came through the room, beckoning Dr. Swift to | decessor in vain. The following, too, are the follow him: both went off just before prayers.' Life, vol. i. p. 139, 140.

right enough. I reflect upon them with indignation; and shall never forgive myself for having trusted so long to so much real pride and awkward humility;-to an air of such fa miliar friendship, and a heart so void of all tenderness;-to such a temper of engrossing business and power, and so perfect an incapacity to manage one, with such a tyrannical disposition to abuse the other," &c. &c. (Vol. xvi. p. 219.) If Swift's feelings for Oxford had borne any resemblance to those which Mr. Scott has imputed to him, it is not conceiv able that he should have continued upon a footing of the greatest cordiality with the man who, after supplanting him, could speak in those terms of his fallen rival. Yet Swift's friendship, as they called it, with Bolingbroke, continued as long as that with Oxford; and we find him not only giving him his advice how to act in the government which had now fallen entirely into his hands, but kindly of fering, "if his own services may be of any use, to attend him by the beginning of win ter." (Id. p. 215.) Those who know of what stuff political friendships are generally made, indeed, will not require even this evidence to prove the hollowness of those in which Swift was now connected. The following passage in a letter from Lewis, the most intimate and confidential of all his coadjutors, dated only a week or two before Oxford's disgrace, gives a delicious picture, we think, of the whole of those persons for whom the learned Dean was thus professing the most disinterested attachment, and receiving, no doubt, in return, professions not less animated and sincere. It is addressed to Swift in July, 1714.

terms in which Bolingbroke, at that very time, thought there was no impropriety, and could We are very unwilling, in any case, to as- be no offence, in writing of Oxford, in a pri cribe to unworthy motives, what may be suf- vate confidential letter to this his dear deficiently accounted for upon better considera-voted friend. "Your state of late passages is tions; but we really have not charity enough to impute Swift's zealous efforts to prevent the rupture between Harley and Bolingbroke, or his continued friendship with both after that rupture took place, to his personal and disinterested affection for those two individuals. In the first place, he had a most manifest interest to prevent their disunion, as that which plainly tended to the entire dissolution of the ministry, and the ruin of the party on which he depended; and, as to his remaining the friend of both after they had become the most rancorous enemies of each other, it must be remembered that they were still respectively the two most eminent individuals with whom he had been connected; and that, if ever that party should be restored to power, from which alone he could now look for preferment, he whe stood well with both these statesmen would have a double chance of success. Considering, indeed, the facility with which he seems to have cast off friendships far more intimate than the inequality of their condition renders it possible that those of Oxford or Bolingbroke could be with him, whenever party interest interfered with them;-considering the disrespect with which he spoke of Sir William Temple's memory, after he had abjured his principles;-the coarseness with which he calls Lord Somers "a false deceitful rascal," after having designated him as the modern Aristides, for his blameless integrity; -and the unfeeling rancour with which he exposes the personal failings and pecuniary embarrassments of Steele, with whom he had been long so closely united;-it would seem to require something more than the mere personal attachment of a needy pamphleteer to two rival peers, to account for his expressions of affection for both, after one had supplanted the other. The natural solution, indeed, seems to lie sufficiently open. After the perfidy he had shown to the Whig party, and the virulence with which he had revenged his own apostasy, there was no possibility of his being again received by them. His only chance, therefore, was in the restoration of the Tories, and his only policy to keep well with both their great leaders.

"I meet with no man or woman, who pretend upon any probable grounds to judge who will carry the great point. Our female friend (Mrs. Masham) told the dragon (Lord Oxford) in her own house, last Thursday morning, these words: 'You never did the Queen any service, nor are you capable of doing her any. He made no reply, but supped with her and Mercurialis (Bolingbroke) that night at her own house.-His revenge is not the less medi tated for that. He tells the words clearly and dis tinctly to all mankind. Those who range under his banner, call her ten thousand bitches and kitchen wenches. Those who hate him do the same. And Mr. Scott, indeed, chooses to represent him from my heart, I grieve that she should give such as actuated by a romantic attachment to Lord a loose to her passion; for she is susceptible of true friendship, and has many social and domestic vir Oxford, and pronounces an eloquent encomium tues. The great attorney (Lord Chancellor Har on his devoted generosity in applying for court) who made you the sham offer of the Yorkleave of absence, upon that nobleman's dis-shire living, had a long conference with the dragon grace, in order to be able to visit him in his on Thursday, kissed him at parting, and cursed him retirement. Though he talks of such a visit, at night!"-vol. xvi. p. 173, 174. however, it is certain that he never did pay it; and that he was all the time engaged in the most friendly correspondence with Bolingbroke, from whom the very day after he had kicked out his dear friend with the most undisguised anger and contempt, he condescended to receive an order for the thousand pounds he had so long solicited from his pre

