mi^\«tTO» kv«'^V\'»^^^' "^ 979 LETTERS TO Ajm FROM poesibty be in my power to serve him io a way agreeable to him, ahhough ia no degree equal io his ments ; by which he iias distinguished himself so much, that he h iu great esteem with the ministry, and others of the most Taluable persons in tiiis town. He has been many years^ under your grace's n mA^^Tixv^s^!^ D0G1OB SWIFT. 2TL He laughs when I mention a tbousand pouod which he gives nie; though a thousand pound is a very serioui^ thing, 6ic. TO MR. ADDISON. • SIR, Mojf 13,1713. I WAS told yesterday, by several persons, that Mr. Steele liad reflected upon me in his Guardian : M'hich I could hardly believe, until, sending for the paper of the day, I found he had, iu several parts of it, insinuated witli the utmost malice, that I was author of the Ex- aminer ;* and abused me in the grossest manner he could possibly invent, and set his name to what he had writ- ten. Now, sir, if I am not author of the Examiner,^ how will Mr. Steele be able to defend himself from the imputation of the highest degree of basenesss, ingrati- tude, and injustice ? Is he so ignoj*ant of my temper, and of my style ? lias he never heard that the author of the Examiner (to whom I am altogether a stranger)-) * In tlic Guardiun, No, LIIl. Mr. Steele says, " TUougb sometimes I have been told by familiar friends, that they saw me such a time talking to the Examiner; others who have rallied mc for the Fins of mj youth tell me4t is credibly reported that I haye formerly lain withihe Examiner, 1 have carrried my point ; and it is nothing to me wheth^ - the Examiner writes in tbe character of an cttranged Jriendy or ao exasperated rhistress.^^ — By the first of these appellations, Dr. Swift is to be understood ; by the latter, Mrs. Manley, authoress of the Ata- laotis, who frequently contributed to the writing of the Examiu- er. N. f See tlie fifth volume of tliis collection. The reader will recollect flie received opinion, that Dr. Swift never wrote any Examiners aftwr June 7, 1711. The curious may see an accurate and satisfactory ac- count of the Examiner, and of this circumstance parUcul^vVxm\A%.^tvflLnt DOCTOR SWIFT. 273 TO MR. STEELE. I « # » # * * t I may probably know better, when they are disposed ***,*#**. The case irasthus: I did, with the utmost application, and desir- ing to lay all my credit upon it, desire Mr. Harley (as he then was called) to show you mercy. He said, " He would, and wholly upon my account : that he would appoint you a day to see him : that he would not ex- pect you should quit any friend or principle." Some days after, he told me, " He had appointed you a day, and you had not k^t it;" upon which he reproached me, as engaging for more than -I could answer ; and ad- vised me to more caution another time; I told him, and desired my lord chancellor and Lord Bolingbroke to be witnesses, that I would never speak for, or against you^ as long as I lived ; only I would add, that it was still my opinion, you should have mercy till you gave fur* ther provocations. This is the history of \^ hat you think fit to call, in the spirit of insulting, ^* their laughing at me :" and you may do it securely ; for, by the most io- human dealings, you have wholly put it out of my pow- er, as a christian, to do you tlie least ill ojf&ce. Next I desire to know, whether the greatest services ever done by one man to another, may not have the same turn as properly applied to them ? And, once more, suppose they did laugh at me, I ask whetiber my. inclinations to i It has unluckily happened that two or three lines have heen torn by accident from the beginning of this letter; and by the same acci- dent, two or three lines are missing towardthe latter part, which were written on the back part of the paper which was torn off. But what remains of this letter, will, I presume, be very satisfactory to the iH- teUigent reader. D.S. 404 LETTERS TO ANI) ^ROM •erve 7011, merit to be rewarded by the vilest treatment^ whether tbej sucoeeded or not ? 'If ybai interpretatipi^ were true, I wsfs laughed at only for your sake ; which^ 1 think, is going pretty far to serve a friend. As to' the letter I complain o^ I appeal to your most parliU friends, whether you ought not either to have asked, or written to me, or desired to have been informed by a third hand, whether I were any way concerned in writ- ing the Examiner ? And if I had shuffled, or answer- ed indirectly, or affirmed it, or said I would not give you satisfaction; you might then have wreaked ynur levenge with some colour of justice. I have several times assured Mr. Addison, ahd fifty others, ^^ That I had not the least hand in writing any of those papers; said that I had never exchanged one syllable with the inipposed author* in my life, that I can remember, nor «ver seen him above twice^ and' that in mixed company, in a place where he came to pay his attendance/' One thing more I must obseive to you, that a year or tiro sigo, when some printers itted to briag me their papers Id manuscript, I absolutely ibrbid them to give any hints igainst Mr. Addison and you, and some others ; and Inve frequently struck out refllectio&s upon you in par- tfculair, and should (I believe) have done it still, if I had not wholly left oflf troubling myself aboiit those kidd of filings. I {Motest I never saw any thing more liable to excep- tfoo, than every patt is of the letter you were pleased to Irrite me. Tou plead, ^ That I do not in mine to Mr. Addison, in direct terms, say I am not concerned with ihe Exanuner." And is that an excuse for the mosi * It 18 clear that Swift b11 along aUudesto Oldisworth as author <^£ ihe Examiners. Steele, on the contrary, sets out on the supposition that those papers were «^tikA|iK«ds^«^ast my imagination. Be pleased to put these ^estions youi'self : '' If Dr. Swift be entirely innocent of what [accuse him, how shall I be able to make him satisfao* ion ? And how do I know but he may be entirely in* locent ? If he was laughed at only because he solicited br me, is that a sufficient reason for me to say the yilest hings of him in print, under my hand, i^ithout any pro- rocation ? And how do I know but he may be in the %ht, when he strjnn I was kept in my employmeat at liis nterposition ? If he never once ifeflected on me the least n any paper, and has hudered many others ftom doiiig t, how can I justify myself, for endeavouring in tnin*, o ruin his credit as a christian and a derg^yman ?" I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant, f U&e the mamneript is'toni. H. fit 278 LETTERS TO AND FBOjyi FROM SIR T. HAIfMER * I SIR, Tuesday, \ I KEEP only the last book,! vbich I shall, have gone through before night. The rest I send you, with the very few observations I made upon them, which yet were as many as I could see any occasion for ; though, I do assure you, I read with the same strictness and ill nature as in the former part I am, Your most humble servant, &c. THO. HANMER. TO ARCHBISHOP KING. MY LORD, London May 23, 1713. I HAD the honour of. a letter from your grace, the 18th instant, from Chester. I was confidently told, about three weeks ago, that your grace was expected every day at the Bath ; and you will find a letter there as old as that, with a requisition in favour of Dr. Par- nell, who, by his own merit, is in the esteem of the chief ministers here. I am very sensible, that the loss your grace has suffered in the removal of Dr. Sterne will never be made up by me, upon a great many accounts : however, I shall not yield to him in respect and vene- ration for your grace's character and person ; and I re- turn you my most grateful acknowledgments for the offer you make me of your favour and protection. I think to set out for Ireland on Monday sevenniglit, to * Indorsed, ' Received about May, 1713.' H. f Of the MS. History o£ \Xi% Peace of Utrecht B. DOCTOR SWIFT. 