milk, which is the best specifick we have. I wish to God you would try it, I am sure it would do you much good. I take it betimes in the morning, which certainly gives me a little sleep, and often a small breathing or sweat.

If Mr. Richardson has not made you his acknowledgments for your great favour and friendship to him, he is much to blame; for to you he owes the continuance of his employment. An alderman of Derry came from thence on purpose to attach him, and he had many articles of impeachment; and I believe he had twenty out of twenty-four, of our society against him: and the cry has been against him for two or three years past, and I had no way to save him many times, but only by saying, that while I had the honour to preside in that chair, I would preserve the great privilege every Englishman had, of being heard before he was condemned: and I never put any question against him while he was in Ireland. Well, he came, and, after a long and tedious hearing of both sides, the society were of opinion, that he had acted justly and honourably in his office.

I do not deal in politicks; I have left them off a long while, only we talk much of war, which I do not believe a word on. A fair lady in Germany has put the king in good humour they say.

*

I shall trouble you no more at present, but to assure you I never think of you but with the utmost pleasure, and drink your health daily, and heartily pray for your long, long life, as you are an honour

* Amelia Sophia von Wallmoden, countess of Yarmouth.

to

to your country, and will be the glory of the present and succeeding ages.

I am, dear sir, your most affectionate humble servant,

J. BARBER.

SIR,

TO MR. FAULKNER.

THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1738.

I desire you will print the following paper, in what manner you think most proper. You see my design in it I believe no man had ever more difficulty, or less encouragement, to bestow his whole fortune for a charitable use.

:

I am your humble servant,

J. SWIFT.

IT is known enough, that the abovenamed doctor has, by his last will and testament, bequeathed his whole fortune (except some legacies) to build and endow an hospital, in or near this city, for the support of lunaticks, ideots, and those they call incurables But the difficulty he lies under is, that his whole fortune consists in mortgages on lands, and other the like securities; for, as to purchasing a real estate in lands, for want of active friends, he finds it impossible; so that, much against his will, if he should call in all his money lent, he knows not where to find a convenient estate in a tolerable part of the kingdom, which can be bought; and in the mean

time, his whole fortune must lie dead in the hands of bankers. The great misfortune is, that there seems not so much publick virtue left among us, as to have any regard for a charitable design; because none but the aforesaid unfortunate objects of charity will be the better for it: However, the said doctor, by calling in the several sums he has lent, can be able, with some difficulty, to purchase three hundred pounds per annum in lands, for the endowment of the said hospital, if those lands could be now purchased; otherwise he must leave it, as he has done in his will, to the care of his executors, who are very honest, wise, and considerable gentlemen, his friends; and yet he has known some of very fair and deserved credit, prove very negligent trustees. The doctor is now able to lend two thousand pounds, at five per cent, upon good security; of which the principal, after his decease, is to be disposed of, by his executors, in buying lands for the farther endowment of the said hospital.

FROM WILLIAM RICHARDSON, ESQ.

JULY, 25, 1738.

THERE

are but very few things would give me

of St. Patrick's beand yet I fear one of have not had a line

a greater concern than the dean coming indifferent toward me; those few things is the cause I from you since I came hither. I beseech you ease

me

me of my present pain, by telling me that you are well; that summer, which hath but lately reached us here, hath invited you, and tempted you to ride again.

7

If any thing occurs to you I can do, that is agreeable to you, if you have the least inclination to oblige me, you will let me know it.

My hurry here is almost over; but one affair or other will detain me till the latter end of October, if I get away then. I cannot say I pass my time disagreeably. I have had some opportunities of doing good offices; and, when I am not engaged by business, I live with a few friends that I love, and love me, and for the most part, go every week with one of them to the country for two or three days.

Your friend Bolingbroke is well, and at présent with Mr. Pope. I am told he has sold Dawley. Alderman Barber, who has promised me to write to you by the next post, tells me his lordship inquired much about you and your health. The alderman plays his cards so as that his credit in the city daily increases. There is nothing but the vacancy wanted to put Mr. Dunkin in possession of the parish of Colrain.

I hear you have seen Pope's first Dialogue, 1738. Have you seen his Universal Prayer? This second. dialogue, together with a copy of the inscription intended by the old duchess of Marlborough for a statue she is to erect of queen Anne, and a few lines attributed to lord Chesterfield, on another subject, wait on you enclosed.

Believe that I love as much as I admire you; and

that

that I am, with the most perfect respect, dear sir, your most obliged and most truly faithful servant,

WILLIAM RICHARDSON.

This packet goes franked by the secretary of the foreign office, who can frank any weight.

I

expect the prime serjeant* here this night in his way to France.

TO MR. ALDERMAN BARBER.

AUGUST 8, 1738.

MY DEAR AND HONOURED FRIEND,

I HAVE received yours of July 27th; and two days ago had a letter from Mr. Pope, with a dozen lines from my lord Bolingbroke, who tells me he is just going to France, and I suppose, designs to continue there as long as he lives. I am very sorry he is under a necessity of selling Dawley. Pray, let me know whether he be tolerably easy in his fortunes ; for he has these several years lived very expensively. Is his lady still alive? and has he still a country house and an estate of hers to live on! I should be glad to live so long, as to see his History of his

* Henry Singleton, esq., whom Dr. Swift appointed one of his executors. He was afterward lord chief justice of the common pleas, which he resigned upon a pension; and was appointed master of the rolls in Ireland.

Own