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Guiscard's Examination: -The present State of Wit:-A learned Comment on Hare's Sermon:-A new Vindication of the Duke of Marlborough: A true Relation of the Facts of the intended Riot on Queen Elizabeth's Birth-day-The new way of selling Places at Court:-Some Reasons to prove that no one is obliged, by his Principles as a Whig, to oppose the Queen:-A supposed Letter from the Pretender to a Whig Lord: A pretended Letter of Thanks from Lord Wharton to the Bishop of St. Asaph :-A modest Inquiry into the Reasons of the Joy expressed on the spreading of a Report of her Majesty's Death:-The Right of Precedence between Physicians and Civilians :-Tatlers, from Vol. V.-The Examiner, No. 46: -Spectator, No. 475: Passage in it by Swift:-Character of Herodotus:-Sketch of the Character of Aristotle :-Remarks on the Characters of the Court of Queen Anne :-Various Letters, and additional Poems.-The XIXth Vol. is composed of Letters to and from various Persons :-Observations on the Case of the Woollen. Manufacturers of Dublin :-On the Bill for the Clergy residing on their Livings:-A Narrative of the Attempts made by the Dissenters of Ireland for a Repeal of the Test:-The Drapier's Letter, 1745-Character of Swift after his Death :-Johnson's Character of Swift's Writings ":Extracts from Berkeley's Life of Swift:-Swift's Memorial to the Queen:-Letter to the Bishop of Meath:-Ditto to Mr. Jackson: Swift's Character of Dr.Sheridan ;-and a general Index. We have been thus minute in enumerating the contents of these volumes, both because they display the variety and extent of the Dean's productions, and because the statement will

* The prejudice which Dr. Johnson entertained against Swift is well known; and, in the character here preserved, it betrayed him into an obvious inconsistency. The Doctor observes :

"In his economy he practised a peculiar and offensive parsimony, without disguise or apology. The practice of saving being once necessary, became ha bitual, and grew first ridiculous, and at last detestable. But his avarice, though it might exclude pleasure, was never suffered to encroach upon his virtue. He was frugal by inclination, but liberal by principle; and if the purpose to which he destined his little accumulations be remembered, with his distribution of occasional charity, it will perhaps appear, that he only liked one mode of expense better than another, and saved merely that he might have something to give. He did not grow rich by injuring his successors, but left both Laracor and the Deanery more valuable than he found them-With all this talk of his covetousness and generosity, it should be remembered, that he was never rich. The revenue of his deanery was not much more than seven hundred a year."

How could that economy, practised too by a person who was never rith, become detestable, which was never suffered to encroach on virtue; and which suggested the idea that the party preferred one mode of expence to another, and saved merely that he might have something to give?

04

enable

enable our readers to compare this edition with any which they may possess, and to discover what advantages it can boast, either in point of new matter or in the arrangement of old materials.

We shall now transcribe the Dean's Ode to King William on his Successes in Ireland; and two Letters, the one addressed to the Bishop of Meath, and the other to the Rev. Mr. Jackson; as specimens of the additions to be found in this edition: • ODE TO KING WILLIAM, ON HIS SUCCESSES IN IRELAND.

To purchase kingdoms, and to buy renown,
Are arts peculiar to dissembling France;
You, mighty monarch, nobler actions crown,
And solid virtue does your name advance.
Your matchless courage with your prudence joins
The glorious structure of your fame to raise;
With its own light your dazzling glory shines,
And into adoration turns our praise.
Had you by dull succession gain'd your crown
(Cowards are monarchs by that title made),
Part of your merit Chance would call her own,

And half your virtues had been lost in shade.
But now your worth its just reward shall have :
What trophies and what triumphs are your due!
Who could so well a dying nation save,

At once deserve a crown, and gain it too!
You saw how near we were to ruin brought,
You saw th' impetuous torrent rolling on;
And timely on the coming danger thought,
Which we could neither obviate nor shun.
Britannia stripp'd of her sole guard, the laws,
Ready to fail Rome's bloody sacrifice;

You straight stepp'd in, and from the monster's jaws
Did bravely snatch the lovely, helpless prize.

