Good DOCTOR,

London, July 8. 1726. I Have had two months of great uneafinefs, at the ill

account of Mrs Johnson's health; and as it is usual, feared the worst that was poffible, and doubted all the good accounts that were fent me. I pray God, her danger may warn her, to be lefs wilful, and more ready to fall into those measures that her friends and phyficians advise her to. I had a letter two days ago from Archdeacon Wall, dated fix days before yours, wherein he gives me a better account than you do; and therefore I apprehend the hath not mended fince; and yet he fays, he can honestly tell me she is now much better. Pray thank the Archdeacon, and tell him you are to have a share in this letter; and therefore I will fave him the trouble of another. Tell him also, that I never asked for my 1000l. which he hears I have got; tho' I mentioned it to the Princess the last time I faw her; but I bid her tell Walpole t, I fcorn to ask him for it. But blot out this paffage, and mention it to no one except the ladies; because I know Mrs Johnfon would be pleafed with it, and I will not write to them till I hear from them; there fore this letter is theirs as well as yours. The Archdeacon further fays, that Mrs Johnfon has not tafted claret for feveral months, but once at his houfe. This I diflike. I cannot tell who is the fourth of your friends, unless it be yourself. I am forry for your new laborious ftudies; but the best of it is, they will not be your own another day. I thank you for your new ftyle, and most ufeful quotations. I am only concerned, that altho' you get the grace of the house, you will never get the grace of the town; but die plain Sheridan, or Tom at moft, because it is a fyllable shorter than Doctor. HowVOL. IV. X

ever,

Sir Robert Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford. He was Fight Commiffioner of the Treasury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He died in February 1744, in the 71ft year of his age.

ever, I will give it you at length in the fuperfcription; and people will fo wonder how the news could come and return fo quick to and from England, especially if the wind be fair when the packet goes over; and let me warn you to be very careful in fending for your letters two days after the commencement. You loft one poft by my being out of town; for I came hither to-day, and shall stay three or four upon fome business; and then go back to Mr Pope's, and there continue till August, and then come to town, till I begin my journey to Ireland, which I propofe the middle of Auguft. My old fervant Archy is here ruined and ftarving, and has purfued me, and wrote me a letter; but I have refused to fee him. Our friend at the caftle writ to me two months ago, to have a fight of thofe papers, &c. of which I brought away a copy. I have anfwered him, that whatever papers I have, are conveyed from one place to another, thro' nine or ten hands, and that I have the key. If he fhould mention any thing of papers in

ral, either to you or the ladies, and that you can bring it in, I would have you and them to confirm the fame ftory, and laugh at my humour in it, &c. My service to Dr Delany, Dr Helmham, the Grattons, and Jackfons. There is not fo despised a creature here as your friend, with the foft verfes on children. I heartily pity him.This is the first time I was ever weary of England, and longed to be in Ireland; but it is because go I muft; for I do not love Ireland better, nor England, as England, worfe. In fhort, you all live in a wretched, dirty dog-hole and prifon; but it is a place good enough to die in. I can tell you one thing, that I have had the faireft offer made me of a fettlement here that one can imagine, which, if I were ten years younger, I would gladly accept, within twelve miles of London, and in the midst of my friends. But I am too old for new fchemes, and efpecially fuch as would bridle me in my freedoms and liberalities. But fo it is, that I must be forced to get home, partly by ftealth, and partly by force. I have indeed one temptation for this winter, much ftronger, which is, of a fine house, and garden and park, and wine-cellar in France, to pass away winter in; and if Mrs Johnson were not fo out of order, I would certainly

certainly accept of it t; and I wish she could go to Montpellier at the fame time. You fee I am grown vifionary, and therefore it is time to have done. Adieu.

