there, for his learning and political writings. In France he would meet with worse reception; for his wit is relished there; and many of his tracts, though spoiled by translation, are yet more admired than what is writ by any among themselves. Should he go into Spain, he would find that Don Swifto is in the highest estimation, being thought to be lineally descended from Miguel de Cervantes, by a daughter of Quevedo's. Perhaps he may think to be safe in Poland during the time of these troubles : but I can assure him, from the mouth of a Polish lady, who was lately in London, by name Madam de Montmorency, (for she was married to a French gentleman of that great family,) that Dr. Swift is perfectly well known there; and she was very solicitous to know whether he were a Stanislaist or not, she being a zealous partizan for that cause. Now if this brute of a parson should find no security in Europe, and therefore slip into the East Indies in some Dutch ship, for a Dutchman may be found who would carry the devil for a stiver or two extraordinary, he will be confoundedly surprised to find that Dr. Swift is known in China, and that next to Confucius his writings are in the greatest esteem. The missionaries have translated several European books into their language; but I am well informed that none of them have taken so well as his; and the Chinese, who are a very ingenious people, reckon Sif the only author worth reading. It is well known that in Persia Kouli Khan was at the pains to translate his works himself; being born a Scotchman, he understood them very well, and I am credibly informed that he read The Battle of the Books the night before he gave that great defeat to the Persian army. If he hears of this, he may imagine that he shall find good reception at Constantinople; but he will be bit there; for many VOL. XVIII. Y years ago an English renegado slave translated Effendi Soif for them, and told them it was writ by an Englishman, with a design to introduce the Mahometan religion; this having got him his liberty, and although it is not believed by the effendi, the book and the author are in the greatest esteem among them. If he goes into America, he will not be received into any English, French, or Spanish settlement: so that in all probability he would be soon scalped by the wild Indians; and in truth there would be no manner of shame that a head should be uncovered that has so little brains in it. Brutality and ill nature proceed from the want of sense; therefore without having ever heard of him before, I can decide what he is, from this single action. Now I really believe no layman could have done such a thing. The wearing petticoats gives to most of the clergy (a few only excepted of superior understanding) certain feminine dispositions. They are commonly subject to malice and envy, and give more free vent to those passions: possibly for the same reason that women are observed to do so, because they cannot be called to account for it. When one of us does a brutal action to another, he may have his head broke, or be whipped through the lungs; but all who wear petticoats are secure from such accidents. Now, to avoid farther trouble, I hope by this time his gown is stripped off his back, and the boys of Dublin have drawn him through a horse-pond. Send me an account of this, and I shall be satisfied. Adieu, dear Dean; I am got to the end of my paper, but you may be assured that my regard for you will only end with the last breath of your faithful servant. FROM DR. SHERIDAN. DEAR SIR, Cavan, Sept. 17, 1735. Ei kav not butt reap rhyme and eù for wry tinn sow long an ape is till a bout bees knees, when Tom eye Noll edge é cool das eas i lyre eye't a pun no thing. Μυστῆρ Δὴν, what is ἑυρ μῆνιν τὸ πλέονος in e veri epistolas vow Inn Angle owe Law Tigh no? Cann knot yew right in nap lean met hood, as I do? εἰ νὼ ευ αρ ἅ πόνηρον all o key shuns. But cantu gay tann other subject toss at her eyes bis eyed my wife?* The woman is grown good for nothing. However, I would not have her so much abused, but when she deserves it. I no use itis e veri de of her life, but I sea it is not rue; for itis only e veri our o fit. She swears if heu come tuck have Ann, she will give you a dous Inn the chops.t I beg pardon for troubling you so long with business, and therefore I will now be as merry as I can. The devil a farthing I can get among my tenants but cows, bullocks, and sheep. Will Will you let me know whether such coin can pass in Dublin? that I may pay you some money which I owe. My purse, God help me, is grown as slender as a * "I cannot but reprimand you for writing so long an epistle about business, when to my knowledge you could as easily write upon nothing. Mr. Dean, what is your meaning to play on us in every epistle as you do in Anglo-Latino? Cannot you write in a plain method, as I do! I know you are a punner on all occasions. But cannot you get another subject to satirise beside my wife?" "I know you say it is every day of her life, but I say it is not true, for it is only every hour of it. She swears if you come to Cavan, she will give you a dowse in the chops." famished weasel. I long much to see it have an alderman's belly but Quando, Mr. Dean, quando ? We cannot say that our weather is the devil here; for it is all water. If it continues, I must have thoughts of building an ark; but I shall not, like Noah, let any unclean beast enter. Eat Eat pone linck waiter conjux.* My mutton is growing too fat, and I want you much to eat of it, while it is in its prime. I hear of no cadger going to Dublin, or I would send you a basket full of it. All I can do now is to send a fine roasted shoulder in my wishes, and pray invite Mrs. Whiteway to share of it. I wish you both a good stomach to it, with all my heart. Pray do not chide her for asking you to eat, as you used to do. I assure you (if I may be allowed to judge) she presses you to her victuals out of pure good nature and friendship. I am sorry that the shortness of my last letter gave you cause to complain. This shall may cup for that deaf he she Ann she,t for I have laid in a good stock of learning this last week: and therefore quoniam tu inter literatos primaria sedes in classe, quorundam decanorum nomina (minime nostratium) qui scientiis omnigenis inclaruerunt, tibi mittam. This part I mention in Latin, for fear the letter should fall into Dean Crosse's hands. Having lately read a very entertaining book, whose title-page runs thus-Histoire générale des Pais-bas, I met with accounts of several great men, whose names I never read before, and every one of them were deans, some became bishops, others cardinals: All of them on account of their great learning and merit. Lord, have mercy upon us! Christ, have mercy upon us! How the world is altered since! * "Et pone linquetur conjux." But you must know, that Charles the Great lived in that age, alias Char Lay Main. Now for the great scholars I promised. Among those, who became bishops of Antwerp, you will find Philip Nigri, Aubert Vanden Eade, Jean Ferdinand de Benghem, Pierre Joseph Franken-Sierstorff. Among those of Bois-le-Duc, Clement Crabeels, Gisbert Masins, Michel Ophove, Joseph de Bergaigne. In the same town you will find among the Vicaires Apostoliques, Henry Van Leempute, Josse Houbraecken, Martin Steyaert, Pierre Govaerts, &c. &c. &c. The next place you dine you may make a figure with those names, and silence even Robin Leslie.* But a pox upon learning, I say. It is enough to turn a man's head. I have a great mind to have done with it; for the devil a thing is to be got by it. Idcirco libris valedico. I cannot, now my memory serves me, omit an account of some learned physicians, which I read of in other authors, viz., Hermannus Conringius, Lucas Schrochius, Melchior Sebizius, Sebastian Schefferus, Guernerus Rolfinckius, Hoffmannus Altorfi, Seb. Jovius Lugani, Petrus Dapples, Theodore Kerchringius, Regnerus de Graef, Swammerda, Antonius Scarellius, Hieronymus Copelazzi, Jacobus Gonzato, Bernardinus Malacreda, Johannes Petrus Lotichius, Christianus Keekins, Julius Richeltus, Joan. Christoph. Vaganseilius, Jacobus Kerscherus, Antonius Magliabechius, and many others. Pray ask Grattan how many of these he has read. You say, (I thank you for that,) That you know nobody. No matter for that; so much the better *Mr. Leslie was the most incessant talker, one of them, in the world. However, he had a great variety of learning, and talked well.-D. S. |