The death of Queen Anne, however, which happened on the 1st of August thereafter, speedily composed all those dissensions, and confounded the victors and the vanquished in one common proscription. Among the most miserable and downcast of all the mourners on that occasion, we confess we were some what surprised to find our reverend author.

here; and then I will drive them to give me a sum of money." And a little after "I shall be sadly cramped, unless the Queen will give me a thousand pounds. I am sure she owes me a great deal more. Lord Treasurer rallies me upon it, and, I am sure, intends it-but quando?" And again-"Lord Treasurer uses me barbarously. He laughs when I mention a thousand pounds-though a thousand pounds is a very serious thing." It appears, however, that this modest request never was complied with; for, though Bolingbroke got the Queen's warrant for it, to secure Swift's attachment after he had turned out Harley, yet her majesty's immediate death rendered the gift unavailing.

If any thing were wanting to show that his change of party and his attachment to that which was now uppermost, was wholly founded on personal, and in no degree on public considerations, it would be supplied by the innumerable traits of personal vanity, and the unrestrained expressions of eulogy or abuse, according as that vanity was gratified or thwarted, that are scattered over the whole journal and correspondence, and which are utterly irreconcileable with the conduct of a man who was acting on any principle of dig

his own fortune, and that his opinion of the merits of the party depended entirely upon their power and apparent inclination to perform this first of all duties. The thing is spoken out continually in the confidential Journal to Stella; and though he was very angry with Harley for offering him a bank note for fifty pounds, and refused to be his chaplain, this was very plainly because he considered these as no sufficient pay for his services by no means because he wished to serve without pay. Very soon after his profession of Toryism, he writes to Stella-"This is the last sally I shall ever make; but I hope it will turn to some account. I have done more for these, and I think they are more honest than the last." And a little after-"My new friends are very kind; and I have promises enough. To return without some mark of distinction, would look extremely little; and I would likewise gladly be somewhat richer than Icm." At last, he seems to have fairly asked for the see of Hereford (Vol. xvi. p. 45.); and when this is refused, he says, "I dined with Lord Treasurer, who chid me for being absent three days. Mighty kind with a p-! Less of civility, and more of interest!" At last, when the state of the Queen's health made the duration of the ministry extremely pre-nity or fairness. With all his talent and all carious, and the support of their friends more essential, he speaks out like a true Swiss, and tells them that he will run away and leave them, if they do not instantly make a provision for him. In the Journal to Stella, he writes, that having seen the warrants for three deaneries, and none of them for him, he had gone to the Lord Treasurer, and "told him I had nothing to do but to go back to Ireland immediately; for I could not, with any reputation, stay longer here, unless I had something honourable immediately given to me. He afterwards told me he had stopped the warrants, and hoped something might be compassed for me," &c. And in the page following we find, that all his love for his dear friend the Lord "Dr. Swift came into the coffee-house, and had a bow from every body but me. When I came to Treasurer, would not induce him ever to see the antichamber to wait before prayers, Dr. Swift him again, if he was disappointed in this ob- was the principal man of talk and business, and ject of ambition. "The warrants for the acted as a master of requests. He was soliciting deaneries are still stopped, for fear I should the Earl of Arran to speak to his brother the Duke be gone. Do you think any thing will be of Ormond, to get a chaplain's place established in done! In the mean time, I prepare for my that neighbourhood, who had lately been in jail, and the garrison of Hull for Mr. Fiddes, a clergyman in journey, and see no great people;- -nor will I published sermons to pay fees. He was promising se Lord Treasurer any more, if I go." (Vol. iii. Mr. Thorold to undertake with my Lord Treasurer, p. 207.) It is under this threat that he extorts that, according to his petition, he should obtain a the Deanery of St. Patrick's,-which he ac- salary of 2001. per annum as minister of the English cepts with much grumbling and discontent, church at Rotterdam. He stopped F. Gwynne, and does not enter into possession till all hope Esq., going in with the red bag to the Queen, and told him aloud he had something to say to him from of better preferment seems for the time at an my Lord Treasurer. He talked with the son of end. In this extremity he seems resolved, Dr. Davenant to be sent abroad, and took out his however, to make the most of it; and finding pocket-book, and wrote down several things, as that the expenses of his induction and the memoranda, to do for him. He turned to the fire, asual payments to government on the occa- the day complained it was very late. A gentleman and took out his gold watch, and telling the time of sion come to a considerable sum, he boldly said he was too fast.'- How can I help it,' says resolves to ask a thousand pounds from the the doctor, if the courtiers give me a watch that ministers, on the score of his past services, in won't go right?' Then he instructed a young noorder to make himself easy. This he an-bleman, that the best poet in England was Mr. nounces to Stella soon after the appointment. "I hope in time they will be persuaded to give me some money to clear off these debts. They expect I shall pass the next winter

