to the lowest it is univerfally read, from the Cabinet-council to the Nursery. The Politicians to a man agree, that it is free from particular reflections, but that the Satire on general focieties of men is too severe, Not but we now and then meet with people of greater perfpicuity, who are in fearch for particular applications in every leaf; and 'tis highly probable we shall have keys publifh'd to give light into Gulliver's defign, Lord is the perfon who least 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 so losing 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 fome places the matter too far carried. The Dutchess Dowager of Marlborough is in raptures at it; fhe fays she can dream of nothing else fince she read it: she declares, that she hath now found out, that her whole life hath been loft in careffing the worst part of mankind, and treating the best as her

a It is no wonder a man' a corrupt man should approve of worth fhould condemn ait, because it juftifies his fatire on his fpecies; as it principles and tends to exinjures Virtue and violates cufe his practice. Truth: And, as little, that

foes;

foes; and that if she knew Gulliver, tho' he had been the worst enemy fhe ever had, fhe would give up her present 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. If you are, you have difoblig'd us, and two or three of your beft friends, in not giving us the least hint of it while you were with us; and in particular Dr. Arbuthnot, who says it is ten thousand pitys 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. Gulliver had a particular malice to Maids of honour. Those of them who frequent the Church, fay, his design 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 least 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 pafs'd Lords and Commons, nemine contradicenti; and the whole town, men, women, and children are quite full of it.

I

Perhaps

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 come over your felf, and read it here, where you will have the pleasure of variety of Commentators, to explain the difficult paffages to you.

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 fifty-two degrees, from the end of February, Styl. Greg. at fartheft. But to us your friends, the coming of fuch a black fwallow as you, will make a fummer in the worft of feafons. We are no lefs glad at your mention of Twickenham and Dawley; and in town you know you lodging at Court.

have a

The Princess is cloath'd in Irish filk; pray give our fervice to the Weavers. We are ftrangely furpriz'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,

2

Yahoo, and difcarded him your service. I fear do not understand thefe modish terms, you

which every creature now understands but your

felf.

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 thofe you are with, for we cannot envy the man we love. Adieu.

LETTER XIX.

Nov. 16, 1726.

Have refolved to take time; and in fpite of all misfortunes and demurs, which fickness, lameness, 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 dependa This was occafioned by | in immediate danger of a bad accident as he was re- drowning, when the poftilturning home in a friend's lion, who had juft recovered Chariot; which in paffing a himself, beat theglafs, which bridge was overturned, and lay uppermost to pieces a thrown with the horfes into fragment of which cut one the River. The glaffes be- of Mr. Pope's hands very ing up, and Mr. Pope un- dangerously. able to break them, he was

ents,

1

ents, who only take up room, aud never are active or affiftant to our wants: I fhall 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 prophefy will be hereafter the admiration of all men. That countenance with which it is received by some statesmen, is delightful; I wish I could tell you how every fingle man looks upon it, to obferve which has been my whole diverfion 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, accuse 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 be ing above them) fo that you needed not to have been fo fecret upon this head. Motte receiv'd the copy (he tells me) he knew not from whence, nor from whom, dropp'd at his houfe in the dark, from a Hackney-coach: by computing the time, I found it was after you left England, fo, for my part, I fufpend my judg

ment.