made any real difference between men. Being now abfent and forgotten, I have changed my mind. You have a thousand people who can pretend they love you, with as much appearance of fincerity as I; fo that, according to common justice, I can have but a thousandth part in return of what I give. And this difference is wholly owing to your ftation. And the misfortune is ftill the greater, because I always loved you just so much the worfe for your ftation. For in your public capacity you have often angered me to the heart, but as a private man never once.. So that if I only look towards myself, I could wish you a private man to-morrow. For I have nothing to ask, at least nothing that you will give, which is the fame thing. And then you would fee whether I fhould not with much more willingness attend you in a retirement, whenever you pleafed to give me leave, than ever I did at London or Windfor. From these fentiments I will never write to you, if I can help it, otherwife than as to a private perfon, nor allow myself to have been obliged by you in any other capacity.

THE memory of one great inftance of your candor: and justice I will carry to my grave; that having been in a manner domeftic with you for almost four years, it was never in the power of any public or concealed enemy to make you think ill of me, tho' malice and envy were often employed to that end. If I live, pofterity fhall know that and more; which tho' you and fome body that fhall be nameless, feem to value less than I could wifh, is all the return I can make you. Will you give me leave to fay how I would defire to stand in your memory? As one who was truly fenfible of the honour you did him, tho' he was too proud to be vain upon it as one who was neither affuming, officious, nor teafing; who never wilfully mifre prefented perfons or facts to you, nor confulted his paffions when he gave a character and laftly, as one whofe indifcretions proceeded altogether from a weak head, and not an ill heart I

wholly quitted the ministry, upon finding it impoffible to re le the misunderstandings between the Lord Treasurer and Secretary. Swift.

I will add one thing more, which is the highest compliment I can make, that I never was afraid of offending you, nor am now in any pain for the manner I write to you in. I have faid enough, and like one at your levee, having made my bow, I fhrink back into the croud. I am, my Lord, &c.

finish

My LORD, Dublin, June 14.1737. Had the honour of a letter from your Lordship, dated April 7. which I was not prepared to answer until this time. Your Lordship must needs have known, that the hiftory you mention of the four laft years of the Queen's reign, was written at Windsor, just upon ing the peace *; at which time your father and my Lord Bolingbroke had a mifunderstanding with each other, that was attended with very bad confequences.. When I came to Ireland to take this deanery, (after the peace was made), I could not ftay here above a fortnight, being recalled by an hundred letters to haften. back, and to use my endeavours in reconciling those minifters. I left them the history you mention, which I had finished at Windfor, to the time of the peace. When I returned to England, I found their quarrels and coldness increased; I laboured to reconcile them as much as I was able; I contrived to bring them to my Lord Mafham's at St James's; my Lord and Lady Mafham left us together; I expoftulated with them both; but could not find any good confequences. I was to go to Windfor next day with my Lord Treafurer; I pretended business that prevented me; and fo I fent themt

to

The Doctor means only the firft draught of that history: for it is cern, that, after the Queen's death, he fpent a good deal of his time in improving and correcting it to his own tafte and liking; and particularly we find in a letter of the Dean's to Pope, dated Jan. 10. 1721, [above, p. 23.] that he ftill employed, fome part of his leifure in digefting it into orders Swift.

to Windfor next day, which was Saturday, expecting they would come to fome t. But I followed them to Windfor where my Lord Bolingbroke told me, that my fcherhead come to nothing. Things went on at the fame rate. They grew more eftranged every day. My Lord Treasurer found his credit daily declining. In May, before the Queen died, I had my laft meeting with them at my Lord Mafham's. He left us together, and therefore I spoke very freely to them both; and told them I would retire, for I found all was gone. Lord Bolingbroke whifpered me, I was in the right. Your father faid, all would do well t. I told him, that I would go to Oxford on Monday, fince I found it impoffible to be of any use. I took coach to Oxford on Monday; went to a friend in Berkshire; there ftaid till the Queen's death, and then to my station here; where I ftaid twelve years, and never faw my Lord your father afterwards. They could not agree about printing the hiftory of the four last years; and therefore I have kept it to this time, when I determine to publish it in London, to the confufion of all those * * * who · have accufed the Queen and that ministry of making a bad peace; to which that party entirely owes the Proteftant fucceffion. I was then in the greatest trust and confidence with your father the Lord Treasurer, as well as with my Lord Bolingbroke, and all others who had part in the administration. I had all the letters from the Secretary's office during the treaty of peace. Out of thofe, and what I learned from the miniftry, I formed that hiftory which I am now going to publish, for the information of pofterity, and to control the most impudent falfehoods which have been published fince. I wanted no kind of materials. I knew your father better than you could at that time; and I do impartially think him the most virtuous minifter, and the most able, that ever I remember to have read of. If your Lordship

Here is an hiatus of about half a line. The ader's ima gination can easily fill it up, fo as to make the fefe perfect Swift.

This was a very common expreffion of my Lord Treasurer, who was the least apt to despond of any minister in the world.

Lordship hath any particular circumftances that may fortify what I have said in the hiftory, fuch as letters or other memorials, I am content they should be printed at the end, by way of appendix. I loved my Lord your father better than any other man in the world, altho' I had no obligation to him on the score of preferment; having been driven to this wretched kingdom, to which I was almost a stranger, by his want of power to keep me in what I ought to call my own country; tho' I happened to be dropped here, and was a year old before I left it, and, to my forrow, did not die before I came back to it again. I am extremely glad of the felicity you have in your alliances, and defire to prefent my moft humble refpects to my Lady Oxford, and your daughter the Duchefs. As to the history, it is only of affairs which I know very well, and had all the advantages poffible to know, when you were in fome fort but a lad. One great defign of it is, to do juftice to the miniftry of that time, and to refute all the objections against them, as if they had a design of bringing in Popery and the Pretender; and further to demonftrate, that the present settlement of the crown was chiefly owing to my Lord your father. I can never expect to fee England; I am now too old and fickly, added to almost a perpetual deafness and giddinefs. I live a most domestic life; I want nothing that is neceffary; but I am in a curfed, factious, oppreffed, miferable country, not made fo by nature, but by the flavish, hellish principles of an execrable, prevailing faction in it. Farewel, my Lord; I' have tired you and myself. I defire again to prefent my most humble refpects to my Lady Oxford, and the Duchefs your daughter. Pray God preferve you long and happy. I fhall diligently inquire into your conduct, from those who will tell me.

You have hitherto

continued right: let me hear that you perfevere fo. Your talk will not be long; for I am not in a condition of health or time to trouble this world, and I am heartily tired of it already; and fo fhould be in England, which I hear is as corrupt as this poor inflaved country. Iam, with the trueft love and respect, my Lord, &r.

LET