succeeded by Newcastle.

Smollett, in Humphry Clinker, makes one of his characters say at the Duke's levee: "Since Granville was turned out there has been no minister in this nation worth the meal that whitened his periwig."

Horace Walpole was brother of Sir Robert Walpole, and uncle of the famous letter-writer

old Horace," as he was called later on. His nephew records how one day he left the House of Commons to fight a duel, and at once returned, "so little moved as to speak immediately upon the Cambrick Bill, which made Swinny say, 'That it was a sign he was not ruffled." Ruffles, then in fashion, were made of cambric.

XL.

[Indorsed, "About James Stopford's promise to indemnify me for debts of H. C.'s contracting."]

DUBLIN. Febr. 20th 1724-5.

S",-I extracted the Articles you sent me, and I sent them to Mr Stopford, and this morning he shewed me a Letter he intends for you to night, which I think shews he is ready to do all in his Power. That of contracting Debts he will give Bonds for; the others you can not well expect more than his Word, and you have the Remedy

in your Power. So I hope no Difficulty will remain. I am very glad you are putting of your Land, and I hope you will contract things into as narrow a Circle as can consist with your Ease, since your Son and other Children will now be an Addition to your annuall Charge.

As soon as it is heard that I have been with Folks in Power, they get twenty Storyes about the Town of what has passed, but very little Truth. An English Paper in print related a Passage of two Lines writ on a Card, and the Answer, of which Story four parts in five is false-The Answer was writ by Sir W. Fownes. The real Account is a Trifle, and not worth the Time to relate. Thus much for that Passage in y Letter.

As to Company, I think you must endeavor to cotton with the Neighboring Clergy and Squires. The days are lengthening and you will have a long Summer to prepare y'self for Winter. You should pass a month now and then with some County Friends, and play at whist for sixpence-I just steal this Time to write that you may have my Opinions at the same Time with Mr Stopford's Letter. I do think by all means he and you should be as well together as the Situation of Things will admit, for he has a most universal

good reputation. I think above any young man

in the Kingdom.

I am yr most obt &c.

J. S.

NOTES ON XL.

Chetwode, who was to make his wife an allowance, feared she might incur debts for which the law would hold him answerable. Her brother was willing to give him bonds for repayment.

The "two Lines writ on a Card" may be those which Swift is said to have scratched on the window of the waiting-room in the castle :-

"My very good Lord, 'tis a very hard task,

For a man to wait here who has nothing to ask."

Under which Lord Carteret wrote:

66

"My very good Dean, there are few who come here,
But have something to ask or something to fear."

'Sir William Fownes," wrote Swift, "had indeed a very good natural understanding, nor wanted a talent for poetry; but his education denied him. learning, for he knew no other language except his own." There is an interesting letter of his to Swift which shows that in 1732 there was no madhouse in Ireland. He himself, when Lord Mayor of Dublin, had "had six strong cells made at the workhouse for the most outrageous." But so many

were brought that the Corporation refused to admit any for the future. "I own to you," he continues, "I was for some time averse to our having a public Bedlam, apprehending we should be overloaded with numbers under the name of mad. Nay, I was apprehensive our case would soon be like that in England; wives and husbands trying who could first get the other to Bedlam." He had come to the conclusion that a madhouse must be built, "but in a spot of ground free from the neighbourhood of houses, for the cries of the outrageous would reach. a great way."

Swift used to keep a record of his gains and losses at cards. 'Whist❞ he sometimes spelled

"whish," as the following account shows :

SR, The Place I am in is 8 miles from the Post so it may be some days before I have convenience of sending this. I have recovered my hearing for some time, at least recovered it so as not to be troublesome to those I converse with, but I shall never be famous for acuteness in that Sense, and

am in daily dread of Relapses; against which I prepare my mind as well as I can; and I have too good a Reason to do so; For my eyes will not suffer me to read small Prints; nor anything by Candlelight, and if I grow blind, as well as deaf, I must needs become very grave, and wise, and insignificant. The Weather has been so unfavourable, and continues so, that I have not been able to ride above once; and have been forced for Amusem1 to set Irish Fellows to work, and to oversee them--I live in a Cabin and in a very wild Country; yet there are some Agreeablenesses in it, or at least I fancy so, and am levelling Mountains and raising Stones, and fencing against inconveniencyes of a scanty Lodging, want of vittalls, and a thievish Race of People.

I detest the world because I am growing wholly unfit for it, and could be onely happy by never coming near Dublin, nor hearing from it, or anything that passes in the Publick.

I am sorry your Enemyes are so restless to torment you, and truly against the opinion of Philosophers I think, next to Health a man's Fortune is the tenderest Point; for life is a Trifle; and Reputation is supply'd by Innocence, but the Ruin of a man's Fortune makes him a Slave, which is infinitely worse than loss of Life or Credit; when a man hath not deserved either; and I repent