277 e there before the term ends ; for so they advise me^ B^se the long vacation follows, in which I cannot ike the oaths, unless at a quarter sessions ; and I had etter have two chances than one. This will hinder me "om paying my respects to your grace at the Bath ; and ideed my own health would be better, I believe, if I ould pass a few weeks liiere : but my remedy shall be iding, and a sea voyage. I have been inquiring, and m told your grace's cause will hardly come on this ses- lon ; but indeed I have been so much out of order >r these ten days past, that I have been able to do lOthing. As to the spire to be erected on St. Patrick's steeple,* am apt to think it will cost more than is imagined ; nd I am confident that no bricks made In that part of relaud, will bear being exposed so much to the air : owever, I shall inquire among some architects here. I hope your grace will find a return of your health ci the place where you are. I humbly beg your bless- ]g ; and remain, with great respect, my lord. Your grace's most dutiful, and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. * Dr. Sterne (predecessor to Dr, Swift, as Dean of St- Patrick's Mhedral, Dublin, afterward Bishop of Dromore, from whence he ras translated to the see of Clogher) left 1200^ to erect a spire on he top of that steeple, which was built a few years after his lord- hip's death. It is an octagon of many feci high, liuilt of white hard nountain stone, with a gilt ball at the top of it, which may be seen it the distance of many miles. P. ;278 LETTEBS TO AND FROM FROM MIL STEBJUE^ } ftm Blocmabwry^ Majf 20, 1713. I HAVE received jour's, and find it is impossible for a raao to judge ia his owo case. For an allusion to 70a, as one under the imputatiou of helping the Examiner, and owning I was restrained out of respect to 70U, 70a tell Addison, under your hand, ^ joa think me the vilest of mankind," and bid him tell me so. I am obliged to 70U for aoj kind thinp said in ray behalf to the trea- surer; and assure jou, when you were in Ireland, you - were the constant subject of my talk to men in power at that time. As to the vilest of mankind, it would be a glorious world if I were : for I would not conceal iny thoughts in favour of an injuitd man, though all the powers on earth gainsaid it, to be made the first man is the nation. This position, I know, will ever ohptruct my way in the world ; and I have conquered mj de* sires accordingly. I have resolved to content myaeV with what I can get by my own industry, and the im- provement of a small estate, without being anxiow whether I am ever in a coiurt again <» not I do as- sure you, I do not speak this calmly, after the ill usage * i in your letter to Addison, out of tcrnnr of your wit, 01 ^ my lord treasurer's power; but pure kindness to the agreeable qualities, I once so passionately delighted lo^ in you. You knowf I know nobody, but one that talked after you, could tell, ^ Addison had bridled me in point of party." This was ill hinted, both with lela^ tion to him, and, sir. Your most obedient humble servant, RICHARD STEELE. DOCTOR SWIFT. 2r» 1 know DO part^; but the truth of tlie question is what I mU support as well as I can, wbeu any man I Im- >-^::jiour is attacked. TO MR. STEELE. «tB, 110^27,1713. The reason I give 70U the trouble of this replj to jour letter, is because I am gdng in a very few dajns to Ireland : and although I intended to return towi^ winter, jet it may happen, from the cominon accidental of life, that I may never see you again. In your yesterday's letter, you are pleased to take the complaining side, and think it hard I should write to Mr. Addtison as I did, onl/ for an allusion. This allusion Wag only calling a clergyman of some little distinction an infidel ; a clergyman, who was your friend, who always loved you, who had endeavoured at least to serve you ; and who, whenever he did write any thingi: made it sacred to himself never to fling out the least bint against you. One thing you are pleased to fix on me, as what you are sure of; that the Examiner had talked after me, when he said, '^ Mn Addison had bridled you In point of party.'' I do not read one in six of those papers, nor ever knew he had such a passage ; and I am so igno- rant of this, that I cannot tell what it means : whether, that Mr. Addison kept you close to a party, or that he hindered you from writing about party. I never talked or writ to that author in my life; so that he could not l|ave learned it from me. And in shinrt, I solemnlj affirm, that with relation to every friend I have, I am as imiocent, as it is possible for a human creature to be. 260 LETTERS TO AND FROM And whether you believe me or not, I thiok, with sub- 111)88100, ydu ought to. act as if jaa Jbelicved me, till you have demonstration to the contrary; I have all flh^^^, ministry to be my witnesses, that there is hardly a man of wit of the adverse party, whom I have not been so bold as to recommend often and with earnestness to them : for, I think, principles at present are quite out of the case, and that we dispute wholly about persons. In these last you and I diiTer; but in the other, I think* we agree : for I have in print professed myself in poli- tics, to be what we formerly called a whig. As to the great man* whose defence you undertake ; though I do not think so well of him as you do, yet I have been the cause of preventing five hundred hard things being said against him. I dm sensible I have talked too much when myself is the subject : therefore I conclude with sincere wishes for your health and prospenty, and am, sir, Yodrs, &c. You cannot but remember, that in the only thing I ever • published with my name, I took care to celebrate you as much as I could, and in as handsome a man- ner, though it was in a letter to the present lord trea- surer. FROM ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ,t Whitehall, June 2, 1713. I HOPE this will meet you at Chester, and that your passage at sea will be favoured with as mild weather as * Dute of MarlboTovx^Jv. D. S. ' f Secretary to Lord B^xXmoMflck, ^"ft^ taeBJoet ^w lA^twithiel. B. BOCTOR SW1*T. 2131 'your journey by land has been these two first daj^ The division yesterday, in the^bouse of lords, was fifty-^ "^nfour against fifty-four. Proxies were called- for, and we liad seventeen lo thirteen. This is the greatest victory we ever had. The Duke of Argyll and the Scotch were against us to a man. Lords Weymouth and Carte- ret were with them. It was very comical to see the tories, who voted with lord treasurer against the dissolution of the union, und^r all the perplexities in the world, lest they should be victorious ; and the Scotch, who voted* for a bill of dissolution, under agonies lest they them- selves should carry the point they pretended to desire. In all the time I have been conversant in business, I never before observed both sides, at the same time, acting parts which they thought contrary to their in- terests. Let us hear from you sometimes, and believe there is nobody with more sincerity your's, than, Szc. FROM THE REVEREI^D MR. SHARPE.