given. This great man did but too often let them have dominion over him, and that on the most trifling occafions. During meal-times he was evermore in a ftorm; the meat was always too much or too little done, or the fervants had offended in fome point, imperceptible to the rest of the company: however, when the cloth was taken away, he made his guests rich amends for the pain he had given. For then Was truly mingled in the friendly bowl The feast of reason, and the flow of foul. Pope. Yet he preserved strict temperance: for he never drank above half a pint of wine, in every glass of which he mixed water and fugar: yet, if he liked his company, would fit many hours over it, unlocking all the fprings of policy, learning, true humour, and inimitable wit. The following story the Dean told to Mrs. Pilkington. A clergyman, who was a most learned fine gentleman, but, under the fofteft and politeft appearance, concealed the most turbulent ambition, having made his merit as a preacher too eminent to be overlooked, had it early rewarded with a mitre. Dr. Swift went to congratulate him on it; but told him, he hoped, as his Lordship was a native of Ireland, and had now a feat in the houfe of Peers, he would employ his powerful elocution in the fervice of his diftreffed country. The prelate told him, the bishoprick was but a very small one, and he could not hope for a better, if he did not oblige the court. Very well," fays Swift," then it is to be hoped, ❝ when you have a better, you will become an honest man." Ay, that I will, Mr. Dean," fays he. "Till then, my Lord, farewell," anfwered Swift. This Prelate was twice tranflated to richer fees; and on every translation, Dr. Swift waited on him to remindR him of his promife; but to no purpose; there was now an archbishoprick in view, and till that was obtained, nothing could be done. Having in a fhort time likewife got this, he then fent for the Dean, and told him, ❝. I am now at the top of my preferment; for I well ❝ know no Irishman will ever be made primate; there 66 fore, as I can rife no higher in fortune or ftation, I will zealously promote the good of my country." And from that time he commenced a most outrageous patriot.. The A CRITICISM on SWIFT'S PROSE WRITING S. By the Earl of ORRERY. F we confider Swift's profe works, we shall find a certain mafterly conciseness in their style, that hath never been equalled by any other writer. The truth of this affertion will more evidently appear, by comparing him with fome of the authors of his own time. Of thefe Dr. Tillotson and Mr. Addifon are to be numbered among the moft eininent. Addison hath all the powers that can captivate and improve: his diction is easy, his periods are well turned, his expreffions are flowing, and his humour is delicate. Tillotfon is nervous, grave, majestic, and perfpicuous. We must join both thofe characters together to form a true idea of Dr. Swift: yet as he outdoes Addison in humour, he excels Tillotfon in perfpicuity. The Archbishop indeed confined himself to fubjects relative to his profeffion: but Addison and Swift are more diffufive writers. They continually vary in their manner, and treat different topics in a different ftyle. When the writings of Addifon terminate in party, he lofes himfelf extremely, and from a delicate and juft comedian, deviates into one of the lowest kind*. Not fo Dr. Swift. He appears like a masterly gladiator. He wields the fword of party with eafe, juftness, and dexterity and while he entertains the ignorant and the vulgar, he draws an equal attention from the learned and the great. When he is ferious, his gravity becomes him; when he laughs, his readers must laugh with him. But what fhall be faid for his love of trifles, and his want of delicacy and decorum? errors, that if he did not contract, at least he increased in Ireland. They are without a parallel, I hope they will ever remain fo. The first of them arofe merely from his love of flattery, with which he was daily fed in that kingdom: the fecond proceeded from the mifanthropy of his difpofition, which induced him peevishly to debafe mankind, and even to ridicule human nature itself. Politics were his favourite topic, as they gave him an opportunity of gratifying his ambition, and thirst of power: yet in this road he has feldom continued long in one path. He has written mifcellaneoufly, and has chofen rather to appear a wandering comet, than a fixed ftar. Had he applied the faculties of his mind to one great and ufeful work, he must have shined more gloriously, and might have enlightened a whole planetary system in the political world. There are fome pieces in his works that I defpife, others that I loath, but many more that delight and improve me. The See the papers called the Freeholder. former former are not worthy of notice. They are of no further ufe than to fhew us, in general, the errors of human nature; and to convince us, that neither the height of wit nor genius can bring a man to fuch a degree of perfection, as vanity would often prompt him to believe. In a difquifition of this fort, I fhall avoid as much as poffible any annotations upon that kind of fatire in which the Dean indulged himself against particular perfons: moft of whom it is probable provoked his rage by their own misconduct, and conTequently owed to their own rafhnefs the wounds which they received from his pen. But I have no delight in those kind of writings, except for the fake of the wit, which, either in general or in particular fatire, is equally to be admired. The edge of wit will always remain keen, and its blade will be bright and fhining, when the ftone upon which it has been whetted, is worn out, or thrown afide and forgotten. Perfonal fatire against evil magiftrates, corrupt minifters, and those giants of power, who gorge themfelves with the intrails of their country, is different from that perfonal fatire, which too often proceeds merely from felf love or ill-nature. The one is written in defence of the public, the other in defence of ourselves. The one is armed by the fword of juftice, and encouraged not only by the voice of the people, but by the principles of morality; the o ther is dictated by paffion, fupported by pride, and applauded by flattery. At the fame time that I fay this, I think every man of wit has a right to laugh at fools, who give offence, or at coxcombs, who are public nuifances. Swift indeed has left no weapon of farcasm untried, no branch of satire, uncultivated: but while he has maintained a perpetual war against the mighty men in power, he has remained invulnerable, if not victorious. See the criticisms prefixed to vols. 6. & 8. A A TALE OF A TUB. Written for the univerfal improvement of mankind. Diu multumque defideratum. To which are added, An Account of a BATTLE between the ANCIENT and MODERN BOOK s in St. James's Library; and, A Discourse concerning the MECHANICAL OP ERATION of the SPIRIT.' With the Author's APOLOGY; and, Explanatory notes, by W. Wotton, B. D. and others. Bafima cacabafa eanaa, irraumifta diarbada caëota bafo hor camelanthi. Iren. lib. 1. cap. 18. —Juvatque novos decerpere flores, Lucret. The AUTHOR'S APOLOGY. good and ill nature equally operated upon mankind, I might have faved myself the trouble of this apology; for it is manifeft, by the reception the following difcourfe hath met with, that thofe who approve it, are a great majority among the men of taste. Yet there have' been two or three treatifes written exprefsly against it, befides many others that have flirted at it occafionally, without one fyllable having been ever published in its defence, or even quotation to its advantage, that I can remember; except by the polite author of a late difcourfe between a Deift and a Socinian. Therefore, fince the book feems calculated to live at leaft as long as our language and our taste admit no great alterations, I am content to convey fome apology along with it. The |