scheme. However, I would have you keep your vacation of September here; and let Mrs. Brent send me a dozen guineas (half of them half guineas) by you, and a periwig, and a new riding gown and cassock, and whatever else I may want by a longer absence, provided you will resolve and swear that I shall stay.

I had all Mrs. Brent's packets by Mr. Little. My service to Mrs. Dingley. I cannot say, that I have more to say, than to say that I am, &c.

DR. SWIFT TO DR. SHERIDAN.

SEPT. 18, 1728 *.

My continuance here is owing partly to indolence,

and partly to my hatred to Dublin. I am in a middling way, between healthy and sick, hardly ever without a little giddiness or deafness, and sometimes both so much for that. As to what you call my lesson, I told you I would think no more of it, neither do I conceive the world deserves so much trouble from you or me. I think the sufferings of the country for want of silver deserves a paper†, since the remedy is so easy, and those in power so negligent. I had some other subjects in my thoughts; but truly I am taken up so much with long lampoons on a person, who owns you for a

* This should also be dated from Market-hill.

In the Intelligencer, the xixth number of which is on this subject.

back,

back, that I have no time for any thing else; and if I do not produce one every now and then of about two hundred lines, I am chid for my idleness, and threatened with I desire will you. you step to the deanery, speak to Mrs. Brent*, bid her open the middle great drawer of Ridgeway's scrutoire in my closet, and then do you take out from thence the history in folio, marble cover; and two thin have folios fairly writ. I forget the titles, but you read them; one is an account of the proceedings of lord Oxford's ministry, and the other to the same purpose. There are foul copies of both in the same my drawer, but do you take out the fair ones, not in hand. Let them be packed up, and brought hither by the bearer. My lady is perpetually quarrelling with sir Arthur and me, and shows every creature the libels I have writ against her §.

Mr. Worrall sent me the particulars of the havock made in Naboth's vineyard .-The d— burst, &c.

I think lady Dun's burning would be an admirable subject to show, how hateful an animal a human creature is, that is known to have never done any good. The rabble all rejoicing, &c. which they would not have done at any misfortune to a man known to be charitable.

I wish you could in with the primate, on the

get

The dean's housekeeper.

+ History of the Peace of Utrecht.

The State of Affairs in 1714.

See Hamilton's Bawn, or the Grand Question Debated.

A field not far from the deanery house, which doctor Swift enclosed at a great expense with a fine stone wall lined with brick, against which he planted vines and the best chosen fruit trees, for the benefit of the dean of St. Patrick's for the time being.

account

account of some discourse about you here to day with Whaley and Walmsley. Whaley goes to Dublin on Monday next in order for England. I would have you see him. I fancy you may do some good with the primate as to the first good vacant school, if you wheedle him, and talk a little whiggishly.

MR. POPE TO DR. SHERIDAN.

SIR,

I THANK you kindly for your news of the dean of St. Patrick's, for your Persius, for every thing in your letter. I will use my warmest endeavours to serve Dr. Whaley. Beside his own merit, the demerit of his antagonist goes into the scale, and the dean tells me he is a coadjutant of that fool Smedley. You must have seen, but you cannot have read, what he has lately published against our friend and me. The only pleasure a bad writer can give me, he has given, that of being abused with my betters and my friends. I am much pleased with most of the Intelligencers, but I am a little piqued at the author of them for not once doing me the honour of a mention upon so honourable an occasion as being slandered by the dunces, together with my friend the dean, who is properly the author of the Dunciad it had never been writ but at his request, and for his deafness: for had he been able to converse with me, do you think I had amused my time so VOL. XII. U

ill?

ill? I will not trouble you with amendments to so imperfect an edition as is now published; you will soon see a better, with a full and true commentary, setting all mistakes right, and branding none but our own cattle. Some very good epigrams on the gentlemen of the Dunciad have been sent me from Oxford, and others of the London authors: if I had an amanuensis (which is a thing neither I nor my common trifles are worth) you should have them with this. If your university or town have produced any on this subject, pray send them me, or keep them at least together, for another day they may all meet.

I have writ to the dean just now by Mr. Elrington, who charges himself with this, and have inserted a hint or two of his libelling the lady of the family; in as innocent a manner as he does it, he will hardly suspect I had any information of it.

Though I am a very ill correspondent, I shall at all times be glad to have the favour of a line from you. My eyesight is bad, my head often in pain, my time strangely taken up. Were I my own master (which, I thank God, I yet am, in all points but one, where humanity only constrains me) I would infallibly see Ireland before I die. But whether that, or many other of my little, though warm designs, will ever take effect,

Caliginosa nocte premit Deus!

I am (wherever I am) the dean's, and the dean's friends, and consequently faithfully, sir,

Your affectionate servant,

A. POPE.

ΤΟ

TO MR. WORRALL.

SEPT. 28, 1728.

I HAD all the letters given me by my servants: so

tell Mrs. Brent and Dr. Sheridan; and I thank you for the great care you had in the commissions I trouyou with.

bled

I imagine Mrs. Brent is gone into the country, but that you know where to send to her. I desire you will pay her four pounds, and sixteen pounds to Mrs. Dingley, and take their receipts. I beg Mrs. Dingley's pardon for not remembering her debt sooner; and my humble service to her. I desire Mrs. Brent to send me the best receipt she has for making meath; she may send me her receipt for making the strong meath, and that for making the next strong, and the third strong. Hers was always too strong; and on that account she was so wilful I would suffer her to make no more. There is a vexatious thing happened about the usquebaugh for my lord Bolingbroke. It seems, you only directed it for the earl of Berkeley; but I thought I had desired you to add, "for lord Bolingbroke:" but there is nothing in that; for I wrote to the earl of Berkeley, to give him notice. But Mr. Gavan, who married a daughter of Mrs. Kenna, who keeps the inn at Chester, hath just sent me a letter, informing me that the usquebaugh came to Park Gate, within