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LETTER

CCCIV.

DR SWIFT TO MR WALLIS.

SIR,

YOU

Dublin, Nov. 5, 1722.

U ftole in and out of town, without feeing either the Ladies *, , or met; which was very ungratefully done, confidering the obligations you have to us, for lodging and dieting with you fo long. Why did you not call in a morning at the deanry? Befides, we reckoned, for certain, that you came to ftay a month or two, as you told us you intended. I hear you were so kind as to be at Laracor ‡, where I hope you planted fomething; and I intend to be down after Christmas, where you must continue a week. As for your plan, it is very pretty, too pretty for the ufe I intend to make of Laracor. All I would defire is, what I mention in the pa

per

Mrs Johnfon, (or Stella) and Mrs Dingley. The former was his concealed, but undoubted wife, being married to him in the year 1710, by Dr Athe, bishop of Clogher, who had been his tutor. She died, January 27, 1727-8, aged 44," abfolutely destroyed," as Lord Orrery fays, "by the peculiarity of her

fate."

And in the original, no doubt by mistake.

The Dean's vicarage-houfe there, where he intended to make fever improvements, is now totally ruined, though one of his biographers fays, "he lets it a convenient and agreeable retreat to his facceffor, at a confiderable expence."

The Dean, it may be supposed, rather meant when.

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I left you, except a walk down to the canal. I fuppofe your project would coft me ten pounds, and a constant gardener. Pray come to town, and stay fome time, and repay yourself fome of your dinners. I wonder how a mischief you came to mifs us. Why did you not fet out a Monday, like a true country parfon? Befide, you lay a load on us, in saying one chief end of your journey was to fee us; but I fuppofe there might be another motive, and you are like the man that died of love and the cholic. Let us know whether you are more or lefs monkish, how long you found yourself better by our company, and how long before you recovered the charges we put you to. The Ladies affure you of their hearty fervices, and I am, with great truth and fincerity,

Your moft faithful humble fervant,

J. SWIFT.

LETTER CCCV.

DR SWIFT TO DR SHERIDAN.

Dublin, Dec. 22, 1722.

HAT care we, whether you fwim or

WHA

fink? Is this a time to talk of boats, or a time to fail in them, when I am fhuddering? or a time to build boat-houses, or pay for carriage? No. But, towards Summer, I promise

hereby,

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hereby, under my hand, to subscribe a (guinea) * hilling for one; or, if you pleafe me, what is blotted out, or fomething thereabouts; and the Ladies fhall fubfcribe three thirteens betwixt them, and Mrs Brent a penny, and Robert and Archy halfpence a-piece, and the old man and woman a farthing each: In fhort, I will be your collector, and we will fend it down full of wine, a fortnight before we go at Whitfuntide. You will make eight thoufand blunders in your planting; and who can help it? for I cannot be with you. My horfes eat hay, and I hold my vifitation on January 7th, juft in the midst of Chriftmas. Mrs Brent is angry, and fwears as much as a fanatic can do, that she will fubfcribe fixpence to your boat.Well, I fhall be a country man when you are not. We are now at Mr Fad's with Dan. and Sam.; and I fteal out while they are at cards, like a lover writing to his miftrefs. We have no news in our town. The Ladies have left us to-day; and I promised them, that you would carry your club to Arfellagh, when you are weary of one another. You express your happiness, with grief in one hand, and forrow in the other. What fowl have you but the weep? what hares, but Mrs Macfadden's grey hairs? what peafe, put your own? Your mutton and your weather are both very bad, and fo is your weather-mutton. Wild fowl is what we like.How will this letter get to

you?

The word (guinea) is ftruck through with a pen in the copy.

you?-A fortnight good from this morning. You will find Quilca not the thing it was last Auguft; no body to relifh the lake; no body to ride over the downs; no trout to be caught; no dining over a well; no night heroics, no morning epics; no ftolen hour when the wife is gone; no creature to call you names. Poor miferable Mr Sheridan! No blind harpers; no journeys to Rantavan! Anfwer all this, and be my magnus Apollo. We have new plays, and new lybels; and nothing valuable is old, but Stella, whofe bones the recommends to you. Dan. * defires to know whether you faw the advertisement of your being robbed. And fo I

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London, Dec. 22, 1722.

FTER every post-day, for these eight or nine years, I have been troubled with an uneafinefs of fpirit, and at laft I have refolved to get rid of it, and write to you. I don't deferve fhould think fo well of me as I really deferve; for I have not profeffed to you, that I love you as much as ever I did: But you are the only perfon of my acquaintance almoft, that does

you

The Rev. Mr Dan. Jackson.

not

not know it. Whoever I fee, that comes from Ireland, the firft queftion I afk is after your health; of which I had the pleafure to hear very lately from Mr Berkeley. I think of you very often: Nobody wishes you better, or longs more to fee you. Duke Difney, who knows more news than any man alive, told me I fhould certainly meet you at the Bath this feafon: But I had one comfort in being disappointed, that you did not want it for your health. I was there for near eleven weeks for a cholic, that I have been often troubled with of late; but have not found all the benefit I expected.

You

I lodge, at prefent, in Burlington-house, and have received many civilities from many great men, but very few real benefits. They wonder at each other for not providing for me; and I wonder at them all. Experience has given me fome knowledge of them; so that I can say, that it is not in their power to difappoint me. find I talk to you of myself; I wish you would reply to me in the fame manner. I hope, tho' you have not heard of me fo long, I have not loft my credit with you; but that you will think of me in the fame manner, as when you efpoufed my caufe fo warmly; which my gratitude never can forget. I am, dear Sir, your most obliged and fincere humble fervant, J. GAY.

P. S. Mr Pope, upon reading over this letter, defired me to tell you, that he has been just in the fame fentiments with me in regard to you; and fhall never forget his obligations to you.

LET

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