*

sumption and haughtiness, but in reality an incitement to marriage. Men in years ought always to secure a friend to take care of declining life, and watch narrowly as they fall the last minute particles of the hourglass. A bachelor will seldom find, among all his kindred, so true a nurse, so faithful a friend, so disinterested a companion, as one tied to him by the double chain of duty and affection. A wife could not be banished from his chamber, or his unhappy hours of retirement; nor had the dean felt a blow, or wanted a companion, had he been married, or, in other words, had Stella lived. All that a friend could do, has been done by Mrs. Whiteway; 'all that a companion could persuade, has been attempted by Mrs. Ridgeway. The rest but I shall run on for ever, and I set out at first only with an intention of thanking you for your letter, and assuring you that

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

ORRERY.

P. S. I beg to hear from you from time to time, if any new occurrence happens in the dean's unhappy

state.

"volumes, the earl of Clarendon's history in three folio volumes, " and my best Bible, together with thirteen small Persian pictures "in the drawingroom, and the small silver tankard given to me "by the contribution of some friends whose names are engraved at "the bottom of the said tankard.”

LETTERS OF UNCERTAIN DATE.

FROM THE DUCHESS OF HAMILTON.

DEAR DEAN,

WEDNESDAY, (YEAR UNCERTAIN).

WHEN we were together last, I remember we

spoke of a certain stanza, which vou suspected me parent of, by reason there were some things in it, you were sure I should have said twelve years ago. If this be a rule, I am certain you are not dean Swift; for twelve years ago your promised letter had not been so long in coming to me. All I can say is, I wish you had been twelve years ago what I wish you now, and that you were now what you was twelve years ago to

Your real friend and humble servant,

E. HAMILTON.

FROM THE DUKE OF WHARTON.

DEAR DEAN,

I

MONDAY MORNING, (YEAR
UNCERTAIN)

It

SHALL embark for England to morrow. would be necessary for me to take leave of lord

Molesworth

Molesworth on many accounts; and as Young is engaged in town, I must infallibly go alone, unless your charity extends itself to favour me with your company there this morning.

I beg you would send me your answer, and believe me

Sincerely your faithful friend and servant,

WHARTON.

P. S. If you condescend so far, come to me about eleven of the clock.

TO THE EARL OF PETERBOROW.

MY LORD,

ima

I NEVER knew or heard of any person so volatile and so fixed as your lordship: you, while your gination is carrying you through every corner of the world, where you have or have not been, can at the same time remember to do offices of favour and kindness to the meanest of your friends; and, in all the scenes you have passed, have not been able to attain that one quality peculiar to a great man of forgetting every thing but injuries. Of this I am a living witness against you; for, being the most insignificant of all your old humble servants, you were so cruel as never to give me time to ask a favour; but prevented me in doing whatever you thought I desired, or could be for my credit or advantage.

I have often admired at the capriciousness of for

tune in regard to your lordship. She has forced courts to act against their oldest and most constant maxims; to make you a general because you had courage and conduct; an ambassador because you had wisdom and knowledge in the interests of Europe; and an admiral on account of your skill in maritime affairs: whereas, according to the usual method of court proceedings, I should have been at the head of the army, and you of the church, or rather a curate under the dean of St. Patrick's.

The archbishop of Dublin laments that he did not see your lordship till he was just upon the point of leaving the Bath: I pray God you may have found success in that journey; else I shall continue to think there is a fatality in all your lordship's undertakings, which only terminate in your own honour, and the good of the publick, without the least advantage to your health or fortune.

I remember lord Oxford's ministry used to tell me, "That, not knowing where to write to you, they "were forced to write at you." It is so with me; for you are in one thing an evangelical man, that 66 you know not where to lay your head;" and I think you have no house. Pray, my lord, write to me, that I may have the pleasure, in this scoundrel country, of going about, and showing my depending parsons a letter from the earl of Peterborow.

I am, &c.

BY DR. SWIFT;

BUT WHEN: OR TO WHOM WRITTEN IS UNCERTAIN.

EVERY squire, almost to a man, is an oppressor of the clergy; a racker of his tenants; a jobber of all publick works; very proud; and generally illite

Two neighbouring squires, although they be intimate friends, relations, or allies, if one of them want one hundred foot of the other's land contiguous to his own, which would make any building square, or his garden uniform (without the least inconveniency to the other) he shall be absolutely refused; or (as the utmost mark of friendship) shall be forced to pay for it twenty times more than the value. This they call, paying for your conveniency: which is directly contrary to the very letter of an ancient heathen maxim in morality-That whatever benefit we can confer upon another, without injuring ourselves, we are bound to do it to a perfect stranger. The esquires take the titles of great men, with as little ceremony, as Alexander or Cæsar. For instance, the great Conolly, the great Wesley the great Damer ‡.

4

A fellow, whose father was a butcher, desiring a lawyer to be a referee in some little brangle between him and his neighbour, complained that the lawyer excused himself in the following manner:Sir, I

* Speaker of the house of commons.

+ Garret Wesley, esq.

Joseph Damer, esq., of the county of Tipperary,