ing me that the usquebaugh came to Park Gate, within seven miles of Chester; and that Mr Whittle, the owner of the ship, was to deliver it himself; but he sent it by a man of a noted bad character, who, as Mrs Kenna supposes, kept it some time, and opened it before he delivered it; for, immediately upon the delivery of it, Mrs Kenna sent to Park Gate, to have the usquebaugh brought up to Chester; but was told that the fellow had brought it away; that he said, he sent it as directed: but that no doubt he must have some view of paying himself for the trouble, which made him so busy; but whether it was by changing the usquebaugh, or overrating the charges of it, Mr Gavan could not tell; but adds, that, if I should hear of any thing amiss, I should write to Mrs Kenna, his mother, who will endeavour to make the fellow do me justice. All this I have transcribed from Mr Gavan's letter; and I desire you will call upon his father, Mr Luke Gavan (who is a known man in Dublin,) and desire him, when he writes to his son, to give my service to him and Mrs Kenna, and let them know I will do as they direct. I am very unfortunate in this affair; but have no remedy; however, I will write to Lord Bolingbroke: though I I fear I am cheated of it all: for I do not find that the fellow demanded any thing from Mrs Kenna, or came to her at all. Your new fancies of making my riding-gown and cassock (I mean Mrs Brent's fancies) do not please me at all, because they differ so much from my old one. You are a bad packer of bad grapes. Mrs Dingley says, she cannot persuade Mrs Brent to take a vomit. Is she not (do not tell her) an old fool? She has made me take many a one without mercy. Pray give Mrs Worrall a thousand thanks from me, for her kind present

and workmanship of her fairest hands in making me two nightcaps.

We have a design upon Sheridan. He sent us in print a ballad upon Ballyspellin, in which he has employed all the rhymes he could find to that word; but we have found fifteen more, and employed them in abusing his ballad, and Ballyspellin too. I here send you a copy, and desire you will get it printed privately, and published. *

Your periwig-maker is a cursed rogue. The wig he gave you is an old one with a new cawl, and so big that I cannot wear it, and the curls all fallen: I just tried it on my head; but I cannot wear it. am ever yours, &c.

JON. SWIFT.

FROM MR POPE.

Bath, Nov. 12, 1728.

I HAVE passed six weeks in quest of health, and found it not but I found the folly of solicitude about it in a hundred instances: the contrariety of opinions and practices, the inability of physicians, the blind obedience of some patients, and as blind rebellion of others. I believe at a certain time of life, men are either fools or physicians for themselves; and zealots, or divines for themselves.

It was much in my hopes that you intended us a

* This parody was taken much amiss both by Sheridan and the lady who had been panegyrized in the original ballad. See Vol. XV. pages 119, 122.

*

winter's visit, but last week I repented that wish, having been alarmed with a report of your lying ill on the road from Ireland; from which I am just relieved by an assurance that you are still at Sir Arthur's, planting and building; two things that I envy you for, beside a third, which is the society of a valuable lady. I conclude, though I know nothing of it, that you quarrel with her, and abuse her every day, if she is so. I wonder I hear of no lampoons upon her, either made by yourself, or by others, because you esteem her. † I think it a vast pleasure that whenever two people of merit regard one another, so many scoundrels envy and are angry at them; it is bearing testimony to a merit they cannot reach; and if you knew the infinite content I have received of late, at the finding yours and my name constantly united in any silly scandal, I think you would go near to sing Io Triumphe! and celebrate my happiness in verse: and I believe if you will not, I shall. The inscription to the Dunciad is now printed, and inserted in the poem. Do you care I should say any thing farther how much that poem is yours ? since certainly without you, it had never been. Would to God we were together for the rest of our lives! the whole weight of scribblers would just serve to find us amusement, and not more. I hope you are too well employed to mind them; every stick you plant, and every stone you lay is to some purpose: but the business of such lives as theirs, is but to die daily, to labour, and raise nothing. I only wish we could comfort each

* Sir Arthur Acheson.-H.

+ This seems to be the hint alluded to by Pope in his letter to Sheridan.

other under our bodily infirmities, and let those who have so great a mind to have more wit than we, win it and wear it. Give us but ease, health, peace, and fair weather! I think it is the best wish in the world, and you know whose it was. If I lived in Ireland, I fear the wet climate would endanger more than my life, my humour and health, I am so atmospherical a creature.

I must not omit acquainting you, that what you heard of the words spoken of you in the drawingroom was not true. The sayings of princes are generally as ill related as the sayings of wits. To such reports little of our regard should be given, and less of our conduct influenced by them.

SIR,

TO THE REV. MR WALLIS.

Market-hill, Nov. 16, 1728.

I AM extremely obliged to you for your kind intention in the purchase you mention; but it will not answer my design, because these lands are let in leases renewable for ever, and consequently can never have the rent raised; which is mortal to all estates left for ever to a public use, and is contrary to a fundamental maxim of mine; and most corporations feel the smart of it.

I have been here several months, to amuse me in my disorders of giddiness and deafness, of which I have frequent returns-and I shall hardly return to Dublin till Christmas.

I am truly grieved at your great loss.* Such

*The loss of his wife.

misfortunes seem to break the whole scheme of man's life, and although time may lessen sorrow, yet it cannot hinder a mau from feeling the want of so near a companion, nor hardly supply it with another. I wish you health and happiness, and that the pledge left you may prove a confort. I am, with great sincerity, your most obliged and most humble servant,

JON. SWIFT.

DR SHERIDAN

TO LORD MOUNTCASHEL.

MY LORD,

December 1, 1728.

I DEDICATE to you this edition and translation of Persius, † as an acknowledgment for the great pleasure you gave me in the first part of your education, which, by your own application and goodness of temper, was attended with a success equal to my wishes.

And since you still proceed in the same paths of diligence and virtue in the university, where you have already distinguished yourself in a very short time, it lays a further obligation upon me, to return you my thanks in this public manner, for having so faithfully regarded the last advice which I

gave you.

* A son, afterward a barrister at law.-F.

+ A literal translation in prose, published at Dublin, by G. Grierson, 1728, 12mo.-N.

VOL. XVII.