George Gissing - "Thyrza"

Andrew Lang - "Theocritus, Bion and Moschus rendered into English Prose"

H. F. Cary - "The Divine Comedy of Dante"

Unkown - "Vergil's Aeneid in Latin"

The Journal to Stella

J >> Jonathan Swift >> The Journal to Stella




5. I went this morning with a parishioner of mine, one Nuttal, who came over
here for a legacy of one hundred pounds, and a roguish lawyer had refused to
pay him, and would not believe he was the man. I writ to the lawyer a sharp
letter, that I had taken Nuttal into my protection, and was resolved to stand
by him, and the next news was, that the lawyer desired I would meet him, and
attest he was the man, which I did, and his money was paid upon the spot. I
then visited Lord Treasurer, who is now right again, and all well, only that
the Somerset family is not out yet. I hate that; I don't like it, as the man
said, by, etc. Then I went and visited poor Will Congreve, who had a French
fellow tampering with one of his eyes; he is almost blind of both. I dined
with some merchants in the City, but could not see Stratford, with whom I had
business. Presto, leave off your impertinence, and answer our letter, saith
MD. Yes, yes, one of these days, when I have nothing else to do. O, faith,
this letter is a week written, and not one side done yet. These ugly spots are
not tobacco, but this is the last gilt sheet I have of large paper, therefore
hold your tongue. Nuttal was surprised when they gave him bits of paper
instead of money, but I made Ben Tooke put him in his geers:[8] he could not
reckon ten pounds, but was puzzled with the Irish way. Ben Tooke and my
printer have desired me to make them stationers to the Ordnance, of which Lord
Rivers is Master, instead of the Duke of Marlborough. It will be a hundred
pounds a year apiece to them, if I can get it. I will try to-morrow.

6. I went this morning to Earl Rivers, gave him joy of his new employment,
and desired him to prefer my printer and bookseller to be stationers to his
office. He immediately granted it me; but, like an old courtier, told me it
was wholly on my account, but that he heard I had intended to engage Mr.
Secretary to speak to him, and desired I would engage him to do so, but that,
however, he did it only for my sake. This is a Court trick, to oblige as many
as you can at once. I read prayers to poor Mrs. Wesley, who is very much out
of order, instead of going to church; and then I went to Court, which I found
very full, in expectation of seeing Prince Eugene, who landed last night, and
lies at Leicester House; he was not to see the Queen till six this evening. I
hope and believe he comes too late to do the Whigs any good. I refused dining
with the Secretary, and was like to lose my dinner, which was at a private
acquaintance's. I went at six to see the Prince at Court, but he was gone in
to the Queen; and when he came out, Mr. Secretary, who introduced him, walked
so near him that he quite screened me from him with his great periwig. I'll
tell you a good passage: as Prince Eugene was going with Mr. Secretary to
Court, he told the Secretary that Hoffman, the Emperor's Resident, said to His
Highness that it was not proper to go to Court without a long wig, and his was
a tied-up one: "Now," says the Prince, "I knew not what to do, for I never
had a long periwig in my life; and I have sent to all my valets and footmen,
to see whether any of them have one, that I might borrow it, but none of them
has any."--Was not this spoken very greatly with some sort of contempt? But
the Secretary said it was a thing of no consequence, and only observed by
gentlemen ushers. I supped with Lord Masham, where Lord Treasurer and Mr.
Secretary supped with us: the first left us at twelve, but the rest did not
part till two, yet I have written all this, because it is fresh: and now I'll
go sleep if I can; that is, I believe I shall, because I have drank a little.

7. I was this morning to give the Duke of Ormond notice of the honour done
him to make him one of our Society, and to invite him on Thursday next to the
Thatched House: he has accepted it with the gratitude and humility such a
preferment deserves, but cannot come till the next meeting, because Prince
Eugene is to dine with him that day, which I allowed for: a good excuse, and
will report accordingly. I dined with Lord Masham, and sat there till eight
this evening, and came home, because I was not very well, but a little griped;
but now I am well again, I will not go, at least but very seldom, to Lord
Masham's suppers. Lord Treasurer is generally there, and that tempts me, but
late sitting up does not agree with me: there's the short and the long, and I
won't do it; so take your answer, dear little young women; and I have no more
to say to you to-night, because of the Archbishop, for I am going to write a
long letter to him, but not so politely as formerly: I won't trust him.