his pride, indeed, it appears that Swift exhibited, during this period of favour, as much of the ridiculous airs of a parvenu-of a lowbred underling brought suddenly into contact with wealth and splendour, as any of the base understrappers that ever made party disgusting. The studied rudeness and ostentatious arrogance with which he withheld the usual tribute of respect that all well-bred persons pay to rank and office, may be reckoned among the signs of this. But for a fuller picture, we would refer to the Diary of Bishop Kennet, who thus describes the demeanour of this politic partisan in the year 1713.

Pope (a papist), who had begun a translation of Homer into English verse, for which he must have them all subscribe;' -for,' says he, the author shall not begin to print till I have a thousand guineas for him.' Lord Treasurer, after leaving the Queen,

76

came through the room, beckoning Dr. Swift to | decessor in vain. The following, too, are the follow him: both went off just before prayers."Life, vol. i. p. 139, 140. terms in which Bolingbroke, at that very time, We are very unwilling, in any case, to as- be no offence, in writing of Oxford, in a pri thought there was no impropriety, and could cribe to unworthy motives, what may be suf-vate confidential letter to this his dear de ficiently accounted for upon better considera-voted friend. "Your state of late passages is tions; but we really have not charity enough right enough. I reflect upon them with into impute Swift's zealous efforts to prevent the dignation; and shall never forgive myself for rupture between Harley and Bolingbroke, or having trusted so long to so much real pride his continued friendship with both after that and awkward humility;-to an air of such fa rupture took place, to his personal and disin- miliar friendship, and a heart so void of all terested affection for those two individuals. tenderness;-to such a temper of engrossing In the first place, he had a most manifest in- business and power, and so perfect an incaterest to prevent their disunion, as that which pacity to manage one, with such a tyrannical plainly tended to the entire dissolution of the disposition to abuse the other," &c. &c. (Vol. ministry, and the ruin of the party on which xvi. p. 219.) If Swift's feelings for Oxford had he depended; and, as to his remaining the borne any resemblance to those which Mr. friend of both after they had become the most Scott has imputed to him, it is not conceiv rancorous enemies of each other, it must be able that he should have continued upon a remembered that they were still respectively footing of the greatest cordiality with the man the two most eminent individuals with whom who, after supplanting him, could speak in he had been connected; and that, if ever that those terms of his fallen rival. Yet Swift's party should be restored to power, from which friendship, as they called it, with Bolingbroke, alone he could now look for preferment, he continued as long as that with Oxford; and who stood well with both these statesmen we find him not only giving him his advice would have a double chance of success. Con- how to act in the government which had now sidering, indeed, the facility with which he fallen entirely into his hands, but kindly of seems to have cast off friendships far more fering, "if his own services may be of any intimate than the inequality of their condition use, to attend him by the beginning of win renders it possible that those of Oxford or Bo- ter." (Id. p. 215.) Those who know of what lingbroke could be with him, whenever party stuff political friendships are generally made, interest interfered with them;-considering indeed, will not require even this evidence to the disrespect with which he spoke of Sir prove the hollowness of those in which Swift William Temple's memory, after he had ab- was now connected. The following passage jured his principles;-the coarseness with in a letter from Lewis, the most intimate and which he calls Lord Somers "a false deceit- confidential of all his coadjutors, dated only a ful rascal," after having designated him as the week or two before Oxford's disgrace, gives a modern Aristides, for his blameless integrity; delicious picture, we think, of the whole of -and the unfeeling rancour with which he those persons for whom the learned Dean was exposes the personal failings and pecuniary thus professing the most disinterested attachembarrassments of Steele, with whom he had ment, and receiving, no doubt, in return, probeen long so closely united;-it would seem fessions not less animated and sincere. It is to require something more than the mere per- addressed to Swift in July, 1714. sonal attachment of a needy pamphleteer to two rival peers, to account for his expressions of affection for both, after one had supplanted the other. The natural solution, indeed, seems to lie sufficiently open. After the perfidy he had shown to the Whig party, and the virulence with which he had revenged his own apostasy, there was no possibility of his being again received by them. His only chance, therefore, was in the restoration of the Tories, and his only policy to keep well with both their great leaders.