^ KEVEREND SIR, Londoti, Juuc A^ 1713. I WAS commanded by his excellency Brigadier Hun- ter, governor of New- York, to deliver the enclosed with my own hand, had I been eo happy, for his service and my own satisfaction, as to have seen you at Lon- don. I am persuaded your influence here might have contributed to create a better opinion of him, among some leading men in the society for propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, who have been much imposed on by the clamorous memorials of some indiscreet mis- sionaries abroad. He has the just esteem of two thirds of * Chaplaia to Brigadier Hunter, GovexiiOT cA ^^-^i-XwY, '^^ 282 LETTERS TO AND FROM Ibe clergy in his government, and the greatest part of the laity, who have either seose^ probity, or honour ; but his adversaries have made the church's cause a fa- vourable handle for tlieir repeated complaints, which, with the application of their fiiends here, makes them hopeful of success. I have been twelve years abroad, in the service oi the church in America : the last ten were in the station of chaplain to her majesty's forces at New-Tork, where I had the oppoi'tunity of being very near to the several governors ; and do assure you, that if I had ever ob- serve in him any inclination to weaken the interest of the church there, I could fiot in conscience offer to ex- cuse him ; but lie is better known to you, than that I, who am altogether unknown, should presume to give his character. What I beg leave to entreat of you is, to recommend nic in my endeavours for his service, to the advice and absistaiice of your friends* The perplexity of all his affairs at this time claims the good offices of all that wish him well. If, in favour to his excellency, you are pleased to honour me with the pardon of this, and what return the enclosed may require, direct for me to the care of Mr. James Douglas, meichant, in Fencouit, Fenchurch street, Londou. I beg leave to subscribe myself, with great respect, reverend sir, your most ob^ dient and most humble servant, JOHN SHARPE. JftOCTOR SWIFT. 283 TO MISS VANHOMRIGH* Laracor^ JtdyS, 1713. I STATED but a fortnight io Dublin, verj sick ; and returned not one visit of a hundred, that were made me ; but all to the dean, and none to the doctor. I am riding here for life,* and I think I am something better. I hate the thoughts of Dublin, and prefer a field bed, and an earthen floor, before the great house there, which they say is mine. I had your last splenetic letter. I told you, when I left England, I would endeavour to forget every thing there, and would write as seldom as I could. I did indeed design one genera] round of let- ters to my friends ; but my health has not yet suffered me. I design to pass the greatest part of the time I stay in Ireland, here, in the cabin where I am now sWriting : neither will I leave the kingdom till I am sent for ; and if they have no farther service for me, I will never see England again. At my first coming, I tliought I should have died with discontent ; and was hoiTibly melancholy, while they were installing me, but it begins to \rear off, and change to dulness. My river walk is extremely pretty, and my canal in great beauty ; and I see trouts playing in it. . I know not any one thing now in Dublin. But Mr. Ford is very kind, and writes to me constantly what passes among you. I find you ar^ lilTewise a good politician ; and I will say so much to you, that I veiily think, if the thing you know of had * This is the lady whom the Dean has celebrated by the name o^ yaQo«sa. She was the eldest daughter of Bartholomew Vanhomrigh, first a tierchant of Amsterdam, and afterward of Dublin, who was ap- pointed commissary of the stores by King William, upon his expedi- tion into Ireland. Her mother was the daughter of Mr. Stone^ the commissioner, and niece to the accomptant-^enss^Y q^ \\«\^\A. ^« 2B4 LETTERS TO AND FROM been published just upon the peace, the ministry n)i|s;hi have avoided what has since happened : but I am now fitter to look after willows, and to cut hedges, than med- dle with alTairs of state. I must order one of the work- men to drive those cows out of my island, and make up the ditch again ; a work much more proper for a coun-> try vicar, than driving out factions, and fencing against them. I must go and take my bitter draught to cure my head, which is spoiled by the bitter draughts which the public has given me. So go to your dukes and duchesses, atid leave me to goodroan Bumford, and Pa* trick Dolan, of Glanduggan. Adieu. FROM Elf ASM US LEWIS, ESQ.* Whitehall, Jtdy 9, 1713. We are all running headlong into the greatest confii- sion imaginable. Sir Thomas Hanmerf is gone into the country this morning, I believe much discontented ;^ikI I am very apprehensive, neither Lord Angleseaj: nor he will continue long with us. I heartily wish you were here ; for you might certainly be of great use to usTljy your endeavours to reconcile, and by represent- hig to them the infallible consequences of these divisioiis.. We had letters this morning from Ireland. What is the reason I had none from* you? Adieu. I hope your Ivant of health is not the cause. *• Indorsed, " Mr. Lewis, about the divisions," &,c. + Speaker of the bouse of commons. B. X ArtbiH', who was joint vice treasurer of Ireland with fedwapdf iTarl of Clarendon. B. DOCTOR SWIJFT. 28^ * TO ARCHBISHOP KING. « HY LORD, TniM, Jnhf 1 6, 1 7 1 3. I HAVE been about five weeks io^this kingdom, but so extreme) J ill with the return of an old disorder in my head, that I was not able to write to your grace. I have been the greatest part of that time at my country parish, riding every day for my health. I can tell your grace nothing from Dublin, having spent the days I was there between business and physic, and paid no visits, nor received any but one day ; and I reckon it no great loss, for I hear they are all party mad ; and it is one felicity of being among willows, that one is not u*oubled with faction. I hope you have as little of it at the Bath ; for I cannot fancy it does well with the waters^ If your grace goes to London from the Bath, I believe I may have the honour of waiting oi^ you ; although I Aall do all in my power to save the trouble of such a journey, which neither my fortune nor my health will very well bear. I hope you feel the good effects of the place you are in; and I pray God continue your life, for the good of his church. The other day, Mr. Thacker, prebendary of Sagard \and vicar of Rathcool, died ; and it would be a great mark of goodness in your grace, as well as a personal favour to me, if you would please to dispose of his liv- ings in favour of Mr. Thomas Warburton, who has beeii^ many years my assistant in the cure of Laracor, has be- haved himself altogether unblamably, and is a gentlemaa of very good learning and sense. If I knew any one more deserving, I would not recommend him ; neither would I do it however, because I know your grace has a great many dependants, but that it will be a great use to me to have a vicar in od£ oi ukj x^V»&^ ^sA>\\Ri^ 286 LETTERS TO AND FROM my deanery, in irhom I can confide. I am told the Ht- lugs amount to a hundred and twenty pounds a year at most; and it may probably happen in my way to be able to oblige some friend of your's in a greater matter, 'vrliich I shall very readily do. I am, with the greatest respect, my lord. Your grace's mo§t obedient and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. - FROM ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ,.