prive you of your former poft, all the honeft men in England will be for putting you out of this.

I go on in writing, though I know not how to fend you my letter. If I were fure it would be opened by the fealers of your office, I would fill it with fome terms of art, that they would better deserve than relish.

It is a point of wisdom too hard for me, not to look back with vexation upon past management. Divines tell us often from their pulpits, that half the pains which fome men take to be damned, would have compaffed their falvation: This, I am fure, was extremely our cafe. I know not what motions your Lordfhip intends; but, if I see the old Whig-measures taken in the next elections, and that the court, the bank, Eaft-India, and South-fea, act ftrenuoufly, and procure a majority; I fhall lie down, and beg of Jupiter to heave the cart out of the dirt.

I would give all I am worth, for the fake of my country, that you had left your mantle with fome body in the House of Commons, or that a dozen honeft men among them had only so many shreds of it.

And fo, having dispatched all our friends

F 4

friends in England, off flies a splinter, and knocks two Governors of Ireland dead. I remember, we never had leifure to think of that kingdom. The poor dead Queen is used like the giant Longaron in Rabelais. Pantagruel took Longaron by the heels, and made him his weapon to kill twenty other giants; then flung him over a river in the town, and killed two ducks and an old cat. I could talk very wifely to you, but you would regard me not. I could bid you, non defperare de republicâ ; and fay, that res nolunt diu malè adminiftrari. But I will cut all fhort, and affure you, that if you do not fave us, I will not be at the pains of racking my invention to guess how we shall be faved; and yet I have read Polybius.

They tell me you have a very good crop of wheat, but the barley is bad. Hay will certainly be dear, unless we have an open winter. I hope you found your hounds in good condition, and that Bright has not made a stirrup-leather of your jocky-belt.

I imagine you now smoaking with your humdrum fquire, (I forget his name) who can go home at midnight, and open a dozen gates when he is drunk.

1

I beg your Lordship not to ask me to lend you any money. If you will come and live at the Deanry, and furnish up an apartment, I will find you in victuals and drink, which is more than ever you got by the Court: And, as proud as you are, I hope to fee you accept a part of this offer before I die.

The take this country; it has, in three weeks, fpoilt two as good fixpenny pamphlets, as ever a proclamation was iffued out againft. And, fince we talk of that, will there not be *

**

+ I fhall be cured of loving England, as the fellow was of his ague, by getting himself whipt through the town.

I would retire too if I could; but my country-feat, where I have an acre of ground, is gone to ruin. The wall of my own apartment is fallen down, and I want mud to rebuild it, and ftraw to thatch it. Besides, a fpiteful neighbour has feized on fix foot of ground, carried off my trees, and spoiled my grove. All this is literally true, and I have not fortitude enough to go and fee thofe devaftations.

Here are two or three words in the manufcript totally erafed and illegible.

But,

But, in return, I live a country-life in town, fee no body, and go every day once to prayers; and hope, in a few months, to grow as stupid as the present situation of affairs will require.

Well, after all, parfons are not fuch bad company, especially when they are under fubjection; and I let none but such come

near me.

However, pray God forgive them, by whose indolence, neglect, or want of friendship, I am reduced to live with twenty leagues of falt-water between your Lordship and me, ¿c.

I'

LETTER XXVIII.

To the Earl of OXFORD.

MY LORD,

Dublin, July 19, 1715.

T may look like an idle or officious thing in me, to give your Lordship any interruption under your prefent circumftances: Yet I could never forgive myself, if, after being treated for feveral years with the greatest kindness and diftinction, by a perfon of your Lordship's virtue, I should omit making you, at this time, the hum

bleft

bleft offers of my poor fervice and attendance. It is the first time I ever solicited you in my own behalf; and, if I am refused, it will be the first request you ever refused me. I do not think myself obliged to regulate my opinions by the proceedings of a House of Lords or Commons; and therefore, however they may acquit themselves in your Lordship's cafe, I fhall take the liberty of thinking, and calling your Lordship the ableft and faithfulleft minifter, and trueft lover of your country, that this age hath produced. And I have already taken care, that you shall be fo reprefented to pofterity, in fpite of all the rage and malice of your enemies. And this I know will not be wholly indifferent to your Lordship; who, next to a good confcience, always esteemed reputation your best poffeffion. Your intrepid behaviour, under this profecution, aftonifheth every one but me, who know you fo well, and how little it is in the power of human actions, or events, to difcompose you. I have feen your Lordship labouring under greater difficulties, and exposed to greater dangers, and overcoming both by the providence of God, and your own wisdom and courage. Your life has been already attempted by private malice,