the great point. Our female friend (Mrs. Masham) "I meet with no man or woman, who pretend told the dragon (Lord Oxford) in her own house, upon any probable grounds to judge who will carry last Thursday morning, these words: 'You never did the Queen any service, nor are you capable of doing her any. He made no reply, but supped with her and Mercurialis (Bolingbroke) that night tated for that. He tells the words clearly and distinctly to all mankind. Those who range under his at her own house. His revenge is not the less medi banner, call her ten thousand bitches and kitchenwenches. Those who hate him do the same.

And

Mr. Scott, indeed, chooses to represent him from my heart, I grieve that she should give such as actuated by a romantic attachment to Lord friendship, and has many social and domestic virOxford, and pronounces an eloquent encomium a loose to her passion; for she is susceptible of true on his devoted generosity in applying for court) who made you the sham offer of the Yorktues. The great attorney (Lord Chancellor Harleave of absence, upon that nobleman's dis-shire living, had a long conference with the dragon grace, in order to be able to visit him in his on Thursday, kissed him at parting, and cursed him retirement. Though he talks of such a visit, at night!"-vol. xvi. p. 173, 174. however, it is certain that he never did pay it; and that he was all the time engaged in happened on the 1st of August thereafter, The death of Queen Anne, however, which the most friendly correspondence with Bo- speedily composed all those dissensions, and lingbroke, from whom the very day after he confounded the victors and the vanquished in had kicked out his dear friend with the most one common proscription. Among the most undisguised anger and contempt, he conde- miserable and downcast of all the mourners scended to receive an order for the thousand on that occasion, we confess we were some pounds he had so long solicited from his pre-what surprised to find our reverend author.

re

the

WORKS OF JONATHAN SWIFT.

