the undertaking, until the demon of politics disturbed his friendship with the editor. These literary amusements, with the lines on Partridge's supposed death, the verses on Baucis and Philemon, those on Vanbrugh's house at Whitehall, with some other light pieces of occasional humour, seem chiefly to have occupied Swift's leisure about this period. Yet the controversy with Partridge, and these other levities, are better known to the general reader, than the laboured political treatises which we shall have occasion to mention in the next section. To conclude the present chapter, it is only necessary to resume, that Dr Swift, dissatisfied with the inefficient patronage of those ministerial friends from whom he had only received compliments, promises, and personal attentions, returned to Ireland early in summer 1709, and, estranging himself from the court of the lord-lieutenant, resumed his wonted mode of life at Laracor. The corrections and additions intended for his new edition of the Tale of a Tub, probably occupied great part of his leisure, as we find him corresponding upon that subject with Tooke, the bookseller. He seems also to have meditated the publication of a volume of miscellanies. But his literary occupations were broken in 1 See his correspondence on this subject, in his Works, vol. xv., p. 364. On the subject of his Miscellanies, he had, so far back as 1708, made the following memorandum : SUBJECTS FOR A VOLUME. Discourse on Athens and Rome. Bickerstaff's Predictions. Elegy on Partridge. VOL. II. G Vanbrugh's House. upon by domestic affliction, for, in May, 1710, he received the news of his affectionate mother's death, after long illness. "I have now," he pathetically remarks, “lost my barrier between me and death. God grant I may live to be as well prepared for it as I confidently believe her to have been! If the way to heaven be through piety, truth, justice, and charity, she is there." "1 Letter to Bishop of K[illala.] Harris's Petition. Baucis and Philemon. tianity. Essay on Conversation. Meditation on a Broomstick. Sentiments of a Church of England Man. Reasons against abolishing Chris- Part of an Answer to Tindal. History of Van's House. Apollo Outwitted. To Ardelia. Conjectures on the Thoughts of Project for Reformation of Man Posterity about me. On the present Taste of Reading. ners. A Lady's Table-book. 1 Swift's Works, vol. xv., p. 355. SECTION III. Swift's Journey to England in 1710-His quarrel with the Whigs, and union with Harley and the AdministrationHe writes the Examiner- The character of Lord Wharton -And other political tracts-Obtains the First Fruits and Twentieth Parts for the Irish Clergy-His correspondence with Archbishop King-His intimacy with the Ministers-The services which he renders to them-Project for improving the English Language-His protection of Literary Characters-Difficulties attending his church preferment-He is made Dean of St Patrick's-And returns to Ireland. SWIFT had now become more than doubtful of those well-grounded views of preferment, which his interest with the great Whig leaders naturally offered. He resided at Laracor during the greater part of Lord Wharton's administration; saw the lieutenant very seldom when he came to Dublin, and entered into no degree of intimacy with him or his friends, excepting only with Addison. Such is his own account of his conduct, which he prepared for publication at a time when hundreds were alive and upon the watch to confute any inaccuracy in his statement.1 He adds, that upon an approach [See a preceding Note, ante, p. 83.] There is also an appeal to Stella on this subject, in the Journal, vol. ii., p. 254. ing change in the political administration, Lord Wharton affected of a sudden greatly to caress him, which he imputes to a wish of rendering him odious to the church party. The fall of that ministry, which had conducted with so much glory the war upon the Continent, was caused, or at least greatly accelerated, by one of those explosions of popular feeling peculiar to the English nation. Swift, with all his genius, had in vain taught the doctrine of moderation; but Sacheverell, with as little talent as principle, at once roused the whole nation, and became himself elevated into a saint and a martyr, by a single inflammatory sermon. He was carried in procession through the land, Per Graium populos, mediæque per Elidis urbem Ibat ovans and wherever the doctor appeared, arose a popular spirit of aversion to the Whig administration, and all who favoured the dissenters. Swift was pro bably no indifferent spectator, while the interests of the high-church party began to predominate over the power of those whose opinions in state policy had been avowedly his own. He did not, however, interfere in the controversy; and we learn from a passage in his Journal, that although he afterwards interceded for Sacheverell with Harley's administration, it was without esteem for the man, or favour to those principles of which the doctor was "I am resolved, when I come" (to Ireland, namely), " to keep no company, but M. D. You know I kept my resolution last time; and, except Mr Addison, conversed with none but you and your club of Deans and Stoytes." 1 the champion. The following letter,2 which was written by Swift to Addison, upon the impending change of administration, seems to indicate that his slight expectations of promotion still rested upon the Whigs, and upon Lord Somers in particular. There is, however, to use a phrase of his own, some refinement in the epistle; for while Swift asks Addison's advice whether he should come to London, he had, in all probability, already determined on his journey, as he set out upon the first day of September following. 1 See an account of his solicitation in behalf of Sacheverell's brother, in his Works, vol. iii., p. 12; and the following characteristic story told by Sheridan :-" Afterwards, in the year 1713, soon after the three years' silence imposed upon the doctor by the House of Lords, in consequence of his impeachment, had expired, Swift procured for him the Rectory of St Andrew's, Holborn, in the following whimsical manner:-Upon that living's becoming vacant, he applied for it in behalf of Sacheverell, to Lord Bolingbroke; who seemed not at all disposed in his favour, calling him a busy, meddling, factious fellow, one who had set the kingdom in a flame.' To which Swift replied, 'It is all true, my lord; but let me tell you a story. In a sea-fight, in the reign of Charles 11., there was a very bloody engagement between the English and Dutch fleets; in the heat of which, a Scotch seaman was very severely bit by a louse on his neck, which he caught, and stooping down to crack it, just as he had put himself in that posture, a chain-shot came and took off the heads of several sailors that were about him; on which he had compassion on the poor louse, returned him to his place, and bid him live there at discretion; for, said he, as thou hast been the means of saving my life, it is but just I should save yours." Lord Bolingbroke laughed heartily, and said, Well then, the louse shall have the living for your story.' And accordingly he was soon after presented to it."-SHERIDAN'S Life of Swift. 2 The original is among Mr Tickell's manuscripts. The words in Italics are filled up from conjecture. |