As to your blank verfe, it hath too often fallen into the fame vile hands of late. One Thomfon a Scotfman, hath fucceeded the beft in that way, in four poems he hath written on the four seasons: yet I am not over fond of them, because they are all defcription, and nothing is doing; whereas Milton engageth me in actions of the highest importance,

Modo me Roma, modo ponit Athenis.

and yours on the feven pfalms, &c. have fome advantage that way.

You fee Pope, Gay, and I, use all our endeavours to make folks merry and wife, and profess to have no enemies except knaves and fools. I confefs myself to be exempted from them in one article, which was engaging with a miniftry to prevent, if poffible, the evils that have over-run the nation; and my foolish zeal in endeavouring to fave this wretched ifland. Wherein, though I fucceeded abfolutely in one important article *; yet even there I loft all hope of favour from thofe in power here, and difobliged the court of England, and have in twenty years drawn above one thoufand fcurrilous libels on myself, without any other recompence than the love of the Irish vulgar, and two or three dozen fign-posts of the drapier in this city, befides thofe that are fcattered in country. towns, and even thefe are half worn out. So that whatever little genius God hath given me, I may justly pretend to have been the worft manager of it to my own advantage of any man upon earth.

Aug. 2.] What I have above written hath long lain by me, that I might confider further: but I have been partly out of order, and partly plagued with a lawsuit of ten years ftanding, and I doubt very ill clofed up, although it concerns two thirds of my little fortune. Think whether fuch periods

*

Against Wood's copper halfpence. See the Drapiers letters. of

of life are proper to encourage poetical or philofophical fpeculations.

I fhall not therefore tire you any longer, but with great acknowledgment for the diftinction you please to fhow me, defire to be always thought, with great truth and a moft particular efteem,

SIR,

Your most obedient,
And obliged Servant,
J. SW.FT.

We have fometimes editions printed here of books from England, which I know not whether you are in a way of getting. I will name fome below, and if you approve of any, I fhall willingly increase your library; they are fmall, confequently more portable in your marches, and which is more important, the prefent will be cheaper for

A very friendly correfpondence having been carried on for many years between Dr. King, Archbishop of Dublin, and Dr. Swift, D. S. P. D. it may be proper to prefix fome account of his Grace before the following letters, for which we shall make nr apology.

WILLIAM KING was born at Antrim the first

day of May 1650, and was defcended from an antient family of the Duke of Burras in the North of Scotland, from whence his father removed in the reign of King Charles I. to avoid engaging in the folemn league and covenant; brought his effects, and fettled his family in the north of Ireland, where the above William was born, and had the pleasure of living to fee his fon promoted to the bishopric of Derry.

In 1662, he was fent to a Latin fchool in the county of Tyrone, and the 18th of entered the univerfity of Dublin. Gg 2

April 1667, In 1670, he

tool

took the degree of Bachelor of Arts; in 1673, that of Mafter; and the fame year, was ordained a Deacon, by Dr. Moffum, Bifhop of Derry. On the 26th of April 1674, he was ordained a Prieft by Dr. John Parker, Archbishop of Tuam. In 1688, he was conftituted Prefident of the Chapter of St. Patrick's, Dublin; and on the 26th of January following, was elected Dean by the Chapter. In 1689, he took his degree of Dr. of Divinity. He was promoted to the Bishopric of Derry on the oth of January O. S. 1690, and was confecrated in Christ Church, Dublin, the 25th of the faid month. Upon the promotion of Dr. Narciffus Marth, Archbishop of Dublin, to the Archbishopric of Armagh, Dr. King was tranflated from Derry to the fee of Dublin, the 11th of March 1702. His Grace, in the reign of George I was four different times one of the Lords Juftices of Ireland, for his great loyalty and attachment to the Proteftant religion, and the houfe of Hanover. He died at the archiepifcopal palace at St. Sepulcher's, Dublin, on the 8th of May 1729, having entered into the 86th year of his age, and was buried on the north fide of Donnybrook church, near Dublin, without any monument, tomb, or infcription, as he had directed in his lifetime.

His private charities were very ample and confiderable; but fo cautiously and fecretly difperfed, that it is impoffible to give a particular account of them. After he was tranflated to the fee of Dublin, he repaired and adorned the palace of St. Sepulchre's, which was in a ruinous condition, by expending above 3000 1. on improvements, and erected a court houfe for his archiepifcopal manor at his own charge. He purchafed from the late Lord Rofs, and others, many impropriate tithes, to add to the livings of the clergy in his diocese, to make them glebes, and for lectureships.

He