some may ascribe it to his desire of surveying "human life through all its varieties; and others, perhaps with equal probability, to a passion which

seems to have been deep fixed in his heart, the "love of a shilling." How little ground there was for such a charge against Swift, has been amply shown; but that it should be authorized here, by the same writer, who in another place says," With "all this talk of his covetousness and generosity, it "should be remembered that he was never rich,”can be imputed only to a spirit of detraction.

On another occasion he relates the following anecdote: Of his humour, a story told by Pope may afford a specimen, thus related by Spence.

Doctor Swift has an odd, blunt way, that is mistaken by strangers for ill nature.-'Tis so odd that there is no describing it but by facts. I'll tell you one that first comes into my head. One evening Gay and I went to see him: you know how intimately we were all acquainted. On our coming in, "Heyday, gentlemen (says the doctor) what's the mean"ing 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." " of them." "Ay, any one that did not know so well as I do, might believe you. But "since you are come, I must get some supper for you, I suppose."--" No, doctor, we have supped already."-"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

<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

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spare my pocket."-" No, we had rather talk "with you, than drink with you."—" 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 a piece. "There, Pope, there's half a crown for you, and "there's another for you, sir; for I won't save any "thing by you, I am determined. This was all said "and done with his usual seriousness on such occa❝sions; and in spite of every thing we could say "to the contrary, he actually obliged us to take the

money.

In all this account it is evident that Swift saw into his friends motive for not supping with him, which was the fear of putting him to expense. Their pretending to have supped at so unusual an hour, and afterward refusing a glass of wine, even supposing they had supped, were full proofs of this. It was clear therefore to him that they had given tredit to the common report of his covetousness; and in order to show that he was above such sordid thrift, and to punish them for supposing it, by this practical rebuke, he made them undergo the shame of putting into their pockets, what would otherwise have been spent in good fellowship. This was evidently Swift's view, though it does not seem to have occurred to Dr. Johnson, who relates it only as an instance of his odd humour.

In his account of the Tale of a Tub, the doctor says, "That Swift was its author, though it be uni"versally

LL3

"versally believed, was never owned by himself, nor

very well proved by any evidence." Surely the doctor has never seen the letters that passed between the dean and Ben Tooke, published at the beginning of the 16th volume of his Works; wherein he not only acknowledges himself the author, but gives directions about the publication of another edition, with an Apology prefixed to it.

With regard to The Battle of the Books, he has revived the old charge of plagiarism against Swift, in the following passage. "The Battle of the Books is "so like the Combat des Livres, which the same "question concerning the Ancients and Moderns "had produced in France, that the improbability of "such a coincidence of thoughts without communi“cation, is not, in my opinion, balanced by the anonymous protestation prefixed, in which all knowledge of the French book is peremptorily "disowned."

This charge was first made against Swift by Wotton, in the following words: "I have been assured, that "the Battle in St. James's Library, is, mutatis mutan

dis, taken out of a French book, entitled, Combat "des Livres, if I misremember not." Thus answered by Swift. "In which passage there are two clauses "observable: I have been assured; and, if I misre"member not. I desire first to know, whether, if that

conjecture proves an utter falsehood, those two "clauses will be a sufficient excuse for this worthy "critick. The matter is a trifle; but would he ven"ture to pronounce at this rate upon one of greater "moment? I know nothing more contemptible in a "writer, than the character of a plagiary, which he "here fixes at a venture; and this not for a passage, "but a whole discourse, taken out from another book,

"only

"only mutatis mutandis. The author is as much in the "dark about this, as the answerer; and will imitate "him by an affirmation at random; that if there be a "word of truth in this reflection, he is a paltry imitating pedant; and the answerer is a person of wit, manners, and truth. He takes his boldness, from "never having seen any such treatise in his life, nor "heard of it before: and he is sure it is impossible " for two writers, of different times and countries, to agree in their thoughts after such a manner, that two continued discourses shall be the same, only "mutatis mutandis. Neither will he insist upon the "mistake, in the title; but let the answerer and his "friend produce any book they please, he defies them "to show one single particular, where the judicious "reader will affirm he has been obliged for the " smallest hint, giving only allowance for the acci"dental encountering of a single thought, which he "knows may sometimes happen; though he has never yet found it in that discourse, nor has heard it ob་་ jected by any body else."

Is it possible to conceive that Swift would have made so bold an appeal, if he were not conscious of the truth of what he advanced, when he might have been so easily confuted? Or that Wotton would not have seized the opportunity, if he had it in his power, of supporting his charge, to the utter disgrace of his adversary? But, since neither he, nor any one else, has ever made the attempt, is it not astonishing that the calumny should still remain? This is a striking instance of that levelling principle in mankind, which swallows with avidity any slanders propagated to the disadvantage of exalted characters; for though I have never yet met with any mortal who had seen such a book, yet I have heard from the mouths of hundreds "that

L L4

"that Swift's Battle of the Books was taken from a "French book, called Combat des Livres." Now, though this might be expected from the bulk of mankind, on account of the principle above mentioned, what shall we say when we find a professed biographer, bound by every principle of justice and humanity to guard the memory of the dead against false aspersions, become himself a particeps criminis, by giving his sanction to a charge which in the very face of it carries not the least air of truth? This charge is made by an avowed enemy, not from his own knowledge, but from hearsay; and that too in the most guarded manner; notwithstanding which suspicious circumstances, Dr. Johnson assumes it as a truth, and forms his deductions from it accordingly. The manner in which he invalidates the answer to it, is most curious, and well worthy of the reader's observation; where he says,-" That the improba "bility of such a coincidence of thoughts, without "communication, [still you see taking the fact for "granted] is not, in my opinion, balanced by the

46

anonymous protestation prefixed, in which all know, "ledge of the French book is peremptorily disowned." Now the only reason here assigned for not giving due credit to this protestation, is, that it is anony◄ mous; and in that case we are never to give credit to any of Swift's publications, as they were all anonymous, except his letter to the earl of Oxford, But there is no one who has the least knowledge of style, that is not as sure that the Apology was written by Swift, as if he saw it in his own handwriting. Or, if there were any doubt, his letter to Tooke proves it beyond all contradiction. This is such an instance of gross prejudice, and want of

3

candour,