great beauty; and I see trouts playing in it. I know not any one thing now in Dublin. But Mr Ford is very kind, and writes to me constantly what passes among you. I find you are likewise a good politician; and I will say so much to you, that I verily think, if the thing you know of had been published just upon the peace, the ministry might have avoided what has since happened: but I am now fitter to look after willows, and to cut hedges, than meddle with affairs of state. I must order one of the workmen to drive those cows out of my island, and make up the ditch again; a work much more proper for a country vicar, than driving out factions, and fencing against them. I must go and take my bitter draught to cure my head, which is spoiled by the bitter draughts which the public has given me. So go to your dukes and duchesses, and leave me to Goodman Bumford, and Patrick Dolan of Clanduggan. Adieu. , FROM MR LEWIS. * JON. SWIFT. Whitehall, July 9, 1713. We are all running headlong into the greatest confusion imaginable. † Sir Thomas Hanmer is * Indorsed "Mr Lewis, about the divisions," &c. + This summons announced the irreconcilable division be. tween Oxford and Bolingbroke; and having been pressingly repeated in the month following, at length brought Swift from Ireland, in the vain hope of acting as mediator between them. Speaker of the house of commons.-B. gone into the country this morning, I believe much discontented; and I am very apprehensive, neither Lord Anglesey * nor he will continue long with us. I heartily wish you were here; for you might certainly be of great use to us, by your endeavours to reconcile, and by representing to them the infallible consequences of these divisions. We had letters this morning from Ireland, What is the reason I had none from you? Adieu. I hope your want of health is not the cause. TO ARCHBISHOP KING. MY LORD, Trim, July 16, 1713. I HAVE been about five weeks in this kingdom, but so extremely ill with the return of an old disorder in my head, that I was not able to write to your grace. I have been the greatest part of that time at my country parish, riding every day for my health. I can tell your grace nothing from Dublin, having spent the days I was there between business and physic, and paid no visits, nor received any but one day; and I reckon it no great loss, for I hear they are all party mad; and it is one felicity of being among willows, that one is not troubled with faction. I hope you have as little of it at the Bath; for I cannot fancy it does well with the waters. If your grace goes to London from the * Arthur, Earl of Anglesey, who was joint vice-treasurer of Ireland with Edward, Earl of Clarendon.-B. Bath, I believe I may have the honour of waiting on you; although I shall do all in my power to save the trouble of such a journey; which neither my fortune nor my health will very well bear. I hope you feel the good effects of the place you are in; and I pray God continue your life, for the good of his church. The other day, Mr Thacker, Prebendary of Sagard and Vicar of Rathcool, died; and it would be a great mark of goodness in your grace, as well as a personal favour to me, if you would please to dispose of his livings in favour of Mr Thomas Warburton, who has been many years my assistant in the cure of Laracor, has behaved himself altogether unblameably, and is a gentleman of very good learning and sense. If I knew any one more deserving, I would not recommend him; neither would I do it however, because I know your grace has a great many dependants, but that it will be a great use to me to have a vicar in one of my rectories, and upon my deanery, in whom I can confide. I am told the livings amount to a hundred and twenty pounds a-year at most; and it may probably happen in my way to be able to oblige some friend of yours in a greater matter, which I shall very readily do. I am, with the greatest respect, my Lord, Your grace's most obedient, and most humble servant, JON. SWIFT.. FROM MR LEWIS. * Whitehall, July 30, 1713. THIS day se'nnight the queen goes to HamptonCourt, and the Monday following to Windsor. I fancy by that time Mr Bromley † will be secretary of state, in the room of my lord. Lord-treasurer was abroad this evening, for the first time after a fortnight's illness. I hear there came a dozen of letters from you by the same post to your friends here. My lord-treasurer desires you'll make all possible haste over; for we want you extremely. TO THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER. MY LORD, The Country in Ireland, Aug. 3, 1713. your Ir is with the greatest pleasure I heard of lordship's promotion, I mean that particular promotion, § which I believe is agreeable to you, though it does not mend your fortune. There is but one other change I could wish you, because I have heard you prefer it before all the rest; and * Indorsed," Mr Lewis, pressing me to come over." + William Bromley, Esq. appointed secretary of state, Aug. 17, 1713, in the room of William, Earl of Dartmouth, made lord privy-seal.-B. Dartmouth, to whom Mr Lewis had been secretary. that likewise is now ready,* unless it be thought too soon, and that you are made to wait till another person has used it for a step to cross the water. † Though I am here in a way of sinking into utter oblivion; for "Ha latebræ nec dulces, nec, si mihi credis, amœnœ: yet I shall challenge the continuance of your lordships favour: and whenever I come to London, shall with great assurance cross the park to your lordship's house at Westminster, as if it were no more than crossing the street at Chelsea. § I talked at this threatening rate so often to you about two years past, that you are not now to forget it. Pray, my lord, do not let your being made a bishop hinder you from cultivating the politer studies, which your heart was set upon when you went to govern Christ Church. Providence has made you successor to a person, who, though of a much inferior genius, || turned all his thoughts that way; and, I have been told, with great success, by his countenance to those who deserved. I envy Dr Friend that he has you for his inspector; and I envy you for having such a person in your district, and whom you love so well. Shall not I have liberty to be sometimes a third among you, though I am an Irish dean? * The bishoprick of London was then vacant, by the death of Dr Compton, who died July 4, 1713. + To Lambeth. Altered from Horace, lib. i. ep. 16.—N. § Where they lodged near each other some weeks. Dr Sprat, whose works, thought now seldom read, make part of the collection of British poets. I Dr Friend, then head master of Westminster-school.-N. |