Nor this is all; as glorious is the care

To preserve conquests, as at first to gain:

In this your virtue claims a double share,

Which, what it bravely won, does well maintain.

This Ode, which had been long sought after without success, was first ascertained to be Swift's in the Select Collection of Poems, published by J. Nichols, 1778, vol. iv, page 303. That it is the dean's, there is not the least doubt,, He refers to it in the second stanza of his "Ode to the Athenian Society," and expressly marks it by a marginal note, under the title of "The Ode I writ to the king in Ireland." See "The Gentleman's Journal, July, 1692,"

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Your arm has now your rightful title show'd,
An arm on which all Europe's hopes depend,
To which they look as to some guardian God,
That must their doubtful liberty defend.
Amaz'd, thy action at the Boyne we see !
When Schomberg started at the vast design.
The boundless glory all redounds to thee,

Th' impulse, the fight, th' event, were wholly thine.
The brave attempt does all our foes disarm;

You need but now give orders and command,
Your name shall the remaining work perform,
And spare the labour of your conquering hand.
France does in vain her feeble arts apply,

To interrupt the fortune of your course:
Your influence does the vain attacks defy
Of secret malice, or of open force.
Boldly we hence the brave commencement date
Of glorious deeds, that must all tongues employ;
William's the pledge and earnest given by fate
Of England's glory, and her lasting joy.'-

*The two following unprinted Letters of the Dean were communicated to the Editor, by the Rev. JOHN WILLIAMS of Llanrwst, while the present Sheet was actually in the Press.

TO THE BISHOP OF MEATH *.

May 22, 1719.

I had an express sent to me yesterday by some friends, to ler me know that you refused to accept my proxy, which I think was in a legal form, and with all the circumstances it ought to have. I was likewise informed of some other particulars, relating to your displeasure for my not appearing. You may remember if you please, that I promised last year never to appear again at your visitations; and I will most certainly keep my word, if the law will permit me : not from any contempt of your lordship's jurisdictions, but that I would not put you under the temptation of giving me injurious treatment, which no wise man, if he can avoid it, will receive above once from the same person.

I had the less apprehension of any hard dealing from your lordship, because I had been more than ordinary officious in my respects to you from your first coming over. I waited on you as soon I knew of your landing. I attended on you in your first journey to Trim. I lent you a useful book relating to your diocese; and repeated my visits, till I saw you never intended to return them. And I could have no design to serve myself, having nothing to hope. or fear from you. I cannot help it, if I am called of a different

"Successit Joannes Evans [Episcopus Bangorensis], consecrationis ritibus initiatus, quarto Januarii 1701: anno 1715 ad Epis copatum Meidensem in Hibernia translatus." Godwin, de Præsulibus Angliæ, Cantab. 1742, fol.

party

party from your lordship: but that circumstance is of no consequence with me, who respect good men of all parties alike.

I have already nominated a person to be my curate, and did humbly recommend him to your lordship to be ordained, which must be done by some other bishop, since you were pleased (as I am told) to refuse it and I am apt to think you will be of opinion, that when I have a lawful curate, I shall not be under the necessity of a personal appearance, from which I hold myself excused by another station. If I shall prove to be mistaken, I declare my appearance will be extremely against my inclinations. However I hope that in such a case, your lordship will please to remember in the midst of your resentments that you are to speak to a clergyman, and not to a footman.-I am 'Your lordship's most obedient, humble servant, JONATHAN SWIFT.' TO THE REV. MR, JACKSON AT GALLSTOWN *. Dublin, Oct. 6, 1721.

