for any conversation in this kingdom. Families will receive you without fear or constraint, nor watch to hear you talk in the grand style, laugh when you are goné, and tell it to all their acquaintance. It is a happiness that this quality may, by a man of sense, be as easily fhaken off as it is acquired, especially when he hath no proper claim to it: For you were not bred to be a man of bufinefs; you never were called to any employments at courts; but deftined to be a private gentleman, to entertain yourself with country-business and country-acquaintance; or, at beft, with books of amufement in your own language. It is an uncontrolled truth, that no man ever made an ill figure who understood his own talents, nor a good one who mistook them. I am, &c.

LET

LETTER LIN.

A COUNTERFEIT LETTER to the Q-----N.

MADAM,

Dublin, June 22d, 1731.

I HAVE had the honour to tell your Ma

jefty on another occafion, that `pro vinces labour under one mighty misfortune, which is, in a great meafure, the cause of all the reft; and that is, That they are for the moft part far removed from the Prince's eye, and of confequence from the influence both of his wifdom and goodnefs. This is the cafe of Ireland beyond expreffion!

There is not one mortal here, who is not well fatisfied of your Majefty's good intentions to all your people: And yet your fubjects of this ifle are fo far from fharing the cffects of your good difpofitions, in any equitable degree; are fo far from enjoying all the good to which they are entitled, from your Majefty's moft gracious inclinations, that they often find great difficulty

*Thus endorsed by Dr. Swift: "Counterfeit letter from ' me to the Q-n, fent to me by Mr. Pope, dated June 22d "1731. Received July 19th, 1731. Given by the Countefs of Suffolk."

how

how to enjoy even the relief of complaint.

To omit a thousand other inftances, therè is one perfon of Irifh birth, eminent for genius and merit of many kinds, an hoñour to her country, and to her fex! I will be bold to say, not lefs fo in her sphere than your Majefty in yours. And yet all her talents and virtues have not yet been able to influence any one person about your Majesty, so far as to introduce her into your least notice. As I am your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubject, it is a debt I owe your Majefty to acquaint you, that Mrs. Barber, the best female poet of this or perhaps of any age, is now in your Majefty's capital, known to Lady Hartford, Lady Torrington, Lady Walpole, &c. A woman whofe genius is honoured by every man of genius in this kingdom, and either honoured or envied by every man of genius in England.

Your Majefty is juftly reverenced for thofe great abilities with which God hath bleffed you; for your regard to learning, and your zeal for true religion: Compleat your character, by your regard to perfons of genius; efpecially thofe, who make the greatness of their talents, after your Majefty's example, fubfervient to the good

of

of mankind and the glory of God; which is most remarkably Mrs. Barber's cafe and character.

Give me leave to tell you, Madam, that every subject of understanding and virtue, throughout your dominions, is appointed by Providence of your council. And this, Madam, is an open and an honeft apology for this trouble; or, to speak more properly, for this dutiful information. It is your true intereft, that all your fubjects fhould fee that merit is regarded by you in one inftance; or, rather, that it is not difregarded in any inftance. Let them daily blefs God for every gift of wisdom and goodnefs beftowed upon you, and pray inceffantly for the long continuance of them; as doth

Your MAJESTY'S

Moft dutiful, and

Loyal fubject and fervant,
JONATH. SWIFT.

Dear Sir,

LETTER LIV.

To Mr. POPE. *

July 20th, 1731.

WRIT you a long letter not many days ago, which therefore did not arrive until after your laft that I received yesterday, with the inclofed from me to the Q-n. You hinted fomething of this in a former letter: I will tell you fincerely how the affair ftands. I never was at Mrs. Barber's house in my life, except once that I chanced to pass by her shop, was defired to walk in, and went no further, nor ftaid three minutes. Doctor Delany hath been long her protector; and he, being many years my acquaintance, defired my good offices for her, and brought her several times to the Deanry. I knew fhe was poetically given, and, for a woman, had a fort of genius that way. She appeared very modeft and pious, and I believe was fincere, and wholly turned to poetry. I did conceive her journey to England was on the fcore of her trade, being a woollen-drapier, until Doctor Delany faid, fhe had a defign of printing her poems by subscription, and

* Occafioned by the preceding counterfeit letter.

defired