what's the meaning of this visit? How came you to leave all the great Lords that you are so fond of, to come hither to see a poor Dean?"-"Because we would rather see you than any of them."-"Ay, any one that did not know you so well as I do might believe you. But since you are come, must get some supper for you, I suppose?' -"No, Doctor, we have supped already."

I

"Supped already: that's impossible; why it is not eight o'clock yet*. That's very strange; but if you had not supped, I must have got something for you. Let me see, what should I have had? A couple of lobsters? Ay, that would have done very well: two shillings: tarts, a shilling. But you will drink a glass of wine with me, though you supped so much before your usual time, only to spare my pocket."-"No, we had rather talk with you than drink with you."

*There is certainly here something omitted by the transcriber. The words omitted probably were Pope's reply to the last observation of Swift, accounting by some particular circumstance for their having supped before the usual time.-M.

Sir;

." But if you had supped with me, as in all reason you ought to have done, you must then have drank with me. A bottle of wine, two shillings. Two and two is four, and one is five: just two and sixpence apiece. There, Pope, there's half-a-crown for and there's another for you; for I won't save any thing by you, I am determined." This was all said and done with his usual seriousness on such occasions: and in spite of every thing we could say to the contrary, he actually obliged us to take the money.—Mr. Pope.

you,

1742. Rollin has writ a letter very full of compliments to Dr. Swift. "Has not he offended him by it?"-No; the Doctor does not hate praise, he only dislikes it when it is extravagant or coarse. When B. told Swift that he loved him more than all his friends and relations, the Dean made him no manner of answer, but said afterwards-the man was a fool.-The same.

"There's a lady, Doctor, that longs to see you, and admires you above all things." "Then I despise her heartily."-The same.

1735. That picture of Dr. Swift is very like him though his face has a look of dulness in it, he has very particular eyes: they are quite azure as the heavens, and there is a very uncommon archness in them. -The same.

HUGHES

Was a good humble-spirited man, and but a poor writer, except his play-that was very well.-The same.

FENTON.

1730. Fenton is a right honest man. He is fat and indolent; a very good scholar; sits within, and does nothing but read or compose.-The same.

PARNELL.

Parnell's Pilgrim is very good. The story was written originally in Spanish.The same. [Whence probably Howel had

* Probably a portrait of Swift by Jervais.-M.

translated it in prose, and inserted it in one of his Letters.]

GAY.

Dr. Swift had been observing once to Mr. Gay, what an odd pretty sort of a thing a Newgate pastoral might make. Gay was inclined to try at such a thing for some time; but afterwards 'thought it would be better to write a Comedy on the same plan. This was what gave rise to the Beggar's Opera. He began on it, and when first he mentioned it to Swift, the Doctor did not much like the project. As he carried it on, he showed what he wrote to both of us; and we now and then gave a correction, or a word or two of advice; but it was wholly of his own writing. When it was done, neither of us thought it would succeed. We showed it to Congreve, who, after reading it over, said, "It would either take greatly, or be damned confoundedly." We were all at the first night of it, in great uncertainty of the event, till we were very much encouraged by our hearing the Duke

of Argyle, who sat in the next box to us, say, "It will do-it must do-I see it in the eyes of them." This was a good while before the first act was over; and so gave us ease soon, for that Duke (beside his own good taste) has as particular a knack as any one now living, in discovering the taste of the public. He was quite right in this, as usual: the good-nature of the audience appeared stronger and stronger every act, and ended in a clamour of applause.The same.

Gay was remarkable for an unwillingness to offend the great by any of his writings. He had an uncommon timidity upon him in relation to any thing of that sort: and yet you see what ill luck he had that way, after all his care not to offend.-The same.

Mr. Addison and his friends had exclaimed so much against Gay's Three Hours after Marriage, for obscenities, that it provoked him to write a Letter from a Lady in the City to a Lady in the Country, on that subject. In it he quoted the passages which had been most exclaimed against;