shall be full of the spleen, because it is a day you seem to regard although I detest it, and I read the third chapter of Job that morning. I am deafer than when you saw me last, and indeed am quite cast down. My hearty love and service to Mrs. Harrison. I thoroughly pity you in your present circumstances. I am ever yours entirely. God support you. TO MR. ALDERMAN BARBER. Dublin, February 16, 1739. MY DEAR GOOD OLD FRIEND, The young gentleman [William Swift, esq.] who delivers you this lies under one great disadvantage, that he is one of my relations, and those are of all mortals what I despise and hate, except one, Mrs. Whiteway and her daughter. You must understand that the mother has the insolence to say that you have heard of her and know her character. She is a perfect Irish Teague, born in Cheshire, and lived, as I remember, at Warrington. The young gentleman who waits upon you has a very good countenance, has been entered three years at the Temple, (as it is the usual custom,) but I think was never yet in England, nor does he know any one person there. However, as it is easy to find you, who are so well known and so much esteemed, he will attend you with this letter, and you will please to instruct him in the usual methods of entering himself in the Temple. He is a younger brother, but has an estate of 1007. a-year, which will make shift to support him in a frugal way. He is also a very good person of a man, and Mrs. Whiteway says he has a virtuous disposition. My disorders of deafness, forgetfulness, and other ailments, added to a dead weight of seventy years, make me weary of life. But my comfort is, that in you I find your vigor and health increase. Pray God continue both to you. I am, my dear friend, with very great esteem and affection, your most obedient and most humble servant. Do you ever see any of our old friends? If you visit Mr. Lewis I must charge you to present him with my kind and hearty service; and how or where is my lord Bolingbroke and Mr. Pope? I am very much obliged to you for the favor you have shown to Mr. Richardson. He is a very prudent good gentleman: if you see him pray make him my compliments. So, my dear friend, TO THE REVEREND MR. KING. Monday morning. SIR, I have often desired to talk with you about the Wednesday dinner, but could never see you. Mrs. Sican is to buy the dinner, for which I advanced a moidore and a double pistole. I hoped you would have written to Dr. Wilson, and taken some care about the wine, for I have none to spare. Pray let me know whether you are content to take your usual trouble on these occasions. I am your obedient humble servant. TO THE HONORABLE THE SOCIETY OF THE GOVERNOR AND ASSISTANTS, LONDON, FOR THE NEW PLANTATION IN ULSTER, WITHIN THE REALM OF IRELAND, AT THE CHAMBER IN GUILDHALL, LONDON. April 19, 1739. WORTHY GENTLEMEN,I heartily recommend to your very worshipful society the reverend Mr. William Dunkin for the living of Colrane, vacant by the death of Dr. Squire. Mr. Dunkin is a gentleman of great learning and wit, true religion, and excellent morals. It is only for these qualifications that I recommend him to your patronage; and I am confident that you will never repent the choice of such a man, who will be ready at any time to obey your commands. You have my best wishes and all my endeavors for your prosperity; and I shall, during my life, continue to be, with the truest respect and highest esteem, worthy sirs, your most obedient and most humble servant. TO MR. ALDERMAN BARBER. Dublin, April 19, 1739. MY DEAR OLD FRIEND,At last Dr. Squire is actually dead; he died upon the 14th day of this month, and now you have the opportunity of obliging me in giving Squire's living in Colrane to Mr. William Dunkin, who is an excellent scholar, and keeps a school in my neighborhood; besides, he is a very fine poet. My friend Mr. Richardson can give you a better account of him. It is true Mr. Dunkin is a married man; however, that is of no great mo. ment; and in the northern country of Ireland, although it be the we two old bachelors (I own I am your senior) could never consent to take so good example, by endeavoring to multiply the world. I heartily thank you for your civilities to young Swift. It seems he is a relation of mine. And there is one Mrs. Whiteway, a widow, the only cousin of my family for whom I have any sort of friendship; it was she prevailed with me to introduce the young man to you. He is a younger brother, and his portion is only 1007. a-year English. You will oblige me if you can bear seeing him once a-quarter at his lodging near the Temple, where he designs to study the law; and so I have done with ever troubling you, my dear friend. Where is Mr. Lewis? Some months ago he wrote to me with many complaints of his ill health and the effect of old age, in both which I can overmatch you and him, beside my giddy head, deafness, and forgetfulness into the bargain. I hear our friend lord Bolingbroke has sold Dawley; I wish you could tell me in what condition he is, both as to health and fortune; and where his lady lives, and how they agree. If you visit my lord and lady Oxford and their daughter, who is now, as I hear, a duchess, or any