8. Well, then, come, let us see this letter; if I must answer it, I must.
What's here now? yes, faith, I lamented my birthday[9] two days after, and
that's all: and you rhyme, Madam Stella; were those verses made upon my
birthday? faith, when I read them, I had them running in my head all the day,
and said them over a thousand times; they drank your health in all their
glasses, and wished, etc. I could not get them out of my head. What? no, I
believe it was not; what do I say upon the eighth of December? Compare, and
see whether I say so. I am glad of Mrs. Stoyte's recovery, heartily glad;
your Dolly Manley's and Bishop of Cloyne's[10] child I have no concern about:
I am sorry in a civil way, that's all. Yes, yes, Sir George St. George
dead.[11]--Go, cry, Madam Dingley; I have written to the Dean. Raymond will
be rich, for he has the building itch. I wish all he has got may put him out
of debt. Poh, I have fires like lightning; they cost me twelvepence a week,
beside small coal. I have got four new caps, madam, very fine and convenient,
with striped cambric, instead of muslin; so Patrick need not mend them, but
take the old ones. Stella snatched Dingley's word out of her pen; Presto a
cold? Why, all the world here is dead with them: I never had anything like
it in my life; 'tis not gone in five weeks. I hope Leigh is with you before
this, and has brought your box. How do you like the ivory rasp? Stella is
angry; but I'll have a finer thing for her. Is not the apron as good? I'm
sure I shall never be paid it; so all's well again.--What? the quarrel with
Sir John Walter?[12] Why, we had not one word of quarrel; only he railed at
me when I was gone: and Lord Keeper and Treasurer teased me for a week. It
was nuts to them; a serious thing with a vengeance.--The Whigs may sell their
estates then, or hang themselves, as they are disposed; for a peace there will
be. Lord Treasurer told me that Connolly[13] was going to Hanover. Your
Provost[14] is a coxcomb. Stella is a good girl for not being angry when I
tell her of spelling; I see none wrong in this. God Almighty be praised that
your disorder lessens; it increases my hopes mightily that they will go off.
And have you been plagued with the fear of the plague? never mind those
reports; I have heard them five hundred times. Replevi? Replevin, simpleton,
'tis Dingley I mean; but it is a hard word, and so I'll excuse it. I stated
Dingley's accounts in my last. I forgot Catherine's sevenpenny dinner. I hope
it was the beef-steaks; I'll call and eat them in spring; but Goody Stoyte
must give me coffee, or green tea, for I drink no bohea. Well, ay, the
pamphlet; but there are some additions to the fourth edition; the fifth
edition was of four thousand, in a smaller print, sold for sixpence. Yes, I
had the twenty-pound bill from Parvisol: and what then? Pray now eat the
Laracor apples; I beg you not to keep them, but tell me what they are. You
have had Tooke's bill in my last. And so there now, your whole letter is
answered. I tell you what I do; I lay your letter before me, and take it in
order, and answer what is necessary; and so and so. Well, when I expected we
were all undone, I designed to retire for six months, and then steal over to
Laracor; and I had in my mouth a thousand times two lines of Shakespeare,
where Cardinal Wolsey says,

"A weak old man, battered with storms of state,
Is come to lay his weary bones among you."[15]

I beg your pardon; I have cheated you all this margin, I did not perceive it;
and I went on wider and wider like Stella; awkward sluts; SHE WRITES SO SO,
THERE:[16] that's as like as two eggs a penny.--"A weak old man," now I am
saying it, and shall till to-morrow.--The Duke of Marlborough says there is
nothing he now desires so much as to contrive some way how to soften Dr.
Swift. He is mistaken; for those things that have been hardest against him
were not written by me. Mr. Secretary told me this from a friend of the
Duke's; and I'm sure now he is down, I shall not trample on him; although I
love him not, I dislike his being out.--Bernage was to see me this morning,
and gave some very indifferent excuses for not calling here so long. I care
not twopence. Prince Eugene did not dine with the Duke of Marlborough on
Sunday, but was last night at Lady Betty Germaine's assemblee, and a vast
number of ladies to see him. Mr. Lewis and I dined with a private friend. I
was this morning to see the Duke of Ormond, who appointed me to meet him at
the Cockpit at one, but never came. I sat too some time with the Duchess. We
don't like things very well yet. I am come home early, and going to be busy.
I'll go write.

