sions were in somewhat stronger terms. Pray God
bless you and your family. I desire you will pre-
sent my most humble service to Mr. Cæsar.

I am, with the greatest respect, madam,
Your most obedient, and

1

most obliged humble servant, JON. SWIFT.

TO THE RIGHT HON. JOHN BARBER,
LORD MAYOR OF LONDON *.

MY LORD,

JULY, 1733.

ALTHOUGH I never read news, I often hear of your lordship's actions and speeches, particularly your and the city address to the House of Commons, for throwing out that execrable bill of excise, and your defence of the city, in the answer you gave to the recorder on the subject of riots. I hope you will always remember that you learnt these honest principles under an honest ministry, and in what has been since called the worst of times, which I pray God we might live to see again. Our friend Mrs. Barber is recovering of her gout, and intends in a few weeks to return to London. My lord Orrery, although almost a stranger to her, and very much embroiled in his affairs by a most villanous agent, has been extremely generous to her, in easing her of one part of her load: and I hope, by the success of her poems she will be made to

* See a letter dated July 23, 1732. N.

lerably

lerably easy and independent, as she well deserves
for her virtue and good sense. My lord Orrery is
the delight of us all. But we wish him hanged for
coming among us, since he cannot stay with us.
Your chaplain writes to me very seldom, and I
never can get him to answer me how he lives: I
gave him credit upon a friend in London for any
small sums of money, which I find he has received
most of; so that I am afraid his salary, perquisites,
or fees, or whatever else he is to live by, is not to
come in till the end of his office. I hope he con-
tinues to behave himself well; and indeed I think
him a very valuable young man.
As to myself,

my private affairs are in so ill a posture, and my
head so disordered by returns of my old giddiness,
that I cannot yet venture to take those journies
that I used to make nothing of, and God knows
whether I shall be able to dine with your lordship
in your mayoralty. Doctor Delany lives very
happily and hospitably, entertains his old friends,
and has nothing to fight with but envy, which he
despises, and does not, in the least, deserve, but
by those from whom it is a blessing. I think I
have named all your acquaintance here; and I pre-
sume you will hardly trouble yourself to acquire

more.

Your lordship hath now got over more than half your difficulties. I doubt not but you will finish. the rest with equal reputation, so that the year of your mayoralty will be long remembered with honour.

I must desire leave to tell your lordship, that I have not known a more bashful, modest person than Mrs. Barber, nor one who is less likely to

ply

ply her friends, patrons, or protectors, for any favour; or is more thankful for the smallest. Therefore I hope you will continue to do her any good office that lies in your way, without trouble to yourself. And, among other things, I desire you will advise her to be more thrifty; for she carries her liberality as much too high, as our friend sir Gilbert did his avarice. I thought I did a fine thing to subscribe for ten copies of her poems; and she contrived to send me presents that, in my conscience, are worth more than the money I subscribed.

Having not heard lately of your being ill, I hope you have recovered your health entirely; and I God preserve it.

I am, with true respect, my lord,
Your lordship's most obedient
humble servant,

pray

JON. SWIFT,

FROM THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.

SIR,

GOLDSMITHS HALL, AUG. 6, 1733.

I THANK you heartily for your kind and affectionate letter, and I beg your pardon for not answering it sooner.

agree with

I you, that I had the happiness of learning honest principles early, from a set of great men, who will ever be an honour and an ornament to their country; and it is my greatest glory, that

in

in the late affair of the Excise Bill (though I did nothing but my duty, and what every honest man in my station would have done) I acted consistent with those honest principles, and that my enemies, as well as friends, have generally approved my conduct. And believe me, sir, I speak it with great sincerity, that when I consider how sparingly you and some other friends have ever been of your praises, your approbation affords me the greatest pleasure imaginable, as it gives me that inward peace of mind, which the whole world could not purchase.

My lord Orrery's amiable qualities must make him the delight of all with you, as he is truly so with us; and when he comes over, "your loss will be our gain," as the proverb says.

I know nothing of Mr. Pilkington's affairs or expenses; what the eity allows him is never paid till the end of the year: I have presented him, at twice, with forty pounds, which I design to make fifty; which sum has but one precedent: generally they have but thirty of the mayor. His behaviour is very well, and he is generally esteemed.

I shall have great regard to your recommendations in favour of Mrs. Barber, and shall not fail of doing her any service in my power. I have been thought to be a lucky man; but this year fortune has been my foe, for I have had no death happened in my year (a fiddler excepted) yet, nor have made 5007. in all. But my friends say, it is made up in fame.

I am very sorry your ill health continues; for I flattered myself with being very happy with you and some friends, on the important subject of the

Cap

Cap of Maintenance, Custard, the Sword, and many more laudable things in the lord mayor's house; and I yet hope to have that felicity, for there are three months to come; and who knows what may happen in that time? Nay, I do not despair of seeing you settled with your friends here, before we are many years older. Do not start! stranger things have happened very lately.

I was lately honoured at dinner with the lords Bolingbroke, Carteret, Winchelsea, Gower, and Mr. Pulteney; and among other things your name was mentioned, and lord Carteret instantly toasted your health; and you were the subject of conversation for an hour. I showed them your letter. I dare not mention what passed, because I know I shall offend your modesty; only one thing I will venture to repeat," that they all swore, that if ever the wind should change, they would not long be deprived of the greatest genius of the age." The conversation turning on another subject, lord Carteret pulled me to the window, and bade me tell you, that he loved and honoured you, and so you should find on all occasions, and that he toasted your health. This is literally true, upon the ho

nour of a

I dined yesterday with lord Bolingbroke only: he complains you do not write to him: he is well.

They say you are making interest for my brother of Dublin to be member of parliament; pray come over, and do the same for me, and have the credit of both. My brother behaves himself well *, I hear; if it is proper, my service to him.

This was alderman French, an ironmonger. Dr. Swift has expressed much regard for this worthy magistrate in a letter to