I had a glimpse of a letter of yours lately, by which I find you are (like the vulgar) apter to think well of people out of power, than of people in power; perhaps 'tis a mistake, but however there's fomething in it generous. Mr ** takes it extreme kindly, I can perceive, and he has a great mind to thank you for that good opinion, for which I believe he is only to thank his ill-fortune for if I am not in an error, he would rather be in power than out.

To fhew you how fit I am to live in the mountains, I will with great truth apply to myself an old sentence: "Thofe that are in, may abide in; and thofe that are (6 out, may abide out: yet to me, those that are in "shall be as those that are out, and those that are out "fhall be as thofe that are in."

I am indifferent as to all those matters, but I miss you as much as I did the first day, when (with a short figh) I parted. Wherever you are, (or on the mountains of Wales, or on the coast of Dublin,

Tu mihi, feu magni fuperas jam faxa Timavi,
Sive oram Illyrici legis aquoris-)

I am,

and ever shall be Yours, &c.

LETTER XVIII.

Mr GAY to Dr SWIFT.

A

Nov. 17. 1726.

Bout ten days ago a Book was

publish'd here of

the Travels of one Gulliver, which hath been the converfation of the whole town ever fince: The

whole impreffion fold in a week; and nothing is more diverting than to hear the different opinions people give of it, though all agree in liking it extremely. 'Tis generally faid that you are the Author; but I am told, the Bookfeller declares he knows not from what hand it came. From the highest to the lowest it is univerfally read, from the Cabinet-council to the Nurfery. The Politicians to a man agree, that it is free from particular reflections, but that the Satire on general focieties of men is too fevere. Not but we now and then meet with people of greater perfpicuity, who are in search for particular applications in every leaf; and 'tis highly probable we fhall have keys publifh'd is to give light into Gulliver's defign. Lordthe perfon who leaft approves it, blaming it as a defign of evil confequence to depreciate human nature, at which it cannot be wondered that he takes most offence, being himself the most accomplish'd of his fpecies, and fo lofing more than any other of that praise which is due both to the dignity and virtue of a man. Your friend my Lord Harcourt, commends it very much, though he thinks in some places the matter too far carried. The Duchefs Dowager of Marlborough is in raptures at it; fhe fays fhe can dream of nothing elfe fince she read it: fhe declares, that she hath now found out, that her whole life hath been loft in caref fing the worst part of mankind, and treating the best as her foes; and that if she knew Gulliver, tho' he had been the worst enemy fhe ever had, he would give up her prefent acquaintance for his friendship. You may

fee by this, that you are not much injur'd by being fuppos'd the Author of this piece. Ifyou are, you have dif oblig❜d us, and two or three of your best friends, in not giving us the leaft hint of it while you were with us; and in particular Dr Arbuthnot, who fays it is ten thousand pities he had not known it, he could have added fuch abundance of things upon every fubject. Among Lady-critics, fome have found out that Mr GulHiver had a particular malice to Maids of honour. Thofe of them who frequent the Church, fay, his defign is impious, and that it is depreciating the works of the Creator. Notwithstanding, I am told the Princefs hath read it with great pleasure. As to other Critics they think the flying island is the leaft entertaining and fo great an opinion the town have of the impoffibility of Gulliver's writing at all below himself, 'tis agreed that part was not writ by the fame hand, tho' this hath its defenders too. It hath pass'd Lords and Commons, nemine contradicente; and the whole town, men, women and children, are quite full of it.

Perhaps I may all this time be talking to you of a Book you have never feen, and which hath not yet reach'd Ireland; if it hath not, I believe what we have faid will be fufficient to recommend it to your reading, and that you will order me to fend it to you. But it will be much better to and read it here, where you will have the pleasure of variety of Commentators, to explain the difficult paffages to you.

come over yourself,

We all rejoice that you have fix'd the precife time of your coming to be cum hirundine prima; which we modern naturalifts pronounce, ought to be reckon`d, contrary to Pliny, in this northern latitude of fiftytwo degrees, from the end of February, Styl. Greg. at fartheft. But to us your friends, the coming of fuch a black swallow as you, will make a fummer in the worst of feafons: We are no lefs glad at your mention of Twickenham and Dawley; and in town you know you have a lodging at Court.

The Princess is cloath'd in Irish filk; pray give our service to the Weavers. We are strangely surpriz'd to hear that the bells in Ireland ring without your money. I hope you do not write the thing that is not. We are afraid that B hath been guilty of that crime, that you (like Honynhnm) have treated him as a Yahoo, and difcarded him your fervice. I fear you do not understand these modifh terms, which every creature now understands but yourself.

You tell us your Wine is bad, and that the Clergy do not frequent your houfe, which we look upon to be tautology. The best advice we can give you is, to make them a prefent of Your Wine, and come away to better.

You fancy we envy you; but you are mistaken; we envy those you are with, for we cannot envy the man we love. Adieu.

LETTER XIX.

or difability of any kind can throw in my way, to write you (at intervals) a long letter. My two leaft fingers of one hand hang impediments to the others, like useless dependents, who only take up room, and & never are active or affiftant to our wants: I fhall

C

Nov. 16. 1726.

Have refolved to take time; and in spite of all

I misfortunes and demurs, which ficknefs, lamenefs,

never be much the better for 'em-I congratulate you first upon what you call your Coufin's wonderful Book, which is publica trita manu at prefent, and I prophely will be hereafter the admiration of all men. That countenance with which it is received by some statef men, is delightful; I wish I could tell you how every fingle man looks upon it, to observe which has been my whole diversion this fortnight. I've never been a night in London fince you left me till now for this very end, and indeed it has fully answered my expectations.

I find no confiderable man very angry at the book: fome indeed think it rather too bold, and too general a Satire but none, that I hear of, accufe it of particular reflections (I mean no perfons of confequence, or good judgment; the mob of Critics, you know, always are defirous to apply Satire to those they envy for being above them); so that you needed not to have been fo fecret upon this head. Motte received the copy (he tells me) he knew not from whence, nor from Ꮓ

VOL. VI.