fence against a falfe BROTHER, coming over to difcover fuch fecrets as would hang me. Had there been ever the leaft overture or intent of bringing in the Pretender, during my acquaintance with the miniftry, I think I must have been very ftupid, not to have picked out fome difcoveries. or fufpicions. And although I am not fure I fhould have turned informer, yet I am certain I fhould have dropt fome general cautions, and immediately have retired. When people fay, things were not ripe at the Queen's death; they fay, they know not what. Things were rotten: And had the minifters any fuch thoughts, they fhould have begun three years before; and they, who fay otherwife, understood nothing of the ftate of the kingdom at that time.

But whether I am miftaken or no in other men, I beg your Grace to believe, that I am not miftaken in myself. I always profeffed to be against the Pretender; and am fo fill. And this is not to make my court, (which I know is vain); for I own myfelf full of doubts, fears, and diffatisfactions, which I think on as feldom as I can Yet, if I were of any value, the public may fafely rely on my loyalty; because I look upon the coming of the Pretender as a greater evil, than any we are like to fuffer under the worst Whig miniftry that can be found.

I have not spoke or thought so much of party thefe two years; nor could any thing have tempted me to it, but the grief I have in stand

ing

ing fo ill in your Grace's opinion. I beg your

Grace's bleffing;

And am, &c.

J. SWIFT.

LETTER

CCLXVII.

ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ; TO DR SWIFT.

SIR,

London, Jan. 12, 1716-17.

BOUT two months ago, I fent you a

A long epiftle, and was in hopes you would Α

either have made us a vifit, or have let us heard from you. Since you have done neither, we muft flatter ourselves, that you will be better the new year than the former.

Our friend Prior, not having had the viciffitude of human things before his eyes, is likely to end his days in as forlorn a state as any other poet has done before him, if his friends do not take more care of him than he did of himself. Therefore, to prevent the evil, which we fee is coming on very faft, we have a project of printing his Solomon, and other poetical works, by fubfcription; one guinea to be paid in hand, and the other at the delivery of the book. He, Arbuthnott, Pope, and Gay, are now with me, and remember you. It is our joint request, that you will endeavour to procure fome subfcriptions: You will give your receipts for the

money

money you receive; and when you return it hither, you fhall have others in lieu. There are no papers printed here, nor any advertisements to be published; for the whole matter is to be managed by friends, in fuch a manner as fhall be leaft fhocking to the dignity of a plenipotentiary.

I am told the Archbishop of Dublin fhews a letter of your's, reflecting on the high-flying clergy. I fancy you have writ to him in an ironical ftile, and that he would have it otherwife understood. This will bring to your mind, what I have formerly faid to you on that figure. Pray condefcend to explain this matter to me. The removal of my Lord Townshend has given a little fpirit; but that will foon flag, if the King, at his return, does not make farther changes. What measures his Majefty will take, is uncertain; but this we are very fure of, that the divifion of the Whigs is fo great, that, morally fpeaking, nothing but another rebellion can ever unite them. Sunderland, Stanhope, and Cadogon, are of one fide; Townfhend, Walpole, Oxford, Devonshire, and the Chancellor *, of the other. The latter feem at present to be strongeft; but when the former appear with a German reinforcement, they will undoubtedly turn the balance. They are both making their court to the Tories, who, I hope, will be a body by themfelves, and not ferve as recruits to either

* William Earl Cowper.

of

of the other two. Lord Townshend's friends give out, that his difgrace is owing to refufing four things; viz. To keep up the army; repeal the limitations of the Succeffion Act; to fend money to Germany for carrying on a war against Sweden; and to attaint Lord Oxford. When Lord Sunderland + comes over, he will probably cry whore again, and endeavour to faddle Lord Townshend in his turn: For these reproaches now, are like that of Jacobitifm in former reigns. We are told, that Lord Bolingbroke has permiffion to ftay in France, notwithstanding the late treaty, provided he retires from Paris.' I am, &c.

1

LETTER CCLXVIII.

ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ; TO DR SWIFT.

SIR,

L

London, June 15, 1717.

AST night I received your's of the 5th inftant; and fince you tell me I am your only correfpondent, I think I ought to be more punctual in my returns, and the more full in what relates to our friends here. You'll fee by the public prints, that Monday next come fe'nnight, is appointed for the trial of my Lord Oxford,

By whofe intrigues the Lord Viscount Townshend had been removed from the poft of Secretary of State, which was given to James Stanhope, afterwards Earl Stanhope.

ford, and that no less than fix-and-twenty doughty members are appointed to manage it. The Lords have likewife fettled the whole forms of the proceedings. My Lord has afked, that two lawyers more might be added to his council: Yet is all this but a farce; for there is not a creature living, who thinks he will ever be tried; for they publicly own, that they neither have, nor ever had, any evidence; and laugh at impeachments, and attainders, and party-gambols; and fay, that all people deferve to be fo punished, who prefume to difpoffefs the Whigs of their indefeasible right to the adminiftration. But fince he is not to be tried, the next question is, In what manner is he to be brought off, fo as to fave the honour of his profecutors? I think it will be by an act of grace. Others fay, it will be by the Commons afking more time, and the Lords of their party agreeing to refufe it. But as we are wholly ignorant of their intentions, it is poffible neither of thefe gueffes may be right, and that they may keep him yet another year in prison; which my Lord Marlborough feems paffionately to defire.

We labour here, under all the disadvantages in the world, in every refpect; for the tide of party runs ftill very ftrong every where, but in no place more than in Westminster-hall. Thofe on this fide, whofe honour and intereft both require, that all people, who pay obedience, fhould be protected, feem to want a capacity to govern ; and the fimilitude of circumftances between the *, and the regent, render the latter a firm VOL. XV.

S

King fhould probably fill the blank.

ally,