* WhUehaU, July 30, 1713. This day se'nnight the queen goes to Hampton Court, and the Monday followhig to Windsor. I fency by tbst time Mr. Bromleyf will be secretary of state, in the rooifa of my lord4 Lord treasurer was abroad this evening, for the first time after a fortnight's illness. I hear there came a dozen of letters from you by the same post to your friends here. My lord treasurer desires you^H make all possible haste over; for we want you ex- tremely. * Indorsed, '^ Mr. Lewis, pressing me to come over.** N. f William Bromley, Esq. appointed secretary of state, August 17, 1713, in the room of William, £arl of Dartmouth, made lord privj soaL B. X Paf tmeuth, to whom Mr. Lewis had been secretary^ 9. DOCTOR SWIFT. 287 TO BISHOP ATTERBURY. The Country in Ireland, JAY LORD, Jug. 3, 1713. It is with the gi'eatest pleasure I heard of your lord- ship's promotion, I mean that particular promotion which I beKeve is agreeable to you,* though it does not mend your fortune. There is but one other change I could wish you, because 1 have heard you prefer it before all the rest; and that likewise is noW ready ,f unless it be thought too soon, and that you are made to wait till an- other person has used it for a step to cross the water.;}: Though I am here in a way of sinking into utter obli- vioD: for ^* Hce laiehra nee dulcc.% ncc, id ntihi credis, canomce :^' yet I shall challenge the continuance of your lordship's favour: and whenever I come to London, shall with great assurance cross the park to your lordship's house at Westminster, as if it were no more than crossing the street, at Chelsea. I talked at this threatening rate so often to you about two years past, that you are not now to forget itk • The deanery of Westminster. N. f The bishopric of London was then vacant, by tUe deatb of Dr. Compton, who died July 4, 17J3. N. X To Lambeth. It is more than insinuated by Dr. Maty, that At- terbary*8 ambition extended to York or Canterbury. Yet those who were better acquainted with his views, knew that Winchester would have been much more desirable to him than any of the others. And there are persons still living, who have been told, from respectable authority, that that bishopric was offered to him whenever it should become vacant (and, till that event should happen, a pension of ^0002. a year, beside an ample provision for Mr. Morice) if he would cease to give the opposition he did to Sir Robert Walpdle^s administration, by his speeches and protests in the house of lordf«. Wiien that ofSsr was rejected by the bishop, then the contrivance for his ruin was d^ termined en. N. ^ ;28B I-ETTER5 TO ANDr FROM Pray, my lord, do Dot let your being made a b]jsfiop> Ijinder yoa from cultivating the politer studies, ii'hich your heart was set upon when you went to govern Christ Church. Providence has made you successor ta a person, who, though of a much inferior genius,"^ turned all his thoughts that way; and, I have been told, with .great success, by bis countenance to those who deserved. I envy Dr. Freindf that he has you for his inspector; and J envy you for having such a person in your dia- irict, and whom you love so well. Shall not I have liberty to be sometimes a third among you, though I am an Irish deau ? *' Vervecum in patridy crassoqm sub aere natus.^^X A very disordered head hindered me from writing^ *farly to your lordship, M'hcn I first heard of your pre- ferment ; and 1 have reproached myself of ingratitude^ v.'iieu I remembered your kindness in sending me a let- ter upon tlie deanery they thou^t fitto thi*ow m^ intof to which I am yet a straftger, being forced into the country, in one of my old parishes.^ to ride about for a iutle health. I hope to have the honour of asking youf lordship^s blessing seme time in October. Jo the mean while, I desire your lordship to believe me to be, with * The works of Bishop Sprat, besides his few poems, are, " The History of the Royal Society ;" »« Thie Life of Cowley;" " The Aih swer toSorbiere;" " The History of the Ryehousc Plot;" *» The Re- lation of his own Examination;" and a rohime of ** Sermons." Dr. Johnson says, *' I have heard it observed with great justness, * that every book is of a difl^rent kind, and that each has its distinct and characteristical excellence.' In his poems, he considered Cowley as a model ; and supposed that, as he was imitated, perfection was ap- proached.*' N. f Dr. Freind, then head master of Westminster school. N. \ " land of bogs " With ditches fenc'd, a Heaven fat with fogs." Juvenal, Sat. X. 75. b tiaracor anti BLaLtiibe6%\n. 1^,. DOCTOR SWIFC. 2S§ Teiy great respect and truth, niy lord, your lordship's tnost dutiful and most humble servant, J. SWIFT. FROM MR. PRIOR. Paris, Aug. 5-16, 17ia As I did not expect, my good friend Jonathan, ta have received a letter from you at Dublin, so I am sure I did not intend to write one thither to you; but Mr. Rosingrave thinks it may do him a service, in recom* mending him to you. If so, I am very glad of it ; for it can be of no other use imaginable. I have writ letters now above twenty-two years. I have taken towns, de- stroyed fleets^ made treaties, and settled commerce in letters. Anil "b hat of all this ? Why, nothing ; but that I have had some subject to write upon. But to write a letter only because Mr. Rosingrave has a mind to carry one in his pocket, to tell you, that you are sure of a friendship, which can never do you three pence of good, and wish you well in £ngland very soon, when I do »ioi know when I am likely to be there myself; all this^ I say, is very absurd for a letter ; especially when I have this day written a doa^n much more to the purpose. If I had seen your manuscript;* if I had received Dr. Par- nell's poem ; if I had any news of Landen being taken ^ why well and good : but as I know do more than the Duke of Shrewsbury desigus for England within three weeks ; that I must stay here till somebody else corneal and then — brings me necessarily to say, good Mr. Dea% • Of the Hif tory of the Peace of Utreckt B^ 290 LETTERS TO AND FROM that I am like the fellow io the Rehearsal, that did not know if he was to be merry or serious^ or In what waj or mood to act his part. Ooe thing only I am assured o( that I love you very well ; and am, most dncerely and faithfully, dear air, your servaat and brother,'"' M. PRIOR. Lord and Lady Shrewsbury give their service to you. Tanhomrigh has run terribly here in debt, and, being in durance, has sent to his mother upon pecuniary con- cems. Adieu once more. What we are doing, or what is to become of us, I know not. ** Prodens futari temporu •xitum " CaIij(io(M& oocte premitDeus, " Ridetque '» This is all the Latin and writing I can at present spare you. Pray give my service to your Chancellor,! and be much acquainted with Judge Nutley, «nd love him very well for mj sake. Adieu. Once more, find out my cousin Penny fether and Nutley (if he is not too grave for you ;) and according to the laudable custom of your country, drink this Louis out, for a token of my g^aeroaij and your sobriety. And now I think, I have fiuroished out a very pretty letter. * He was one of the sizteeD. H. f Sir Copitutine Fhippi. DOCTOR SWIFT. 