I AM ashamed to tell you how ill a philosopher I am, and that a very ill situation of my affairs for three weeks past, made me utterly incapable of answering your obliging letter, and thanking you for your most agreeable copy of verses. The prints will tell you that I am condemned again to live in Ireland; and all that the court and ministry did for me was to let me choose my situation in the country where I am banished. † I could not forbear showing both your letter and verses to our great men, as well as to the men of wit of my acquaintance; and they were highly approved by all. I am altogether a stranger to your friend Oppian; and am a little angry when those who have a genius lay it out in translations. I question whether" Res angusta domi" be not one of your motives. Perhaps you want such a bridle as a translation, for your genius is too fruitful, as appears by the frequency of your similies; and this employment may teach you to

First printed in Mr Seward's Biographiana 1799, from the original in the possession of the Rev. Dr Valpy of Reading.

1

+ From this Mr Draper might infer, that Swift had his choice to be bishop of Dromore, or dean of St Patrick's; and perhaps our author, who felt considerably mortified at the manner of his appointment, had no objection that a more favourable opinion of the way in which he had been treated should be entertained by the public. See the Journal, pages 207, 209.

write like a modest man, as Shakespeare expresses

it.

I have been minding my Lord Bolingbroke, Mr Harcourt, and Sir William Windham, to solicit my lord chancellor to give you a living, as a business which belongs to our society, who assume the title of rewarders of merit. They are all very well disposed, and I shall not fail to negociate for you while I stay in England, which will not be above six weeks; but I hope to return in October, and if you are not then provided for, I will move heaven and earth that something may be done for you. Our society has not met of late, else I would have moved to have two of us sent in form to request a living for from you lord chancellor: and, if you have any way to employ my services, I desire you will let me know it, and believe me to be, very sin cerely, Sir,

my

Your most faithful humble servant,

JON. SWIFT,

FROM DEAN ATTERBURY,

MR DEAN,

Chelsea, Tuesday Morning,
April 21, 1713.

GIVE me leave to tell you, that there is no man in England more pleased with your being preferred than I am. I would have told you so myself at your lodgings, but that my waiting confines me. I had heard a flying report of it before; but my Lord Bolingbroke yesterday confirmed the welcome news to me. I could not excuse myself without

saying thus much; and I have not time to say.

more, but that I am

Your most affectionate and faithful servant,

FR. ATTERBURY. *

TO ARCHBISHOP KING.

MY LORD,

London, April 30, 1713.

I HAD the honour of your grace's letter of the 14th, which at present I cannot answer particularly: I send this to welcome your grace to the Bath, where we conclude you are now arrived; and I hope the design of your journey is more for prevention than cure. I suppose your grace has heard that the queen has made Dr Sterne bishop of Dromore, and that I am to succeed him in his deanery. Dr Parnell, who is now in town, writ last post to your grace, to desire the favour of you that he may have my small prebend: † he thinks it will be some advantage to come into the chapter, where it may possibly be in my power to serve him in a way agreeable to him, although in no degree equal to his merits; by which he has distinguished himself so much, that he is in great esteem with the ministry, and others of the most valuable persons in

*Indorsed by Dr Swift, "Dr Atterbury, April 21, 1713, about eleven in the morning. I believe all to no purpose." At the moment of receiving this congratulatory letter, Swift was uncertain of his appointment. The warrants were not signed until the 23d April. See Journal, III. p. 209.

+ Of Dunlaven.

this town. He has been many years under your grace's direction, and has a very good title to your favour; so that I believe it will be unnecessary to add how much I should be obliged to your grace's compliance in this matter: and I flatter myself that his being agreeable to me, will be no disadvantage to him in your grace's opinion.

I am, with the greatest respect, my Lord,
Your grace's most dutiful

and most humble servant,

JON. SWIFT.

TO LORD CHANCELLOR HARCOURT.

MY LORD,

May, 1713.

I WONDER your lordship would presume to go out of town and leave me in fear that I should not see you before I go to Ireland, which will be in a week. It is a strange thing you should prefer your own health, and ease, and convenience, before my satisfaction. I want your lordship for my solicitor. I want your letter to your younger brother of Ireland, to put him under my government: I want an opportunity of giving your lordship my humblest thanks, for a hundred favours you have done me: I wanted the sight of your lordship this day in York buildings. † Pray, my lord, come to town before I leave it, and supply all my wants.

*

* i. e. the chancellor of that kingdom.

+ Lord-treasurer Oxford then lived there.-F.

My lord-treasurer uses me barbarously appoints to carry me to Kensington, and makes me walk four miles at midnight. He laughs when I mention a thousand pounds which he gives me; though a thousand pounds is a very serious thing, &c.

JON. SWIFT.

SIR,

TO MR ADDISON.

May 13, 1713.

;

I was told yesterday, by several persons, that Mr Steele had reflected upon me in his Guardian which I could hardly believe, until, sending for the paper of the day, I found he had, in several parts of it, insinuated with the utmost malice, that I was author of the Examiner; and abused me in the grossest manner he could possibly invent, and sent his name to what he had written. Now, sir, if I am not author of the Examiner, how will Mr Steele be able to defend himself from the imputation of the highest degree of baseness, ingratitude, and injustice? Is he so ignorant of my temper, and of my style? Has he never heard that the author of

* In the Guardian, No. LIII. Mr Steele says, 66 Though sometimes I have been told by familiar friends, that they saw me such a time talking to the Examiner; others who have rallied me for the sins of my youth, tell me it is credibly reported that I have formerly lain with the Examiner. I have carried my point; and it is nothing to me whether the Examiner writes in the character of an estranged friend, or an exasperated mistress."-The allusion is to Swift and Mrs Manley.