in that matter. I will, for once, talk in my trade, and tell you, that I never saw any thing more resemble our proceedings, than a man of fourscore, or in a deep consumption going on in his sins; although his physician assured him he could not live a week. Those wonderful refinements, of keeping men in expectation, and not letting your friends be too strong, might be proper in their season-Sed nunc non erat his locus. Besides, you keep your bread and butter till it was too stale for any body to care for it. Thus your machine of four years modelling is dashed to pieces in a moment: and, as well by the choice of the regents as by their proceedings, I do not find there is any intention of managing you in the least. The whole nineteen consist either of the highest party-men, or (which mightily mends the matter) of such who left us upon the subject of the peace, and affected jealousies about the succession. It might reasonably be expected, that this quiet possession might convince the successor of the good dispositions of the church party toward him; and I ever thought there was a mighty failure somewhere or other, that this could not have been done in the queen's life. But this is too much for what is past; and yet, whoever observed and disliked the causes, has some title to quarrel with the effects. As to what is to come, your lordship is in the prime of your years, plein des esprits qui fournissent les espérances; and you are now again to act that part (though in another assembly) which you formerly discharged so much to your own honour and the advantage of your cause. You set out with the wind and tide against you; yet, at last, arrived at your port, from whence you are now driven back into open sea again. But, not to involve myself in an allegory, I doubt whether, after this disappointment, you can go on with the same vigour you did in your more early youth. Experience, which has added to your wisdom, has lessened your resolution. You are now a general, who, after many victories, have lost a battle, and have not the same confidence in yourself, or your troops. Your fellow-labourers have either made their fortunes, or are past them, or will go over to seek them on the other side. Yet, after all, and to resume a little courage; to be at the head of the church interest is no mean station; and that, as I take it, is now in your lordship's power. In order to which, I could heartily wish for that union you mention; * because, I need not tell you, that some are more dexterous at pulling down their enemies than, &c. We have certainly more heads and hands than our adverseries; but, it must be confessed, they have stronger shoulders and better hearts. I only doubt my friends, the rabble, are at least grown trimmers; and that, setting up the cry of "trade and wool," against "Sacheverell and the church," has cooled their zeal. I take it for granted, there will be a new parliament against winter; and if they will retain me on the other side as their counsellor, I will engage them a majority. But since it is possible I may not be so far in their good graces, if your lordship thinks my service may be of any use in this new world, I will be ready to attend you by the beginning of winter. For the misfortune is, that I must go to Ireland to take the oaths which I never reflected on till I had notice *This seems to point at a reconciliation between Oxford and Bolingbroke. But the time was passed in which union might have strengthened them, as is well pointed out by Lewis in the next letter save one. from some friends in London: and the sooner I go the better, to prevent accidents; for I would not willingly want a favour at present. I think to set out in a few days, but not before your lordship's commands and instructions may reach me. I cannot conclude without offering my humblest thanks and acknowledgments, for your lordship's kind intentions toward me (if this accident had not happened) of which I received some general hints. I pray God direct your lordship: and I desire you will believe me to be what I am, with the utmost truth and respect, Your lordship's most obedient, &c. JON. SWIFT. TO ARCHDEACON WALLS. Letcombe, Aug. 8, 1714. If I had but fixed a week sooner for my journey to Ireland, I should have avoided twenty inconveniencies that have since happened to me, and been with you the time I am now writing. Upon the Earl of Oxford's removal, he desired I would go with him into Herefordshire, which I consented to, and wrote you word of it desiring you would renew my license of absence at the end of this month, for I think it then expires. Two days after, I had earnest invitation from those in power, to go up to town and assist them in their new ministry; which I resolved to excuse ; but, before I could write, news came of the queen's death, and all our schemes broke to shatters. I am told I must take the oaths in Ireland in three months; and I think it is better travelling now than later; and although I am earnestly pressed by our broken leaders to come up to town, I shall not do it; but hope to set out on the sixteenth instant toward Ireland, and if it please God, be with you in nine or ten days after this comes to your hands. However, let my license be renewed before it expires. I think I answered yours in my fast. I leave all things entirely to you and Mr Forbes. My service to gossip Doll, goody Stoyte and Martha, and Mr Manley and lady. Mr Manley is, I believe, now secure in his post; and it will be my turn to solicit favours from him. I have taken up Mr Fetherston's money, to pay some debts in London. I desire you will pay him fifty pounds, with the usual exchange, at twenty days sight; or later, if it be inconvenient. FROM ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ. Whitehall, Aug. 10, 1714. I NEVER differed from you in opinion in any point so much, as in your proposal to accommodate matters between the dragon and his quondam friends. I will venture to go so far with you, as to say he contributed to his own disgrace, by his petitesses, more than they did, or ever had it in their power to do. But since they would admit of no terms of accommodation, when he offered to serve them in their own way, I had rather see his dead carcase, than that he should now tamely submit to those, who have loaded him with all the obloquy malice could suggest, and tongues utter. Have not Char tres,* Brinsden, † and all the runners, been employed to call him dog, villain, sot, and worthless? And shall he, after this, join them? To what end? I have great tenderness for Lady — ‡ and think her best way is to retire, and enjoy the comforts of a domestic life. But sure the earth has not produced such monsters as Mercurialis, § and his companion, and the prelate. ¶ The last openly avows he never had obligation to the dragon, and loads him with ten thousand crimes; though his greatest, in reality, was preferring him. But to come out of this rant; What should they be friends for? Cui bono? Are we in a dream? Is the queen alive again? Can the lady ** hereafter make any figure, but a persona muta in a drama? If the dragon declares against the man of mercury, he may strike in with the tertium quid, that will probably arise; but with him he can never be otherwise than spurned and hated. The natural result of this is, that however I may, for my private satisfaction, desire to see you here, I cannot but think you should go to Ireland to qualify yourself, and then return hither, when the chaos will be jumbled into some kind of order. If the king keeps some tories in employment, the notion of whig and tory will be lost; but *The famous Colonel Chartres.---H. He is said, by Mr Boyer, in Political State, Vol. III. for Jan. 1711-12, p. 52, to have been an oculist, and a private agent of Lord Bolingbroke; and to have been employed by the government, in Jan. 1711-12, to attend on Prince Eugene, when his highness arrived in England, in the beginning of that month....B. Masham....H. § Lord Bolingbroke.---H. Probably the Lord Chancellor Harcourt.--. B. ** Lady Masham...-H. |