291 FROM MR. LEWIS.* WkitehaU, Aug. 6, nU. I HAVE 80 often, and in so pressing a manner, desired you to come cover, 4hat, if what I have already said ha^ no effect, I shall despair of better success by any farther arguments. If I were to recapitulate the several rea^ sons you offer- to the contrary, and answer them separate* ly, I should grow peevish ; which I have no way to avoid, but by telling you in general, it is all wrong. Tou and I have already laid it down for a maxim, that we must serve lord treasurer, without receiving oixiers or particular instructions ; and I do not yet see a reason for changing that rule. His mind has been communicated more freely to you than ai^ other ff but you will not understand it. The desires of great men are commands ; at least the only ones, I hope, they ever will be able to use. You have a mind to stay in Ireland till October, and desire me to give my opinion whether you should come sooner ? I answer, yes. Then you bid me con- sider again ; that is, you would have me say I am of opinion you should stay till October. When judges would have a jury change their verdict, they bid them consider again : when a man is determined to marry a woman, and his friend advises him against it, he asks his opinion again ; and if his friend is so silly as not to alter his advice, he marries without it. I am as much in the spleen now I am answering your letter, as you were when you writ it. Come over: you will cure yourself and me too. Adieu. * Indorsed, ** Mr. LeWip, pre9!>iiig mc to come over'* N. f By this it appears, that Lord Orrerj was jnistakeo whea he«ud that SicUl was tm^loytd^ not trusltd, H. 292 LETTERS TO AND FROM # FROM DR. SMALRIDGE. BiR. DEAN, Christ Church, Sept, 27, 1 7]3v Whsn jou was so kiud as to favour the master of the Teniplef aod me with your company at the chaplaia's tabl% at KeDsiDgtoo, there diiied with us oue Mr. Fidde84 a well deserving clerg^'man, whose circumstaDces, we told you, were not at all suitable to his merits. You ex^ preased on that occasion so generous a concern for him, and so great a readiness to do him. any good ofl&ces, which: might lie in your way, that he seems to think he should be wanting to himself if he did not endeavour to culti- vate an interest with one so willing and so able to serve him. He has therefore made repeated instances to me^ that I would remind you of him, which I should not have hearkened to, were I not well assured,, that you would excuse, if not thank me, for furnishing you with an op- portunity of doing a generous and good natured tiling. You will not, I foncy, think a formal application to any great man in his behalf either proper or nequisite ; but if you should^ upon the perusal of one or two of his ser- mons, think as well of them as I do, and should in coo- ▼ersation with my lord treasurer express a good opiuioa of the author, one kind woiri. from you, seasonably drop- ped, might determine his fortune, and give you the satis- faction of having made him and his family as happy a& they can wish to b& I am, sir, your most humble servant, GEO. SMALRIDGE. ** Afterward Bishop of Bristol. B. f Dr. Sheriock, afterward Bishop of London . B t Richard Fiddes, afterward T). "D. ^\A\m« just now a letter from 70a, \vhereia 70U ineii>- tion the design of makinf; me prolocutor.* I will cou^ fess to jou, there are two reasons why I should comply with it ; one is, that I am heartily weafy of courts, and ministers, and politics, for several reasons impossible tc^ tell you ; and I have a mind to be at home, since the queen has been pleased that Ireland should be my home : the other reason is, that I think somebody edu- cated in Dublin college should be prolocutor; and I bear there are designs of turning it another way. But» if you find it will not do, I hope you will quit the de» sign in proper season. I condole with you for the Iqss of yourf companions this winter ; and I was always of opinion they should be in town, unless they find their health better at Trim. I am a little disappointed in ParvisoUsI return. I hoped it would have amounted to near five hundred pounds in the; tithes ; I doubt not the cause, and beg you wHl hare no sort of tenderness for him, farther thao it regards my interest ; as to the land rents, they are one bundk^d and seventy-four pounds a year in the conntry, besides some small things in town ; and I am in no pain about them, because they aie sure ; nor do- T desire him to concern himself ai)out them. I hoped, and was told, my license would be under six pounds, though all was paid, and I heard, if lord chai>- cellorS had taken his fees, it would have been eigbl * See a letter to Archbishop King, dated Oct 21^ Vf(& JS, f Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Dingley. F. X The dean's agent. F. i Sir Cofi5taiitine Fhlpc* 9k 294 LETTERS TO AND FROIff pounds. Tell Mr. Fetherston, I have Bpoken to Baioa Scroup about his afllair, who promises to despatch it with the first opportunity. I am now with some miDisten and lords, and other company, and withdrawn to a tabl^ and hardly know what I write, they are so loud. My humble service to your Dorothy, and Alderman Stoyte,* bis wife, and Cellarius ; and duty to the Bishop of Dromore. Your'Si J. S, FROM LORD CHANCELLOR PHIPPS. SIB, Dublin, Oct. 10, 1713. I. HAD the favour of your kind letter of the twenty- second of September, and had soon acknowledged it, if I had not been prevented by the- constant hurry we have been in, with relation to the city and parliament affairs. I heartily congratulate your safe arrival in LondoD^ and return you, with all the gratitude imaginable, my thanks for the great trouble you have given yourself as veil on behalf of my son in particular, as of this king- dom in general : and I am sorry you should yeuture so far as to bum your fingers : but you know such misfor- tunes often happen to gentlemen, who have a hearer zeal for the interest of their friends. But this comfort attends then, that the burning goes off soon ; whereas the credit and honour of serving one's friend last al- ways. The account you sent me of Mr. Worseley's being an envoy was new, and had not reached us before your letter came. I ktiow not how sufficiently toac- * An alderaaa of Dub\\&) ^tliex^vc^\oi4«».Tv« F. DOCTOR SWIFT. 