He who, but a few months before, was willing good office for the other, in the most insultto have hazarded all the horrors of a civil war, ing and malignant manner he could devise: for the chance of keeping his party in office, and yet the worthy Dean had charity enough unk instantly into pitiable and unmanly des- to love them both just as dearly as ever. He pondency upon the final disgrace of that party. was always a zealous advocate, too, for the We are unwilling to believe, and we do not Act of Settlement; and has in twenty places m fact believe, that Swift was privy to the de- expressed his abomination of all who could signs of Bolingbroke, Ormond, and Mar, to allow themselves to think of the guilt of callbring in the Pretender on the Queen's demise, ing in the Pretender. If, therefore, he could and are even disposed to hold it doubtful love and honour and flatter Bolingbroke, who ddwhether Oxford concurred in those measures; not only turned out his beloved Oxford, but but we are sure that no man of common firm- actually went over to the Pretender, it is not ness could have felt more sorrow and despair, easy to see why he should have been so imthe country had been conquered by a law-placable towards those older friends of his, less invader, than this friend of the Act of who only turned out Bolingbroke in order to Settlement did upon the quiet and regular prevent the Pretender from being brought in. ransmission of the sceptre to the appointed On public grounds, in short, there is nothing heir; and the discomfiture of those ministers to be said for him;-nor can his conduct or who are proved to have traitorously conspired feelings ever receive any explanation upon to accomplish a counter revolution, and re- such principles. But every thing becomes store a dynasty which he always affected to plain and consistent when we look to another consider as justly rejected. How all this sor-quarter-when we consider, that by the exrow is to be reconciled to the character of a tinction of the Tory party, his hopes of pregood Revolution Whig, we leave it to the ferment were also extinguished; and that he learned editor, who has invested him with was no longer to enjoy the dearer delight of that character, to discover. To us it merely bustling in the front of a triumphant partyaffords new evidence of the selfishness and of inhaling the incense of adulation from its ambition of the individual, and of that utter servile dependants-and of insulting with imand almost avowed disregard of the public, punity the principles and the benefactors he That this was the true key to his feelings, which constituted his political character. Of had himself deserted. the sorrow and despondency itself, we need produce no proofs, for they are to be found on this and on every other occasion, may be in every page of his subsequent writings. concluded indeed with safety, not only from His whole life, indeed, after this event, was his former, but from his after life. His Irish ore long fit of spleen and lamentation: and, politics may all be referred to one principleto the very end of his days, he never ceases a desire to insult and embarrass the govern bewailing the irreparable and grievous calam- ment by which he was neglected, and with ity which the world had suffered in the death which he despaired of being reconciled:-A of that most imbecile princess. He speaks single fact is decisive upon this point. While of it, in short, throughout, as a pious divine his friends were in power, we hear nothing might be supposed to speak of the fall of of the grievances of Ireland; and to the last primeval man from the state of innocence. we hear nothing of its radical grievance, the The sun seems darkened for ever in his eyes, oppression of its Catholic population. His and mankind degenerated beyond the tolera- object was, not to do good to Ireland, but to vex and annoy the English ministry. To do tion of one who was cursed with the remembrance of their former dignity! And all this this however with effect, it was necessary for what?-because the government was, with that he should speak to the interests and the the full assent of the nation, restored to the feelings of some party who possessed a cerhands of those whose talents and integrity he tain degree of power and influence. This had once been proud to celebrate-or rather, unfortunately was not the case in that day because it was taken from those who would with the Catholics; and though this gave them have attempted, at the evident risk of a civil only a stronger title to the services of a truly war, to defeat that solemn settlement of which brave or generous advocate, it was sufficient he had always approved, and in virtue of to silence Swift. They are not so much as which alone the late Sovereign had succeed- named above two or three times in his writed-because the liberties of the nation were ings-and then only with scorn and reprobaagain to be secured in peace, under the same tion. In the topics which he does take up, it councils which had carried its glories so high is no doubt true, that he frequently inveighs in war-and the true friends of the Revolution against real oppression and acts of indisputof 1688 to succeed to that patronage which able impolicy; yet it is no want of charity to had previously been exercised by its virtual say, that it is quite manifest that these were enemies! Such were the public calamities not his reasons for bringing them forward, and which he had to lament as a patriot;-and that he had just as little scruple to make an the violence done to his political attachments outcry, where no public interest was concernseems to have been of the same character. ed, as where it was apparent. It was suffiHis two friends were Bolingbroke and Ox- cient for him, that the subject was likely to ford: and both these had been abusing each excite popular prejudice and clamour,--or other, and endeavouring to supplant each that he had some personal pique or animosity other, with all their might, for a long period to gratify. The Drapier's letters are a suffi of time; and, at last, one of them did this cient proof of the influence of the former

