T

THE

BOOKSELLER'S

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HE following Discourse came into my Hands perfect and entire. But there being several Things in it, which the present Age would not very well bear, I kept it by me some Years, resolving it should never see the Light. At length, by the Advice and Assistance of a judicious Friend, I retrench'd those Parts that might give most Offence, and have now ventured to publish the Remainder; Concerning the Author, I am wholly ignorant; neither can I conjecture, whether it be the same with That of the two foregoing Pieces, the Original having been sent me at a different Time, and in a different Hand. The Learned Reader will better determine; to whose Judgment I entirely submit it.

1 This statement was probably written by Swift himself.

A

DISCOURSE

Concerning the

Mechanical Operation'

OF THE

SPIRIT, &c.

For T. H. Esquire, at his Chambers in the Academy of the Beaux Esprits in New-Holland.'

I

SIR,

T is now a good while since I have had in my Head something, not only very material, but absolutely necessary to my Health, that the World should be informed in. For, to tell you a Secret, I am able

This Discourse is not altogether equal to the two Former, the best Parts of it being omitted; whether the Bookseller's Account be true, that he durst

2

to contain it no longer. However, I have been perplexed for some time, to resolve what would be the most proper Form to send it abroad in. To which End, I have three Days been coursing thro' Westminster-Hall, and St. Paul's Church yard, and Fleet-street,' to peruse Titles ; and, I do not find any which holds so general a Vogue, as that of A Letter to a Friend: Nothing is more common than to meet with long Epistles address'd to Persons and Places, where, at first thinking, one would be apt to imagine it not altogether so necessary or Convenient; Such as, a Neighbour at next Door, a mortal Enemy, a perfect Stranger, or a Person of Quality in the Clouds; and these upon Subjects, in appearance, the least proper for Conveyance by the Post; as, long Schemes in Philosophy; dark and Wonderful Mysteries of State; Laborious Dissertations in Criticism and Philosophy, Advice to Parliaments, and the like.

NOW, Sir, to proceed after the Method in present Wear. (For, let me say what I will to the contrary, not print the rest, I know not, nor indeed is it easie to determine whether he may be rely'd on, in any thing he says of this, or the former Treatises, only as to the Time they were writ in, which, however, appears more from the Discourses themselves than his Relation.3

in London at this time.

2 The vogue of this form of title will be seen on consulting Arber's Term Catalogues.

3 This note, like all the footnotes, as distinct from the notes in the margin, was added in the edition of 1710.

The Discourse is clearly later than the Battle, and was probably written about the same time as the later sections of the Tale. In the unauthorized edition of 1720, it is printed before the Battle, with the running title 'A Fragment of | The Tale of a Tub'.

I am afraid you will publish this Letter, as soon as ever. it comes to your Hands ;) I desire you will be my Witness to the World, how careless and sudden a Scribble it has been; That it was but Yesterday, when You and I began accidentally to fall into Discourse on this Matter: That I was not very well, when we parted; That the Post is in such haste, I have had no manner of Time to digest it into Order, or correct the Style; And if any other Modern Excuses, for Haste and Negligence, shall occur to you in Reading, I beg you to insert them, faithfully promising they shall be thankfully acknowledged.

PRAY, Sir, in your next Letter to the Iroquois Virtuosi, do me the Favour to present my humble Service to that illustrious Body, and assure them, I shall send an Account of those Phenomena, as soon as we can determine them at Gresham.

I have not had a Line from the Literati of Tobinambou,' these three last Ordinaries.

AND now, Sir, having dispatch'd what I had to say of Forms, or of Business, let me intreat, you will suffer me to proceed upon my Subject; and to pardon me, if I make no farther Use of the Epistolary Stile, till I come to conclude.