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following Latin epitaph: It was written by himself, and fhews a moft unhappy mifan thropic ftate of mind.

"Hic depofitum eft corpus
Jonathan Swift, S. T. P.

Hujus ecclefiæ cathedralis decani, "Ubi fæva indignatio ulterius cor lacerare nequit,

"Abi, viator, & imitare,
Si poteris,

* Strenuum pro virili libertatis vindicatorem. "Obiit, &c."

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Some Particulars concerning Dr. SwIFT.

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"Taken from Mrs. PILKINGTON's Memoirs.

MRS

RS. Pilkington's acquaintance with Dr. Swift commenced from fending him the lines on his birth-day, vol. 7. p. 161. Thefe the Dean received very kindly, and faid, he would fee her whenever the pleased.

A few days after,. fhe was introduced to the Dean in Dr. Delany's garden at Delville, by a gentlewoman.. He faluted her, and afked the lady, if the was her daughter? The lady fmiled, and faid, fhe was Mrs. Pilkington. "What," fays he, this poor little child "married! God help her, fhe is early engaged to "trouble." The Dean engaging Mr. Pilkington to preach for him at the cathedral next Sunday, invited her, with the reft of the company, to dinner. As the communion is administered every Sunday in St. Patrick's church, Mrs. Pilkington was charmed to fee with what a becoming piety the Dean performed that holy fervice, which he had fo much at heart, that he wanted not the affiftance of the liturgy, but went quite through it without ever looking on the book. He bowed at the table; which behaviour was cenfured, as favouring of popery. But this circumftance may vindicate him from the wicked afperfion of being deemed an unbeliever, fince it is plain he had the utmost reverence for the eucharift. Service being ended, the Dean was furrounded at the church-door, by a croud of poor; to all of whom he gave charity, except an old woman, who held out a very dirty hand to him. He told her, very gravely, That though he was a beggar, water was not fo fcarce but the might have washed her hands. When they came to the deanry, the Dean kindly faluted Mrs. Pilkington, and, without allowing her time to fit down, bade her come and fee his library; but merrily told Mr. Pilkington, who was for following them, that he did not defire his company. Well," faid he to her, "I have brought you here to fhew you all the money I got when I was in the ministry; but don't feal any of

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* it." " I won't indeed, Sir," said she. So opening a cabinet, he fhewed her a parcel of empty drawers; "Bless me," fays he, "the money is flown." He then opened his bureau, wherein he had a great number of curious trinkets of various kinds, fome of which were prefented to him by the Earl and Countess of Oxford, Lady Masham, and Lady Betty Germain. At laft coming to a drawer filled with medals, he bade her chufe two for herself; but he could not help fmiling, when she began to poize them in her hands, chufing them by weight rather than antiquity..

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At dinner, the Dean's behaviour was very humour ous. He placed himself at the head of his table, oppofite to a great pier glafs, fo that he could fee in the glafs whatever the fervants did behind him. He was ferved entirely in plate, with great elegance. But the beef being over-roafted, put the company all in confufion. The Dean called for the cook-maid, and ordered her to take the beef down ftairs, and do it lefs. She answered, very innocently, that fhe could not. Why, what fort of a creature are you," fays he, to commit a fault which cannot be amended!" And Sturning to Mrs. Pilkington, he faid very gravely, That he hoped, as the cook was a woman of genius, he fhould, by this manner of arguing, be able, in 25about a year's time, to convince her that the had better fend up the meat too little than too much done;" charging the men-fervants, whenever they imagined the meat was ready, they fhould take it, fpit and all, and bring it up by force, promifing to aid Athem in cafe the cook refifted. Then turning his

cye on the looking-glafs, he efpied the butler opening a bottle of ale; and helping himfelf to the firit glafs, he very kindly jumbled the reft together, that his master and guests might all fare alike. "Ha! friend," faid the Dean, Sharp's the word, I find, you drank my ale, for which I ftop two fhillings of your boardwages this week; for I fcorn to be outdone in any thing, even in cheating.".

