I came yesterday from Windsor, where I saw the queen in very good health, which she finds there more than any where else, and I believe will hardly remove until December. I believe my lord-lieutenant * will be landed before this letter comes to your hands he is the finest gentleman we have, and of an excellent understanding and capacity for business: if I were with your grace, I would say more; but leave it to your own sagacity. I will only venture to say one thing relating to Ireland, because I believe it will be of use that your grace should know it. If your house of commons should run into any violence disagreeable to us here, it will be of the worst consequences imaginable to that kingdom: for, I know no maxim side should qualify themselves according to law; well knowing, that, not a few Roman Catholics, who appeared for the four old members, would not take the oaths, particularly that of abjuration. Hereupon the high church party thought it most for their advantage to compromise the matter; and so it was agreed, that the oaths should not be tendered to any that polled on either side. Thus far the election proceeded in a fair and regular way, and continued so for some days; the effects of which appeared visibly to be in favour of the four merchants, who outstripped their com petitors by several hundreds of voices. Hereupon those who supported the old members bestirred themselves with such indefatigable zeal and industry, that, what by the assistance both of present and absent friends, what by the help of persons confined for debt, whose liberty was procured to serve this critical turn, what by other methods too tedious, and perhaps unsafe to be mentioned, when the poll was closed, on Saturday the 24th of October, the voices stood thus: more strongly maintained at present in our court, than that her majesty ought to exert her power to the utmost, upon any uneasiness given on your side to herself or her servants: neither can I answer, that even the legislative power here may not take cognizance of any thing that may pass among you, in opposition to the persons and principles that are now favoured by the queen. Perhaps I am gone too far; and therefore shall end, without any ceremony. Your grace's, &c. JON. SWIFT. Direct to me under cover to Erasmus Lewis, Esq. at Mr Secretary Bromley's office at Whitehall. FROM LORD CHANCELLOR PHIPPS. DEAR SIR, Dublin, Oct. 24, 1713. I AM indebted to you for your kind letters of the eighth and tenth instant, and I very heartily acknowledge the obligation. That of the eighth gave me a great many melancholy thoughts, when I reflected upon the danger our constitution is in, by the neglect and supineness of our friends, and the vigilance and unanimity of our enemies but I hope your parliament proving so good will awaken our friends, and unite them more firmly, and make them more active. That part of your letter of the tenth, which related to my son, gave me great satisfaction; for, though the commissioners here have heard nothing of it, yet I believed Mr Keightley might bring over full instructions in it: but he is arrived, and knows nothing of it; so that whatever good intentions my lord-treasurer had in relation to my son, his lordship has forgotten to give any directions concerning him; for, with him, things are just as they were when you left Dublin. If you will be so kind to put his Lordship in mind of it, you will be very obliging. I cannot discharge the part of a friend, if I omit to let you know that your great neighbour* at St Pulcher's is very angry with you. He accuses you for going away without taking your leave of him, and intends in a little time to compel you to reside at your deanery. He lays some other things to your charge, which you shall know in a little time. † We hourly expect my lord-lieutenant. The whigs begin to be sensible they must expect no great countenance from him, and begin to be a little down in the mouth, since they find Broderick is not to be their speaker. § I am, with very great truth, Your most obedient humble servant. The Archbishop of Dublin.-N. + This is sufficient proof, among others, that though there existed ceremony, respect, and perhaps even esteem, there was no cordiality between Swift and his constant correspondent Archbishop King. + Duke of Shrewsbury.-B. § He was, however, chosen speaker by a majority of four voices.-B. SIR, FROM DR DAVENANT. * Windsor, Nov. 3, 1713. You have the character of employing in good offices to others the honour and happiness you have of being often with my lord-treasurer. This use of your access to him is an uncommon instance of generosity, deserving the highest praises; for, most commonly, men are most apt to convert such advantages to their own single interest, without any regard of others; though, in my poor opinion, not so wisely. Acts of friendship create friends, even among strangers, that taste not of them; and in my experience, I hardly ever knew a man friendly in the course of his proceedings, but he was supported in the world; ingratitude being the vice, of which the generality of men are most ashamed to be thought guilty. My son † and I have reasons to return you our thanks, for what you have already done of this kind in his favour, and we beg the continuance of it. Ministers of state have such multiplicity of business, that it is no wonder, if they forget low individuals; and in such a case, private persons must be beholden to some good-natured man, to put those in power in * Charles Davenant, LL.D. inspector-general of imports and exports. He was son of the poet, and dabbled a good deal in politics, in which he showed some versatility. He died Nov. 6, 1714. + Henry Davenant, Esq. had been employed at Frankfort, from 1703, to 1707, or longer; but his father attempted in vain to get him to Florence. In 1718 he was resident at Genoa. mind of them; otherwise they may be forgotten, till old age overtakes them. Such well disposed remembrancers, deserve access, familiarity, and interest with great men; and perhaps, they are the most useful servants they can countenance in their hours of leisure. I need not tell you, that in point of time, he is above all pretenders to foreign business; that his affairs have now depended almost three years; that in the interim, it has gone very hard with him ; and that he gave a very early instance of his zeal to the present administration. But what he builds his hopes most upon, is the promise my lord-treasurer was pleased to make to the Duke of Shrewsbury, just as his grace left Windsor, that a provision should be made for Mr Davenant. We must entreat you to find some lucky moment of representing to my lord, that the young man is pressed by a nearer concern than that of making his fortune, and that lovers can hardly be persuaded to be as patient as other men. The duke has carried his mistress from him, and will not consent to make him happy, till he sees him in some way of being settled in which how anxious any delay must be (possession depending upon it) he leaves you to judge, who have so well studied mankind, and who know that love is a passion, in one of his age, much stronger than ambition. I beg your pardon for this long trouble, and am, Sir, Your most humble and most obedient servant, |