295 knowledge the obligations you have laid on mc ; but assure you, if you have any commands on this side the water, there is no one will be. more proud of being honoured with them, than he, who is, with very great respect. Your most obedient humble servant, CONa PHIPPSr TO ARCHDEACON WALLS. London, Oct 13, 1713. I HAVE two letters of your's to acknowledge — No, I mistake, it is but one, for I answered the former of Sep- tember twenty-second, some time ago ; your other is ci the first instant, with an account of your mayor squab- ble,^ . which we regard as much here as if you sent us an account of your little son playing at cherry stones. I told your lord chancellor, that the best thing the go- vernment there could do, would be never to trouble us with your alTaii-s, but do the best you can, for we will neither support nor regard you. I have received the lords justices' representation, just now sent to the queen. I have said more upon it than any body else would ; and I hope my ](Hrd lieuteoantf will put a good end to the dispute. I am heartily sorry for poor Hawley : and doubt such a shake at his age will not be well re- covered. Of your four candidates to succeed him, t dislike all but the first, which is Bolton. As to the chair of prolocutor, I said to you in my former all I thought necessary. I dislike the thing for myself ; but I would keep a wrong man out, and would be glad of * Concerning Sir Samuel Cooke. F. t Doke of Shreirsbury. F. 2M LETTERS TO AND IfROM an honest excuse to leave dhuris aod public thoughts ; but it \TOuki vex me to be proposed and not succeed. As for Williams, I am an old courtier, aod will think of it ; but, if we want a singer, and I can get a better, that better one shall be preferred, although my father were competitor. I have spoken to Baron Scroup about Mr. Fether- Bton 8 aflfair, and hope to get him a good account of it. Tou very artificially bring in your frienc^ Mrs. South : I have spoke to her, and heard from her ; and spoke to the Duke of Otmond : I will do her what ser- vice I can. My service to gossip Doll, and God bless my god- daughter. I think you need not inquire about the land rents of the deanery, they are secure enough ; and I believe I shall not trouble Mr. Parvisol about them. There is one farm set for one hundred and twenty pounds a year, another for fifty-four pounds. Rents ad« joining to the deanery, about two pounds ten shillings, and duties about eight pounds, or something under ; and a small lease of tithes, about four or five pounds : which last I would be glad you would ask Parvisol whether it be included among the tithes he has set You see all the rents together are under two hundred pounds. I forgot five pounds a year for the vefger's house; Service to Stoyte and Manley,*" and duty to Bishop (€ Dromore.t ♦ Fsaac Manley, Esq. deputy po^-Aaster-general cff freland; -F. f Dt. Joho Siemfli Ste p. 277. N: OOCTOR SWIFT, 29t TO THE SAME. SIR, . London^ Oct, 20, 1713; I WRIT to yen immediatelj up«D receiving your former, as I do now upon your last of the tenth instant. As to the business of being prolocutor,^ I will tell yoii the short of my story. Although I have done more service to Ireland, and particularly to the church, than any man of my level, I have never been able to get a good word ; and I incurred the displeasure of the bi- shops, by being the instrument, sine qua non, of pro* curing the first-fruits : neither had I credit to be a cou« vocation man in the meanest diocese of the ^kingdom, till poor Dean Syn^e, who happened to think weH of me, got me to be chosen for St Patrick's; «o that I think there will be a great change if I am chosen pro^i loeutor. And yet, at the same time, I am so very nice, that I will not think of moving toward Irelaad, till I am actually chosen : you will say, *' What then must the clergy do for a prolocutor f " W^hy, I suppose they may appoitit a vice prolocutor, until my comiag over, which may be in ten days. But this perhaps is not fea- sible : if not, you may be sure I shall not sa opecdy de- " clare my ambitiou to that post, wlien I am not sure to carry it; and if I fail, the combrt of micum certfum feretur^ will not perhaps fall to my share. But I go a« too fast ; for I find in your next lines, that the archbi- shop says there will be an indi^nsable necessity that I should be there at the election. Why, if the bishops will all fix it, so as to give a man time to come over, with all my heart ; but, if it must foe struggled for at the election, I will have nothing to do with it. As for * The convocation did notlBftet\^x\w^a.U'i'^^^3a>^^l^v.'W^''^ ^ 2W LETTERS TO AND FROM the bishops, I have not the least interest ^rith above three ia the kiogdom : and unless the tiiought strikes the clergy in general, that I must be their man, nothing can come of it : we always settle a speaker here, as soon as the writs are issued out for a parliament ; if you did 80 for a prolocutor, a man might have warning in time ; but I should make the foolishest figure in nature, to come over hawking for an employment I no wise seek or desire, and then fail of it. Pray communicate the sense of what I say to the archbishop, to whom I will write by this post. As to my private affairs, I am sure they are in good hands ; but I beg you will not have the least regard or tenderness to Parvisol, farther than you shall find he deserves. I am my gossip's very humbk servant ; and the like to Mr. Stoyte, lus lady, and Ca- tharine, and Mr. Manley, and his lady and daughter. •I am, Your obedient humble servant, J. SWIFT. ^ I wrote lately to Dr. Synge ; twice in all. I think you should force the St Mary ladies'*^ to town, toward Christmas. My duty to the Bishop of Dromore. Dr. Synge wrote me word a mouth ago, that Rosin- grave, our organist, was at the point of death. Is he dead or alive ? * Mrs. Johnson and Mrf. Pingley. P. DOCTOR SWIFT. 299 TO ARCHBISHOP KING. MY LORD, London, Oct. 20, 1713. The opportunity I had of a ship was so sudden, that I had not time to receive your grace's last commandsy or pay my respects, which it was my duty and inclina- tion to do ,* and as for writing, I have always told your grace that I could not set about it with a good con- science, until I were provided with matter enough for your trouble of reading. We are outwardly prietty quiet during this intei-val of parliament ; but I will not answer what seeds are sowing to make the next spring produce bitter fruit. There are several reasons, impos- sible for me to tell at this distance, why I shall not be so good a correspondent as I have formerly been, but may probably serve to entertain you a year or two hence : for the fashion of this world passes away ; and there is nothing of so little consequence as the greatest court secrets, when once the scene is changed. I said to somebody, when I was last in Ireland, who talked to me of the advautage and felicity I had in the familiarity of great ministers, that it was well enough while it con- tinued a vanity ; but as soon as it ceased to be a va- nity, it began to be a vexation of spirit. I have some thought of passing this winter at the Bath, because my health requires it, and because I shall then be a pretty equal distance from the factions on both sides the water ; for it is not impossible your grace may have a warm winter. I have had some letters, particularly from Dr. Synge and Mr. Archdeacon Walls, about my being prolocutor. I have this post writ ray thoughts upon that subject to Mr. Walls ; and to save you the trouble, have degired him to coramuoicate them to your grace. Our elcctiooa 300 LETTERS TO AND FROM for the city still continue : T was this afternoon at Guild: hall. I find three of the old members ; and Withers, who is the lowest, tells me, he does not despair of carry- ing it for himself. There is abundance of artifice (to give it the softest word; used on both sides.