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put her in mind of Shakespear's description of Caffius.

He is a great difcerner, and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men————
Seldom he fmiles, and fmiles in fuch a fort
As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his fpirit,
That could be mov'd to fmile at any thing.

Jul. Cafar.

Mrs Pilkington believed the Dean's early youth did not promife that bright day of wit which has fince enlightened the learned world. Whilft he was at the univerfity of Dublin, he was fo far from being distinguished for any fuperiority of parts of learning, that he was ftopped of his degree as a dunce. When fhe heard the Dean relate this circumftance, fhe told him, the fuppofed he had been idle: But he affirmed the contrary, affuring her he was really dull. Which, if true, is very furprifing.

"I have," fays the, "often been led to look on the world as a garden, and the human "minds as fo many plants, fet by the hand of "the Great Creator for utility and ornament. "Thus fome, we fee, early produce beautiful "bloffoms, and as foon fade away; others, "whofe gems are more flow in unfolding, but

more permanent when blown; and others "again, who, though longer in arriving at per"fection, not only blefs us then with fhade and "odour, but alfo with delicious wholefome "fruit."

He

He was a perpetual friend to merit and learning; and utterly incapable of envy; for, in true genuine wit, he could fear no rival.

It has been often obferved, that where great talents are bestowed, there the strongest paffions are likewise given. This great man did but too often let them have dominion over him, and that on the most trifling occafions. During meal times he was evermore in a storm; the meat was always too much or too little done, or the fervants had offended in fome point, imperceptible to the reft of the company: However, when the cloth was taken away, he made his guests rich amends for the pain he had given them. For then

Was truly mingled, in the friendly bowl, The feaft of reafon, and the flow of foul. Pope. Yet he preferved strict temperance: For he never drank above half a pint of wine, in every glafs of which was mixed water and fugar: Yet if he liked his company, would fit many hours over it, unlocking all the fprings of policy, learning, true humour, and inimitable wit.

The following ftory the Dean told to Mrs Pilkington.

A clergyman who was a moft learned fine gentleman, but, under the softest and politest appearance, concealed the moft turbulent ambition, having made his merit as a preacher too eminent to be over-looked, had it early rewarded with a mitre. Dr Swift went to congratulate him on it;

but

but told him, he hoped, as his Lordfhip was a native of Ireland, and had now a feat in the House of Peers, he would employ his powerful elocution in the fervice of his diftreffed country. The prelate told him, the bishoprick was but a very fmall one, and he could not hope for a better, if he did not oblige the court. "Very well," fays Swift," then it is to be hoped, when you have a "better, you will become an honeft man." "Ay, that I will, Mr Dean," fays he. "Till "then, my Lord, farewell," anfwered Swift. This prelate was twice tranflated to richer fees; and on every tranflation, Dr Swift waited on him to remind him of his promife; but to no purpofe; there was now an archbishoprick in view, and till that was obtained, nothing could be done. Having in a fhort time likewife got this, he then fent for the Dean, and told him, "I am now at "the top of my preferment: For I well know

no Irishman will ever be made primate; there“fore, as I can rise no higher in fortune or sta❝tion, I will zealously promote the good of my "country." And from that time he commenced a moft outrageous patriot.

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CRITICISM

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SWIFT'S PROSE WRITINGS,

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BY THE EARL OF ORRER Y.

F we confider Swift's profe works, we fhall find a certain mafterly concifenefs in their ftyle, that hath never been equalled by any other writer. The truth of this affertion will more evidently appear, by comparing him with fome of the authors of his own time. Of thefe, Dr Tillotfon, and Mr Addifon, are to be numbered among the most eminent. Addifon hath all the powers that can captivate and improve his diction is cafy, his periods are well turned, his expreflions are flowing, and his humour is delicate. Tillotfon is nervous, grave, majefic, and perfpicuous. We must join both thefe characters together, to form a true idea of Dr Swift: Yet, as he outdoes Addifon in humour, he excells Tillotfon in perfpicuity. The Archbishop, indeed, confined himself to fubjects relative to his profeffion but Addison and Swift are more diffufive writers. They continually vary in their manner, and treat different topics in a different ftyle. When the writings of Addison terminate in party, he lofes himfelf extremely; and from a delicate and juft comedian, deviates into one of the lowest kind *. Not fo Dr Swift. He appears like a matterly gladiator. He wields the fword of party with eafe, juftnefs, and dexterity: And while he entertains the ignorant and the vulgar, he draws an equal attention from the learned and the great. When he is ferious, his gravity becomes him; when he laughs, his readers must laugh with him. But what fhall be faid for his love of trifles, and his want of delicacy and decorum? Errors, that if he did not contract, at least he increafed in Ireland. They are without a parallel, I hope they will ever remain fo. The fir of them arofe merely from his love of flattery, with which he was daily fed in that kingdom: The feeond proceeded from the mifanthropy of his difpofition, which induced him pecvishly to debafe mankind, and even to ridicule human nature itself. Politics were his favourite topic, as they gave him an opportu

VOL. I.

e

See the papers called the Freeholder.

nity

nity of gratifying his ambition, and thirst of power; yet, in this road, he has feldom continued long in one path. He has written mifcellaneoufly, and has chofen rather to appear a wandering comet, than a fixed ftar. Had he applied the faculties of his mind to one great and ufeful work, he must have fhined more gloriously, and might have enlightened a whole planetary fyftem in the political world.

There are fome pieces in his works that I defpife, others that floath, but many more that delight and improve me. The former are not worthy of notice. They are of no further ufe than to fhew us, in general, the errors of human nature; and to convince us, that neither the height of wit nor genius, can bring a man to fuch a degree of perfection, as vanity would often prompt him to believe.

In a difquifition of this fort, I fhall avoid, as much as possible, any annotations upon that kind of fatire in which the Dean indulged himself against particular perfons; most of whom, it is probable, provoked his rage by their own misconduct, and confequently owed to their own rafhnefs, the wounds which they received from his pen. But I have no delight in thofe kinds of writings, except for the fake of the wit, which, either in general, or in particular fatire, is equally to be admired. The edge of wit will always remain keen, and its blade will be bright and fhining, when the ftone upon which it has been whetted, is worn out, or thrown afide and forgotten. Perfonal fatire, against evil magiftrates, corrupt minifters, and those giants of power who gorge themfelves with the entrails of their country, is different from that perfonal fatire, which too often proceeds merely from felf-love, or ill-nature. The one is written in defence of the public, the other in defence of ourselves. The one is armed by the fword of juftice, and encouraged not only by the voice of the people, but by the principles of morality; the other is dictated by paffion, fupported by pride, and applauded by flattery. At the fame time that I fay this, I think every man of wit has a right to laugh at fools who give offence, or at coxcombs who are public nuifances. Swift, indeed, has left no weapon of farcafm untried, no branch of fatire uncultivated But while he has maintained a perpetual war against the mighty men in power, he has remained invulnerable, if not victorious.

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