my way, God knows where I should have wandered by this time. i am glad the business of St. Nicholas * is over any way. My inclination was Mr. Wall; that I might have joined the vicarage of Caftleknock to the prebend of Malahidart; which would have made a good provifion for one man, served the cures better, and yielded more then to the incumbent, than it can do now, when in different hands. But I could not compafs it without ufing more power over my clergy, than I am willing to exert. But as I am thankful to you for your condefcenfion in that affair; fo I will expect, that thofe with whom you have complied, fhould fhew their fenfe of it by a mutual return of the like compliance, when there fhall be occafion. Such reciprocal kind offices are the ground of mutual confidence and friendship, and the feuel that keeps them alive: and I think, nothing can contribute more to our common cafe, and the public good, than maintaining these between you and me, and with the clergy. We have a strong report, that my Lord Bolingbroke will return here, and be pardoned; certainly it must not be for nothing. I hope he can tell no ill ftory of you. I only add my prayers for you; and am, SIR, Your most humble fervant, and brother, WILLIAM, Dublin. The Dean and chapter of St. Patrick's are the appropriators of that church, and have the right of bestowing the cure on whom they please. ᏞᎬᎢ. LETTER CIII. Dr. SWIFT to the ARCHBISHOP of Dublin. My LORD, Trim, Dec. 16. 1716. Should be forry to fee my Lord Bolingbroke following the trade of an informer; because he is a person for whom I always had, and still continue, a very great love and efteem. For I think, as the rest of mankind do, that informers are a deteftable race of people, although they may be fometimes neceffary. Befides, I do not fee, whom his Lordfhip can inform againft, except himfelf. He was three or four days at the court of France, while he was fecretary; and it is barely poffible, he might then have entered into fome deep negotiation with the pretender: although I would not believe him, if he fhould fwear it; because he protefted to me, that he never faw him but once; and that it was at a great distance, in public, at an opera. As to any others of the ministry at that time, I am confident he cannot accuse them; and that they will appear as innocent with relation to the pretender, as any who are now at the helm. And as to myself, if I were of any importance, I should be very easy under fuch an accufation; much easier, than I am to think your Grace imagineth me in any danger, or that Lord Bolingbroke fhould have any ill ftory to tell of me. He knoweth, and loveth, and thinketh too well of me, to be capable of fuch an action. But I am surprised to think your Grace could talk, or act, or correfpond with me for fome years paft; while you must needs believe me a moft falfe and vile man; declaring to you on all occafions my ab horrence horrence of the pretender, and yet privately engaged with a miniftry to bring him in; and therefore warning me to look to myfelf, and prepare my defence against a falfe brother, coming over to difcoHad there ver fuch fecrets as would hang me. ever been the least overture or intent of bringing in the pretender, during my acquaintance with the ministry, I think I must have been very stupid not to have picked out fome discoveries or fufpicions. And although I am not fure I fhould have turned informer, yet I am certain I fhould have dropt fome general cautions, and immediately have retired. When people fay, things were not ripe at the Queen's death, they fay, they know not what. Things were rotten: and had the minifters any fuch thoughts, they fhould have begun three years before; and they who fay otherwise, understand nothing of the ftate of the kingdom at that time. But whether I am miftaken or no in other men, I beg your grace to believe, that I am not mistaken in myfelf. I always profeffed to be against the preand am fo ftill. And this is not to make tender; my court, (which I know is vain); for I own myfelf full of doubts, fears, and diffatisfactions; which I think on as feldom as I can: yet if I were of any value, the public may fafely rely on my loyalty; because I look upon the coming of the pretender as a greater evil, than any we are like to fuffer under the worft Whig miniftry that can be found. I have not spoke or thought fo much of party thefe two years; nor could any thing have tempted me to it but the grief I have in standing fo ill in your Grace's opinion. I beg your Grace's bleffing; And am, &c. JONATHAN SWIFT. LET LETTER CIV. Dr. SWIFT to Dr. SHERIDAN. SIR, Dec. 14. 1719. nine at night. IT is impoffible to know by your letter whether the wine is to be bottled to-morrow, or no. If it be, or be not, why did not you in plain English tell us fo? For my part, it was by mere chance I came to fit with the ladies * this night. And if they had not told me there was a letter from you, and your man Alexander had not gone, and come back from the deanery, and the boy here had not been sent to let Álexander know I was here, I fhould have miffed the letter outright. Truly I don't know who's bound to be fending for corks to stop your bottles, with a vengeance. Make a page of your own age, and fend your man Alexander to buy corks, for Saunders already has gone about ten jaunts. Mrs. Dingley and Mrs. Johnfon fay, truly they don't care for your wife's company, though they like your wine; but they had rather have it at their own houfe to drink in quiet. However, they own it is very civil in Mr. Sheridan to make the offer; and they cannot deny it. * Mrs. Dingley and Mrs. Johnson, who lived at a little distance from the deanery. Swift was refident at the deanery when this letter was written, of which every paragraph ends with a rhyme. And, Sheridan was at his country-houfe, called Quilca, in the county of Cavan, about eight miles from Dublin. I wifh I wish Alexander fafe at St. Catherine's to-night, with all my heart and foul, upon my word and ho nour. But I think it bafe in you to fend a poor fellow out fo late at this time of year, when one would not turn out a dog that one valued; I appeal to your friend Mr. Connar. I would prefent my humble fervice to my Lady Mountcafhel; but truly I thought fhe would have made advances to have been acquainted with me, as fhe prétended. But now I can write no more, for you fee plain ly my paper is ended.. P.S. I wish when you prated, Your letter you'd dated, Your man is belated, The cafe I have stated, And me you have cheated. Come back t' us well freighted, 2 P.S. Mrs. Dingley, For teafing me. Defires me fingly, Her fervice to present you, - For want of your converse, 3 P. S.. |