tendernefs; to fuch a temper of engroffing bufinefs and power, and fo perfect an incapacity to manage one, with fuch a tyrannical difpofition to abufe the other, &c. *.

But enough of this, I cannot load him as k-, without fixing fool on myself.

For you I have a moft fincere and warm affection, and in every part of my life will fhew it. Go into Ireland, fince it must be fo, to swear †, and come back into Britain to blefs me, and those few friends, who will enjoy you.

Johannes Tonfort brings you this. From him you will hear what is doing. Adieu. Love me, and love me the better, because, after a greater blow than moft men ever felt, I keep up my fpirit; am neither dejected at what has paffed, nor apprehenfive of what is to come. Mea virtute me involvo.

LETTER

CCXXXVIII.

CHARLES FORD, ESQ; TO DR SWIFT.

London, Auguft 12, 1714.

OUR every

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UR Juftices fit feveral hours every day, without affording us the leaft news. don't hear any thing they have done worth mentioning,

*He means Lord Oxford.

That is, to take the oaths to the Government, on King George's acceffion to the throne.

John Barber.

tioning, except fome orders they have given about the difpute in the city of Dublin. You may be fure they are not fuch as will please our friends; but I think you and I agreed in condemning those proceedings in our own people. My Lord Darby is made Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire. That and Hampshire are the only vacant employments they have filled up; I fuppofe under pretence of their being maritime counties. If the Whigs had directed the lift of Regents, Marlborough, Sunderland and Wharton, had not been left out. There are five Tories too, that would not have been in. Though they were a little whimfical for three or four days about the fucceffion, they feemed to recant, and own themfelves in an error by the later votes. Every one of them approved the peace, and were for the addrefs at the end of the laft Seffion, that it was fafe, honourable, and advantageous. Confidering what minifters were employed here by the Court of Hanover, and that the King himself had little information but what he received from them, I think his lift fhews no ill difpofition to the Tories: And they fay he is not apt to be hafty in removing the perfons he finds in employment. The bill is brought in for granting him the old duties for the Civil Lift. One Wikes, of Northampton, moved to tack the place-bill to it; but nobody feconded him, and he was extremely laughed at. He happens unluckily to be a Tory.

Did you receive your papers laft poft? The firft copy is not yet left at St Dunstan's. Should

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I fend to Barber for it in Lord Bolingbroke's name? I have writ to him to bring in his bill; and as foon as he comes, I will pay him. I fuppofe I fhall fee him to-morrow. I wish you a good journey to Ireland. But if I hear Saturday's poft comes into Wantage on Sunday, I may trouble you again. Pray let me know when you land in Ireland, that I may write to you, if any thing happens worth while. I fhall be very impatient for what you promise me from thence. I fhould be very glad to hear from you while you are on

the road.

Lord Anglesey came to town last Tuesday. They are all here now, except Pembroke and Strafford. Charles Eversfield is making his court to the Dukes of Somerfet and Argyle: He declares he will keep his place, if he can, and that he will not ftir for Campion's election in the county of Suffex. Campion and he have had fome high words upon that account. Lord Orford told the Commiffioners of the Admiralty, they were ignorant, negligent of their duty, and wanted zeal for the King's fervice.

LET

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LETTER

CCXXXIX.

DR ARBUTHNOTT TO DR SWIFT.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

THANK

for you

Auguft 12, 1714.

your kind letter, which is very comfortable upon fuch a melancholy occafion. My dear Miftrefs's days were numbered even in my imagination, and could not exceed fuch certain limits, but of that small number a great deal was cut off by the last troublefome fcene of this contention among her fervants. 1 believe fleep was never more welcome to a weary traveller, than death was to her; only it surprised her too fuddenly, before fhe had figned her will; which no doubt her being involved in fo much bufinefs, hindered her from finifhing. It is unfortunate, that fhe had been perfuaded, as is fuppofed by Loundes, that it was neceffary to have it under the Great Seal. I have figured to myfelf all this melancholy fcene; and even, if it be poffible, worse than it has happened twenty times; fo that I was prepared for it. My cafe is not half fo deplorable as poor Lady Masham's, and feveral of the Queen's fervants; fome of whom have no chance for their bread, but the generofity of his prefent Majefty, which several people, that know him, very much commend. So far is plain from what has happened in public affairs, that what one party affirmed of the fettle

ment has proved true, that it was firm: That it was in fome measure an advantage to the Succeffor, not to have been here, and so obliged to declare himself in feveral things, in which he is now at liberty. And, indeed, never any prince in this refpect came to the crown with greater advantage. I can affure you the peaceable fcene that now appears, is a difappointment to more than one fet of the people.

I have an opportunity, calmly and philofophically to confider that treasure of vilenefs and bafenefs, that I always believe to be in the heart of man; and to behold them exert their infolence and basenefs. Every new instance, instead of surprising and grieving me, as it does fome of my friends, really diverts me, and in a manner improves my theory: Though I think I have not met with it in my own cafe, except from one man; and he was very far mistaken, for to him I would not abate one grain of my proud fpirit. Dear friend, the laft fentence of your letter quite kills me. Never repeat that melancholy tender word, that you will endeavour to forget me. I am fure I never can forget you, till I meet with (what is impoffible) another, whofe converfation I can delight fo much in as Dr Swift's; and yet that is the smallest thing I ought to value you for. That hearty fincere friendship, that plain and open ingenuity in all your commerce, is what I am fure I never can find in another man. I fhall want often a faithVOL. XV.

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