Some PARTICULARS concerning Dr. SWIFT.

Taken from Mrs. PILKINGTON's Memoirs.

M

RS. Pilkington's acquaintance with Dr. Swift commenced from fending him the lines on his birth-day, vol. 8. p. 349. Thefe the Dean received very kindly, and faid, he would fee her whenever fhe pleased.

A few days after, he was introduced to the Dean in Dr. Delany's garden at Delville, by a gentlewoman. He faluted her, and afked the lady, if, fhe 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 rest 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 so 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 churchdoor, by a crowd of poor; to all of whom he

charity, except an old woman, who held out a very dirty hand to him. He told her, very gravely, That though fhe was a beggar, water was not fo fcarce but fhe 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 miniftry; but don't fteal any of it."" I "won't indeed, Sir," faid fhe. So opening a cabinet, he fhewed her a parcel of empty drawers; "Blefs 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 Counters of Oxford, Lady Mafham, and Lady Betty Germain. At laft coming to a drawer filled with medals, he bade her chule two tor herfelf; but he could not help fmiling, when he began to poize them in her hands, chuting them by weight rather than antiquity.

At dinner, the Dean's behaviour was very humourous. He placed himself at. the head of his table, oppofite to a great pier glafs, fo that he could fee in the glass 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 she could not. "Why, what "fort of a creature are you," fays he, 66 to com"mit a fault which cannot be amended!" And turning to Mrs. Pilkington, he faid very gravely, "That he hoped, as the cook was a woman of ge"nius, he fhould, by this manner of arguing, be VOL. I.

"able

"able, in about a year's time, to convince her that "fhe 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 them in cafe the cook refifted. Then turning his eye on the looking-glafs, he efpied the butler opening a bottle of ale; and helping himself to the firft glafs, he very kindly jumbled the reft together, that his mafter 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."

66

Dinner being ended, the Dean thanked Mr. Pilkington for his fermon; "I never," faid he, "preached but twice in my life; and then they

were not fermons, but pamphlets." Mrs. Pilkington afked him, what might be the fubject of them? He told her, they were againft 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 univerfity of Oxford; "for drinking and fmoking are the firft rudi

ments of learning taught there, and in these two

arts, no univerfity in Europe can outdo them." Having afked Mrs. Pilkington, if fhe 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, whenever I fee a number of a

greeable qualities in any perfon, I am always "fure they have bad ones fufficient to poife the "fcale." Mrs. Pilkington bowed, and told him, he did her great honour; in that copying Bp. Berkeley, whom he had frequently heard declare, That when any fpeech was made to him, which

might be construed either into a compliment or an affront, or that had two handles, he always took hold of the best.

The Dean then afked Mrs. Pilkington, if fhe were a Queen, what fhe would chute to have after dinner? She answered, "Your converfation, Sır." "Pooh," faid he, "I mean, what regale?"" A "difh of coffee, Sir," anfwered fhe. "Why "then," faid he, "I will fo far make you as happy "as a Queen: you fhall have fome in perfection: "for when I was chaplain to the Earl of Berke"ley, who was in the government here, I was "fo poor, I was obliged to keep a coffee houfe, "and all the nobility reforted to it to talk treafon." The Dean then fet about making the coffee; but the fire fcorching his hand, he called to Mrs. Pilkington to reach him his glove; and changing the coffee pot to his left hand, held out his right one, ordering her to put the glove on it; which accord-ingly the did; when taking up part of his gown to fan himself with, and acting in the character of a prudifh lady, he faid, "Well, I do not know what "to think: women may be honeft that do fuch "things; but, for my part, I never could bear to "touch any man's fleshexcept my husband's: "whom, perhaps, (faid he) fhe wifhed at the de❝ vil."

"Mr. Pilkington," faid he, " you would not "tell me your wife's faults; but I have found her out to be a dn'd infolent, proud, unmannerly flut."" What has the done now?" faid Mr. Pilkington." Done," faid the Dean; "why

66

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

66.

€ 2

her

"her head, rather than permit me to take fa "much trouble for her."

Mrs. Pilkington staid at home with the Dean during the time of the afternoon fervice; and he made her read his Hiftory of the four laft years of Q. Anne, afking her, at the conclufion of every period, whether the understood it?" for I would,” faid he, "have it intelligible to the meaneft capa"city; and if you comprehend it, 'tis poffible eve"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 ftay to fupper; which, from him, was a fufficient invitation. The Dean then decanted a bottle of wine; and the last glafs being muddy, he called to Mr. Pilkington to drink it; for," faye 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 glafs at any rate. Why then," faid the Dean, you fhan't; for "I'll drink it myfelf 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 fuch usage; and fo walked off with66 out his dinner. By the fame token, I told the gentleman who recommended him to me, that "the fellow was a blockhead, and I had done " with him."

46

The Dean then miffing his golden bottle fcrew, told Mrs. Pilkington very fternly, he was fure the had stolen it. She affirmed very seriously, fhe had not. Upon which he looked for it, and found it where he himself had laid it: "Tis well for you," faid he," that I have got it, or I would have char"ged you with theft." "Why, pray, Sir," faid fhe, "fhould I be fufpected more than any other perfon