attend it again to-morow, it shall be thrown intothe streets; therefore all excuses must be laid aside. Mrs Whiteway and I shall be all your company, and I will give you a pot of ale to relish it. I am, with true esteem, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, Deanery-House, Sept. 6, 1736. Monday morning. J. SWIFT. Name your most convenient hour to dine, and do not say, when you please. FROM DR SHERIDAN. DEAR SIR, September 15, 1736. I RECEIVED a letter from Mr Henry by the last post, wherein he tells me that the six hundred and sixty pounds were short by eight pounds of your principal, and that you expected I should send you my promissory note for that, and the interest of your money, which I will do most willingly, when you let me know whether you will charge me five or six per cent. that I may draw my note accordingly. Indeed if you pleased, or would vouchsafe, or condescend, or think proper, I would rather that you would, I mean should charge only five per cent. because I might be sooner able to pay it. Upon second thoughts, mine eyes being very sore with weeping for my wife, you may let Mrs Whiteway know (to whom pray present my love and best respects) that I have made an experiment of the lake-water, which I sent for, upon myself only twice, before my optics became as clear as ever; for which reason I sent for a dozen bottles of it for Miss Harrison, to brighten her stars to the ruin of all beholders. Remember if she turns basilisk, that her mother is the cause. Tully the carrier (not Tully the orator) is to leave this to-morrow (if he does) by whom I shall send you a quarter of my own small mutton, and about six quarts of nuts to my mistress in Abbey Street, with a fine pair of Cavan nutcrackers to save her white teeth; and yours too, if she will deign to lend them to you. I would advise you to keep in with that same lady, as you value my friendship (which is your best feather) otherwise you must forgive me if my affections shall withdraw with hers. Alas, my long evenings are coming on, bad weather, and confine ment. Somebody told me (but I forget who) that Mrs Whiteway rid your mare at the Curragh, and won the plate; but surely she would not carry the frolick so far. They say the primate's lady † rid against her; and that Mrs Whiteway, by way of weight, carried the Bishop of Down and Connor behind her. Pray let me know the truth of this. Mr Faulkner writ to me for some poems of yours which I have. I am collecting them as fast as I can from among my papers; and he shall have them in a post or two, so please to tell him. Three old women were lately buried at the foot of our steeple here; and so strong was the fermentation of their carcases, that our steeple has visibly Mrs Whiteway.-D. S. + Mrs Boulter the primate's lady was very lusty-D. S. grown forty foot higher; and what is wonderful, above twenty small ones are grown out of its sides. What surprises me most is, that the bell-rope is not one foot higher from the ground. Be so good as to communicate this to the provost of the college, or Archdeacon Whittingham, or Archdeacon Wall. I would be glad to have all or either of their opinions, as they are the chief virtuosi in this kingdom. I wish you all happiness, and hope you will outlive every enemy, and then we may hope our church and kingdom will flourish, and so will Your obedient and very humble servant, THOMAS SHERIDAN. SIR, TO MR RICHARDSON *. Dublin, Oct. 23, 1736. I HAD the favour of a letter from you about two months ago; but I was then, and have been almost ever since, in so ill a state of health, and lowness of spirits, that I was not able to acknowledge it; and it is not a week since I ventured to write to an old friend upon a business of importance. I have long heard of you and your character; which, as I am certain was true, so it was very advantageous, and gave me a just esteem of you, which your friendly letter has much increased. I owe you many thanks for your goodness to Mr Warburton and his widow. * Of Summerseat, near Colrane, I had lately a letter from her, wherein she tells me of the good office you have done her. I would be glad to know whether she has been left in a capacity of living in any comfortable way, and able to provide for her children: for I am told her husband left her some. He served once a cure of mine; but I came over to settle here upon the queen's death, when consequently all my credit was gone, except with the late primate, who had many obligations to me, and on whom I prevailed to give that living, to Mr Warburton, and make him surrogate, which he lost in a little time. Alderman Barber was my old acquaintance. I got him two or three employments when I had credit with the queen's ministers; but upon her majesty's death he was stripped of them all. However, joining with Mr Gumley, they both entered into the South Sea scheme, and the alderman grew prodigiously rich: but by pursuing too far, he lost two-thirds of his gains. However, he bought a house with some acres near Richmond, and another in London, and kept fifty thousand pounds, which enabled him to make a figure in the city. This is a short history of the alderman, who, in spite of his tory principles, got through all the honours of London. I cannot tell whether his office of governor of your society be for his life, or only annual; I suppose you can inform me. Your invitation is friendly and generous, and what I would be glad to accept, if it were possible; out, Sir, I have not an ounce of flesh about me, and cannot ride above a dozen miles in a day, without The Londonderry Society, of which Mr Richardson was agent. yet being sore and bruised and spent. My head is every day more or less disordered by a giddiness; I ride the strand here constantly when fair weather invites me. But if I live till spring next, and have any remainder of health, I determine to venture, although I have some objections. I do not doubt your good cheer and welcome; but you brag too much of the prospects and situations. Dare you pretend to vie with the county of Armagh, which, excepting its cursed roads, and want of downs to ride on, is the best part I have seen of Ireland? I own you engage for the roads from hence to your house; but where am I to ride after rainy weather? Here I have always a strand or a turnpike for four or five miles. Your being a bachelor pleases me well; and as to neighbours, considering the race of squires in Ireland, I had rather be without them. If you have books in large print, or an honest parson with common sense, I desire no more. But here is an interval of above six months; and in the mean time God knows what will become of me, and perhaps of the kingdom, for I think we are going to ruin as fast as it is possible. If I have not tired you now, I promise never to try your patience so much again. I am, Sir, with true esteem, Your most obedient and obliged servant, I hear your brother the clergyman is still alive: I knew him in London and Ireland, and desire will present him with my humble service. you |