vants where I have dined. I fuppofe my agent in Sheep-street takes care and inquires about my

new agent.

I'

LETTER CXIX.

Dr. SWIFT to Dr. SHERIDAN.

Twickenham, July 1. 1727. Had yours of June 22. You complain of not hearing from me; I never was fo conftant a writer. I have writ fix times to our friends, and as many to you. Mr. Pope is reading your Perfius, He is frequently fick, and fo at this time. He has read it, but you must wait till next letter for his judgment. He would know whether it is defigned for an elegant tranflation, or only to fhew the meaning. I reckon it an explanation of a difficult author, not only for learners, but for thofe alfo who are not expert in Latin, because he is a very dark author. I would not have your book printed entire, till I treat with my bookfeller here for your advantage. There is a word (concacuus) which you have not explained, nor the reafon of it. Where you are ignorant, you fhould confefs you are ignorant. I writ to Stella the day we heard the K

was dead, and the circumstances of it. I hold you a guinea, I fhall forget fomething. Worral writ to me lately. In anfwer, I defire that when the Archbishop comes to a determination, that an ap peal be properly lodged, by which I will elude him till my return, which will be at Michaelmas I have left London, and stay here a week, and then I fhall go thither again; juft to fee the Queen, and

The Rev. Mr. John Worral.

fo come back hither Here are a thousand schemes wherein they would have me engaged; which I embrace but coldly, because I like none of them. I have been this ten days inclining to my old difeafe of giddiness, a little tottering. Our friend underftands it; but I grow cautious, and am fomething better. Cyder, and Champaigne, and fruit, have been the caufe. But now I am very reguular, and I eat enough. I took Dr. Delany's paper to the King, when he was prince. He and his fecretary * are difcontented with the Provoft †, but they find he has law on his fide. The King's death has broke that measure. I propofed the Prince of Wales ‡ to be chancellor, and I believe fo it will go. Pray copy out the verfes I writ to Stella on her collecting my verfes, and fend them to me; for we want fome, to make our poetical mifcellany large enough, and I am not there to pick what fhould be added. Direct them, and all other double papers, to Lord Bathurst, in St James's fquare, London. I was in a fright about your verfes on Stella's fickness, but glad when they were a month old.

Defire our friends to let me know, what I fhould buy for them here of any kind. I had just now a long letter from Mrs. Dingley, and another from Mr. Synge. Pray tell the latter, that I return him great thanks, and will leave the vifiting affair to his difcretion. But all the lawyers in Europe fhall never perfuade me, that it is in the Archbishop's power to take or refufe my proxy, when I have the King's leave of abfence. If he be violent, I will appeal, and die two or three hundred pounds poorer, to defend the rights of the Dean. Pray afk Mr. Synge, whether his fenocchio be grown ;

Samuel Molyneux, Efq..

The Rev. Dr. Baldwin.

Frerick Prince of Wales, eldeft fon of K, George II, whe died March 20, 1750-1.

it

it is now fit to eat here, and we eat it like celery, either with or without oil, &c. I'defign to pafs my time wholly in the country, having fome bufinefs to do and fettle, before I leave England for the last time. I will fend you Mr. Pope's criticifms, and my own, on your work. Pray forget nothing of what I defire you. Pray God bless you all If the King had lived but ten days longer, I fhould be now at Paris. Simpleton! the Drapiers fhould have been fent unbound; but 'tis no great matter; two or three would have been enough. I fee Mrs. Fad but seldom; I never trouble them but when I am fent for. She expects me foon; and after that perhaps no more while I am here. I defire it may be told, that I never go to court; which I mention, because of a paffage in Mrs Dingley's letter. She speaks mighty good things of your kindness. I do not want that poem to Stella to print it entire, but fome paffages out of it, if they deferve it, to lengthen the volume. Read all this letter without hesitation, and I'll give you a pot of ale. I intend to be with you at Michaelmas, bar impoffibilities.

I

LETTER CXX.

Dr. SWIFT to Dr. SHERIDAN.

Twickenham, Aug. 12. 1727. AM cleverly caught, if ever gentleman was cleverly caught for three days after I came to town with Lord Oxford † from Cambridgeshire,

An English lady, a friend of the Dean's.

Son of the late Right Hon. Robert Harley, Lord High Trea furer of England, created Earl of Oxford and Mortimer by Queen Anne,

which was ten days ago, my old deafness seized me, and hath continued ever fince with great increase; fo that I am now deafer than ever you knew me, and yet a little lefs I think than I was yesterday; but, which is worfe, about four days ago my gid. dinefs feized me, and I was fo very ill, that yester. day I took a hearty vomit, and though I now torter, yet, I think, I am a thought better: but what will be the event, I know not. One thing I know, that thefe deaf fits ufes to continue five or fix weeks; and I am refolved, if it continues, or my giddiness, fome days longer, I will leave this place, and remove to Greenwich, or somewhere near London, and take my coufin Lancelot to be my nurfe. Our friends know her; it is the fame with Pat Rol. If my disorder should keep me longer than my licence of abfence lafts, I would have you get Mr. Worral to renew it. It will not expire till the fixth or fe venth of October, and I refolved to begin my jour ney Sept. 15. Mr. Worral will fee by the date of my licence, what time the new one fhould com mence: but he has feven weeks yet to confider; I' only speak in time. I am very uneafy here, be caufe fo many of our acquaintance come to fee us, and I cannot be feen; befides, Mr. Pope is too fickly and complaifant; therefore I refolve to go fomewhere elfe. This is a little unlucky, my head. will not bear writing long. I want to be at home, where I can turn you out, or let you in, as I think beft. The King and Queen come in two days to our neighbourhood *; and there I fhall be expectéd, and cannot go; which, however, is none of my grievances; for I had rather be abfent, and have now too good an excufe. I believe this gid dinefs is the diforder that will at last get the better of me; but I had rather it should not be now; and I hope, and believe it will not, for I am now bet

Richmond,

ter

ter than yesterday. Since my dinner, my giddinefs is much better, and my deafness a hair's breadth not fo bad. It is just as ufual, worst in the morning and at evening I will be very temperate; and in the midft of peaches, figs, nectarins. and mulberries, I touch not a bit. I hope I fhall, however, fet out out in the midft of September, as I defigned. This is a long letter for an ill head; fo adieu. My fervice to our two friends, and all others,

***

I

LETTER CXXI.

Dr. SWIFT to Dr. SHERIDAN

Twickenham, Aug. 29. 1727. Have had your letter of the 19th; and expect, before you read this, to receive another from you, with the moft fatal news that can ever come to me, unless I fhould be put to death for fome ignominious crime. I continue very ill with my giddinefs and deafness, of which I had two days intermiffion, but fince worfe; and I fhall be perfectly content, if God fhall please to call me away at this time. Here is a triple cord of friendship broke, which hath lafted thirty years; twenty-four of which in Ireland I beg, if you have not writ to me before you get this, to tell me no particulars, but the event in general. My weaknefs, my age, my friendship will bear no more.

I have mention

ed the cafe, as well as I knew it, to a phyfician who is my friend, and I find his methods were the fame, air and exercise, and at laft affes milk I will tell you fincerely, that if I were younger, and in health,

or