I

11 July 27. 1726.

Have yours just now of the 19th; and the account you give me, is nothing but what I have fome time expected with the utmo agonies; and there is one aggravation of constraint, that where I am, I am forced to put on an eafy countenance. It was at this time the beft office your friendship could do, not to deceive me. I was violently bent all laft year, as I believe you remember, that fhe fhould go to Montpellier, or Bath, or Tunbridge. I intreated, if there was no amendment, they might both come to London. But there was a fatality, altho I indeed think her ftamina could not laft much longer, when I faw fhe could take no nourishment. I look upon this to be the greatest event that can ever happen to me; but all my preparations will not fuffice to make me bear it like a philofopher, nor alto. gether like a Chriftian. There hath been the most intimate friendship between us from her childhood; and the greatest merit on her fide, that ever was in one human creature towards another.-Nay, if I were now near her, I would not fee her; I could not behave myfelf tolerably, and should redouble her forrow. Judge in what a temper of mind I write this.-The very

time I am writing, I conclude the fairest foul in the world hath left its body.--Confufion! that I am this moment called down to a vifitor, when I am in the country, and not in my power to deny myfelf.I have affed a very constrained hour, and now return to say khow not what. I have been long weary of the world,

X 2

and

'Lord Bolingbroke invited the Dean to spend a winter with him at his houfe in France, on the banks of the Loire.

This was written from Mr Pope's at Twickenham,

ever, I will give it you at length

years, be weary of

and people will fo wonder how onverfation which could and return fo quick fear while you are reading

the wind be fair when th

warn you to be very two days after the by my being

and fhall ft go bar'

and

lar

tears at her funeral. She great fhare of the little merit I

sowing to her folicitations. to you about a week ago t.

LETTER CXVII.

Dr SWIFT to Dr SHERIDAN.

London, May 13. 1727. His goes by a private hand; for my writing is too TH much known, and my letters often stopt and o pened. I had yours of the 4th inftant; and it is the only one I have received out of Ireland, fince I left you. I hardly thought our friend would be in danger by a cold. I am of opinion the fhould be generally in the country, and only now and then vifit the town.-- -We are here in a strange fituation; a firm fettled refolution to assault the present administration, and break it, if poffible. It is certain, that Walpole is peevish and difconcerted, ftoops to the vileft offices of hireling fcoundrels, to write Billingsgate of the lowest and most proftitute kind; and has none but beafts and blockheads for his penmen, whom he pays in ready guineas very liberally. I am in high difpleasure with him and his partifans. A great man, who was very kind to me last year, doth not take the least notice of me at the Prince's court, and there hath not been one of them to fee ms. I am advised by all my friends, not to go to France, (as I intended for two months), for fear of their vengeance in a manner which they cannot execute here.-I reckon there will be a warm winter, wherein my comfort is, I fhall have no concern. I defire you will read this letter to note but our two friends, and Mr P- . His coufin with the

Soon after the date of this letter, the Dean went back to Irela d; but Mrs Johnson recovering a moderate state of health, he returned again to England.the beginning of the year 1727. Hawke

red ribband inquired very kindly after him. I hear ews about your Bishops, farther than that the Lord. enant ftickles to have them of Ireland; which Wal ways is averfe from, but does not think it worth ble, to exert his credit on fuch trifles. The dif Bout a war or no war ftill continues, and the mapart inclines to the latter, altho' ten thousand men are ordered for Holland. But this will bring fuch an addition to our debts, that it will give great advantages against thofe in power, in the next feffions. Walpole laughs at all this, but not fo heartily as he ufed. I have at laft feen the Princess twice this week, by her own commands. She retains her old civility, and I my old freedom. She charges me, without ceremony, to be author of a bad bookt, tho' I told her how angry the miniftry were; but the affures me, that both the and the P were very well pleased with every particular; but I disowned the whole affair, as you know I very well might; only gave her leave, fince fhe liked the book, to fuppofe what author the pleafed-You will wonder to find me fay fo much of politics; but I keep very bad company, who are full of nothing else. Pray be very careful of careful of your charge, or 1 fhall order my lod gers the bulk of their glaffes, and the number of their Bottles. I ftole this time to write to you, having very little to spare. I go as foon as poffible to the country, and fhall rarely fee this town.

My fervice to all friends.

I'defire you will fend me fix fets of the edition of the Drapiers, by the first convenience of any friend or ace quaintance that comes hither.

LETTER CXVIII.

Dr SWIFT to Dr SHERIDAN.

Landon, June 24. 1927.

Have received your laft, with the inclofed print. I defire you will let Dr Delany know, that I tranfcri

X.3.

bed

| Caroline Princess of Wales, afterwards Queen, confort of King George 11.

Gulliver's travels.