other friend of ours, let them have the offers of my humble service. May you, my most dear friend, preserve your health and live as long as you desire! I am ever, with the greatest truth and esteem, your most obedient humble servant and entire friend. I desire you will give my most hearty service to Mr. Pope; and let him know that I have provided for Mr. Lamb, whom he recommended to me, with a full vicar-choralship in my choir. And pray let me know the state of Mr. Pope's health. TO MR. POPE. Dublin, April 28, 1739. DEAR SIR,The gentleman who will have the honor to deliver you this, although he be one related to me, which is by no means any sort of recommendation; for I am utterly void of what the world calls natural affection, and with good reason, because they are a numerous race degenerating from their ancestors, who were of good esteem for their loyalty and sufferings in the rebellion against king Charles I. This cousin of mine, who is so desirous to wait on you, is named Deane Swift, because his great-grandfather by the grandmother's side was admiral Deane, who, having been TO THE REVEREND MR. KING. Monday morning. SIR, I have often desired to talk with you about the Wednes day dinner, but could never see you. Mrs. Sican is to buy the dinner, for which I advanced a moidore and a double pistole. I hoped you would have written to Dr. Wilson, and taken some care about the wine, for I have none to spare. Pray let me know whether you are content to take your usual trouble on these occasions. I am your obedient humble servant. TO THE HONORABLE THE SOCIETY OF THE GOVERNOR AND ASSISTANTS, LONDON, FOR THE NEW PLANTATION IN ULSTER, WITHIN THE REALM OF IRELAND, AT THE CHAMBER IN GUILDHALL, LONDON. April 19, 1739. WORTHY GENTLEMEN,I heartily recommend to your very worshipful society the reverend Mr. William Dunkin for the living of Colrane, vacant by the death of Dr. Squire. Mr. Dunkin is a gentleman of great learning and wit, true religion, and excellent morals. It is only for these qualifications that I recommend him to your patronage; and I am confident that you will never repent the choice of such a man, who will be ready at any time to obey your commands. You have my best wishes and all my endeavors. for your prosperity; and I shall, during my life, continue to be, with the truest respect and highest esteem, worthy sirs, your most obedient and most humble servant. TO MR. ALDERMAN BARBER. Dublin, April 19, 1739. MY DEAR OLD FRIEND,At last Dr. Squire is actually dead; he died upon the 14th day of this month, and now you have the opportunity of obliging me in giving Squire's living in Colrane to Mr. William Dunkin, who is an excellent scholar, and keeps a school in my neighborhood; besides, he is a very fine poet. My friend Mr. Richardson can give you a better account of him. It is true Mr. Dunkin is a married man; however, that is of no great moment; and in the northern country of Ireland, although it be the we two old bachelors (I own I am your senior) could never consent to take so good example, by endeavoring to multiply the world. heartily thank you for your civilities to young Swift. It seems he is a relation of mine. And there is one Mrs. Whiteway, a widow, the only cousin of my family for whom I have any sort of friendship; it was she prevailed with me to introduce the young man to you. He is a younger brother, and his portion is only 1007. a-year English. You will oblige me if you can bear seeing him once a-quarter at his lodging near the Temple, where he designs to study the law; and so I have done with ever troubling you, my dear friend. Where is Mr. Lewis? Some months ago he wrote to me with many complaints of his ill health and the effect of old age, in both which I can overmatch you and him, beside my giddy head, deafness, and forgetfulness into the bargain. I hear our friend lord Bolingbroke has sold Dawley; I wish you could tell me in what condition he is, both as to health and fortune; and where his lady lives, and how they agree. If you visit my lord and lady Oxford and their daughter, who is now, as I hear, a duchess, or any other friend of ours, let them have the offers of my humble service. May you, my most dear friend, preserve your health and live as long as you desire! I am ever, with the greatest truth and esteem, your most obedient humble servant and entire friend. I desire you will give my most hearty service to Mr. Pope; and let him know that I have provided for Mr. Lamb, whom he recommended to me, with a full vicar-choralship in my choir. And pray let me know the state of Mr. Pope's health. TO MR. POPE. Dublin, April 28, 1739. DEAR SIR,The gentleman who will have the honor to deliver you this, although he be one related to me, which is by no means any sort of recommendation; for I am utterly void of what the world calls natural affection, and with good reason, because they are a numerous race degenerating from their ancestors, who were of good esteem for their loyalty and sufferings in the rebellion against king Charles I. This cousin of mine, who is so desirous to wait on you, is named Deane Swift, because his great-grandfather by the grandmother's side was admiral Deane, who, having been |