may believe me when I assure you that my silence has not proceeded from want of respect and esteem for you. I would not put on the affectation of much business as an excuse to any body, much less to you; although the truth is, that I am hurried almost out of my life with the attendance and writing about things I have undertaken for some friends.

The Dean's recommendation and yours, without any other consideration whatever, would induce me to do my utmost to serve Mr M'Aulay, as I have told him by this post, when I thought I should not trouble you with a few lines. He will acquaint you with what I have done, by which you will see that I lost no time; and I have hopes to obtain the lord-lieutenant's countenance for him.

I will endeavour to introduce Mr Swift * to the acquaintance of some persons before I leave this; whose countenance and friendship will at least give a young gentleman a good air-his own merit entitles him to the esteem and regard of such as shall have the happiness to be acquainted with him: I am much obliged to you for introducing me to him. I have only time to add my most hearty thanks for the same, and to assure you that any opportunity of expressing the esteem I have for the Dean, which is the highest, and for you, will ever give me the greatest pleasure. I am, Madam, your most obliged and most truly faithful servant,

WILLIAM RICHARDSON.

* William Swift, Esq. then a student at the Middle Temple. -D. S.

FROM MR RICHARDSON.

DEAR SIR,

London, April 10, 1739.

Ir is an age since I had the honour of a line from you. Your friend Mr Alderman Barber, whose veneration for you prompts him to do any thing he can think of that can show his respect and affection, made a present to the university of Oxford of the original picture done for you by Jervas, to do honour to the university by your being placed in the gallery among the most renowned and distinguished personages this island has produced; but first had a copy taken, and then had the original set in a fine rich frame, and sent it to Oxford, after concerting with lord Bolingbroke, the vice-chancellor, and Mr Pope, as I remember, the inscription to be under the picture, a copy whereof is inclosed. The alderman had a very handsome compliment from the vice-chancellor, in the name of all the heads of houses there, and by their direction: wherein there is most honourable mention of the Dean of St Patrick's on that occasion.

Seeing an article in the London Evening Post upon your picture, which was drawn at the request and expence of the chapter of your cathedral, being put up in the deanery, Alderman Barber took the hint, and caused what you see in the London Evening Post of this day to be printed therein. He knows nothing of my writing to you at this time; but I thought it right that you should be acquainted how intent he is, all manner of ways, to show the effects of the highest friendship, kind

led to a flame by the warmest sense of gratitude, and the most exalted esteem and veneration.

Mrs Whiteway, and Mr M'Aulay, can inform you how absolute your commands are with me. Since you recommended him, he is sure of the utmost I can do for him.

Sir, if I have not a few words from you, I shall conclude that you think me troublesome, and are resolved to get rid of my impertinence. It will be two or three months before I can get from hence, although I am impatient to be at home; but whereever I am, or however engaged, I am always, dear Sir, your most obliged and most truly faithful ser

vant,

WILLIAM RICHARDSON.

My best respects wait upon Mrs Whiteway.

TO THE REVEREND MR KING.

SIR,

Monday morn.

I HAVE often desired to talk with you about the Wednesday dinner, but could never see you. Mrs. Sican is to buy the dinner; for which I advanced a moidore and a double pistole. I hoped you would have wrote to Dr Wilson, and taken some care about the wine, for I have none to spare. Pray let me know whether you are content to take your usual trouble on these occasions.

I am, your obedient humble servant,

J. SWIFT.

FROM DEAN SWIFT AND MRS WHITEWAY TO MR RICHARDSON.

MY VERY GOOD FRIEND,

April 17, 1739.

I FIND that Mrs Whiteway pretends to have been long acquainted with you; but upon a strict examination I discovered that all the acquaintance was only at the deanery-house, where she had the good fortune to see you once or twice at most. I am extremely obliged to you for your favours to Mr M'Aulay, for whose good sense and virtues of every kind I have highly esteemed him ever since I had the happiness of knowing him. If he succeeds in his election, it will be chiefly by your good offices; and you have my hearty thanks for what you have already done. I know you often see my honest hearty friend Alderman Barber; and pray let him know that I command him to continue his friendship to you, although he is your absolute governor. I am very much obliged to the alderman and you for your civilities to young Swift. Mrs Whiteway says he is my cousin; which will not be to his advantage, for I hate all relations; and I-Sir, I have snatched the pen out of the Dean's hand, who seems, by his countenance, to incline to finish his letter with my faults as he began it. Where there is so large a scope, and such a writer, you may believe I should not like to have my character drawn by him. However, I think for once he is mistaken; I mean in the article of what he calls vanity, and which I term a laudable ambition, the honour of being known to you, and bragging of it as some merit to myself, to be dis

tinguished by you. Have I not reason to boast, when you tell me my recommendation will have weight with you? and how great must be the obligation that words cannot express? Gratitude, like grief, dwells only in the mind, and can best be guessed at when it was too great to be told, and most certainly lessens when we are capable of declaring it. I never doubted Mr M'Aulay's success if you undertook his cause, nor your indefatigable friendship for those who have the good fortune to gain your esteem. Mr Swift I wish may be in the number. This I am sure of, that his virtue and honour will never give me reason to repent that I introduced him to you, which is the only favour I hoped for him; but you, Sir, never do things by halves.

I know you are hurried on many occasions; therefore I do not expect a letter unless you are perfectly disengaged. Sometimes we are in such a state of indolence, that half an hour is trifled away in doing nothing. When you find yourself in this situation, tell me in two or three lines you are well, and command Miss Richardson to come to me. My daughter most earnestly joins with me in this request, and entreats you to believe that she is, with as great respect as I am, Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,

M. WHITEWAY.