G 2

principle; and the Legion Club, and the num- | even the inconsistencies of honest minds, we berless brutalities against Tighe and Bettes- hope we shall always be sufficiently indulgent; worth, of the latter. Every body is now and especially to such errors in practical life satisfied of the perfect harmlessness, and in- as are incident to literary and ingenious men. deed of the great utility of Wood's scheme For Swift, however, there is no such apology. for a new copper coinage; and the only pre- His profession, through life, was much more texts for the other scurrilities to which we that of a politician than of a clergyman or an have alluded were, that the Parliament had author. He was not led away in any degree shown a disposition, to interfere for the alle- by heated fancy, or partial affection-by deviation, in some inconsiderable particulars, of luding visions of impossible improvements, or the intolerable oppression of the tithe system, excessive indignation at incurable vices. He -to the detriment, as Swift imagined, of the followed, from first to last, the eager, but order to which he himself belonged; and that steady impulse of personal ambition and perMr. Tighe had obtained for a friend of his sonal animosity; and in the dirty and devious own, a living which Swift had wished to se- career into which they impelled him, he never cure for one of his dependants. spared the character or the feelings of a single individual who appeared to stand in his way. In no respect, therefore, can he have any claim to lenity;-and now, when his faults are of importance only as they may serve the purpose of warning or misleading to others, we consider it as our indispensable duty to point them out in their true colours; and to show that, even when united to talents as distinguished as his, political profligacy and political rancour must lead to universal distrust and avoidance during the life of the individual, and to contempt and infamy there after.

His main object in all this, we make no doubt, was personal pique and vengeance;yet it is probable, that there was occasionally, or throughout, an expectation of being again brought into the paths of power and preferment, by the notoriety which these publications enabled him to maintain, and by the motives which they held out to each successive ministry, to secure so efficient a pen in their favour. That he was willing to have made his peace with Walpole, even during the reign of George I., is admitted by Mr. Scott, though he discredits the details which Lord Chesterfield and others have given, apparently from very direct authority, of the humiliating terms upon which he was willing to accede to the alliance; and it is certain, that he paid his court most assiduously to the successor of that Prince, both while he was Prince of Wales, and after his accession to the throne. The manner in which he paid his court, too, was truly debasing, and especially unworthy of a High-Churchman and a public satirist. It was chiefly by flatteries and assiduity to his mistress, Mrs. Howard! with whom he maintained a close correspondence, and upon whom he always professed mainly to rely for advancement. When George I. died, Swift was among the first to kiss the hands of the new sovereign, and indulged anew in the golden dreams of preferment. Walpole's recal to power, however, soon overcast those visions; and he then wrote to the mistress, humbly and earnestly entreating her, to tell him sincerely what were his chances of success. She flattered him for a while with hopes; but at last he discovered that the prejudice against him was too strong to be overcome; and ran back in terrible humour to Ireland, where he railed ever after with his usual vehemence against the King, the Queen, and the concubine. The truth, it seems, was, that the latter was disposed to favour him; but that her influence with the King was subordinate to that of the Queen, who made it a principle to thwart all applications which were made through that channel.

Of Swift's personal character, his ingenious biographer has given almost as partial a rep resentation, as of his political conduct;-a great part of it indeed has been anticipated, in tracing the principles of that conduct; the same arrogance and disdain of mankind, leading to profligate ambition and scurrility in public life, and to domineering and selfish habits in private. His character seems to have been radically overbearing and tyrannical;for though, like other tyrants, he could stoop low enough where his interests required it, it was his delight to exact an implicit compli ance with his humours and fancies, and to impose upon all around him the task of observing and accommodating themselves to his habits, without the slightest regard to their convenience or comfort. Wherever he came, the ordinary forms of society were to give way to his pleasure; and every thing, even to the domestic arrangements of a family, to be suspended for his caprice.-If he was to be introduced to a person of rank, he insisted that the first advances and the first visit should be made to him. If he went to see a friend in the coun try, he would order an old tree to be cut down, if it obstructed the view from his window-and was never at his ease unless he was allowed to give nicknames to the lady of the house, and make lampoons upon her acquaintance. On going for the first time into any family, he frequently prescribed beforehand the hours for their meals, sleep, and exercise: and insisted rigorously upon the literal fulfilment of Such, we think, is a faithful sketch of the the capitulation. From his intimates he uni political career of this celebrated person;-formly exacted the most implicit submission and if it be correct in the main, or even in any material particulars, we humbly conceive that a more unprincipled and base course of proceeding never was held up to the scorn and ridicule of mankind. To the errors and

to all his whims and absurdities; and carried his prerogative so far, that he sometimes used to chase the Grattans and other accommodating friends, through the apartments of the Deanery, and up and down stairs, driving them like