9. I could not go sleep last night till past two, and was waked before three
by a noise of people endeavouring to break open my window. For a while I
would not stir, thinking it might be my imagination; but hearing the noise
continued, I rose and went to the window, and then it ceased. I went to bed
again, and heard it repeated more violently; then I rose and called up the
house, and got a candle: the rogues had lifted up the sash a yard; there are
great sheds before my windows, although my lodgings be a storey high; and if
they get upon the sheds they are almost even with my window. We observed
their track, and panes of glass fresh broken. The watchmen told us to-day
they saw them, but could not catch them. They attacked others in the
neighbourhood about the same time, and actually robbed a house in Suffolk
Street, which is the next street but one to us. It is said they are seamen
discharged from service. I went up to call my man, and found his bed empty;
it seems he often lies abroad. I challenged him this morning as one of the
robbers. He is a sad dog; and the minute I come to Ireland I will discard
him. I have this day got double iron bars to every window in my dining-room
and bed-chamber; and I hide my purse in my thread stocking between the bed's
head and the wainscot. Lewis and I dined with an old Scotch friend, who
brought the Duke of Douglas[17] and three or four more Scots upon us.

10. This was our Society day, you know; but the Duke of Ormond could not be
with us, because he dined with Prince Eugene. It cost me a guinea
contribution to a poet, who had made a copy of verses upon monkeys, applying
the story to the Duke of Marlborough; the rest gave two guineas, except the
two physicians,[18] who followed my example. I don't like this custom: the
next time I will give nothing. I sat this evening at Lord Masham's with Lord
Treasurer: I don't like his countenance; nor I don't like the posture of
things well.

We cannot be stout,
Till Somerset's out:

as the old saying is.

11. Mr. Lewis and I dined with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who eats the
most elegantly of any man I know in town. I walked lustily in the Park by
moonshine till eight, to shake off my dinner and wine; and then went to sup at
Mr. Domville's with Ford, and stayed till twelve. It is told me to-day as a
great secret that the Duke of Somerset will be out soon, that the thing is
fixed; but what shall we do with the Duchess? They say the Duke will make her
leave the Queen out of spite, if he be out. It has stuck upon that fear a
good while already. Well, but Lewis gave me a letter from MD, N.25. O Lord,
I did not expect one this fortnight, faith. You are mighty good, that's
certain: but I won't answer it, because this goes to-morrow, only what you
say of the printer being taken up; I value it not; all's safe there; nor do I
fear anything, unless the Ministry be changed: I hope that danger is over.
However, I shall be in Ireland before such a change; which could not be, I
think, till the end of the session, if the Whigs' designs had gone on.--Have
not you an apron by Leigh, Madam Stella? have you all I mentioned in a former
letter?

12. Morning. This goes to-day as usual. I think of going into the City; but
of that at night. 'Tis fine moderate weather these two or three days last.
Farewell, etc. etc.



LETTER 39.

LONDON, Jan. 12,1711-12.

When I sealed up my letter this morning, I looked upon myself to be not worth
a groat in the world. Last night, after Mr. Ford and I left Domville, Ford
desired me to go with him for a minute upon earnest business, and then told me
that both he and I were ruined; for he had trusted Stratford with five hundred
pounds for tickets for the lottery, and he had been with Stratford, who
confessed he had lost fifteen thousand pounds by Sir Stephen Evans,[1] who
broke last week; that he concluded Stratford must break too; that he could not
get his tickets, but Stratford made him several excuses, which seemed very
blind ones, etc. And Stratford had near four hundred pounds of mine, to buy
me five hundred pounds in the South Sea Company. I came home reflecting a
little; nothing concerned me but MD. I called all my philosophy and religion
up; and, I thank God, it did not keep me awake beyond my usual time above a
quarter of an hour. This morning I sent for Tooke, whom I had employed to buy
the stock of Stratford, and settle things with him. He told me I was secure;
for Stratford had transferred it to me in form in the South Sea House, and he
had accepted it for me, and all was done on stamped parchment. However, he
would be further informed; and at night sent me a note to confirm me.
However, I am not yet secure; and, besides, am in pain for Ford, whom I first
brought acquainted with Stratford. I dined in the City.

