had been beforehand with him, and had

got the pro mise of it for another*. Upon seeing Swift's indignation rise at this, my lord, who began to be in no small fear of him, said "that the matter might still be settled if he would talk with Bush." Swift immediately found out the secretary, who very frankly told him "that he was to get a thousand pound for it, and if he would lay down the money, he should have the preference. To which Swift, enraged to the utmost degree, at an offer which he considered as the highest insult, and done evidently with lord Berkeley's participation, made no other answer but this; "God confound you both for a couple of scoundrels." With these words he immediately quitted the room, and turned his back on the castle, determined to appear there no more. But lord Berkeley was too conscious of the ill treatment he had given him, and too fearful of the resentment of

some other place." But, as if his stars had destined him a parallel revenge, he lived to see the bishop of Derry afterward set aside on account of age. That prelate had been archbishop of Dublin many years, and had been long celebrated for his wit and learning, when Dr. Lindsay died. Upon his death, archbishop King immediately laid claim to the primacy, as a preferment to which he had a right from his station in the see of Dublin, and from his acknowledged character in the church. Neither of these pretensions were prevalent; he was looked upon as too far advanced in years to be removed. The reason alledged was as mortifying as the refusal itself: but the archbishop had no opportunity of shewing his resentment, except to the new primate Dr. Boulter, whom he received at his own house, and in his dining-parlour, without rising from his chair; and to whom he made an apology, by saying, in his usual strain of wit, and with his usual sneering countenance, My lord, I am certain your grace will forgive me, because, You know I am too old to rise." See Orrery's Remarks, W. B.

+ The deanery was given to Dr. Boulter. N.

an

an exasperated genius, not to endeavour to pacify him. He therefore immediately presented him with the rectory of Agher, and the vicarages of Laracor, and Rath-beggan, then vacant, in the diocese of Meath. Though these livings united did not make up a third of the deanery in value, and though from the large promises, which had been made him, he had reason to expect much greater preferment, yet, considering the specimens already given of the performance of those promises, Swift thought it most prudent to accept of those livings, dropping all future expectations from that quarter. Nor did he afterward estrange himself from lord Berkeley's family, but continued still in his office of chaplain; to which he seems to have been chiefly induced, from the great honour and respect which he had for his excellent lady whose virtues he has celebrated in so masterly a manner, in the Introduction to the "Project for the Advancement of Religion."

From this behaviour to lord Berkeley, we may judge how little Swift was qualified to rise at court, in the usual way of obtaining preferment; and we

He was instituted March 22, 1699-1700. N.

+ Not even after his purchase (for 2601.) of the rectorial tithes of one part of the parish, called Effernock, which he gave by his last will to his successors for ever. In his account-book he reckons the annual value of the said union about 2301.; and within the first year, from March 1699, to Nov. 1, 1700, the expence of his titles, rent, curate, &c. amounted to 1177. He got the prebend of Dunlavan, in the chapter of St. Patrick, Sept. 23, 1700. Being in actual attendance as domestick chaplain to the ear of Berkeley, he had a dispensation from the bishop of Meath that year, in May, for not reading his assent and consent at LaJacor and Rath-beggan until the month of June, at which time he went through the necessary form. N.

may

may estimate the greatness of his spirit, by the degree of resentment shown to the man, in consequence of ill treatment, upon whom all his hopes of preferment then rested.

It was at this time that Swift's true humorous vein in poetry began to display itself, in several little pieces, written for the private entertainment of lord Berkeley's family; among which was that incomparable piece of low humour, called " The humble Petition of Mrs, Frances Harris, &c."

When lord Berkeley quitted the government of Ireland, Swift went to reside on his living at Laracor; where he lived for some time in the constant and strict discharge of his duty.

It was about this time that Mrs. Johnson (the afterward celebrated Stella) arrived in Ireland, ac companied by another lady of the name of Dingley, who was related to the family of the Temples. Sir William Temple had bequeathed to Mrs. Johnson a legacy of a thousand pounds, in consideration of her father's faithful services, and her own rising merits. After sir William's death, she lived for some time with Mrs. Dingley, a lady who had but a small annuity to support her. In this situation Swift advised his lovely pupil to settle in Ireland, as the interest of money was at that time ten per cent in that kingdom; and considering the cheapness of provisions, her income there would afford her a genteel support, instead of a mere subsistence in England; for the same reason also he recommended it to Mrs. Dingley to accompany her. This proposal was very agreeable to both the ladies. To the latter, as she had scarce a sufficient income to subsist on in England, though managed with the utmost frugality; to the

former,

former, that she might be near her tutor, whose lessons, however they might dwell on her memory, had sunk still deeper into her heart. These ladies soon after their arrival, took a lodging at Trim, a village near Laracor, which was the place of Swift's residence. The conversation of this amiable woman, who, by his own account, had the most and finest accomplishments of any person he had ever known of either sex, contributed not a little to sweeten his retirement, which otherwise must soon have become burthensome to so active a spirit. But though Stella's beauty was at that time arrayed in all the pride of blooming eighteen*, yet it is certain that he never dropped the least hint that might induce her to consider him in the light of a lover. In his whole deportment he still maintained the character of a tutor, a guardian, and a friend; but he so studiously avoided the appearance of any other attachment to her, that he never saw, or conversed with her, but in the presence of some third person. The truth is, that Swift at that time, knew not what the passion of love was; his fondness for Stella was only that of an affectionate parent to a favourite child; and he had long entertained a dislike to matrimony. He seems to have been under the dominion of a still more powerful passion, that of ambition: a passion which, from his boyish days, had taken strong hold of his mind, and never afterward for

1

* Stella is said by most writers to have been in Rer 16th year when she first went to Ireland in 1699; but Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Deane Swift both say she was 18. As her name is not to be found in the parish register, which begins in 1682, they probably are right. In 1683 is an entry of Anne the daughter of Edward Johnson, baptised; but Mrs. Johrison's naine was Esther. See Lysous, II, 453. N.

sook

sook him, till all hopes of its being farther gratified had failed.

Urged by this restless spirit, he every year paid a visit to England*, absenting himself for some months from the duties of his parish, and the charming conversation of the amiable Stella, in hopes of finding some favourable opportunity of distinguishing himself, and pushing his fortune in the world. His first visit to London, from the time he had taken possession of his living, was in the year 1701. At which time he found the publick in a ferment, occasioned by the impeachment of the earls of Portland and Orford, lord Somers, and lord Halifax, by the house of commons. Upon this occasion Swift wrote and published his first political tract, entitled,

A Discourse of the Contests and Dissensions in Athens and Rome," in which he displayed great knowledge in ancient history, as well as skill in the English constitution, and the state of parties. The author of this piece concealed his name with the greatest precaution, nor was he at that time personally known to any of the nobles, in whose favour it seems to have been written; and indeed from the spirit of the piece itself, we may see that Swift was induced to write it from other motives than such as were private and personal. As no one understood

In April 1701, Swift went to London; returned to Ireland in September following; took his doctor's degree on 16 Feb. after, which cost him in fees and treat 447. and upwards. In April 1702, he went to Leicester, to see his mother; in May, to London; in July, to Moor Park; in October, to Ireland. The next year, in November 1703, he went to Leicester; thence to London; and May SO, 1704, returned to Dublin, whence he went directly to Laracor. This he calls, in his accompt book, his 16th voyage." N.