I know no party; but the truth of the question is what I will support as well as I can, when any man I honour is attacked. ŞIR, 223. FROM DR. SWIFT, MAY 27, 1713. THE reason I give you the trouble of this reply to your letter, is because I am going in a very few days to Ireland: and although I intended to return towards winter, yet it may happen, from the common accidents of life, that I may never see you again. In your yesterday's letter, you are pleased to take the complaining side, and think it hard I should write to Mr. Addison as I did, only for an allusion. This allusion was only calling a clergyman of some little distinction an infidel; a clergyman, who was your friend, who always loved you, who had endeavoured at least to serve you; and who, whenever he did write any thing, made it sacred to himself never to fling out the least hint against you. One thing you are pleased to fix on me, as what you are sure of; that the Examiner had talked after me, when he said, "Mr. Addison had bridled you in point of party." I do not read one in six of those papers, nor ever knew he had such a passage; and I am so ignorant of this, that I cannot tell what it means: whether, that Mr. Addison kept you you close to a party, or that he hindered you from writing about party. I never talked or writ to that Author in my life; so that he could not have learned it from me. And, in short, I solemnly affirm, that, with relation to every friend I have, I am as innocent as it is possible for a human creature to be. And, whether you believe me or not, I think, with submission, you ought to act as if you believed me, till you have demonstration to the contrary. I have all the Ministry to be my witnesses, that there is hardly a man of wit of the adverse party, whom I have not been so bold as to recommend often and with earnestness to them; for I think principles at present are quite out of the case, and that we dispute wholly about persons *. In these last you and I differ; but in the other, I think, we agree: for I have in print professed myself in politicks to be what we formerly called a Whig. As to the great man whose defence you undertake; though I do not think so well of him as you do, yet I have been the cause of preventing five hundred hard things being said against him. I am sensible I have talked too much when myself is the subject: therefore I conclude with sincere wishes for your health and prosperity, and am, Sir, Your, &c. JON. SWIFT. You cannot but remember, that, in the only thing I ever published with my name, I took care * Steele says, "I thought it was the shortest way to impartiality, to put myself beyond farther hopes or fears, by declaring myself at a time when the dispute is not about persons and parties, but things and causes." Tatler, No 193. The Duke of Marlborough. to to celebrate you as much as I could *, and in as handsome a manner as I could, though it was in a letter to the present Lord Treasurer. 224. TO THE EARL OF OXFORD. MY LORD, BLOOMSBURY-SQUARE, I PRESUME to give your Lordship this trouble, to acquaint you, that having an ambition to serve in the ensuing Parliament, I humbly desire your Lordship will please to accept of my resignation of my office as Commissioner of the Stamp Revenue. I should have done this sooner, but that I heard the Commission was passing without my name in it, and I would not be guilty of the arrogance of * In his "Proposal for correcting the English Tongue," Swift says, "I would willingly avoid repetition, having about a year ago communicated to the publick much of what I had to offer upon this subject, by the hands of an ingenious gentleman, who for a long time did thrice a week divert or instruct the kingdom by his papers, and is supposed to pursue the same design at present under the title of Spectator. This Author, who hath tried the force and compass of our language with so much success, agrees entirely with me in most of my sentiments relating to it; so do the greatest part of the men of wit and learning, whom I have had the happiness to converse with." ↑ "We see here," says the author of the Life of Steele in the Biographia Britannica, " that our Author takes notice of the design to dismiss him, which indeed he had reason to have apprehended long before; for he had frequently attacked the Earl resigning what I could not hold. But, having heard this since contradicted, I am obliged to give it up, as with great humility I do by this present writing. Give me leave on this occasion to say something as to my late conduct with relation to the late men in in power, and to assure you whatever I have done, said, or written, has proceeded from no other motive, but the love of what I think truth. For merely as to my own affairs, I could not wish any man in the Administration rather than yourself, who favour those that become your dependants with a greater liberality of heart than any man I have ever before observed. When I had the honour of a short conversation with you, you were pleased not only to signify to me, that I should remain in this office, but to add, that if I would name to you one of more value, which would be more commodious to me, you would favour me in it. I am going out of any particular dependance on your Lordship; and will tell you with the freedom of an indifferent man, that it is impossible for any man who thinks, and has any public spirit, not to tremble at seeing his country, in its present circumstances, in the hands of so daring a genius as yours. If incidents should arise, that should place your own safety, and what ambitious men call greatness, in a balance against the general good, our all depends upon your choice under such a temptation. You have my hearty and fervent prayers to Heaven, Earl of Oxford under borrowed names, and particularly in "The Medley," where the pleasant narrative of the ball at Wap ping, N° XXV. was written by him." to to avert all such dangers from you. I thank your Lordship for the regard and distinction which you have at sundry times shewed me; and wish you, with your country's safety, all happiness and prosperity. Share, my Lord, your good fortune with whom you will; while it lasts, you will want no friends; but, if any adverse day happens to you, and I live to see it, you will find I think myself obliged to be your friend and advocate. This is talking in a strange dialect from a private man to the first of a Nation; but to desire only a little, exalts a man's condition to a level with those who want a great deal. But I beg your Lordship's pardon; and am, with great respect, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient, and most humble servant, RICH. STEELE 225. TO MRS. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, TONSON'S, JUNE 6, 1713, I SHALL not come home to dinner; but, if you will call here at six o'clock, we will take the air together. Yours, more than you can imagine, or I express, RICH. STEELE. 226. TO |