wise Esther Johnson in her will describes herself as "spinster." That he had been married there is evidence which satisfied Dr. Johnson and Sir Walter Scott, as it had satisfied Swift's second cousin, Deane Swift; who was twenty years old at the time of Stella's death. The proofs against the marriage were first marshalled by W. Monck Monck Mason Mason in his History of St. Patrick's Cathedral, published in 1819. Of his later biographers Mr. Forster “can find no evidence of it that is at all reasonably sufficient." Mr. Churton Collins utterly disbelieves in it; in this view he is supported by Mr. Stanley Lane-Poole who maintains that "the 'evidence' has been laughed out of court." Mr. Leslie Stephen writes: "On the whole, though the evidence has weight, it can hardly be regarded as conclusive. Sir Henry Craik agrees with Johnson and Scott. An argument against marriage may be drawn -perhaps has already been drawn-from the three prayers which Swift used for her in her last sickness. In these, evidently written with deep feeling and a strong sense of religion, he would scarcely have kept hidden, as it were, from his God, that he and the poor sufferer were husband and wife.

Of marriage Swift wrote in his Thoughts on Religion: "No wise man ever married from the dictates of reason."

LIV.

DUBLIN. June 24th 1730.

SR, --I had yours but it came a little later than usuall; you are misinformed; I have neither amused my self with opposing or defending any body. I live wholly within my self; most people have dropt me, and I have nothing to do, but fence against the evils of age and sickness as much as I can, by riding and walking; neither have I been above 6 miles out of this town this 9 months; except once at the Bish's [Bishop's] visitation in Trim. Neither have I any thought of a Villa eith' near or far off; having neither money, youth, nor inclination for such an atchievement. I do not think the Country of Ireland a habitable scene without long preparation, and great expense. I am glad your trees thrive so well. It is usuall when good care is taken, that they will at last settle to the ground.

I cannot imagine how you procure enemyes, since one great use of retirement is to lose them, or else a man is no thorow retirer. If I mistake you not, by your 60 friends, you mean enemies; I knew not Webb. As to your information of passages in private life, it is a thing I never did nor shall pursue; nor can envy you or any man for knoledge in it; because it must be lyable to great mistakes, and consequently wrong Judgments. This I say, though

I love the world as little, and think as ill of it as most people; and I would as lieve peep three hours a morning into a jakes. M' Cusack dyed a week after I left Trim; and is much lamented by all Partyes. What embroylments you had with him I know not; but I always saw him act the part of a generous, honest, good natured, reasonable, obliging man. I find you intended to treat of a marriage by Proxy in Engla and the lady is dead. I think you have as ill luck with burying your friends, as good with burying your enemyes; I did expect that would be the event when I heard of it first from you. I know not what advertisements you read of any Libels or Storyes against me, for I read no news; nor any man tells me of such things, which is the onely way of disappointing such obscure Slaunderers. About 3 years ago I was shewn an advertisem' to some such purpose, but I thought the Person who told me had better let it alone. I do not know but they will write Memoirs of my actions in War; These are naturall consequences that fall upon people who have writings layd to their charge, whether true

or not

I am just going out of town, to stay no where long, but go from house to house, whether Inns or friends, for five or six weeks mearly for exercise.

I am S your most obedient &c.

I direct to Maryborow by guess, never remembering whether that or Mountmelick be right.

NOTES ON LIV.

A year later Swift wrote to Gay: "Valetudinarians must live where they can command and scold; I must have horses to ride; I must go to bed and rise when I please, and live where all mortals are subservient to me. I must talk nonsense when I please, and all who are present must commend it. I must ride thrice a week, and walk three or four miles besides every day." In a letter to Charles Ford, dated December 9, 1732, he says: "I do not think life is of much value, but health is worth everything, and nature acts right in making that method which prolongs life absolutely necessary to preserve health, which makes a short life and a merry a very foolish proverb. For my own part I labor daily for health as often and almost as many hours as ever man does for daily bread."

On December 24, 1736, he wrote to Lord Castle Durrow: "I dine almost constantly at home, because, literally speaking, I know not above one Family in this whole Town where I can go for a Dinner. The old Hospitality is quite extinguished by Poverty and the oppressions of England. . . . As to puddings, my Lord, I am not only the best, but the sole perfect maker of them in this Kingdom; they are universally known and esteemed under the name of the