poor monument for one who deserved so well, and which, if God sends me life, I hope one day to place there, if no other of her friends will think fit to do it. I had the honour of an intimate acquaintance with her, and was never so sensibly touched with any one's death as with hers. Neither did I ever know a person of either sex with more virtues, or fewer infirmities; the only one she had, which was the neglect of her own affairs, arising wholly from the goodness of her temper. I write not this to you at all as a secret, but am content your town should know what an excellent person they have had them. If you among visited her any short time before her death, or knew any particulars about it, or of the state of her mind, or the nature of her disease, I beg you will be so obliging to inform me; for the letter we have seen from her poor maid is so imperfect by her grief for the death of so good a lady, that it only tells the time of her death; and your letter may, if you please, be directed to Dr. Swift, and put under a cover, which cover may be directed to Erasmus Lewis, esq., at the earl of Dartmouth's office, at Whitehall. I hope you will forgive this trouble for the occasion of it, and give some allowances to so great a loss not only to me, but to all who have any regard for every perfection that human nature can possess ; and if any way I can serve or oblige you, I shall be glad of an opportunity of obeying your commands, I am, &c. J. SWIFT.

ΤΟ

TO BISHOP ATTERBURY.

MY LORD,

THE COUNTRY IN IRELAND,

AUG. 3, 1713.

IT is with the greatest pleasure I heard of

your lordship's promotion, I mean that particular promotion which I believe is agreeable to you*, though it does not mend your fortune. There is but one other change I could wish you, because I have heard you prefer it before all the rest; and that likewise is now ready, unless it be thought too soon, and that you are made to wait till another person has used it for a step to cross the water. Though I am here in a way of sinking into utter oblivion; for "Hæ latebræ nec dulces, nec, si mihi credis, amoen:"

yet I shall challenge the continuance of your lord

* The deanery of Westminster.

The bishoprick of London was then vacant, by the death of Dr. Compton, who died July 4, 1713.

‡ To Lambeth. It is more than insinuated by Dr. Maty, that Atterbury's ambition extended to York or Canterbury. Yet those who were better acquainted with his views, knew that Winchester would have been much more desirable to him than either of the others. And there are persons still living, who have been told, from respectable authority, that that bishoprick was offered to him when ever it should become vacant (and till that event should happen, a pension of 5000l. a year, beside an ample provision for Mr. Morice), if he would cease to give the opposition he did to sir Robert Walpole's administration, by his speeches and protests in the house of lords. When that offer was rejected by the bishop, then the contrivance for his ruin was determined on.

ship's favour: and whenever I come to London, shall with great assurance cross the park to your lordship's house at Westminster, as if it were no more than crossing the street at Chelsea. I talked at this threatening rate so often to you about two years past, that you are not now to forget it.

Pray, my lord, do not let your being made a bishop hinder you from cultivating the politer studies, which your heart was set upon when you went to govern Christ Church. Providence has made you successor to a person, who, though of a much inferiour genius*, turned all his thoughts that way; and, I have been told, with great success, by his countenance to those who deserved. I envy Dr. Freind that he has you for his inspector; and I envy you for having such a person in your district, and whom you love so well. Shall not I have liberty to be sometimes a third among you, though I am an Irish dean?

"Vervecum in patriâ, crassoque sub aëre natus."

A very disordered head hindered me from writing early to your lordship, when I first heard of your pre

"The

* The works of bishop Sprat, besides his few poems, are, "History of the Royal Society;" "The Life of Cowley;" "The Answer to Sorbiere;" "The History of the Ryehouse "Plot;" "The Relation of his own Examination;" and a volume of "Sermons."-Dr. Johnson says, "I have heard it ob"served, with great justness, that every book is of a different "kind, and that each has its distinct and characteristical excel"lence. In his poems, he considered Cowley as a model; and "supposed that, as he was imitated, perfection was approached.” + Dr. R. Freind, then head master of Westminster school.

a land of bogs

"With ditches fenc'd, a Heaven fat with fogs."

Juvenal, Sat. X, 75.

ferment;

ferment; and I have reproached myself of ingratitude, when I remembered your kindness in sending me a letter upon the deanery they thought fit to throw me into *; to which I am yet a stranger, being forced into the country, in one of my old parishes, to ride about for a little health. I hope to have the honour of asking your lordship's blessing some time in October. In the mean while, I desire your lordship to believe me to be, with very great respect and truth, my lord, your lordship's most dutiful and most humble servant,

J. SWIFT.

Extract from the MS. Diary of Bishop KENNET, the Library of the Marquis of LANSDOWN.

in

DR. SWIFT came into the coffeehouse, 1713. and had a bow from every body but me.

When I

came to the antichamber to wait before prayers, Dr. Swift was the principal man of talk and business, and acted as a master of requests He was soliciting the earl of Arran to speak to his brother the duke of Ormond, to get a chaplain's place established in the garrison of Hull for Mr. Fiddes, a clergyman in that neighbourhood, who had lately been in gaol, and published sermons to pay fees. He was promising Mr. Thorold to undertake with my lord treasurer, that, according to his petition, he should obtain a salary of 2001. per anffum, as minister of the English

* See vol. XI, p. 258.

+ Laracor and Rathbeggin.

C 3

church

church at Rotterdam. He stopped F. Gwynne, esq., going in with his red bag to the queen, and told him aloud he had something to say to him from my lord treasurer. He talked with the son of Dr. Davenant* to be sent abroad, and took out his pocket book and wrote down several things, as memoranda, to do for him. He turned to the fire, and took out his gold watch, and, telling him the time of the day, complained it was very late. A gentleman said, he was 6 too fast.' 'How can I help it,' says the doctor,

if the courtiers give me a watch that won't go right?' Then he instructed a young nobleman, that the best poet in England was Mr. Pope (a papist), who had begun a translation of Homer into English verse, for which he must have them all 'subscribe;' 'for,' says he, the author shall not begin to print till I have a thousand guineas for him.' Lord treasurer, after leaving the queen, came through the room beckoning Dr. Swift to follow him: both went off just before prayers.

"Nov. 3.-I see and hear a great deal to confirm a doubt, that the pretender's interest is much at the bottom of some hearts: a whisper that Mr. N-n (Nelson) had a prime hand in the late book for hereditary right; and that one of them was presented to majesty itself, whom God preserve from the effect of such principles and such intrigues."

* See a letter from Dr. Davenant to Swift, Nov. 3, 1713, vol, XI, p. 292.

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