England, if it might be consistent with his affairs; in a letter full of the warmest expressions of friendship and affection.

" August 6, 1717.

"Two years retreat has made me taste the con"versation of my dearest friend, with a greater re"lish than ever, at the time of my being charmed "with it in our frequent journies to Windsor. My "heart is often with you, but I delayed writing in expectation of giving a perfect answer about my ging to Brampton; but the truth is, the warmth "of rejoicing in those parts, is so far from abating, "that I am persuaded by my friends to go into

Cambridgeshire, where you are too `just not to "believe you will be welcome before any one in the "world. The longing your friends have to see you "must be submitted to the judgment yourself makes "of all circumstances. At present this seems to be "a cooler climate, than your island is like to be "when they assemble, &c. Our impatience to see << you, should not draw you into uneasiness. We long to embrace you, if you find it may be of no inconvenience to yourself.

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"OXFORD."

Lord Bolingbroke's letters during his exile, are not inferiour to lord Oxford's in expressions of the highest regard and friendship. In that of October 23, 1716, are the following passages. "It is a

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very great truth, that among all the losses which "I have sustained, none affected me more sensibly, "than that of your company and correspondence; and yet, even now, I should not venture to write to you, did not you provoke me to it. Your letter

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"breathes

"breathes the same spirit, as your conversation at

all times inspired, even when the occasions of "practising the severest rules of virtuous fortitude "seemed most remote. Adieu, dear friend; may "the kindest influence of Heaven be shed upon you. "Whether we may ever meet again, that Heaven only knows if we do, what millions of things "shall we have to talk over! In the mean while, believe that nothing sits so near my heart, as my "country, and my friends, and that among these, "you ever had, and ever shall have, a principal " place."

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In another letter he says, "I know not whether "the love of fame increases as we advance in age; "sure I am, that the force of friendship does. I "loved you almost twenty years ago; I thought of you as well as I do now; better was beyond the power of conception; or, to avoid an equivoque, beyond the extent of my ideas."

In the year 1717, Swift received a letter from Lewis, giving him an account of the distressed situation of Prior's affairs, and of a design set on foot by his friends to publish his works by subscription, in order to his relief. This gave him an opportunity of exerting that zeal, for which he was so remarkable, whenever the cause of his friend, or distressed merit, called upon him. Upon this occasion he made use of all his influence to so good purpose, that in a few months he sent him such a large list of subscribers, that Prior was astonished at it. His earnestness to serve him, and to give him accounts of his success in his solicitations, appears from the quick succession of letters sent by him on the occasion. Prior, in answer to these, begins his letter of July

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30, 1717, thus: "I have the favour of four letters "from you, of the 9th, 13th, 16th, and 20th in"stant," and he concludes his letter thus: " Pray give my service to all friends in general. I think, as you have ordered the matter, you have made the greater part of Ireland list themselves under that "number. I do not know how you can recompense "them, but by coming over to help me correct the "book which I promised them."

What an instance is here of the vicissitudes in human affairs, when a man who had been ambassador plenipotentiary to the court of France, should, in the space of a few years, be reduced to such a sorry expedient (as Swift terms it) to keep him

above want!

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During this period, Swift's pen seems to have been thrown aside, or employed only in trifles, except two tracts drawn up by him soon after his settlement in Ireland: the one, entitled, "Memoirs relating to that Change which happened in the Queen's Ministry in the Year 1710." Written in October 1714. The other," An Inquiry into "the Behaviour of the Queen's last Ministry, with "relation to their Quarrels among themselves, and "the Design charged upon them of altering the Suc"cession of the Crown." His view in these was, to lay open all the springs which moved the political machine during that period; and to exonerate the ministry from that heavy charge, so loudly and generally made against them, of a design to bring in the pretender. As he was a man more in the confidence of that ministry, than any other in the world of a sagacity not easily to be duped; a sincerity incapable of being biassed, and of most un

doubted

doubted veracity; there was no one living so capable of executing such a task. And when we examine the strength of argument with which he has supported his positions; when we reflect that these tracts were drawn up without any view of their being published till after his death, and therefore could answer no private end, the impartial world will necessarily be of his side. Confident assertions, and loud clamours of a party, unsupported by any proofs, though sought for with all the diligence of persevering malice and revenge; however they may spread for a time through the spirit of faction, will never prevail with an unprejudiced posterity, against conclusive arguments, supported by established facts. To enlighten posterity with regard to those points, for he had no hopes of the present age, was Swift's motive for leaving those pieces behind him, and no doubt his end will be answered.

During almost six years after his return to Ireland, Swift kept his resolution of not meddling at all with publick affairs. He saw with indignation the cruel oppression under which his country laboured, and with the deepest concern, the miserable state to which it was reduced. But as he knew that all efforts to stem the torrent, during the violence of party, would be fruitless, he prudently waited till it had spent its force. In the year 1720, when the ferment seemed to have subsided, he published his first political tract relative to Ireland, entitled, A Proposal for the universal Use of Irish Manufactures. In which he cautiously avoids touching upon party matters, and points out to the people of Ireland, that a

great

great part of their poverty and distress was owing to their own folly, and that the remedy was in their own hands. Of this pamphlet, and the consequences produced from it, he has given the following account in a letter to Pope. "I have written in this kingdom, a discourse to persuade the wretched people "to wear their own manufactures, instead of those "from England: this treatise soon spread very fast,

being agreeable to the sentiments of the whole na❝tion, except of those gentlemen who had employments, or were expectants. Upon which a person "in great office here, immediately took the alarm ; " he sent in haste for the chief justice, and informed "him of a seditious, factious, and virulent pamphlet,

lately published with a design of setting the two "kingdoms at variance; directing at the same time, "that the printer should be prosecuted with the ut"most rigour of the law. The chief justice has so quick an understanding, that he resolved, if pos"sible, to outdo his orders. The grand juries of the 86 county and city were effectually practised with, to "represent the said pamphlet with all aggravating epithets, for which they had thanks sent them "from England, and their presentments published,

for several weeks, in all the news papers. The printer "was seized, and forced to give great bail. After his

trial, the jury brought him in not guilty, although "they had been culled with the utmost industry: "the chief justice sent them back nine times, and

kept them eleven hours; until being perfectly "tired out, they were forced to leave the matter to "the mercy of the judge, by what they call a special "verdict. During the trial, the chief justice, among

"other