from so great a person, and in a manner so handsome and extraordinary, it is absolutely impossible I should ever be honoured with again. I always thought I added to my own reputation whenever I pointed out some of those excellencies which shine through every page of them. But to be thought worthy of receiving them from your hands, was infinitely beyond even what my vanity could hope for. I have flattered myself for many years, that to the best of my power I have continually fought under the banners of liberty, and that I have been ready, at a moment's call, either to lay down my life in the defence of it, or, whenever there should appear any probability of success, to vindicate and assert that claim, which every man in every country has by nature a right to insist upon; but, whatever principles have guided my actions hitherto, I shall from this moment enlist myself under the conduct of liberty's general; and whenever I desert her ensigns, to fight under those of tyranny and oppression, then, and not till then, will I part with those books which you have so highly honoured me with, and cast them into the flames, that I may never afterward be reproached either by the sight of them, or the remembrance of the donor. I am, sir, with the highest esteem, your most obliged and most obedient humble servant, DEANE SWIFT.

TO

TO JOHN BARBER, ESQ., ALDERMAN OF

LONDON.

MY DEAR GOOD OLD FRIEND,

DUBLIN,

FEB. 16, 1738-9.

THE young gentleman who delivers you this, lies under one great disadvantage, that he is one of my relations, and those are of all mortals what I despise and hate, except one Mrs. Whiteway and her daughter. You must understand that the mother has the insolence to say, that you have heard of her and know her character. She is a perfect Irish teague born in Cheshire, and lived, as I remember, at Warrington. The young gentleman who waits upon you, has a very good countenance, has been entered three years at the Temple (as it is the usual custom), but I think was never yet in England, nor does he know any one person there. However, as it is easy to find you, who are so well known and so much esteemed, he will attend you with this letter, and you will please to instruct him in the usual methods of entering himself in the Temple. He is a younger brother, but has an estate of a hundred pounds a year, which will make shift to support him, in a frugal way. He is also a very good person of a man, and Mrs. Whiteway says he has a virtuous disposition. My disorders of deafness, forgetfulness, and other ailments, added to a dead weight of 70 years, make me weary of life. But my comfort is, that in you I find your vigour and health increase.

Pray God continue both to you. I am, my dear friend, with very great esteem and affection, your most obedient and most humble servant,

J. SWIFT.

Do you ever see any of our old friends? If you visit Mr. Lewis, I must charge you to present him with my kind and hearty service: and how or where is my lord Bolingbroke and Mr. Pope?

I am very much obliged to you for the favour you have shown to Mr. Richardson. He is a very prudent, good gentleman; if you see him, pray make him my compliments. So, my dear friend, once more adieu.

FROM CHEVALIER RAMSAY..

AT PARIS, FEB. 20, 1738-9.

I SEND you here enclosed the bill of loading for

the small box of books I wrote of to you some time ago. I shall be glad to hear you received them, much more to know if the perusal pleased you. No man having a higher idea of your talents, genius, and capacity, than he, who is, with great respect, reverend sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,

A. RAMSAY.

FROM

FROM MRS. WHITEWAY TO WILLIAM RICHARDSON, ESQ.

SIR,

MARCH 28, 1739.

Two days ago I had the very great pleasure to hear from Mr. Swift you were well. The acknowledgments he professes in his letters to the dean and me of your extraordinary civilities to him, make me perfectly ashamed to think how ill I shall acquit myself by only being able to say I most sincerely thank you. What an opportunity have you laid in my way of saying a thousand fine things on this subject; and yet I can only tell you (what you already know to be a great truth), that you have acted in this as you do in every thing, friendly, politely, and genteelly. All the return I can make, is to give you farther room to exercise a virtue which great minds only feel, that of doing good to an ingenuous worthy honest gentleman. The person I mean is counsellor M'Aulay; one of those who stand candidates for member of parliament to represent the university of Dublin, in the place of Dr. Coghill deceased. The dean of St. Patrick's appears openly for him; and I have his leave and command to tell you, if you can do Mr. M'Aulay a piece of friendship on this occasion with any person of distinction in England, he will receive the favour as done to himself. After I have mentioned the dean, how trifling will it be to speak of myself? and yet I most earnestly entreat your interest in this affair; and for this reason, be

cause it will never lie in my way to make you any return; so that only true generosity can inspire you to do any thing at my request. After all, I am not so very unreasonable as to desire a favour of this nature if it be irksome to you. Tell me, sir, can you do any thing in this matter? and will you undertake it? for your word I know can be depended upon. There is one hint that perhaps I am impertinent in offering, that all great bodies of men (or who at least think themselves so), let their inclinations be ever so much in prejudice of one person (as I take it to be the case of Mr. M'Aulay), yet wait for the interfering of the higher powers; so that if, by your good offices, the lord lieutenant can be prevailed on to recommend him to the provost and fellows of the university, his interest would be certainly fixed: but this, and the manner of doing it, I submit to your superiour judgment.

The dean of St. Patrick's presents you his most affectionate love and service;-these were his own. words. He is better both in health and hearing than I have known him these twelve months; but so indolent in writing, that he will scarce put his name to a receipt for money. This he has likewise ordered me to tell you as an apology for not writing to you himself, and not want of the highest esteem for you.

Do you, sir, ever intend to see this kingdom again? What time may we expect it? When may I hope you will perform your promise to let miss Richardson spend some months with me? and do you ever intend to write again to your friends in Dublin? I am, sir, with the highest esteem and respect, your most humble and most obedient servant,

MAR. WHITEWAY.

FROM