new looms and tackle for you, because yours have been burnt and destroyed? If you fancy so, you are strangely imposed upon indeed. He will have other things to do with his money; or, if he had any to spare, there will be hungry Frenchmen enough about him to snap it up before it comes to

you.

I will not say any thing to you about the dangers you must run in the course of a civil war, though they are very dreadful, and more horrid than you can possibly imagine, because I cannot think that there is any need of it. I have shown you very plainly, that, if you should be deluded to take arms, you fight for less than nothing, for the undoing of yourselves and families; and if this argument will not prevail upon you to be quiet, I can only pray for you, that God will be pleased to restore you to the right use of your understandings. I am,

Your old and faithful friend,

THE DRAPIER.

THE

THE

CHARACTER

OF

DOCTOR SWIFT

AFTER HIS DEATH.

OCTOBER 31, 1745.

ON Saturday last died, at the deanery house in

Kevin street,

The rev. JONATHAN SWIFT, D. D.
Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin:

The greatest genius that this or perhaps any other age or nation ever produced.

His indefatigable application to study in his earlier days, induced a total deprivation of his understanding, in which state he has continued for some years past. His writings,

Which must be admired as long as the English language continues to be understood,

Are remarkable for a vein of wit and humour, Which runs through the whole of them without exception, and which is not to be met with

in those of any other author.

His

His satire, though poignant, was intended rather to reform than ridicule;

His manner was ever easy and natural;
His thoughts new and pleasing;
His style chaste and polished;

His verse smooth and flowing.

In his private character he was no less excellent :
His conversation was always pleasant and agreeable ;
He was pious without hypocrisy,
Virtuous without austerity,
And beneficent without ostentation.
As he loved his country,

So he was ever watchful of its interest,
And zealous to promote it.
No wonder then,

That with these qualifications and endowments,
He became the delight of his countrymen,
And the admiration of foreigners.
In short, it may with justice be said,
That he was a great and good man,
An honour to his country, and to human nature.

CHARACTER

CHARACTER

OF

SWIFT'S WRITINGS,

BY DR. JOHNSON.

WHEN Swift is considered as an author, it is just to estimate his powers by their effects. In the reign of queen Anne he turned the stream of popularity against the whigs, and must be confessed to have dictated for a time the political opinions of the English nation. In the succeeding reign he delivered Ireland from plunder and oppression; and showed that wit, confederated with truth, had such force as authority was unable to resist. He said truly of himself, that Ireland "was his debtor." It was from the time when he first began to patronize the Irish, that they may date their riches and prosperity. taught them first to know their own interest, their weight, and their strength, and gave them spirit to assert that equality with their fellow subjects, to which they have ever since been making vigorous advances, and to claim those rights which they have at last established. Nor can they be charged with ingratitude to their benefactor; for they reverenced him as a guardian, and obeyed him as a dictator.

He

In his works he has given very different specimens both of sentiments and expression. His "Tale of a "Tub'

.

CHARACTER OF SWIFT'S WRITINGS, ETC. 205

"Tub" has little resemblance to his other pieces. It exhibits a vehemence and rapidity of mind, a copiousness of images, and vivacity of diction, such as he afterward never possessed, or never exerted. It is of a mode so distinct and peculiar, that it must be considered by itself; what is true of that, is not true of any thing else which he has written.

In his other works is found an equable tenour of easy language, which rather trickles than flows. His delight was in simplicity. That he has in his works no metaphor, as has been said, is not true; but his few metaphors seem to be received rather by necessity than choice. He studied purity; and though perhaps all his strictures are not exact, yet it is not often that solecisms can be found; and whoever depends on his authority may generally conclude himself safe. His sentences are never too much dilated or contracted; and it will not be easy to find any embarrassment in the complication of his clauses, any inconsequence in his connexions, or abruptness in his

transitions.

His style was well suited to his thoughts, which are never subtilised by nice disquisitions, decorated by sparkling conceits, elevated by ambitious sentences, or variegated by far sought learning. He pays no court to the passions; he excites neither surprise nor admiration; he always understands himself; and his readers always understand him: the peruser of Swift wants little previous knowledge; it will be sufficient that he is acquainted with common words. and common things; he is neither required to mount elevations, nor to explore profundities; his passage is always on a level, along solid ground, without asperities, without obstruction.