* ^ I came yesterday from Windsor, where I saw the queen in very good health, which she finds there more than any where else, and I believe will hardly remove until December. I believe my lord lieutenantf will be landed before this letter comes to your hands : he is the finest gentleman we have, and of an excellent under- standing and capacity for business : if I were with your grace, I would say more ; but leave it to your owo sagacity. I will only venture to say one thing relating to Ire- land, because I believe it will be of use that your grace should know it. If your house of commons should run into any violence disagreeable to us here, it will be of the worst consequences imaginable to that kingdom : for^ I know DO maxim more strongly maintained at present io our court, than that her majesty ought to exert hev power to the utmost, upon any uneasiness given on yoiur side to herself or her servants : neither can I answer, that even the legislative power here may not take cog« nizance of any thing that may pass among you, io oppn- * The election termiaatedr ia favour of Sir Richard Hoare, Sir William Withers, Sir John Cass, and Sir George Newland. The losing candidates were, John Ward, Thomas Scawen, Robert Hey- •ham, and Peter Godfrey, Esqcs- Some curious particulars relativA to this election may be seen in the Political State, for November, 1713, p. 287. N. * Charles Talbot, Doke of Shrewsbury. It was remarked as ex-^ *dHiary, that the duke's principal domestics were whigs ; parti* V ^ his secretary, Sir John Stanley; his Chaplain, Dr. Timothy O 1 (advanced to the Bishopric of Kilmore in 1714, and te> 0!bK 17270 and some etJitn. T^* BOCTOR SWIFT. 301 Bition to the persons and principles that ate now favour- ed by the queen. Perhaps I am gone too far; and therefore shall end, without any ceremony. Your grace's, &c. Direct to me under cover to Erasmus Lewis, Esq. itt Mr. Secretary Bromley's office at Whitehall^ FROM LORD CHANCELLOR PHIPPS. DEJLR si^, Dublin^ Oct. 24, 1713. I AM indebted to you for your kind letters of the eighth and tenth instant, and I very heai-tily acknow- ledge the obligation. That of the eighth gave me a great many melancholy thoughts, when I reflected upoQ the danger dur constitution is in, by the neglect and ^upineness of our friends, and the vigilance and una- nimity of our enemies: but I hope your parliament proving so good will awaken our friends, and unite them more firmly, and make them more active. That part of your letter of tlie tenth, which related to my son, gave me great satisfaction ; for though the commissioners here have heard nothing of it, yet I be- lieved Mr. Keightley might bring over full instructions in it : but he is arrived, and knows nothing of it ; M that whatever good intentions my lord treasurer had in relation to my son, his lordship has forgotten to give any directions concerning him; for, with him, things are just as they were when you left Dublin. If you will l»e so kind to put his lordship in mind of it, you will be very obliging. I cannot discharge the part of a friend, if I omit to 802 LETTERS TO AND FROM let joa koow that jornr gnzi neighboiir* at St PqI- cber's is very angrj with 70U. He accuses 70U for go- ing awaj wiihoat taking your leave of him, and inteods In a little time to compel you to reside at your deanery; He lays some other things to your charge, which you shall know in a little time. We hourly expect my lord HeutenanLf The whigi begin to be sensible they must expect no great counte- nance from him, and begin to be a little down in the mouth, since they find Broderick b not to be their speaker.} I an^ with very great truth, your most obe- dient humble servant FROM DR. DAVENANT.5 SIB, Windsor^ N&9. 3, 1713. You have the character of employing in good offices to others, the houour and happiness you have of being often with my lord treasurer. This use of your access to him is an uncommon instance of generosity, deserving the higliest praises ; for, most commonly, men are most apt to convert snch advantages to their own single inte- rest, without any regard of others ; though, in my poor opinion, not so wisely. Acts of friendship create friend^ even among strangers, that taste not of them ; and in my experience, I hardly ever knew a man friendly in the course of his proceedings, but he was supported in the. * The archbishop of Dublin. N. t Duke of Shrewsbury. B. \ He was, however, chosen speaker by a majority of four Toices. B* I Charles Davenant, LL. D. iuspector general of imports aod ex- erts. He died Nor. 6, 1714. DOCTOR SWIFT. 303 worlil ; ingratitude being the vice, of which the genera- lity of men are most ashamed to be thought guilty. My son* and I have reasons to return you our thanks^ for what you have already done of this kind in his fa- vour, and we beg the continuance of it. Ministers of atate have such multiplicity of business, that it is no wonder, if they forget low individuals ; and in such a case, private persons must be beholden to some good aa- tured man, to put those in power in mind of them : other- wise tliey may be forgotten, till old age overtakes them. Such well disposed remembrancers deserve access, fami- liarity, and interest with great men ; and pei-liaps, they ^re the most useful servants they can countenance in their hours of leisure. I need not tell you, that in point of time, he is above all pretenders to foreign business ; that his affairs have now depended almost three years ; that in the interim, it has gone very hard with him ; and that he gave a very €arly instance of his zeal to the present administration. But what he builds his hopes most upon, is the promise my lord treasurer was pleased to make to the Duke of Shrewsbury, just as his grace left Windsor, that a pro- vision should be made for Mr. Dayenant. We must entreat you to find some lucky moment of representing to my lord, that the young man is pressed by a nearer concern than that of making his fortune, and that lovers can hardly be persuaded to be as patient as other men. The duke has carried his mistress from him, and will not consent to make him happy, till he sees him in some way of being settled : in which how aniious any delay must be (possession depending upon it) he leaves you to *- Henry