FROM DR ARBUTHNOT.*

DEAR BROTHER,

Kensington, July 10, 1714.

I HAVE talked of your affairs to nobody but my Lady Masham. † She tells me, "That she has it very much at heart, and would gladly do it for her own sake, and that of her friends; but thinks it not a fit season to speak about it." We are indeed in such a strange condition as to politics, that nobody can tell now who is for who. It were really worth your while to be here for four-andtwenty hours only, to consider the oddness of the scene; I am sure it would make you relish your country life the better.

The dragon holds fast with a dead gripe the little machine. If he would have taken but half so much pains to have done other things as he has of late to exert himself against the esquire, he might have been a Dragon instead of a Dagon. I would no more have suffered and done what he has, than I would have sold myself to the gallies. Hac inter nos. However, they have now got rid of the parlia ment, and may have time to think of a scheme; perhaps they may have one already, I know no

*Endorsed, "Affairs still worse."

+ This might refer to the Dean's anxious wish to be settled in England; or, perhaps, to the wish the Dean had expressed to be historiographer. See on the latter proposal, the Dean's memorial, and a subsequent letter from Arbuthnot, dated 17th July 1714.

His treasurer's staff.-H.

thing, but it is fit to rally the broken forces under some head or another. They really did very well the last day but one in the house of lords; but yesterday they were in a flame about the queen's answer, till the queen came in and put an end to it.

The dragon showed me your letter, and seemed mightily pleased with it. He has paid ten pounds for a manuscript of which I believe there are several in town. It is a history of the last invasion of Scotland,* wrote just as plain, though not so well, as another history which you and I know, † with characters of all the men now living, the very names, and invitation that was sent to the pretender. This by a flaming jacobite, that wonders all the world. are not so. Perhaps it may be a whig, that personates a jacobite. I saw two sheets of the beginning, which was treason every line. If it goes on at the same rate of plain dealing, it is a very extraordinary piece, and worth your while to come up to see it only. Mr Lockhart, they say, owns it. It is no more his than it is mine. Do not be so dogged; but after the first shower, come up to town for a week or so. It is worth your while. Your friends will be glad to see you, and none more than myself. Adieu.

* "Memoirs concerning the Affairs of Scotland, from Queen Anne's accession to the throne, to the commencement of the union of the two kingdoms of Scotland and England in May 1707." They were published in 1714, and, notwithstanding Arbuthnot's doubts on the subject, were really written by Mr Lockhart of Carnwath.

+ History of the Four last Years,

FROM LORD BOLINGBROKE. *

July 13, 1714.

I NEVER laughed, my dear Dean, at your leaving the town on the contrary, I thought the resolution of doing so, at the time when you took it, a very wise one. But I confess, I laughed, and very heartily too, when I heard that you affected to find, within the village of Letcombe, all your heart desired. In a word, I judged of you, just as you tell me in your letter that I should judge. If my grooms did not live a happier life than I have done this great while, I am sure they would quit my service. Be pleased to apply this reflection. Indeed I wish I had been with you, with Pope and Parnell, quibus neque animi candidiores. In a little time, perhaps, I may have leisure to be happy. I continue in the same opinions and resolutions as you left me in; I will stand or fall by them. Adieu. No alteration in my fortune or circumstances can alter that sincere friendship with which I am, dear Dean, yours.

I fancy you will have a visit from that great politician and casuist, the duke. § He is at Oxford with Mr Clarke. I

*Endorsed, "Lord Bolingbroke, on my retiring."-N. + Who had both visited Swift in his retirement at Letcombe. An odd hope to be expressed by one, who, at that moment, conceived himself almost certain of becoming prime-minister. § Perhaps the Duke of Ormond...-H.

George Clarke, doctor of laws, fellow of All Souls, who had been secretary to Prince George of Denmark as lord high.

FROM CHARLES FORD, ESQ.

London, July 15, 1714.

You see I was in the right; but I could wish the booby* had not convinced me by naming my Lord Bolingbroke, and then I should have dealt well enough with him. Since it has happened so, the best remedy I could think of, was to write him a very civil answer; in which, however, I have desired to see the alterations: this is mentioned with great respect to my lord. Though he has promised to have it again to-morrow, it is probable he may be disappointed, and there may be time enough for me to receive your directions what I shall do, when I get it into my hands. the alterations are material, shall I send it to some other printer as it was first written? Reflect upon every thing you think likely to happen, and tell me beforehand what is proper to be done, that no more time may be lost. I hate the dog t for making his court in such a manner.

If

admiral, and was member of parliament for the university of Oxford...H.

* Barber. The whole letter regards the alterations proposed by Bolingbroke on the Dean's manuscript of the "Free Thoughts," which undoubtedly were calculated to make the tract serve his own interest against Lord Oxford's; whereas the purport of Swift's whole argument was to reconcile them if possible. Ford's meaning is obviously that if Mr Barber had not named Lord Bolingbroke, which might render any scruple at adopting his amendments personally disrespectful to him, it might have been very easy to have rejected those of a nameless and unknown critic.

+ John Barber.

I am very sorry you have had occasion to remove your premier minister. We are told now, we shall have no change in ours, and that the Duke of Shrewsbury will perfectly reconcile all matters. I am sure you will not believe this any more than I do; but the dragon has been more cheerful than usual for three or four days; and therefore people conclude the breaches are healed. I rather incline to the opinion of those who say he is to be made a duke, and to have a pension. Another reason given why there' is to be no change is, because the parliament was not adjourned to issue new writs in the room of those who were to come in upon the new scheme, that they might sit in the house at the next meeting. But I cannot see why an adjournment may not do as well at the beginning, as at the end of a session; and certainly it will displease less in January or February, than it would have done in July. The whigs give out the Duke of Marlborough is coming over, and his house is now actually fitting up at St James's. We have had more variety of lies of late than ever I remember. The history we were formerly talking of, would swell to a prodigious size, if it was carried on. There was a fire last night on Tower-hill, that burnt down forty or fifty houses. You say nothing of coming to town. I hope you do not mean to steal away to Ireland without seeing

us.

*The Earl of Oxford.-D. S.