Leicester, the fon of a clergyman, who was minister of a parish in Herefordshire*. During his life the place of his birth was undetermined. He was contented to be called an Irishman by the Irish; but would occafionally call himself an Englishman. The question may, without much regret, be left in the obscurity in which he delighted to involve it.

Whatever was his birth, his education was Irish. He was fent at the age of fix to the fchool at Kilkenny, and in his fifteenth year (1682) was admitted into the University of Dublin.

In his academical ftudies he was either not diligent or not happy. It must disappoint every reader's expectation, that, when at the ufual time he claimed the Bachelorship of Arts, he was found by the examiners toó confpicuously deficient for regular admiffion, and obtained his degree at last by special favour; a term used in that university to denote want of merit.

* Spence's Anecdotes, vol. II. p. 273.

Of

Of this disgrace it may be easily supposed that he was much ashamed, and fhame had its proper effect in producing reformation. He refolved from that time to ftudy eight hours. a-day, and continued his industry for feven years, with what improvement is fufficiently known. This This part of his story well deferves to be remembered; it may afford useful admonition and powerful encouragement to many men, whofe abilities have been made for a time useless by their paffions or pleafures, and who, having loft one part of life in idleness, are tempted to throw away the remainder in despair.

In this courfe of daily application he continued three years longer at Dublin; and in this time, if the obfervation and memory of an old companion may be trufted, he drew the first sketch of his Tale of a Tub.

When he was about one-and-twenty (1688), being by the death of Godwin Swift his uncle, who had supported him, left without fubfiftence, he went to confult his mother, who then lived at Leicester, about the future courfe of his life, and by her direction folicit

ed

ed the advice and patronage of Sir William Temple, who had married one of Mrs. Swift's relations, and whose father Sir John Temple, Master of the Rolls in Ireland, had lived in great familiarity of friendship with Godwin Swift, by whom Jonathan had been to that time maintained.

Temple received with fufficient kindness the nephew of his father's friend, with whom he was, when they converfed together, fo much pleased, that he detained him two years in his house. Here he became known to King William, who fometimes vifited Temple when he was difabled by the gout, and, being attended by Swift in the garden, fhewed him how to cut afparagus in the Dutch way.

King William's notions were all military; and he expressed his kindness to Swift by offering to make him a captain of horse.

When Temple removed to Moor-park, he took Swift with him; and when he was confulted by the Earl of Portland about the ex-· pedience of complying with a bill then de

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pending

pending for making parliaments triennial, against which King William was ftongly prejudiced, after having in vain tried to fhew the Earl that the propofal involved nothing dangerous to royal power, he fent Swift for the fame purpose to the King. Swift, who probably was proud of his employment, and went with all the confidence of a young man, found his arguments, and his art of displaying them, made totally ineffectual by the predetermination of the King; and used to mention this disappointment as his first antidote against vanity.

Before he left Ireland he contracted a diforder, as he thought, by eating too much fruit. The original of diseases is commonly obfcure. Almost every boy eats as much fruit as he can get, without any great inconvenience. The difeafe of Swift was giddinefs with deafnefs, which attacked him from time to time, began very early, purfued him through life, and at laft fent him to the grave, deprived of reafon.

Being much oppreffed at Moor-park by this grievous malady, he was advised to try VOL. III. C c

his

his native air, and went to Ireland; but, finding no benefit, returned to Sir William, at whofe house he continued his ftudies, and is known to have read, among other books, Cyprian and Irenæus. He thought exercise of great neceffity, and used to run half a mile up and down a hill every two hours.

It is eafy to imagine that the mode in which his first degree was conferred left him no great fondness for the University of Dublin, and therefore he refolved to become a Master of Arts at Oxford. In the testimonial which he produced, the words of difgrace were omitted, and he took his Mafter's degree (July 5, 1692) with such reception and regard as fully contented him.

While he lived with Temple, he used to pay his mother at Leicester an yearly visit. He travelled on foot, unless fome violence of weather drove him into a waggon, and at night he would go to a penny lodging, where he purchased clean fheets for fix-pence. This practice Lord Orrery imputes to his innate love of groffness and vulgarity: fome may afcribe it to his defire of furveying human life through

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