of making court promises, I will exactly explain to you how far it is likely I may be able to serve him.

When first I had this office*, I took the resolution of turning out nobody; so that I shall only have the disposal of those places, that the death of the present possessors will procure me. Some old servants, that have served me long and faithfully, have obtained the promises of the first four or five vacancies; and the early solicitations of some of my particular friends, have tied me down for about as many more. But, after having satisfied these engagements, I do assure you, Mr. Launcelot shall be my first care. I confess, his prospect is more remote than I could have wished it, but as it is so remote, he will not have the uneasiness of a disappointment, if he gets nothing; and if he gets something, we shall both be pleased.

As for his political principles, I am in no manner of pain about them. Were he a tory, I would venture to serve him, in the just expectation, that should I ever be charged with having preferred a tory, the person, who was the author of my crime, would likewise be the author of my vindication. I am with real esteem, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

CHESTERFIELD.

* Of lord steward of the king's household, in which he suc ceeded the duke of Dorset, appointed lord lieutenant of Ireland.

FROM

FROM LADY ELIZABETH GERMAIN.

DEC. 24, 1730.

SINCE you, with a modest assurance, affirm you understand and practise good manners better than any other person in either kingdom, I wish you would therefore put into very handsome terms my excuse to dean Swift, that I have not answered his letter I received before the last: for even prebendary Head assured my brother Harry, that he, in all form and justice, took place of a colonel, as being a major general in the church; and therefore you need not have called a council to know, whether you or I were to write last; because, as being but a poor courtesy lady, I can pretend to no place but what other people's goodness gives me. This being settled, I certainly ought not to have writ again; but however, I fear I should have been wrong enough to have desired the correspondence to be kept up, but that I have been ill this fortnight, and of course lazy, and not in a writing mood.

First, as to Mrs. Barber; as I told you before, so I tell you the same again, that upon your recommendation, I shall be very glad to serve her, though I never did see her; and as I had not your letter till I went from Tunbridge, she passed unmarked by me in the crowd; nor have I met with her since. She writ to me to present ****'s poems to the duke and duchess of Dorset. I answered her letter, and obeyed her commands. And as to her own, I shall most willingly subscribe; though I am of the opinion, we ladies

BB 3

ladies are not apt to be good poets, especially if we cannot spell; but that is by way of inviolable secret between you and me. So much for this letter. Now to your last epistle, for which it seems I am to give you thanks, for honouring me with your commands. Well, I do so, because this gets a proof, that after so many year's acquaintance, there is one that will take my word; which is a certain sign, that I have not often broke it. Therefore behold the consequence is this; I have given my word to the duke of Dorset, that you would not so positively affirm this fact concerning Mr. Fox, without knowing the certain truth, that there is no deceit in this declaration of trust. And though it has been recommended to him, as you say, he never did give any answer to it, nor designed it, till he was fully satisfied of the truth; and even then, I believe, would not have determined to have done it, because it is an easy way of securing a place for ever to a family; and were this to be an example, be it so many pence, or so many pounds, for the future they would be inherit

ances.

So now, not to show my power with his grace (in spite of his dependants, who may cast their eyes on it) for that I dare affirm there never will be need of where justice or good nature is necessary; but to show you his dependance on your honour and integrity, he gives me leave to tell you, it shall certainly be done; nor does this at all oblige you to give the thanks you seem so desirous to give; for at any time, whensoever you have any business, service, or request to make to his grace of Dorset (whether my proper business or not) till you two are better acquainted with one another's merits, I shall be very

glad

glad to show how sincerely I am your friend and faith

ful humble servant.

E. GERMAIN.

TO MRS. WHITEWAY.

DEC. 28, 1730.

You might give a better reason for restoring my book, that it was not worth keeping. I thought by the superscription that your letter was written by a man; for you have neither the scrawl nor the spelling of your sex. You live so far off, and I believe are so seldom at home, and I am so ill a visitor, that it is no wonder we meet so seldom : but if you knew what I say of you to others, you would believe it was not want of inclination; I mean what I say of you as I knew you formerly; for as to what you are now, I know but little. I give you the good wishes of the season; and am, with true esteem and affection, yours, &c.

MADAM,

TO LADY SANTRY.

J. SWIFT.

1730, AT A CONJECTUREe.

My reason for waiting on you, some time ago, was grounded on the esteem I always had for you; which continued

BB 4

continued still the same, although I had hardly the least acquaintance with your lord, nor was at all desirous to cultivate it, because I did not at all approve of his conduct. In two or three days after I saw you at sir Compton Domville's house, all my acquaintance told me how full the town was of the visit I had made you; and of the cruel treatment you received from me, with relation to your son. I will not believe your ladyship was so weak as to spread this complaint yourself; but I lay it wholly to those two young women who were then in the same room, I suppose as visitors. But, if you were really discontented, and thought to publish your discontent in aggravating words, I must cut off at least nine tenths of the friendship I had for you, and list you in the herd of Irish ladies, whose titles, or those of their husbands, with me, never have the weight of a feather, or the value of a pebble. I imagined you had so much sense as to understand, that all I said was intended for the service both of you and your son. I have often, spoken much more severely to persons of much higher quality than your son, and in a kingdom where to be a lord is of importance; and I have received hearty thanks, as well as found amendment. One thing I shall observe, upon your account, which is, Never to throw away any more advice upon any Irish lord, or his mother; because I thought you would be one of the last to de

ceive me.

I called four times at the house where you lodge, and you were always denied, by which, I suppose, you would have me think you are angry; whereas I am the person who ought to complain, because all I

Lady Santry's brother.

+ Lord Santry.

had