which his majesty was present; and if he was there, after a long and strenuous opposition, forced to tell his sentiments, forced, sir, to tell his sentiments, not in the manner represented to the world, but in a manner the most cautious of giving room for a pretence to oppose the inclinations of our parliament * ?

But, alas, the consequence !-You, sir, the defender of Ireland, were soon engaged against me on that account; and that fatal genius of yours, in an instant, ruined my character; but, even ruinbearing as it was, I blessed it: the cause which you undertook was dear to me; and, though fame is the last thing which one would sacrifice even for his country, yet I parted with that with pleasure, while you thought it necessary for the publick good so to do. But now the end is served, dear sir, may not the man have his mare again?

Plato, being told that certain persons aspersed his character, and represented him abroad as a very ill man; instead of expostulating with his enemies and returning reproach for reproach, concealed himself, saying, "No matter, my friends; the whole life of "Plato shall give his accusers the lie."

Could I set before me a greater example? Under the general displeasure of my country, under all the censures which the restless malice of my enemies

By this passage, compared with the Drapier's third Letter, it appears that sir John Browne was one of the four evidences examined by the privy council in England, on behalf of Wood's patent.

+ It was probably on account of this letter, that the two pas sages respecting Browne in the Drapier's third Letter, which are restored in this edition, were struck out by the dean.

VOL. XVIII.

S

could

could devise, and under the keen edge of the drapier's wit; the only revenge in which I indulged myself was, by a steady love for my country, and by manifest acts of affection thereto, to be a silent reproach to the foul tongues of my enemies.

Permit then, sir, permit me in peace to take his great example; and no longer give way to the power of my enemies, by continuing to oppress me. They have already gained their cause by you: but I must say, it was not the sword of Ajax, but the armour of Achilles which he put on, that won the day.

The cause for which you undertook my ruin was the cause of my country: it was a good cause, and you shall ever find me of that side. You have carried it, and I know you will no longer be my enemy. But alas! as long as your works subsist, wherever they be read, even unto the end of time must I be branded as a villain? It is a hard sensence; and yet, unless the spear of Achilles, the same instrument which gave the wound, administer the remedy, it must be so.

In short, sir, you must be a man of honour, it is not possible that honour should be wanting, where all the distinguishing characteristicks of it are found: I cannot doubt it; and therefore I will let you fully into a secret, which accident has given you a part of; and I am sure you will keep it.

The source of all my misfortunes was the vote of the house of commons; but I have laboured however, as I always shall, to serve my country, and make myself agreeable to them: and, though the misfortune of a bad publick character deprived me of the private conversation of my countrymen, which

is

is the surest and best way to know our true interest; yet I flatter myself that my little essays may be useful, at least they may be no bad beginning; and you know it is easy to add to a work once begun. But, if the work is known to be mine, the very name will condemn it, and render it useless to my country *.

Whatever the faults may be, I have publickly applied to you to amend them, before the bearer's mistake made me determine this private application to you: And I must say, that I shall reckon it no small degree of honour, if you take that trouble upon you.

In the mean time, I shall beg the favour of you to keep a secret, which no other person but my printer, my bookseller, and the bearer, knows. I am,

Reverend sir, your most obedient servant,

JOHN BROWNE.

The dean, in his Answer to the Memorial, which was published before he had received this letter, says, "I received a paper "from you, whoever you are, without any name of author or "printer, and sent, I suppose, to, me among others without any "distinction. It contains a complaint of the dearness of corn; " and some schemes for making it cheaper; which I cannot ap

prove of." After objecting to several particulars in sir John Browne's plan, the dean adds, "Sir, upon the whole, your paper " is a very crude piece, liable to more objections than there are "lines: but, I think, your meaning is good, and so far you are "pardonable."

SIR,

TO THE REV. MR. WALLIS.

MARKET HILL *, Nov. 16, 1728.

I AM extremely obliged to you for your kind intention in the purchase you mention; but it will not answer my design, because these lands are let in leases renewable for ever, and consequently can never have the rent raised; which is mortal to all estates left for ever to a publick use, and is contrary to a fundamental maxim of mine; and most corporations feel the smart of it.

I have been here several months, to amuse me in my disorders of giddiness and deafness, of which I have frequent returns-and I shall hardly return to Dublin till Christmas.

I am truly grieved at your great loss. Such misfortunes seem to break the whole scheme of man's life; and although time may lessen sorrow, yet it

cannot

* The seat of sir Arthur Acheson, where the dean passed two summers. He had a farm near it, which was let to him by sir Arthur, and afterward called Drapier's hill, apparently from the poem, while Swift tenanted it.

+ Accordingly, in his will, by which he devised his fortune to the building and endowing of an hospital for lunaticks, he restrained his executors from purchasing any lands that "were encumbered "with leases for lives renewable."

The death of Mrs. Wallis.

Mr. Pope has so poetically expressed this idea, that we cannot resist the temptation of transcribing it: "I am sensibly obliged to "you, in the comfort you endeavour to give me upon the loss of a "friend. It is like the shower we have had this morning, that "just makes the drooping trees hold up their heads, but they re

* main

cannot hinder a man from feeling the want of so near a companion, nor hardly supply it with another *. I wish you health and happiness, and that the pledge left you may prove a comfort. I am, with great sincerity, your most obliged and most humble servant,

JONATHAN SWIFT.

SIR,

TO MR. POPE.

IF I am not a good

MARCH 6, 1728-9.

am not a good correspondent, I have bad health; and that is as good. I passed eight months in the country, with sir Arthur and my lady Acheson, and had at least half a dozen returns of my giddiness and deafness, which lasted me about three weeks apiece; and, among other inconveniences, hindered me from visiting my chapter, and punishing enormities; but did not save me the charges of a visitation dinner. This disorder neither hinders my sleeping, nor much my walking; yet is the most mortifying malady I can suffer. I have been just a

"main checked and withered at the root: the benediction is but a "short relief, though it comes from Heaven itself. The loss of a "friend is the loss of life; after that is gone from us, it is all but "a gentle decay, and wasting and lingering a little longer." Letters to a Lady, p. 23.

* This sentiment, no doubt, came from the writer's heart. Stella, the incomparable Stella, was then no more!

† A son, afterward a barrister at law.