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reafon to praise fmoaky rooms for the future, and prescribe them in like cafes to our friends. The maid of the house writes us word, that while you were there you were busy for ten days together writing continually-and that as Wat drew nearer and nearer to Ireland, he blundered more and more. By a scrap of paper left in this smoaky room, it feem'd as if the Book you were writing, was a moft lamentable account of your travels; and really, had there been any wine in the house, the place would have not been fo irkfome. We were further told, that you fet out, were driven back again by a storm, and lay in the ship all night. After the next fetting fail, we were in great concern about you, because the weather grew very tempeftuous. When to my great joy, and furprize, I receiv'd a letter from Carlingford in Ireland, which inform'd us that after many perils you were fafely landed there. Had the oysters been good it would have been a comfortable refreshment after your fatigue, We compaffionated you in your travels through that country of desolation and poverty in your way to Dublin, for it is a moft dreadful circumstance to have lazy dull horses on a road where there are very bad or no Inns.. When you carry a fample of English Apples next to Ireland, I beg you would either get them from Goodrich or Devonshire, Pray who was the Clergyman that met you at fome distance from Dublin? because we could not

learn

learn his name. These are all the hints we could get of your long and dangerous journey, every step of which we fhar'd your anxieand all that we have now left to comfort us, is to hear that you are in good health.

ties

But why should we tell you what you know already? The Queen's family is at last settled, and in the lift I was appointed Gentlemanufher to the Princefs Louifa, the youngest Princefs; which, upon account that I am fo far advanc'd in life, I have declin'd accepting; and have endeavoured, in the best manner I could, to make my excufes by a letter to her Majefty. So now all my expectations are vanish'd; and I have no profpect, but in depending wholly upon my felf, and my own conduct. As I am us'd to disappointments I can bear them, but as I can have no more hopes, I can no more be disappointed, fo that I am in a bleffed condition,You remember you were advising me to go into Newgate to finish my fcenes the more correctly---- I now think I fhall, for I have no attendance to hinder me; but my* Opera is already finished. I leave the reft of this Paper to Mr. Pope.

Gay is a freeman, and I writ him a long congratulatory letter upon it. Do you the fame It will mend him, and make him a better man than a Court could do. Horace might keep his coach in Auguftus's time, if he pleas'd, but I won't in the time of our

The Beggar's Opera,

Auguftus.

Auguftus. My Poem (which it grieves me. that I dare not fend you a copy of, for fear of the Curls and Dennis's of Ireland, and still more for fear of the worst of Traytors, our friends and Admirers) my Poem, I fay, will shew you what a diftinguishing age we lived in: Your name is in it, with fome others under a mark of fuch ignominy as you will not much grieve to wear in that company. Adieu, and God, bless you, and give you health and fpirits.

Whether you chufe Cervantes' ferious air,
Or laugh and shake in Rablais' eafy chair,
Or in the graver Gown inftruct mankind,
Or filent, let thy morals tell thy mind.

These two verfes are over and above what I've faid of you in the Poem. Adieu.

LETTER XXVI.

Dr. SWIFT to Mr. GAY,

Dublin, Nov. 23, 1727. Entirely approve your refufal of that employment, and your writing to the Queen, I am perfectly confident you have a keen enemy in the Miniftry: God forgive him, but not until he puts himself in a state to be forgiven. Upon reasoning with my self, I should hope they are gone too far to difcard you quite,

and

and that they will give you fomething; which although much less than they ought, will be (as far as it is worth) better circumftantiated. And fince you already juft live, a middling help will make you just tolerable. Your latenefs in life (as you fo foon call it) might be improper to begin the world with, but almoft the eldest men may hope to see changes in a Court. A minifter is always feventy; and you are thirty years younger; and confider, Cromwel himself did not begin to appear in the world until he was older than you. I beg you will be thrifty, and learn to value a fhilling, which Dr. Birch faid was a serious thing. Get a ftronger fence about your 1000l. and throw the inner fence into the heap, and be advised by your Twitenham landlord and me about an annuity. You are the most refractory, honeft, good natured man I ever have known; I could argue out this paper-I am very glad your Opera is finished, and hope your friends will join the readier to make it succeed, because you are ill used by others.

have known Courts thefe thirty-fix years, and know they differ; but in fome things they are extreamly conftant: First, in the trite old maxim of a minifter's never forgiving those he hath injured Secondly, in the infincerity of those who would be thought the best friends: Thirdly, in the love of fawning, cringing, and tale-bearing Fourthly, in facrificing thofe whom we really wish well, to a point of in

tereft,

terest, or intrigue: Fifthly, in keeping every thing worth taking, for those who can do fervice or differvice.

Now-why doth not Mr. Pope publish his * dulnefs? the rogues he marketh will die of themselves in peace, and fo will his friends, and so there will be neither punishment, nor reward. Pray enquire how my + Lord St. John doth? there is no man's health in England I am more concerned about than his--I wonder whether you begin to taste the pleasure of Independency? or whether you do not fometimes leer upon the Court, oculo retorto? § Will you not think of an annuity when you are two years older, and have doubled your purchase-money? Have you dedicated your Opera, and got the ufual dedication-fee of twenty guineas? How is the Doctor? doth he not chide that you never called upon him for hints? Is my Lord Bolingbroke at the moment I am writing, a planter, a philofopher, or a writer? is Mr. Pultney in expectation of a fon, or my Lord Oxford of a new old manufcript?

I bought your Opera to day for fix- pence, a curfed print. I find there is neither dedication nor preface, both which wants I approve; it is in the grand gout.

*Dunciade.

We

+Lord St. John of Batterfea, Father to Lord Bolingbroke.

& With a Side-glance.

|| High Tafte.

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