A

QUAKER's

LETTER from PHILADELPHIA.

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JONATHAN SWIFT IN DUBLIN.

Chilad, March 29, 1729.

Friend Jonathan Swift,

HA

AVING been often agreeably amused by thy Tale, &c. &c. and being now loading a fmall fhip for Dublin, I have fent thee a gammon, the product of the wilds of America; which perhaps may not be unacceptable at thy table, fince it is only defigned to let thee know that thy wit and parts are in esteem at this distance from the place of thy refidence. Thee need afk no queftions who this comes from, fince I am a perfect franger to thee.

CHARAC

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CHARACTER

O F

MRS. HOWAR D.

Written in the Year MDCCXXVII.

SHALL fay nothing of her wit or beauty, which are allowed by all persons who can judge of either, when they hear or fee her. Befides, beauty being tranfient, and a trifle, cannot justly make part of a character. And I leave others to celebrate her wit, because it will be of no use in that part of her character which I intend to draw. Neither fhall I relate any part of her history; further than, that she went, in the prime of her youth, to the Court of Hanover with her husband, and became of the Bed-chamber to the present Princefs of Wales, living in expectation of the Queen's death: Upon which event she came over with her Mistress, and hath ever fince continued in her fervice; where, from the attendance daily paid her by the minifters, and all expectants, she is reckoned much the greatest favourite of the * Queen Anne.

*

court

court at Leicester-houfe: A fituation which fhe hath long affected to defire that it might not be believed.

There is no politician who more carefully watches the motions and difpofitions of things and perfons at St. James's, nor can form his language with a more imperceptible dexterity to the present posture of a court, or more early foresee what ftyle may be proper upon any approaching juncture of affairs, whereof the can gather early intelligence without asking it, and often when even thofe from whom fhe hath it are not fenfible that they are giving it to her, but equally with others admire her fagacity. Sir Robert Walpole and the both think they understand each other, and are both equally mistaken.

With perfons where he is to manage, fhe is very dextrous in that point of skill which the French call tåter le pavè; with others fhe is a great vindicator of all prefent proceedings, but in fuch a manner, as if he were under no concern further than her own conviction, and wondering how any body can think otherwise. And the danger is, that she may come in time to believe herself; which, under a change of princes and a great addition of credit,

might have bad confequences. She is a moft unconscionable dealer; for, in return of a few good words, which she gives to her lords and gentlemen daily waiters before their faces, fhe gets ten thousand from them behind her back, which are of real fervice to her character. The credit fhe hath is managed with the utmost thrift; and, whenever the employs it, which is very rarely, it is only upon fuch occafions where she is fure to get much more than fhe fpends. For instance, she would readily prefs Sir Robert Walpole to do some favour for Colonel Churchill, or Doddington; the Prince, for a mark of grace to Mr. Schutz; and the Princefs, to be kind to Mrs. Clayton. She sometimes falls into the general miftake of all courtiers, which is that of not fuiting her talents to the abilities of others, but thinking thofe fhe deals with to have lefs art than they really poffefs; so that fhe may poffibly be deceived when she thinks the deceiveth.

In all offices of life, except those of a courtier, the acts with juftice, generosity, and truth. She is ready to do good as a private person, and I would almost think in charity that he will not do harm as a courtier,

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courtier, unless to please those in chief Fower.

In religion fhe is at least a Latitudinarian, being not an enemy to books written by the Free-thinkers; and herein fhe is the more blameable, becaufe fhe hath too much morality to stand in need of them, requiring only a due degree of faith for putting her in the road to falvation. I fpeak this of her as a private Lady, not as a Court-favourite; for, in the latter capacity, fhe can fhew neither faith nor works.

If fhe had never feen a court, it is not impoffible that the might have been a friend.

She abounds in good words and expreffions of good wifhes, and will concert a hundred fchemes for the fervice of thofe whom he would be thought to favour: Schemes that fometimes arise from them, and fometimes from herfelf; although, at the fame time, fhe very well knows them to be without the least probability of fucceeding. But, to do her justice, she never feeds or deceives any perfon with promises, where fhe doth not at the fame time intend a degree of fincerity.

She is, upon the whole, an excellent companion for men of the best accomplishments,

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