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I had no mind to load you with the secret of my going, because you should bear none of the blame. I talk upon a supposition, that Mr. Rochfort had a mind to keep me longer, which I will allow in him and you, but not one of the family besides, who I confess had reason enough to be weary of a man, who entered into none of their tastes, nor pleasures, nor fancies, nor opinions, nor talk. I baited at Clencurry, and got to Leslip between three and four, saw the curiosities there, and the next morning came to Dublin by eight o'clock, and was at prayers in my cathedral. There's a traveller. I forgot a long treatise copied by my Irish secretary, which I lent Clem. Barry-Pray get it from him, and seal it up, and keep it, till you get a convenience of sending it. Desire lady Betty to give you the old silver box that I carried the comfits in; it belongs to poor Mrs. Brent, and she asked me for it with a sigh. You may trust it with Arthur. You are now happy, and have nobody to tease you to the oar or the saddle. You can sit in your nightgown till noon without any reproaches.

I left a note for you with James Doyl, with commissions which I hope you will fulfil, though you borrow the money; I will certainly be out of your debt in all articles between us, when you come to town, or before, if you draw a bill upon me, for now I have money, and value no man. I am told your tribe here is all well, though I have seen none but Jack Jackson.

Farewell, go to cards, and lose your money with great gravity.,
My service to all your girls.

• I gave James Doyl two crowns, and a strict order to take care of our gray colt, which I desire you will second.

my

I had a perfect summer journey, and if I had staid much longer, I should have certainly had a winter one, which, with weak horses and bad roads, would have been a very unpleasant thing.'

Copied from the original in the possession of two Irish ladies of the name of Shenton (daughters of a late precentor of Christ) Church, Dublin.)'

By

By such persons as are unprovided with a collection of Swift's Works, this edition will doubtless be preferred to all that have preceded it but the additions here introduced appear too inconsiderable to induce those who possess Hawkesworth, or Sheridan, to exchange them for the present. The work is handsomely and correctly printed, and is ornamented by a portrait of the Dean; which, however, is not so well executed as the publication seemed to demand.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE,
For FEBRUARY,

BLAGDON CONTROVERSY.

1802.

Art. 16. An Address to Mrs. Hannah More, on the Conclusion of
the Blagdon Controversy. With Observations on an anonymous
Tract entitled A Statement of Facts.' By Thomas Bere, M. A.
Curate of Blagdon. Svo. 28. Robinsons. 1801.
NOTWITHSTANDING the conviction which had passed in the mind

of Mr. B.'s Diocesan, that the Curate of Blagdon had been hardly used, in consequence of which he had been reinstated in his former situation, yet it seems to have occurred to Mr. Bere that justice to his injured Character required something farther to be said on the subject. Accordingly, he here enters on a retrospective view of the whole business, lately the subject of so much controversy; and in the course of his ample statement, he earnestly expostulates with Mrs. H. Mare, whom he considers as the main spring and grand mover of what he deems his unjust persecution.-On the whole, it seems to us impossible for an impartial Byestander to read this very circumstantial account, without being convinced that Mr. B. has had but too much reason for the complaints which he has laid before the Public.

Art. 17. The Force of Contrast; or, Quotations, accompanied with Remarks submitted to the Consideration of all who have interested themselves in what has been called the Blagdon Controversy. 8vo. 68. Cadell jun. and Davies.

The anonymous author of this Reply to Mr. B.'s " Address,” &c. appears to have resolved that he shall not have the last word in the Blagdon Controversy. Accordingly, he also enters on a critical review of what Mr. Bere has published in support of his own side of the question; in order to convict him of a number of material inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and self-contradictions, &c. &c.-It may be very true that Mr. B. (under the agitations, the feelings, and the critical circumstances which he must have experienced in so provoking a contest,) may have somewhat "committed" himself, in his statements, and in his defensive observations on the conduct of his adversaries: but, still, with regard to the substantial merits of this Holy War, we are persuaded that the candid and impartial Public will rest satisfied that the Curate of Blagdon has acted uprightly and conscientiously in

regard

S.R.

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