eafes. It is thicker fet with towns, than any Flanders map you ever faw. Ratcliffe is painted at the corner of the map, contending for the univerfal empire of this world; and the rest of the phyficians oppofing his ambitious designs, with a project of a treaty of partition to settle peace. There is an excellent fubject of ridicule from fome of the German phyficians, who fet up a fenfitive foul, as a fort of a first minifter to the rational. Helmont calls him Archæus. Dolæus calls him Microcofinetor. He has under him feveral other genii, that refide in the particular parts of the body, particularly prince Cardimelech, in the heart; Gafteronax, in the ftomach; and the Plastic Prince, in the organs of generation. I believe I could make you laugh at the explication of diftempers, from the wars and alliances of those princes; and how the first minister gets the better of his mistress, Anima Rationalis. The beft is, that it is making reprisals upon the politicians, who are fure to allegorife all the animal œconomy into state affairs. Pope has been collecting high flights of poetry, which are very good; they are to be folemn nonsense. I thought upon the following the other day, as I was going into my coach, the duft being troublesome : The duft in fmaller particles arofe, Than thofe which fluid bodies do compofe: I I don't give you these hints to divert you, but that you may have your thoughts, and work upon them. I know you love me heartily; and yet I will not own, that you love me better than I love you. My Lord and Lady Masham love you too, and read your letter to me with pleasure. My Lady fays fhe will write to you, whether you write to her or not. Dear friend, adieu. LETTER CXCVIII. I MR JOHN BARBER TO DR SWIFT. HONOURED SIR, London, July 6, 1714. HAD your's of the 3d inftant, and am hear tily glad of your being in health, which I hope will continue. Pray draw what bills you pleafe: I'll pay them on demand. I attacked him I fortunately met Lord Bolingbroke yesterday, the minute I had your letter. for fome wine, and he immediately ordered you two dozen of red French wine, and one dozen of ftrong Arizana white wine. The hamper will be fent to-morrow by Robert Stone, the Wantage carrier, and will be there on Friday. I am afraid it will coft you 5s. to George, my Lord's butler; but I would do nothing without order. My. Lord bid me tell you this morning, that he will write to you, and let you know, that as great a philofopher I philofopher as you are, you have had the pip; that the public affairs are carried on, with the fame zeal, and quick difpatch, as when you was there; nay, that they are improved in feveral particulars; that the fame good understanding continues; that he hopes the world will be the better for your retirement; that your inimitable pen was never more wanted than now; and more, which I cannot remember. I believe he expects you should write to him. He spoke many affectionate and handfome things in your favour. I told him your story of the spaniel, which made him laugh heartily. I am, &c. I LETTER CXCIX. MR JOHN BARBER TO DR SWIFT. SIR, Lambert-Hill, July 6, 1714. Thankfully acknowledge the receipt of a pac ket* fent laft Sunday. I have fhewn it only to one perfon, who is charmed with it, and will make some small alterations and additions to it, with your leave. You will the eafier give leave, when I tell you, that it is one of the best pens in England. Pray favour me with a line. I am, Sir, your moft obedient fervant, Indorfed thus by the Dean : JOHN BARBER. John Barber's letter about the pamphlet. VOL. XV. G LET * Probably, Free thoughts on the prefent ftate of affairs. MR THOMAS, SECRETARY TO LORD TREASURER, TO DR SWIFT. I REV. SIR, July 6, 1714. SHOULD not have prefumed to break in upon your retirements, nor fo much as enquire for your addrefs, had not the inclosed given me a fair occafion to ask after your health. I need not add any thing to what the papers will inform you touching that affair. The perfon mentioned in the Baron's letter, has not yet called upon me. When you have indorfed the letter of attorney, please to return that, and the Baron's letter, that I may follow his directions. I dare not mention any thing of politics, to one that has purposely withdrawn himfelf from the din of it. I fhall only tell you, that your friends applaud your conduct, with relation to your own cafe; but they think it hard you should abdicate at a juncture your friendship seems to be of the moft ufe to them. I am fure fome of them want your advice, as well as affiftance. You will forgive this digreffion from bufinefs, when I tell you, I fhall not repeat this trouble, not having fo much as kept a copy of your direction. direction. You may direct your commands to me, under cover to our common friend. I hope you believe me too fenfible of obligations, to need formal affur ances ances of the fincere refpect, wherewith I am, Rev. Sir, your moft obedient and most humble fervant, WILLIAM THOMAS. LETTER CCI. ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ. TO DR SWIFT. SIR, Whitehall, July 6, 1714. YOU give me fuch good reafons for your defire of knowing what becomes of our grand affair, that, to oblige you, and perhaps to give myself vent, I will tell you what I think on it. The two Ladies * feem to have determined the fall of the dragon †, and to entertain a chimerical notion, that there fhall be no Monfieur le Premier, but that all power fhall refide in one, and profit in the other. The man of Mercury foothes them in this notion, with great dexterity and reafon; for he will be Monfieur le Premier then of course, by virtue of the little feal. His character is too bad to carry the great enfigns; therefore he takes another method, and I think it very artful, viz. to continue his prefent ftation, to which the power may altogether be as properly attached as to the wand. In this brangle I am no otherwife concerned, than that I muft lofe part of the pleasure G 2 The Queen, and Lady Somerset. Lord Treafurer Oxford. Lord Bolingbroke. I |