Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

that I know not what to make of it, unlefs to fhew the rafcals of the other party, that they ufed a man unworthily, who had deferved better. He fpeaks all the kind things to me in the world."

October 14.

"I STAND with the new people ten times better than ever I did with the old, and forty times more careffed."

When we confider the rapidity of Mr. Harley's motions on this occafion, who was remarkable for procraftination, and the open freedom of his behaviour toward Swift, fo contrary to that clofenefs and referve, which were his characteristics, we may judge of his eager defire to fix him in their party. Nor was this hard to be accomplished: Swift had long in his own mind been of their fide; and he only waited for such a favourable juncture as now offered to declare himself. Mr. Harley's uncommon condefcenfion, flattered his pride; and the obligingnefs of his behaviour, engaged his friendship. Accordingly, after he had enquired into their plan, and the measures which they intended to purfue, as he found them entirely confonant to his own fentiments, he embarked without hesitation in their cause, and entered into their interefts with his whole heart. His approbation of their measures he expreffes in the following manner in his Journal,

November 29, 1710.

"THE prefent Miniftry have a difficult task, and want me. According to the best judgment I have, they are pursuing the true intereft of the publick, and therefore I am glad to contribute what lies in my power."

The

The writers on both sides had before this taken the field, and attacked each other with great acrimony. On the Whig-fide, were Mr. Addison, Bishop Burnet, Sir Richard Steele, Mr. Congreve, Mr. Rowe, and many others of lefs note. On the part of the Tories, the chief writers were, Lord Bolingbroke, Bishop Atterbury, and Mr. Prior. They had begun a Weekly Paper, called, The Examiner, which was the joint work of thofe three celebrated Writers, and had pu→ blished twelve numbers. But as foon as Swift declared himself, they thought all aid to him unneceffary, and the whole conduct of that Paper was from that time put into his hands. He entered the field alone, and, with a Samfon-like ftrength, fcorned affiftance, and defpifed numbers. His power of ridicule was like a flail in his hand, against which there was no fence. Though he industriously concealed his name, yet his friend Addifon foon difcovered him, and retired prudently from the field of battle, leaving the reft expofed to the attacks of this irrefiftible champion; by whom it must be allowed they were unmercifully handled, till, one after another, they were all laid low. His firft Paper was published on the 2d of November, 1710, No. 13, of the Examiner, which was about a month after his introduction to Mr. Harley; and he continued them without interruption till June 7, 1711, where he dropped it, clofing it with No. 44, and then leaving it to be carried on by other hands. During this time he lived in the utmost degree of confidence and familiarity, not only with Mr Harley, but the whole Ministry. Mr. Secretary St. John was not behind Mr. Harley, either in defire of cultivating Swift's acquaintance, or in addrefs, which the following extract from his Journal will fufficiently fhew.

W

November 11, 1710.

"I DINED to-day, by invitation, with the Secretary of State, Mr. St. John. Mr. Harley came in to us be fore dinner, and made me his excufes for not dining with us, because he was to receive people who came to propofe the advancing of money to the government. The Secretary ufed me with all the kindness in the world. Prior came in after dinner; and upon an occafion, the Secretary 'faid to him, "The beft thing I ever read is not your's, but Dr. Swift on Vanbrugh ; which I do not reckon fo.very good neither; but Prior was dampt, till I ftuffed him with two or three compliments. He told me, among other things, that Mr. Harley complained he could keep nothing from me, I had the way fo much of getting into him. I knew that was a refinement, and fo I told him; and it was fo, Indeed it is hard to fee these great men ufe me like one who was their betters, and the puppies with you in Ireland hardly regarding me. But there are fome reasons for all this, which I will tell you when we meet.'

In another place, he fays, March 3, 1710-11.

"I DINED with Mr. Harley to-day. Every Saturday, Lord Keeper, Secretary St. John, and I, dine with him, and fometimes Lord Rivers, and they let in none elfe. I ftaid with Mr. Harley till nine, when we had much difcourfe together, after the reft were gone, and I gave him very truly my opinion, when he defired it."

February 18, 17.10-11.

"SECRETARY St. John would needs have me dine with him to-day; and there I found three perfons I never faw, two I had no acquaintance with, and one I did not care for: fo I left them early, and came home,

it being no day to walk, but fcurvy rain and wind. The Secretary tells me he has put a cheat upon me; for Lord Peterborough fent him twelve dozen flasks of Burgundy, on condition I should have my fhare; but he never was quiet till they were all gone; so I reckon he owes me thirty-fix pounds."

February 25.

"I DINED to-day with Mr. Secretary St. John, on condition I might choose my company, which were Lord Rivers, Lord Carteret, Sir T. Manfel, and Mr. Lewis. I invited Mafham, Hill, Sir John Stanley, and George Granville, but they were engaged; and I did it in revenge of his having fuch bad company when I dined with him before. So we laughed," &c.

In the beginning of February, there was a piece of behaviour in Mr. Harley towards Swift, which nettled him to the quick, and had nearly occasioned a breach between them. Of this Swift gives the following account in his Journal.

February 6, 1710.

"Mr. HARLEY defired me to dine with him again to-day, but I refufed him; for I fell out with him yefterday, and will not fee him again till he makes me amends."

February 7.

"I was this morning early with Mr. Lewis of the Secretary's Office, and faw a letter Mr. Harley had fent him, defiring to be reconciled; but I was deaf to all intreaties, and have defired Lewis to go to him, and let him know I expected farther fatisfaction. If we let thefe great Minifters pretend too much, there will be

no

no governing them. He promifes to make me easy, if I will but come and fee him; but I won't, and he fhall do it by meffage, or I will caft him off. I will tell you the cause of our quarrel when I fee you, and refer it to yourselves. In that he did fomething, which he intended for a favour, and I have taken it quité otherwise, disliking both the thing and the manner, and it has heartily vexed me; and all I have faid is truth, though it looks like jeft: and I abfolutely refufed to fubmit to his intended favour, and expect farther fatisfaction."

In a fubfequent part of the Journal he acquaints Stella with the cause of quarrel.

March 7, 1710.

*

YES, I understand a cypher, and Ppt gueffes. right, as he always does. He gave me al bfadnnk Iboinlpt dfaonr ufainfbtoy dpeonufnadt; which I fent him again by Mr. Lewis, to whom I wrote a very complaining letter, that was fhewed him, and fo the matter ended. He told me he had a quarrel with me; I faid I had another with him, and we returned to our friendship, and I should think he loves me as well as a great Minifter can love a man in fo fhort a time.”

Nothing could have been confidered by Swift as a greater indignity, than this offer of Mr. Harley's, which put him on the footing of a hireling Writer.

* Stella.

This is a fort of cypher, in which, to difguife the words, fuperfluous letters are introduced; and the way to read it is to pass over thofe letters, and retain only fuch as will make out words and fenfe, in the following manner, where the letters to be retained are capitals. Al Bs Ad Nn K 1BolnLpt dFaOnR uFaInFbToY dPcOnUfNaD. That is, A Bank Bill for fifty pound,

Accordingly,

« FöregåendeFortsätt »