1

my hands, that at your grace's visitation of the dean and chapter of St Patrick's, a proxy was insisted on from the dean, the visitation adjourned, and a rule entered that a proxy be exhibited within a month. If your grace can find, in any of your old records or of ours, that a proxy was ever demanded for a Dean of St Patrick's, you will have some reason to insist upon it: but, as it is a thing wholly new and unheard of, let the consequences be what they will, I shall never comply with it. I take my chapter to be iny proxy, if I want any: it is only through them that you visit me, and my subdean is to answer for me. I am neither civilian nor canonist: your grace may probably be both, with the addition of a dexterous deputy. My proceeding shall be only upon one maxim; never to yield to an oppression, to justify which no precedent can be produced. I see very well how personal all this proceeding is: and how, from the very moment of the queen's death, your grace has thought fit to take every opportunity of giving me all sorts of uneasiness, without ever giving me, in my whole life, one single mark of your favour, beyond common civilities. And if it were not below a man of spirit to make complaints, I could date them from six and twenty years past. This has something in it the more extraordinary, because, during some years, when I was thought to have credit with those in power, I employed it to the utmost for your service, with great success, where it could be most useful against many violent enemies you then had, however unjustly; by which I got more ill-will

ceasing disputes between Swift and Archbishop King, persons who certainly esteemed and respected each others character and talents, but nevertheless, were embroiled in perpetual quarrels on points of ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

than by any other action in my life, I mean from my friends. My lord, I have lived, and by the grace of God will die, an enemy to servitude and slavery of all kinds: and I believe, at the same time, that persons of such a disposition will be the most. ready to pay obedience wherever it is due. Your grace has often said, "You would never infringe any of our liberties.' I will call back nothing of what is past: I will forget, if I can, that you mentioned to me a license to be absent. Neither my age, health, humour or fortune, qualify me for little brangles; but I will hold to the practice delivered down by my predecessors. I thought, and have been told, that I deserved better from that church and that kingdom: I am sure I do from your grace. And I believe, people on this side will attest, that all my merits are not very old. * It is a little hard, that the occasion of my journey hither, being partly for the advantage of that kingdom, partly on account of my health, partly on business of importance to me, and partly to see my friends; I cannot enjoy the quiet of a few months, without your grace interposing to disturb it. But, I thank God, the civilities of those in power here, who allow themselves to be my professed adversaries, make some atonement for the unkindness of others, who have so many reasons to be my friends. I have not long to live; and therefore, if conscience were quite out of the case for me to do a base thing, I will set no unworthy examples for my successors to follow: and, therefore, repeating it again that I shall not

He probably alludes to his vindicating the archbishop to Queen Anne's last ministry on a remarkable occasion. Sec Vol. XV. p. 395.

concern myself upon the proceeding of your lordship, I am, &c.

FROM THE PRINCE OF LILLIPUT.*

+**.t

In European characters and English thus: The high and mighty Prince EGROEGO, born to the most puissant empire of the East,

Unto STELLA, the most resplendent glory of the Western hemisphere, sendeth health and happiness.

BRIGHTEST PRINCESS,

1727.

THAT invincible hero, the MAN MOUNTAIN, fortunately arriving at our coasts some years ago, delivered us from ruin by conquering the fleets and armies of our enemies, and gave us hopes of a durable peace and happiness. But now the martial people of Blefuscu, encouraged from his absence, ⚫ have renewed the war, to revenge upon us the loss and disgrace they suffered by our valiant champion.

The fame of your superexcellent person and virtue, and the huge esteem which that great general has for you, urged us in this our second distress to sue for your favour. In order to which, we have

This seems to be an attempt at humour, compounded, probably, by the Princess of Wales, Mrs Howard, or both, in the name of the prince, afterwards George II.

+ Here we have a parcel of characters formed at random, by way of the address in the Lilliputian tongue.-D. S.

set our able and trusty nardac KOORBNILOB, requesting, That if our general does yet tread upon the terrestrial globe, you, in compassion to us, would prevail upon him to take another voyage for our deliverance.

And lest any apprehensions of famine among us, should render nardac MOUNTAIN averse to the undertaking, we signify to you, that we have stored our folds, our coops, our granaries and cellars with plenty of provision for a long supply of the wastes to be made by his capacious stomach.

And furthermore, because as we hear you are not so well as we could wish, we beg you would complete our happiness by venturing your most valuable person along with him into our country; where, by the salubrity of our finer air and diet, you will soon recover your health and stomach.

In full assurance of your complying goodness, we have sent you some provision for your voyage, and we shall with impatience wait for your safe arrival to our kingdom. Most illustrious lady, farePRINCE EGROEGO.

well.

Dated the 11th day of the 6th moon, in the

2001 year

of the Lilliputian era.

FROM MONSIEUR VOLTAIRE. *

SIR,

Friday 1.

I SEND you here enclosed two letters, one for Mr

Swift entertained an idea of visiting France at this period, which was interrupted first by the death of George I. afterwards

de Morville, our secretary of state, and the other for Mr de Maisons, both desirous and worthy of your acquaintance. Be so kind as to let me know if you intend to go by Calais, or by the way of Rouen. In case you resolve to go by Rouen, I will give you some letters for a good lady, who lives in her country castle just by Rouen. She will receive you as well as you deserve. There you will find two or three of my intimate friends, who are your admirers, and who have learned English since I am in.England. All will pay you all the respects, and_procure all the pleasures they are capable of. They will give you a hundred directions for Paris, and provide you with all the requisite conveniences. Vouchsafe to acquaint me with your resolution; I shall certainly do my best endeavours to serve you, and to let my country know, that I have the inestimable honour to be one of your friends. I am, with the highest respect and esteem,

Your most humble obedient faithful servant,

VOLTAIRE.

MONSIEUR VOLTAIRE,

AU COMPTE DE MORVILLE, MINISTRE ET SECRETAIRE D'ETAT A VERSAILLES.

MONSEIGNEUR,

Je me suis contenté jusqu'ici d'admirer en silence votre conduite dans les affaires de l'Europe; mais

by the last illness of the unfortunate Stella. The following letter, with those of introduction inclosed, were designed by Voltaire to facilitate this 5.purpose.