I do a little admire, that thofe that fhould be your fastest friends, fhould be fo oppofite to acknowledge the fervice you did in procuring the twentieth parts and firft-fruits. I know no reason for it, except the zeal I thewed to do you justice in that particular from the beginning. But fince I only did it, as obliged to bear teftimony to the truth, in a matter which I certainly knew, and would have done the fame for the worst enemy I had in the world; I fee no reason why you should fuffer, because I among others was your witnefs. But be not concerned: ingratitude is warranted by modern and ancient custom; and it is more honour for a man to have it asked, why he had not a fuitable return to his merits, than why he was overpaid? Benefacere et male audire, is the lot of the best men. If calumny or ingratitude could have put me out of my way, God knows where I fhould have wandered by this time.

I am glad the bufinefs of St Nicholas + is over any way. My inclination was Mr Wall; that I might have joined the vicarage of Caftle-knock to the prebend of Malahidart; which would have made a good provifion for one man, ferved the cures better, and yielded more then to the incumbent than it can do now, when in different hands. But I could not compass 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 fense 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 fewel that keeps them alive: and I think, nothing can contribute more to our common eafe, 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 mat

The Dean and chapter of St Patrick's are the appropriators of that church, and have the right of beftowing the cure on whom they please.

not be for nothing. I hope, he can tell no ill ftory of

I

Dr SWIFT to the Archbishop of Dublin.

My LORD,

Trim, Dec. 16. 1710. Should be forry to fee my Lord Bolingbroke following the trade of an informer; because he is a perfon for whom I always had, and ftill continue, a very great love and efteem. For I think, as the reft of mankind do, that informers are a deteftable race of people, altho' 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: altho' I would not believe him, if he fhould fwear it; because he protefled to me, that he never saw him but once; and that 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 fhould be very eafy under fuch an accufation; much eafier, than I am to think your Grace imagineth me in any danger, or that Lord Bolingbroke fhould have any ill ftory to te of me. He knoweth, and loveth, and thinketh to well of me, to be capable of such an action. B I am arprised to think your Grace could talk, or act, or correfpond with me for fome years past; while you muft needs believe me a most falfe and vile man; declaring to you on all occafions. my abhorrence of

T.2.

the

the pretender, and yet privately engaged with a ministry to bring him in, and therefore warning me to look to myfelf, and prepare my defence against a falfe BROTHER, Coming over to discover fuch fecrets as would hang me. Had there been ever the leaft overture or intent of bringing in the pretender, during my acquaintance with the miniftry, I think I must have been very ftupid not to have picked out fome difcoveries or fufpicions. And altho' I am not fure I should have turned informer, yet I am certain I should have dropped fome general cautions, and immediately have retired. When peo. ple 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 should have begun three years before; and they who fay otherwife, understand nothing of the state of the kingdom at that time.

BUT whether I am mistaken 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 pretender; and am fo ftill. And this is not to make my court, (which I know is vain); for I own myself 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 worst Whig ministry that can be found.

I have not spoke or thought fo much of party these two years; nor could any thing have tempted me to it, but the grief I have in standing so ill in your Grace's opinion. I beg your Grace's bleffing;

And

am, &c.

JONATHAN SWIFT.

CIV.

S1 R,

IT

LETTER

Dr SWIFT to Dr SHERIDAN..

Dec. 14. 1719. nine. night

Tis 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 fent to let Alexander. know I was here, I should 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 above ten jaunts.

MRS Dingley and Mrs Johnfon fay, truly they don't care for your wife's company, tho' 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.

I wish Alexander fafe at St Catherine's to-night, with all my heart and foul, upon my word and honour.

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 Conna.

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 the pretended.

But now I can write no more, for you fee plainly my paper is ended:

Mrs Dingley and Mis Johnfon, who lived at a little distance. m the deanery.

Swift was efident at the deanery when this letter was written, ofhich cry paragraph ends with a rhyme: And,

Sheridan was at his country-house, called Quilca, in the county Cavan, about eight miles from Dublin, Hawkef.

1 fcoded and rated,
My foul it much grated,
For your man I long waited.
I think you are fated,
Like a bear to be baited:
Your man is belated,
The cafe I have fated,
And me you have cheated.
My ftable's unflated,

Come back t'us well freighted ;
I remember my late-bead,

And if you tranflated,

For tealing ma.

2P. S. Mrs Dingley,

Defires me fingly

Her fervice to present you,
Hopes that will content you;

But Johnfon Madam

Is grown a fad dame,

For want of your converse,-
And cannot find one verfe.

3P. S. You keep fuch a twattling
With you and your bottling,
But fee the fum total,
We ball ne'er have one bottle;
The long and the fort,
We shall not have a quart.
I wish you would fign't,
That we may have a pint.
For all your colloguing,
I'd be glad of a knogging
But I doubt 'tis a fham,
You won't give us a dram.
'Tis of fine, a mouth moonfull,
You won't part with a spoonfull,

[Vida,
[Rule 34-

And