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Dinner being ended, the Dean thanked Mr. Pikingsuton for his fermon; "I never," said he, " preached ley but twice in my life; and then they were not fer

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"mons, but pamphlets." Mrs. Pilkington asked him, what might be the fubject of them? He told hers they were against Wood's halfpence. Having afked Mr. and Mrs. Pilkington, if they could fmoke; and being answered, that they did not; "Tis a fign," faid he, " you were neither of you bred in the univer

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fity of Oxford; for drinking and fmoking are the "firft.rudiments of learning taught there; and in thefe "two arts, no univerfity in Europe can outdo them." Having asked Mirs. Pilkington, if the had any faults? "Pray, Mr. Dean," faid Dr. Delany," why, will "you be fo unpolite as to fuppofe Mrs. Pilkington has "any faults?" "I'll tell you," replied the Dean, when"ever I fee a number of agreeable qualities in any per "fon, I am always fure they have bad ones fufficient "to poize the fcale." Mrs. Pilkington bowed, and tolds him, he did her great honour; in that copying Bp. Berkeley, whom the had frequently heard declare, That when any speech was made to him, which might! be conftrued either into a compliment or an affront, or that had two handles, he always took hold of the? beit,

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The Dean then afked Mrs. Pilkington, if she were? a Queen, what he would chufe to have after dinner? She aufwered, Your converfation, Sir." Pooh,** faid he, "I mean, what regale ?” “A difh of coffee, i Sir," anfwered the... Why then," faid he, "I wille fo far make you as happy as a Queen; you fhall "have fome in perfection; for when I was chaplain to the Earl of Berkeley, who was in the government here, I was so poor, I was obliged to keep a coffees houfe, and all the nobility reforted to it to talk trea"fon." The Dean then fet about making the coffee; but the fire fcorching his hand, he called to Mrs. Pil-** kington to reach him his glove; and changing the cof-** fee-pot to his left hand, held out his right one, ordering her to put the glove on it; which accordingly the diu; when taking up part of his gown to fan himself with, and acting in the character of a prudish lady, he^ faid, "Well, I do not know what to think: women may** "be honest that do fuch things; but, for my part, I' never could bear to touch any man's fleth --- except "my

"my husband's whom, perhaps,” (faid he) the wishབ་ཡ ed at the devil."

466

Mr. Pilkington," faid he, "you would not tell * me your wife's faults; but I have found her out to "be a d-n'd infolent, proud, unmannerly flut." "What has the done now?" faid Mr. Pilkington. "Done," faid the Dean; why nothing, but fat "there quietly, and never once offered to interrupt me in making the coffee; whereas a lady of modern "good breeding would have ftruggled with me for the coffee-pot, till fhe had made me fcald myself " and her, and made me throw the coffee in the fire, " or perhaps at her head, rather than permit me to take so much trouble for her."

1 Mrs. Filkington staid at home with the Dean during the time of the afternoon's service; and he made her read his Hiftory of the four last years of Q. Anne,* afking her, at the conclusion of every period, whether. fhe understood it?" for I would," faid he, “ have "it intelligible to the meanest capacity; and if you ** comprehend it, 'tis poffible every body may."

She accompanied the Dean to evening-prayers; and on their return to the deanry, he told Mr. and Mrs. Pilkington, that he gave them leave to day to fupper; which, from him, was a fufficient invitation. The Dean then decanted a bottle of wine; and the last glass being muddy, he called to Mr. Pilkington to drink it; for," fays he, "I always keep fome" ** poor parfon to drink the foul wine for me." Mr. Pilkington entering into his humour, thanked him, ̈ ́ and told him, he did not know the difference, but was glad to get a glass at any rate. "Why then," faid the Dean," you fhan't; for I'll drink it myself. " Why-p---x take you, you are wifer than a paltry curate, whom I asked to dine with me a few days ago; for, upon my making the fame fpeech to him, "he told me he did not understand such usage; and fo walked off without his dinner. By the fame to"ken, I told the gentleman who recommended him "to me, that the fellow was a blockhead, and I had "done with him."..

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The Dean then miffing his golden bottle-fcrew, told

Mrs

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