article of company. Writing no longer amuses me, for I cannot think. I dine constantly at home, in my chamber, with a grave housekeeper, whom I call sir Robert; and some times receive one or two friends, and a female cousin, with strong high tenour voices. I am, &c. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR, AL DERMEN, SHERIFFS, AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORK. GENTLEMEN, DEANERY HOUSE, DUBLIN, I RECEIVED from you, some weeks ago, the honour of my freedom in a silver box, by the hands of Mr. Stannard * ; but it was not delivered to me in as many weeks more; because, I suppose, he was too full of more important business. Since that time I have been wholly confined by sickness, so that I was not able to return you my acknowledgment; and, it is with much difficulty I do it now, my head continuing in great disorder. Mr. Faulkner will be the bearer of my letter, who sets out this morning for Cork. I could have wished, as I am a private man, that, in the instrument of my freedom, you had pleased to assign your reasons for making choice of me. I *Eaton Stannard, esq., then recorder of Dublin, and afterward made his majesty's prime serjeant at law in the room of Anthony Malone, esq., who was promoted to the chancellorship of the exchequer. know know it is a usual compliment to bestow the freedom of the city on an archbishop, or lord chancellor, and other persons of great titles, merely upon account of their stations or power: but a private man, and a perfect stranger, without power or grandeur, may justly expect to find the motives assigned in the instrument of his freedom, on what account he is thus distinguished. And yet I cannot discover in the whole parchment scrip any one reason offered. Next, as to the silver box*, there is not so much as my name upon it, nor any one syllable to show it was as a present from your city. Therefore I have, by the advice of friends, agreeable with my opinion, sent back the box and instrument of freedom by Mr. Faulkner, to be returned to you; leaving to your choice, whether to insert the reasons for which you were pleased to give me my freedom, or bestow the box upon some more worthy person whom you may have an intention to honour, because it will equally fit every body. I am, with true esteem and gratitude, gentlemen, * In consequence of this letter, there was an inscription, and the city arms of Cork, engraved on the box, and reasons on the parchment instrument for presenting him with the freedom of that city. THE THE ANSWER. REVEREND SIR, CORK, SEPT. 14, 1737. I AM favoured with yours by Mr. Faulkner, and am sorry the health of a man, the whole kingdom has at heart, should be so much in danger. When the box with your freedom was given the recorder, to be presented to you, I hoped he would, in the name of the city, have expressed their grateful acknowledgments for the many services the publick have received from you, which are the motives that induced us to make you one of our citizens; and as they will ever remain monuments to your glory, we imagined it needless to make any inscription on the box, and especially as we have no precedents on our books for any such. But, as so great and deserving a patriot merits all distinction that can be made, I have, by the consent and approbation of the council, directed the box to you, and hope, what is inscribed upon it, although greatly inferiour to what your merit is entitled to, will however demonstrate the great regard and respect we have for you, on account of the many singular services your pen and your counsel have done this poor country; and am, reverend sir, your most obedient humble servant, THOMAS FARREN, MAYOR. FROM FROM LORD BATHURST. DEAR MR. DEAN, CIRENCESTER, OCT. 5, 1737. THAT I often think of you is most certain, but if I should write to you as often, you would think me extremely troublesome. I was alarmed some time ago with hearing that you were much indisposed; but if later accounts are to be depended upon, you are now in perfect health. I should be heartily glad to have that news confirmed to me by two lines under your hand: however, I write to you under that supposition, for which reason I have cut out a little business for you. That very pretty epistle which you writ many years ago to lord Oxford, is printed very incorrectly. I have a copy (of which I send you a transcript) which has some very good lines in it, that are not in the printed copy; and besides, if you will compare it with the original, you will find that you left off without going through with the epistle. The fable of the country and city mouse is as prettily told as any thing of that kind ever was : possibly, if you look over your papers, you may find that finished the whole; if not, I enjoin you, as a task, to go through with it: and I beg of you, do not suffer an imperfect copy to stand, while it is in your power to rectify it*. Adieu! do me the justice you * On the back of the original letter, Dr. Swift has observed, that upon receiving it, he added twenty lines to the poem. It is in imitation of the sixth satire of the second book of Horace, and it is printed with the additional lines, in Pope's works, vol. vi, Dr. Warburton' edition. to to believe me, most faithfully, and unalterably, yours. FROM CHARLES FORD, ESQ. NOVEMBER 22, 1737. I CANNOT help putting you in mind of me sometimes, though I am sure of having no return. I often read your name in the newspapers, but hardly have any other account of you, except when I happen to see lord Orrery. He told me the last time, that you had been ill, but were perfectly recovered. I hear they are going to publish two volumes more of your works. I see no reason why all the pamphlets published at the end of the queen's reign might not be inserted. Your objection of their being momentary things, will not hold. Killing no Murder, and many other old tracts, are still read with pleasure, not to mention Tully's Letters, which have not died with the times. My comfort is, they will some time or other be found among my books with the author's name, and posterity obliged with them. I have been driven out of a great house, where I had lodged between four and five years, by new lodgers, with an insupportable noise, and have taken a little one to myself in a little court, merely for the sake of sleeping in quiet. It is in St. James's Place, and called little Cleveland court. I believe you never observed it; for I never did, though I lodged |