FROM CHARLES FORD, ESQ.

London, July 15, 1714.

You see I was in the right; but I could wish the booby* had not convinced me by naming my Lord Bolingbroke, and then I should have dealt well enough with him. Since it has happened so, the best remedy I could think of, was to write him a very civil answer; in which, however, I have desired to see the alterations: this is mentioned with great respect to my lord. Though he has promised to have it again to-morrow, it is probable he may be disappointed, and there may be time enough for me to receive your directions what I shall do, when I get it into my hands. If the alterations are material, shall I send it to some other printer as it was first written? Reflect upon every thing you think likely to happen, and tell me beforehand what is proper to be done, that no more time may be lost. I hate the dog † for making his court in such a manner.

admiral, and was member of parliament for the university of Oxford....H.

* Barber.

The whole letter regards the alterations proposed by Bolingbroke on the Dean's manuscript of the "Free Thoughts," which undoubtedly were calculated to make the tract serve his own interest against Lord Oxford's; whereas the purport of Swift's whole argument was to reconcile them if possible. Ford's meaning is obviously that if Mr Barber had not named Lord Bolingbroke, which might render any scruple at adopting his amendments personally disrespectful to him, it might have been very easy to have rejected those of a nameless and unknown critic.

+ John Barber.

I am very sorry you have had occasion to remove your premier minister. We are told now, we shall have no change in ours, and that the Duke of Shrewsbury will perfectly reconcile all matters. I am sure you will not believe this any more than I do; but the dragon has been more cheerful than usual for three or four days; and therefore people conclude the breaches are healed. I rather incline to the opinion of those who say he is to be made a duke, and to have a pension. Another reason given why there is to be no change is, because the parliament was not adjourned to issue new writs in the room of those who were to come in upon the new scheme, that they might sit in the house at the next meeting. But I cannot see why an adjournment may not do as well at the beginning, as at the end of a session; and certainly it will displease less in January or February, than it would have done in July. The whigs give out the Duke of Marlborough is coming over, and his house is now actually fitting up at St James's. We have had more variety of lies of late than ever I remember. The history we were formerly talking of, would swell to a prodigious size, if it was carried on. There was a fire last night on Tower-hill, that burnt down forty or fifty houses. You say nothing of coming to town. I hope you do not mean to steal away to Ireland without seeing

us.

*The Earl of Oxford.-D. S.

FROM THE SAME,

London, July 17, 1714.

A SECOND to-morrow is almost past, and nothing has been yet left at St Dunstan's. * Barber will lose by his prodigious cunning; but that is nothing to the punishment he deserves. Had it been only his fear, he would have chosen somebody else to consult with; but the rogue found it was well written, and saw the passages that galled. I am heartily vext at the other person, † from whom one might have expected a more honourable proceeding. There is something very mean in his desiring to make alterations, when I am sure he has no reason to complain, and is at least as fairly dealt with as his competitor. Besides, a great part of it is as much for his service as if he had given directions himself to have it done. What relates to the pretender is of the utmost use to him; § and therefore I am as much surprised at his delay, as at his ungenerous manner of treating an unknown author,

* See the preced ing letter. Ford doubtless had demanded the return of the manuscript, and that it should be sent by Barber to the same direction through means of which their correspondence was carried on. In the course of the letter, he expresses his doubts, whether Barber may not retain the manuscript, notwithstanding the hopes which Ford had given the printer that it should be restored to him.

+ Lord Bolingbroke.-D. S.

Lord Oxford.-D. S:

See Vol. V. p. 405, where Swift vindicates the tory ministry from any design to alter the succession, a suspicion of which attached chiefly to Bolingbroke.

to whom he is so much obliged. But perhaps I may wrong him, and he would not desire to turn the whole to his own advantage. If it had come to me yesterday, or to-day, I was resolved to have sent it to some other printer without any amendment; but now I shall wait till I have your directions. I wish you had employed somebody else at first; but what signifies wishing now? After what Barber writ in his last, I can hardly think he will be such a as not to let me have it; and in my answer I have given him all manner of encouragement to do it. He has as much assurance as he can well desire, that the alterations shall be complied with, and a positive promise that it shall be returned to him the same day he leaves it at St Dunstan's.

*

I cannot imagine why we have no mischief yet. Sure we are not to be disappointed at last, after the bustle that has been made. It is impossible they can ever agree, and I want something to make my letters still entertaining. I doubt you will hardly thank me for them, now the parliament is up; but as soon as any thing happens you shall know it.

The queen has not yet appointed the time for removing to Windsor. My Lord Chief Baron Ward is dead, and we have already named seven successors, among whom is our Lord Chancellor Phipps. Frank Annesley was to have had his place under my Lord Anglesey, so that it is well for him we have provided him with another for life.

* Lords Oxford and Bolingbroke.-D. S.

FROM ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ.

*

July 17, 1714.

I AM Sorry to find by those that have fresher advices from you than yours of the eleventh to me, that Parvisol's conduct puts you under a necessity of changing the administration; for it will probably draw you to Ireland whether you will or not. However, I hope to see you at Bath three weeks hence, whatever happens. I meet with no man or woman, who pretend upon any probable grounds to judge who will carry the great point. Our female friend [A] told the dragon [B] in her own house, last Thursday morning, these words: "You never did the queen any service, nor are you capable of doing her any." He made no reply, but supped with her and Mercurialis [C] that night, at her own house. His revenge is not the less meditated for that. He tells the words clearly and distinctly to all mankind. Those, who range under his banner, call her ten thousand bitches and kitchen-wenches. Those who hate him do the same. And from my heart, I grieve that she should give such a loose to her passion; for

* Dr Swift's agent in Ireland. The Dean's observations on the names marked A, B, C, are thus written on the blank part of the original letter:

[A]

Mrs Masham, who was the queen's favourite, fell out in a rage, reproaching Lord Oxford very injuriously."

[B]The dragon, Lord-Treasurer Oxford, so called by the Dean by contraries; for he was the mildest, wisest, and best minister that ever served a prince."

[C] Lord Bolingbroke, called so by Mr Lewis."-H.