MR DEAN,

FROM DR FRIEND.*

Westm. Sept. 20, 1715.

AM much obliged to Lady Kerry for giving you an occasion of writing, and shall always be pleased in receiving any commands from you. Mr Fitzmaurice is very promising, and a favourite of mine already. I had never seen or heard from any one that was concerned for him, till I had the favour of yours; but as I had taken a particular notice of him on his own account, I shall now do it much more upon yours. This will be brought to you by your kinsman, Mr Rolt. I am glad I can tell you, that he has behaved himself very well here. He is not of the highest sort, but is very sober and industrious, and will work out his way, and, I believe, deserve any encouragement you are pleased to give him. Things are in an odd posture with us at present; and the state of banishment you are in, may be endured without much regret; however, I shall hope in a little time to see you here, when more of your friends are in town.

The bishop and my brother § are much yours, and very desirous of a happy meeting with you. Before this can be with you, you will be able to

* Robert Friend, D. D. master of Westminster school.-B. + He had been placed at the school by Swift.-N.

Dr Francis Atterbury, bishop of Rochester.-B.

§ John Friend, M. D.-B.

guess how soon that may happen. May it be as soon as is wished by, Sir,

Your most obedient and faithful humble servant,

R. FRIEND.

FROM THE DUCHESS OF ORMOND.

SIR,

Oct 17, 1715.

I was extremely pleased to find you had not forgot your friends, when it is so hard for them to write to you, and by their concern for you, put you in mind of them. But I find no misfortunes can lessen your friendship, which is so great as to blind you of the side of their faults, and make you believe you see virtues in them, it were happy for them they enjoyed in any degree; for, I am sure, some of those you named are much wanted at this time. I was, as you heard, very well pleased, that my friend* was safe as to his person, but very uneasy at seeing his reputation so treated. As to his fortune, it is yet in dispute. However, as long as he is well, I am satisfied. It is with difficulty I do hear; but now and then a straggling body brings me an account of him for there has been no encouragement to write by the post, all letters miscarrying that either he or

* The duke, who, being suspected of treasonable practices or designs, went abroad.-H.

I have wrote that way, that we have given it over now, and trust to accident for the news of each other. I hope I shall hear from you oftener than I have done for some months past: for no friend you have has more respect for you, than your most humble servant.

*

Your niece Betty is your humble servant.

TO BISHOP ATTERBURY.†

MY LORD,

Dublin, March 24. 1715–16.

As much of your lordship's thoughts and time are employed at present, you must give me leave to interrupt them, and which is worse, for a trifle; though, by the accidents of time and party, of some consequence and great vexation to me. I am here at the head of three and twenty dignitaries and prebendaries, whereof the major part, differing from me in principles, have taken a fancy to oppose me upon

*Her Grace's daughter.-H.

+ Swift's correspondence with Archbishop King had been at all times rather formal than cordial, but upon his settling in Dublin as dean of St Patrick's, so many disputed points of church-jurisdiction occurred, as seem to have increased their coolness into actual discord. The dean alludes to the warfare which he suspected Archbishop King fomented in his chapter in a preceding letter toPope, p. 259. where he mentions the task of defending his dominions against the archbishop, and of subduing his rebellious choir, as his most important employments. The object of this letter was to consult Atterbury on some of the points in dispute, and the prelate's answer is not very favourable to the legality of Swift's pretensions.

all occasions in the chapter-house; and a ringleader among them has presumed to debate my power of proposing, or my negative, though it is what the deans of this cathedral have possessed for time immemorial, and what has never been once disputed. Our constitution was taken from that of Sarum; and the knowledge of what is practised there in the like case would be of great use to me. I have written this post to Dr Younger,* to desire he would inform me in this matter; but having only a slender acquaintance with him, I would beg your lordship to second my request, that the dean would please to let me know the practice of his cathedral, and his power in this point. I would likewise desire your lordship to let me know how it is at Westminster, and the two other cathedrals, with whose customs you may be acquainted.

4

Pray, my lord, pardon this idle request from one that loves and esteems you, as you know I do. I once thought it would never be my misfortune to entertain you at so scurvy a rate, at least not at so great a distance, or with so much constraint:

"Sis felix, nostrumque leves [I do not like quicunque†] labo

rem :

Et quo sub cœlo tandem, quibus orbis in oris

Jactemur, doceas."

The greatest felicity I now have is, that I am utterly ignorant of the most public events that happen in the world :

"Multa gemens ignominiam plagasque," &c.

* D. D. of Magdalen College, Oxford, and dean of Sarum, or Salisbury.

+ The quæcunque of Virgil was more favourable to the zealous admirers of the memory of Queen Anne.—N.

I am with the greatest respect and truth, my lord, your lordship's must dutiful and most humble servant,

JON. SWIFT.

FROM BISHOP ATTERBURY.

GOOD MR DEAN,

Bromley,* April 6, 1716.

My gout kept me so long a prisoner at Westminster this winter, that I have fixed at Bromley this spring much sooner than ever I yet did; for which reason my meeting with Dr Younger will be more difficult than it would be, had I been still at the deanery.†

The best (or rather the worst) is, that I believe he can say nothing to you upon the matter about which you write, which will please you. His deanery ‡ is of the old foundation, and in all such foundations the deans have no extraordinary power or privilege, and are nothing more than residentiaries, with a peculiar corps belonging to them as deans; the first of the chapter, but such whose presence is not necessary toward the dispatch of any one capitular act, the senior residentiary supplying their absence, in every case, with full authority. Thus, I say, the case generally is in the old deaneries, unless where the local statutes may have expressly reserved some

Bromely in Kent, where the bishops of Rochester have an episcopal palace.-H.

+ Of Westminster, which has long been connected with the bishoprick of Rochester.-H. Of Salisbury.-N.