Daveoant, Esq. had been employed at Frankfort, from 1705, to 1707, or longer ; but his father attempted in Yain to get bin fo Florence. In 1718 he was resident at Genoa. N. 304 LETTERS TO AND FROM judge, who have so well studied maDkind, and whokm^v, that love is a passion, iu ooe of bis age, much strooger than ambition. I beg jour pardon for this long trouble^ And am, sir, Yoiur most humble and most obedient senrant, CHARLES DAVENANT- ^Sxtractjranithe MS. Diary cf Bishop Kekkett, m ihx UUbrary of the Marquis ^^Lansdown. '' 1713. Dr. Swift came into the coQeehouse, and had a bow from every body but ipe. Wheu I came to the antichamber to wait before prayers. Dr. Swift was the principal man of talk and business, and acted as a master of requests. He was soliciting the Eai-1 of Arran to speak to his brother the Duke of Ormond, to get a chaplain's place established in tlie garrison of Hull for Mr. Fiddes,' a clergyman in that neighbourhood, who had lately been in jail, and published sermons to pay feqs. He was promising Mr. Thorold to undertake with my lovd treasurer, that, according to his petition, he should obtain a salary of 200Z. per annum, as minis- ter of the English church at Rotterdam. He stopped F. Gwynne, Esq. going in with his ted bag to the queeo, and told him aloud he had something to say to him from my lord treasurer. He talked with the son of Dr. Da- venant to be sent abroad> and took out his pocket bode and wrote down several things, as mefncranda, to do fur him. He turned to the fire, and took out his gold watch, and, telling him the time of the day, complained it was T ry late. A gentleman said, * he was too fast.' * How can I help it,' says Ihe doctor, ' if tbe courtiers give roe a .If atch that wotf t g>o xi^lT TYtfixiV^H^'^v^NSJtod a young ?. ^.i DOCTOR SWIFT. 305 ttobleman, that the best poet m England was Mr. Pope, (ft papkit)) who had begun a translation of Homer into ji^^rse, for which ' he must have them all sub- ir,' says he, ' the author shaU noi begin to print tiff I have a thousand guineas for him.' Lord trea- surer, after leaving the queen, came through the room^ beckoning Dr. Swift to follow him : both went off just before prayers. ^ Nov. 3. — ^I see and hear a great deal to confirm a doubt, that the pretender's interest is much at the bottom of some hearts : a whisper that Mr. Nelson had a prime hand in the late book for hereditary right; and that one ^ttem was presented to majesty itself, whom God pre- |^iN^^;>fr(mi the effect of such principles and i»uch in* FHOM the duchess of ORMOND: ■ i.< . ■ v^ifecTOR, Nov. 3, 1 71 3, eleven at mght. •r;^ i HOPE your servant has told you, I sent to beg the .'.^^our of you to come hither to night; but since you ' ^j^uid not conveniently, I hope you will not deny me the • J^'tisfaction of seeing you to-morrow morning. My lord ^ -^wins with me in that request, and will see no company /Ibiit you. I hope you will come before ten o'clock, be- cause he is to go at that hour to Windsor. I beg your- ■ pardon for sending so early as I have ordered them ear- ly this; but the fear of your beibg gone abroad, ifthejr went later, occasioned that troublegiveu youbyjsir,. Your most sincere. and most. faithful humble servant,^ H. ORMOND) SM L£TT£11S TO AND FROM TO LORD TREASURER OXFORD, •M THB DEATH OF HIS DAXTaHTEB, THE MARCHIOKl OF CAEBHABTHEN.*' LOUD, Nov. 21, 1718. Tour lordship h the person in the world to wh( every body ought to be silent upon such an occaston this, which is only to be supported by the greatest iv dom and strength of mind ; wherein, God knows, t wisest and best of us, who would presume to offer tb thoughts, are far your inferiors. It is true, indeed, tl a great misfortune is apt to weaken the mind, and disti the understanding. This, indeed, might be some ( tence to us to administer our consolations, if we had b wholly strangers to the person gone. But, my 1< whoever had the honour to know her, wants a comf er as much as your lordship ; because, though their 1 is not so great, yet they have not the same firmness i prudence, to support the want of a friend, a patrone^ benefactor, as you have to support that of a daugb My lord, both religion and reason forbid me to have least concern for that lady's death, upon her own count; and he must be an ill christian, or a pei stranger to her virtues, who would not wish himself i all submission to God Almighty's will, in her condit But your lordship, who has lost such a daughter, we, who have lost such a friend, and the world, wl lias lost such an example, have, in our several degi greater cause to lament, than, perhaps, was ever gi by any private person befwe : for, my lord, I bav< down to think of every amiable quality that could e * The marchioness was married Nov. 13, 1712; brought to b a 80D (afterward Ddkeof Lced^O Nor. 6, 1713; anit died No a^28. N. DOCTOR SWIFT. M^ into the compontion of a lady, aod could not single out ^ne, which she did not possess in as high a perfection as human nature is capable of. But as to your lordship's own particular, as it is an inconceivable misfortune to have lost such a daughter, so it is a possession which few can boast of, to have had such a daughter. I have often said to your lordship, " That I never knew any one by many degrees so happy in their domestics as you ;'* and I affirm you are so still, though not by so many degrees : from whence it is very obvious, that your lordship should reflect upon what you have left, and not upon what yo« have lost. To say the truth, my Icnrd, you began to be too hap- py for a mortal ; much more happy than is usual with the dispensations of Providence long to continue. ' Yoa had been the great instrument of {Nreserving your coun- try from foreign and domestic ruin : you have had the felicity of establishing your family in the greatest lustre^ without any obligation to the bounty of your prince, or any industry of your own.: you have triumphed over the violence and treachery of your enemies^ by your courage and abilities : and by the steadiness of your temper, over the inconstancy and caprice of your friends. 4 Perhaps your lordship has felt too much complacency within yourself upon this universal success : and God Almighty, who would not disappoint your endeavours for the public, thought fit to punish you with a domestic loss, where he knew your heart was most ejqKMsed ; and at the same time, has fulfilled his own wise purposes, hy rewarding in a better life, that excellent creature he haa taken from you. I know not, wf brd, why X wxfte this to you, nor hardly what I am writing. I am sure, it is not from any compliance with form ; it is not from thinking that I can give your lordship any ease, V ^ioSa^Nx^vi^ "vs^ Mt LETTERS TO AND FROM impukie upoo me that I should say somethiog: zdA whether I shall send jou what I have written, I am yet in doubt, &c.* * This consolatory epistle h&s been said to be ** the finest, perhap«|. tibt ercr wgs writteB.*' See the Aanual Ref ister for 1786. N. p, i. TAN WINtLX, PSIlfTS», ^WaUT-strtti^ New- York. i THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY RBFBRENCB DEPARTMENT rUi book ii under no oir taken from the Baildinl 1