the late King, although without fuccefs; and for his choice of me to take care of his pofthumous writings. But I hope you will not charge my being in his family as an obligation; for I was educated to little purpose, if I had chosen his houfe on any other motives, than the benefit of his converfation and advice, and the opportunity of pursuing my ftudies. For being born to no fortune, I was at his death as much to feek it as ever and perhaps you will allow, that I was of fome use to him. This I will venture to fay, that in the time when I had fome little credit, I did fifty times more for fifty people, from whom I never received the leaft fervice or affistance; yet I should not be pleafed to hear a relation of mine reproaching them with ingratitude, although many of them well deferve it. For thanks to party, I have met in both kingdoms with ingratitude enough.

If I have been ill informed, you have not been much better, that I declared no great regard to your family; for fo you exprefs yourself. I never had occafion or opportunity to make ufe of any fuch words. The laft time I faw you in London, was the laft intercourfe that I remember to have had with your family. But having always trufted to my own innocence, I was never inquifitive to know my accufers. When I mentioned my lofe of intereft with you, I did it with concern; and I had no refentment; because I fuppofed it to arife only from different fentiments in public matters.

My Lord, if my letter were polite, it was against my intention, and I intreat your pardon for it. If I have wit, I will keep it to fhew when I am angry; which at prefent I am not: because altho' nothing can excuse those intemperate words your pen hath let fall, yet I fhall give allowance to a hafty person, hurried on by a mistake beyond all rules of decenIf a first minifter of ftate had ufed me as you cy. have done, he should have heard from me in ano

ther

ther ftyle; because, in that case, retaliating would be thought a mark of courage. But as your Lordfhip is not in a fituation to do me good, nor, I am fure, of a difpofition to do me mifchief; fo I fhould lofe the merit of being bold, because I incurred no danger.

In this point alone we are exactly equal; but in wit and politnefs I am as ready to yield to you, as in titles and estate.

I have found out one fecret; that although you call me a great wit, you do not think me fo; 0therwise you would have been cautious to have writ me fuch a letter.

You conclude with faying, you are ready to afk pardon where you have offended. Of this I acquit you, because I have not taken the offence; but whether you will aquit yourself, must be left to your confcience and honour.

I have formerly, upon occafions, been your humble fervant in Ireland, and fhould not refuse to be fo ftill, but you have so useful and excellent a friend in Mr. Reading, that you need no other; and I hope my good opinion of him will not leffen yours. I am,

My Lord,

Your moft humble fervant,

JON. SWIFT.

LET.

I

LETTER CXV.

Dr. SWIFT to Dr. SHERIDAN.

Good DOCTOR,

London, July 8. 1726. have had two months of great uneafinefs, at the ill account of Mrs. Johnson's health; and, as it is ufual, feared the worst that was poffible, and doubted all the good accounts that were fent me. I pray God, her danger may warn her to be lefs wilful, and more ready to fall into those measures that her friends and phyficians advise her to. I had a letter two days ago from Archdeacon Wall, dated fix days before yours, wherein he gives me a better account than you do ; and therefore I apprehend the hath not mended fince; and yet he fays, he can honeftly tell me he is now much better. Pray thank the Archdeacon, and tell him you are to have a share in this letter; and therefore, I will fave him the trouble of another. Tell him also, that I never afked for my 1000 1. which he hears I have got; tho' I mentioned it to the Princess the laft time I faw her; but I bid her tell Walpole I fcorned to afk him for it. But blot out this paffage, and mention it to no one except the ladies ; because I know Mrs. Johnson would be pleased with it, and I will not write to them till I hear from them; therefore this letter is theirs as well as yours. The Archdeacon further fays, that Mrs. Johnfon has

*

* Sir Robert Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford. He was Firft Commiffioner of the Treafury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He died in February 1744, in the 71st year of his age.

nct

not tafted claret for feveral months, but once at his houfe. This I diflike. I cannot tell who is the fourth of your friends, unless it be yourself. I am forry for your new laborious studies; but the best of it is, they will not be your own another day. I thank you for your new ftyle and most useful quotations. I am only concerned, that although you get the grace of the houfe, you will never get the grace of the town: but die plain Sheridan, or Tom at moft, because it is a fyllable shorter than Doctor. However, I will give it you at length in the fuperfcription; and people will fo wonder how the news could come and return fo quick to and from England, especially if the wind be fair when the packet goes over; and let me warn you to be very careful in fending for your letters two days after the commencement. You loft one post by my being out of town; for I came hither to-day, and fhall ftay three or four upon fome business; and then go back to Mr. Pope's, and there continue till Auguft, and then come to town, till I begin my journey to Ireland, which I propofe the middle of Auguft. My old fervant Archy is here ruined and starving, and has purfued me, and wrote me a letter; but I have refused to fee him. Our friend at the castle writ to me two months ago, to have a fight of those papers, &c. of which I brought away a copy. I have answered him, that whatever papers I have, are conveyed from one place to ano ther, through nine or ten hands, and that I have the key. If he should mention any thing of papers in general, either to you or the ladies, and that you can bring it in, I would have you and them to confirm the fame ftory, and laugh at my humour in it, &c. My fervice to Dr. Delany, Dr. Helfham, the Grattons, and Jackfons. There is not fo defpifed a creature here as your friend, with the foft verfes on children: heartily pity him. This is the first time I was ever weary of England,

and

and longed to be in Ireland; but it is because go I muft; for I do not love Ireland better, nor England, as England, worfe. In fhort, you all live in a wretched, dirty dog-hole, and prison; but it is a place good enough to die in. I can tell you one thing, that I have had the faireft offer made me of a fettlement here that one can imagine, which, if I were ten years younger, I would gladly accept, within twelve miles of London, and in the midst of my friends. But I am too old for new schemes, and especially fuch as would bridle me in my freedoms and liberalities. But fo it is, that I must be forced to get home, partly by ftealth, and partly by force. I have indeed one temptation for this winter, much ftronger, which is, of a fine house, and garden, and park, and wine-cellar in France, to pafs away winter in; and if Mrs. Johnson were not fo out of order, I would certainly accept of it and I wifh fhe could go to Montpelier at the fame time. You fee I am grown vifionary, and therefore it is time to have done. Adieu.

I

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ lete l

LETTER CXVI.

Dr. SWIFT to Dr. SHERIDAN.

† July 27. 1726. Have yours just now of the 19th; and the account you give me, is nothing but what I have fome time expected with the utmost agonies; and there is one aggravation of conftraint, that whe: e I

Lord Bolingbreke invited the Dean to spend a winter with him

at his houfe in France, on the banks of the Loire.

This was written from Mr. Pope's at Twickenham,

am,