to repeat, "that they all swore, that if ever the wind should change, they would not long be deprived of the greatest genius of the age. The conversation turning on another subject, Lord Carteret pulled me to the window, and bade me tell you, that he loved and honoured you, and so you should find on all occasions, and that he toasted your health. This is literally true, upon the honour of a

I dined yesterday with Lord Bolingbroke only: he complains you do not write to him: he is well.

They say you are making interest for my brother of Dublin to be member of parliament; pray come over, and do the same for me, and have the credit of both. My brother behaves himself well,* I hear ; if it is proper, my service to him.

What you tell Mr. Pilkington of my speaking disrespectfully of the Irish is false and scandalous: I never used such an expression in my life; I appeal to all my acquaintance. I love the Irish.

Pray God restore your health; and believe me always, with gratitude,

Your most obedient humble servant,

JOHN BARBER.

FROM MISS KELLY.

London, August 12, 1733.

I AM truly sorry, my dear Sir, that I have not heard from you so long; but am much more con

* The lord-mayor of Dublin, to whom Swift addresses his translation of the epistle of Horace.

cerned with Barber's account of your being not as well as I wish you. For God's sake, try the change of air, and let not any other attachment than your health employ your thoughts. Consider how dear you are to your friends; but if that won't do, let the detestation you must feel, from giving pleasure to the unworthy, make you careful of yourself. Indeed I should be glad to make you sensible, that you are valued by all that have a taste for merit; and I should be very much pleased, if you would think you owe so much to them, that you would, for their sakes, preserve yourself. Believe me, Sir, illness is not to be trifled with: I can speak on this subject as an experienced person; and I earnestly entreat you to take remedies in time. Forgive my impertinence, and be assured that none is more truly zealous for your welfare than your

F. A. KELLY.

TO THE EARL OF ORRERY.

Dublin, Aug. 20, 1733.

MY LORD, I LATELY received a letter from Mrs. Barber, wherein she desires my opinion about dedicating her poems to your lordship; and seems in pain to know how far she may be allowed to draw your character, which is a right claimed by all dedicators: and she thinks this the more incumbent on her, from the surprising instances of your generosity and favour that she has already received, and which she has been so unfashionable to publish wherever she goes. This makes her apprehend that all she can say to your lordship's advantage, will be interpreted as the

VOL. XVIII.

K

mere effect of flattery, under the style and title of gratitude.

I sent her word that I could be of no service to her upon this article: yet I confess, my lord, that all those who are thoroughly acquainted with her, will impute her encomiums to a sincere, but overflowing spirit of thankfulness, as well as to the humble opinion she has of herself: Although the world in general may possibly continue in its usual sentiments, and list her in the common herd of dedicators.

Therefore, upon the most mature deliberation, I concluded that the office of setting out your lordship's character, will not come properly from her pen, for her own reasons: I mean the great favours you have already conferred on her; and God forbid, that your character should not have a much stronger support. You are hourly gaining the love, esteem, and respect of wise and good men: and in due time, if Mrs. Barber can have but a little patience, you will bring them all over, in both kingdoms, to a man: I confess the number is not great; but that is not your lordship's fault, and therefore, in reason, you ought to be contented.

I guess the topics she intends to insist on; your learning, your genius, your affability, generosity, the love you bear to your native country, and your compassion for this: the goodness of your nature, your humility, modesty, and condescension; your most agreeable conversation, suited to all tempers, conditions, and understandings: perhaps she may be so weak as to add the regularity of your life; that you believe a God and Providence; that you are a firm Christian, according to the doctrine of the church established in both kingdoms.

These, and other topics, I imagine Mrs. Barber designs to insist on, in the dedication of her poems

to your lordship; but I think she will better shew her prudence by omitting them all. And yet, my lord, I cannot disapprove of her ambition, so justly placed in the choice of a patron; and at the same time declare my opinion, that she deserves your protection on account of her wit and good sense, as well as of her humility, her gratitude, and many other virtues. I have read most of her poems; and believe your lordship will observe, that they generally contain something new and useful, tending to the reproof of some vice or folly, or recommending some virtue. She never writes on a subject with general unconnected topics, but always with a scheme and method driving to some particular end; wherein many writers in verse, and of some distinction, are so often known to fail. In short, she seems to have a true poetical genius, better cultivated than could well be expected, either from her sex, or the scene she has acted in, as the wife of a citizen: yet I am assured, that no woman was ever more useful to her husband in the way of his business.* Poetry has only been her favourite amusement; for which she has one qualification, that I wish all good poets possessed a share of, I mean, that she is ready to take advice, and submit to have her verses corrected by those who are generally allowed to be the best judges.

I have, at her entreaty, suffered her to take a copy of this letter, and given her the liberty to make it public for which I ought to desire your lordship's pardon: but she was of opinion it might do her some

* Her husband was a woollen-draper, and apparently needed such an helpmate, if we may judge from the character bestowed on him as a tradesman, by Lady Betty Germain, Vol. XVII. p.

service, and therefore I complied. I am, my Lord, with the truest esteem and respect,

Your lordship's most obedient servant,

JON. SWIFT.

TO MRS. DINGLEY.*

Wednesday, August 29, 1733.

IF you are disposed to be easy and cheerful, I will send something for dinner to your lodgings, and eat it with you and Mrs. Ridgeway; † with a

* The Dean used constantly to visit Mrs. Dingley; but in such a manner, as to prevent her being at any expense in providing entertainments.-F.

† Mrs. Dingley's lodgings were in Grafton Street, Dublin, at the house of a daughter of his old housekeeper, Mrs. Brent, wife to an idle spendthrift, one Ridgeway, a cabinet-maker; for the relief of whose necessities she was once about selling an annuity of £20 a-year, that had been bequeathed to her for life by her late mistress, Lady Newtown. The Dean, upon hearing of such a design, commiserated her case, and paid down the sum agreed for as the purchase, retaining it in his own power; then paid the annuity to her every year, as if it had been received from Lady Newtown's executors; and afterwards bequeathed it to her, which she enjoyed till her death, which happened Oct. 16, 1774- For her better encouragement to take more than ordinary care of him in that illness which he always dreaded, and foresaw as plainly as he would a coming shower, he left her £100 more. But, to bind her more strongly to her duty still, after he had settled all his affairs by a last will, he signed a bond and warrant for a farther sum of £300; observing, at the same time, "It may be, the jade will hereafter demand interest upon this bond, though only intended as an additional legacy." Upon which she declared, she never would do so, and wondered that the Dean could suspect her of it. However, his conjecture proved true in the end: for she afterward intermarried with an avaricious man, one Henry Land, (whom the