their own quarrel; and that amongst our enemies we might number our allies.

That is now no longer doubted, of which the nation was then firft informed, that the war was unneceffarily protracted to fill the pockets of Marlborough; and that it would have been continued without end, if he could have continued his annual plunder. But Swift, I fuppose, did not yet know what he has fince written, that a commiffion was drawn which would have appointed him General for life, had it not become ineffectual by the refolution of Lord Cowper, who refused the feal.

Whatever is received, fay the fchools, is received in proportion to the recipient. The power of a political treatise depends

pends much upon the difpofition of the people; the nation was then combuf

tible, and a spark fet it on fire. It is boafted, that between November and January eleven thousand were fold; a great number at that time, when we were not yet a nation of readers. To its propagation certainly no agency of power or influence was wanting. It furnished arguments for converfation, fpeeches for debate, and materials for parliamentary

refolutions.

Yet, furely, whoever furveys this wonder-working pamphlet with cool perufal, will confefs that its efficacy was fupplied by the paffions of its readers; that it operates by the mere weight of facts,

C

facts, with very little affiftance from the

hand that produced them.

This year (1712) he published his Reflections on the Barrier Treaty, which carries on the defign of his Conduct of the Allies, and fhews how little regard in that negotiation had been shewn to the intereft of England, and how much of the conquered country had been demanded by the Dutch.

This was followed by Remarks on the Bishop of Sarum's Introduction to his third Volume of the Hiftory of the Reformation; a pamphlet which Burnet published as an alarm, to warn the nation of the approach of Popery. Swift, who seems to have difliked the Bishop with fome

thing more than political averfion, treats him like one whom he is glad of an opportunity to infult.

Swift, being now the declared favourite and fuppofed confidant of the Tory Ministry, was treated by all that depended on the Court with the respect which dependents know how to pay. He foon began to feel part of the mifery of greatnefs; he that could fay he knew him, confidered himself as having fortune in his power. Commiffions, folicitations, remonftrances, crouded about him; he was expected to do every man's business, to procure employment for one, and to retain it for another. In affifting those who addreffed him, he reprefents himfelf as fufficiently diligent; and defires

to have others believe, what he probably believed himself, that by his interpofition many Whigs of merit, and among them Addifon and Congreve, were continued in their places. But every man of known influence has fo many petitions which he cannot grant, that he muft néceffarily offend more than he gratifics, as the preference given to one affords all the reft a reason for complaint. When I give away a place, faid Lewis XIV. I make an kundred discontented, and oné ungrateful.

Much has been faid of the equality 'and independence which he preferved in his converfation with the Minifters, of the franknefs of his remonftrances, and the familiarity of his friendship.