LETTER 63.[1]
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MD’s allowance must be increased, and shall be too, fais. . . [20] I received oor rettle No. 39 to−night; just ten weeks since I had your last. I shall write next post to Bishop Sterne. Never man had so many enemies of Ireland[21] as he. I carried it with the strongest hand possible. If he does not use me well and gently in what dealings I shall have with him, he will be the most ungrateful of mankind. The Archbishop of York,[22] my mortal enemy, has sent, by a third hand, that he would be glad to see me. Shall I see him, or not? I hope to be over in a month, and that MD, with their raillery, will be mistaken, that I shall make it three years. I will answer oo rettle soon; but no more journals. I shall be very busy. Short letters from hence forward. I shall not part with Laracor. That is all I have to live on, except the deanery be worth more than four hundred pounds a year. Is it? If it be, the overplus shall be divided between MD and FW beside usual allowance of MD. . . .
[23] Pray write to me a good−humoured letter immediately, let it be ever so short. This affair was carried with great difficulty, which vexes me. But they say here ’tis much to my reputation that I have made a bishop, in spite of all the world, to get the best deanery in Ireland. Nite dee sollahs.
24. I forgot to tell you I had Sterne’s letter yesterday, in answer to mine. Oo performed oor commission well, dood dallars both.[24] I made mistakes the three last days, and am forced to alter the number.[25] I dined in the City to−day with my printer, and came home early, and am going to [be] busy with my work. I will send this to−morrow, and I suppose the warrants will go then. I wrote to Dr. Coghill, to take care of passing my patent; and to Parvisol, to attend him with money, if he has any, or to borrow some where he can. Nite MD.
25. Morning. I know not whether my warrant be yet ready from the Duke of Ormond. I suppose it will by tonight. I am going abroad, and will keep this unsealed, till I know whether all be finished. Mollow,[26]
sollahs.
I had this letter all day in my pocket, waiting till I heard the warrants were gone over. Mr. Lewis sent to Southwell’s clerk at ten; and he said the Bishop of Killaloe[27] had desired they should be stopped till next post. He sent again, that the Bishop of Killaloe’s business had nothing to do with ours. Then I went myself, but it was past eleven, and asked the reason. Killaloe is removed to Raphoe, and he has a mind to have an order for the rents of Raphoe, that have fallen due since the vacancy, and he would have all stop till he has gotten that. A pretty request! But the clerk, at Mr. Lewis’s message, sent the warrants for Sterne and me; but then it was too late to send this, which frets me heartily, that MD should not have intelligence first from Pdfr.
I think to take a hundred pounds a year out of the deanery, and divide it between MD and Pr,[28] and so be one year longer in paying the debt; but we’ll talk of zis hen I come over. So nite dear sollahs. Lele.[29]
26. I was at Court to−day, and a thousand people gave me joy; so I ran out. I dined with Lady Orkney.
Yesterday I dined with Lord Treasurer and his Saturday people as usual; and was so bedeaned! The Archbishop of York says he will never more speak against me. Pray see that Parvisol stirs about getting my patent. I have given Tooke DD’s note to prove she is alive. I’ll answer oo rettle. . . . Nite.
27. Nothing new to−day. I dined with Tom Harley, etc. I’ll seal up this to− night. Pray write soon. . . . MD
MD MD FW FW FW ME ME ME Lele, lele.
LETTER 64.[1]
LONDON, May 16 [1713].
I had yours, No. 40, yesterday. Your new Bishop acts very ungratefully. I cannot say so bad of it as he deserved. I begged at the same post his warrant and mine went over, that he would leave those livings to my disposal. I shall write this post to him to let him know how ill I take it. I have letters to tell me that I ought to think of employing some body to set the tithes of the deanery. I know not what to do at this distance. I cannot be in Ireland under a month. I will write two orders; one to Parvisol, and t’other to Parvisol, and a blank for LETTER 64.[1]
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whatever fellow it is whom the last Dean employed; and I would desire you to advise with friends which to make use of: and if the latter, let the fellow’s name be inserted, and both act by commission. If the former, then speak to Parvisol, and know whether he can undertake it. I doubt it is hardly to be done by a perfect stranger alone, as Parvisol is. He may perhaps venture at all, to keep up his interest with me; but that is needless, for I am willing to do him any good, that will do me no harm. Pray advise with Walls and Raymond, and a little with Bishop Sterne for form. Tell Raymond I cannot succeed for him to get that living of Moimed. It is represented here as a great sinecure. Several chaplains have solicited for it; and it has vexed me so, that, if I live, I will make it my business to serve him better in something else. I am heartily sorry for his illness, and that of the other two. If it be not necessary to let the tithes till a month hence, you may keep the two papers, and advise well in the meantime; and whenever it is absolutely necessary, then give that paper which you are most advised to. I thank Mr. Walls for his letter. Tell him that must serve for an answer, with my service to him and her. I shall buy Bishop Sterne’s hair as soon as his household goods. I shall be ruined, or at least sadly cramped, unless the Queen will give me a thousand pounds. I am sure she owes me a great deal more. Lord Treasurer rallies me upon it, and I believe intends it; but, quando? I am advised to hasten over as soon as possible, and so I will, and hope to set out the beginning of June. Take no lodging for me.
What? at your old tricks again? I can lie somewhere after I land, and I care not where, nor how. I will buy your eggs and bacon, DD. . . [2] your caps and Bible; and pray think immediately, and give me some commissions, and I will perform them as far as oo poo Pdfr can.[3] The letter I sent before this was to have gone a post before; but an accident hindered it; and, I assure oo, I wam very akkree[4] MD did not write to Dean Pdfr, and I think oo might have had a Dean under your girdle for the superscription. I have just finished my Treatise,[5] and must be ten days correcting it. Farewell, deelest MD, MD, MD, FW, FW, FW, ME, ME, ME, Lele.
You’ll seal the two papers after my name.
“LONDON, May 16, 1713.
“I appoint Mr. Isaiah Parvisol and Mr. to set and let the tithes of the Deanery of St. Patrick’s for this present year. In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year above written.
[JONAT. SWIFT.”[6]]
“LONDON, May 16, 1713.
“I do hereby appoint Mr. Isaiah Parvisol my proctor, to set and let the tithes of the Deanery of St. Patrick’s. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year above written.
JONAT. SWIFT.”
LETTER 65.[1]
CHESTER, June 6, 1713.
I am come here after six days. I set out on Monday last, and got here to−day about eleven in the morning. A noble rider, fais! and all the ships and people went off yesterday with a rare wind. This was told me, to my comfort, upon my arrival. Having not used riding these three years, made me terrible weary; yet I resolve on Monday to set out for Holyhead, as weary as I am. ‘Tis good for my health, mam. When I came here, I found MD’s letter of the 26th of May sent down to me. Had you writ a post sooner I might have brought some pins: but you were lazy, and would not write your orders immediately, as I desired you. I will come when God pleases; perhaps I may be with you in a week. I will be three days going to Holyhead; I cannot ride faster, say hat oo will. I am upon Stay−behind’s mare. I have the whole inn to myself. I would fain ‘scape this Holyhead LETTER 65.[1]