mency and gentlenefs of the late reign, and a thoufand ftranger things? As for the conftitution, it is in no more danger, than a strong man that has got a little furfeit by drunkennefs. All will be well, and people recover their fober fenfes every day. Several of your friends dine with me to-day, Lady Ma—, John Drummond, the Judge, &c. where you will be remembered. I wish I could return your compliments as to my wife and bairns. Sure you are a very ill husband, for you had the compleat thoufand when you were in England, and fixpence of another thousand given by the Dragon. I remember that full well. Lis gone his progrefs. I fhall be at Bath in a fortnight. Come that way. Adieu. I really think the perfon I recommended, will do well; he will be quite another thing before Michaelmas, with Rofingrave's teaching, &c. He has a good voice. LETTER CCLII. DR FRIEND † TO DR SWIFT. MR DEAN, I Westminster, Sept. 20, 1715. AM much obliged to Lady Kerry for giving you an occafion of writing, and fhall always be pleafed in receiving any commands from you. P 2 * See the note on Prior's letter, dated August 16, 1713. Robert Friend, D. D. Mafter of Westminster-school. Mr I Mr Fitzmaurice is very promifing, and a favourite of mine already. I had never feen nor heard from any one, that was concerned for him, till I had the favour of your's; but as I had taken a particular notice of him on his own account, fhall now do it much more upon your's. This will be brought to you by your kinfman, Mr Rolt. I am glad I can tell you, that he has behaved himfelf very well here. He is not of the higheft fort, but is very fober and induftrious, and will work out his way, and, I believe, deferve any encouragement you are pleafed to give him. Things are in an odd pofture with us at prefent; and the state of banishment you are in, may be endured without much regret: However, I fhall hope in a little time to fee you here, when more of your friends are in town. The bishop †, and my brother ‡, are much your's, and very defirous of a happy meeting with you. Before this can be with you, you'll be able to guefs how foon that may happen. And may it be as foon as is wifhed, by, Sir, your most obedient and faithful humble fervant, R. FRIEND. Dr Francis Atterbury, Bishop of Rochefter. John Friend, M. D. LET LETTER CCLIII. THE DUCHESS OF ORMOND TO DR SWIFT.. I SIR, * Oct. 17, 1715. WAS extremely pleafed to find you had not forgot your friends, when it is fo hard for them to write to you, and, by their concern for you, put you in mind of them. But I find no misfortune can leffen your friendship, which is fo great, as to blind you on the fide of their faults, and make you believe you fee virtues in them, it were happy for them they enjoyed in any degree; for I am fure, fome of thofe you named, are much wanted at his time. I was, as you heard, very well pleafed, that my friend was fafe as to his perfon, but very uneafy at feeing his reputation fo treated. As to his fortune, it is yet in difpute. However, as long as he is well, I am fatisfied. It is with difficulty I do hear but now and then; a ftraggling body brings me an account of him; for there has been no encouragement to write by the poft, all letters mifcarrying, that either he or I have wrote that way, that we have given it over now, and truft to accident for the news of each other. I hope I fhall hear from you oftner than I have done for fome months paft: For no friend P 3 your *The Duke, who being fufpected of treafonable practices, or defigns, went abroad. you have, has more respect for you, than your moft humble fervant, M. ORMOND. Your niece Betty † is your humble fervant. LETTER CCLIV. I DR ARBUTHNOTT TO DR SWIFT. DEAR FRIEND, Indorfed, Received, Dec. 2, 1715. HOPE this will find you in good health, and I hope in greater tranquillity of mind, than when we used to lament together at your office, for the eternal faults of our friends. I have feen the Dragon thrice fince I wrote to you. He is without fbadow of change; the greateft example of an unfhaken tranquillity of mind, that ever I yet faw, feeming perfectly well fatisfied with his own conduct in every particular. You know we have often faid, that there is but one Dragon in rerum natura. I don't know what he thinks, but I am perfectly well fatisfied, that there will not be that one Dragon left, if fome people have their will. Haly Baffa, they fay, struggles for his fon-in-law. It is generous and grateful. There Her Grace's daughter. is is a prodigious quarrel between him and the Prefident about it *. I am not yet out, but expect to be foon. Adieu. I had almoft forgot to tell you of the Pretender's declaration, in which there are words to this purpose: That he had no reason to doubt ' of the good intention of his fifter, which was the reason that he fat quiet in her time; but < now was disappointed by the deplorable accident ' of her fudden death.' LETTER CCLV + DR ARBUTHNOTT TO DR SWIFT. I DEAR BROTHER, SEND you the fcrap of a letter begun to you by the whole fociety, becaufe I fuppofe you even value the fragments of your friends. The honeft gentleman at whofe lodgings we wrote, is gone for France. I really value your judgment extremely, in chufing your friends. I think worthy Mr Ford is an inftance of it, being an honeft, fenfible, firm, friendly man, et qualis ab inceptu procefferat, &c. Though, by the way, praising your judgment is * The Prefident of the Council, who at that time was Daniel Earl of Nottingham." † Written on the fame paper with the last. |