13. Domville and I dined with Ford to-day by appointment: the Lord Mansel
told me at Court to-day that I was engaged to him; but Stratford had promised
Ford to meet him and me to-night at Ford's lodgings. He did so; said he had
hopes to save himself in his affair with Evans. Ford asked him for his
tickets: he said he would send them tomorrow; but looking in his pocket-book,
said he believed he had some of them about him, and gave him as many as came
to two hundred pounds, which rejoiced us much; besides, he talked so frankly,
that we might think there is no danger. I asked him, Was there any more to be
settled between us in my affair? He said, No; and answered my questions just
as Tooke had got them from others; so I hope I am safe. This has been a
scurvy affair. I believe Stella would have half laughed at me, to see a
suspicious fellow like me overreached. I saw Prince Eugene to-day at Court:
I don't think him an ugly-faced fellow, but well enough, and a good shape.

14. The Parliament was to sit to-day, and met; but were adjourned by the
Queen's directions till Thursday. She designs to make some important speech
then. She pretended illness; but I believe they were not ready, and they
expect some opposition: and the Scotch lords are angry,[2] and must be
pacified. I was this morning to invite the Duke of Ormond to our Society on
Thursday, where he is then to be introduced. He has appointed me at twelve
to-morrow about some business: I would fain have his help to impeach a
certain lord; but I doubt we shall make nothing of it. I intended to have
dined with Lord Treasurer, but I was told he would be busy: so I dined with
Mrs. Van; and at night I sat with Lord Masham till one. Lord Treasurer was
there, and chid me for not dining with him: he was in very good humour. I
brought home two flasks of burgundy in my chair: I wish MD had them. You see
it is very late; so I'll go to bed, and bid MD good night.

15. This morning I presented my printer and bookseller to Lord Rivers, to be
stationers to the Ordnance; stationers, that's the word; I did not write it
plain at first. I believe it will be worth three hundred pounds a year between
them. This is the third employment I have got for them. Rivers told them the
Doctor commanded him, and he durst not refuse it. I would have dined with
Lord Treasurer to-day again, but Lord Mansel would not let me, and forced me
home with him. I was very deep with the Duke of Ormond to-day at the Cockpit,
where we met to be private; but I doubt I cannot do the mischief I intended.
My friend Penn came there, Will Penn the Quaker, at the head of his brethren,
to thank the Duke for his kindness to their people in Ireland. To see a dozen
scoundrels with their hats on, and the Duke complimenting with his off, was a
good sight enough. I sat this evening with Sir William Robinson,[3] who has
mighty often invited me to a bottle of wine: and it is past twelve.

16. This being fast-day, Dr. Freind and I went into the City to dine late,
like good fasters. My printer and bookseller want me to hook in another
employment for them in the Tower, because it was enjoyed before by a
stationer, although it be to serve the Ordnance with oil, tallow, etc., and is
worth four hundred pounds per annum more: I will try what I can do. They are
resolved to ask several other employments of the same nature to other offices;
and I will then grease fat sows, and see whether it be possible to satisfy
them. Why am not I a stationer? The Parliament sits to-morrow, and Walpole,
late Secretary at War, is to be swinged for bribery, and the Queen is to
communicate something of great importance to the two Houses, at least they say
so. But I must think of answering your letter in a day or two.

17. I went this morning to the Duke of Ormond about some business, and he
told me he could not dine with us today, being to dine with Prince Eugene.
Those of our Society of the House of Commons could not be with us, the House
sitting late on Walpole. I left them at nine, and they were not come. We
kept some dinner for them. I hope Walpole will be sent to the Tower, and
expelled the House; but this afternoon the members I spoke with in the Court
of Requests talked dubiously of it. It will be a leading card to maul the
Duke of Marlborough for the same crime, or at least to censure him. The
Queen's message was only to give them notice of the peace she is treating, and
to desire they will make some law to prevent libels against the Government; so
farewell to Grub Street.

18. I heard to-day that the commoners of our Society did not leave the
Parliament till eleven at night, then went to those I left, and stayed till
three in the morning. Walpole is expelled, and sent to the Tower. I was this
morning again with Lord Rivers, and have made him give the other employment to
my printer and bookseller; 'tis worth a great deal. I dined with my friend
Lewis privately, to talk over affairs. We want to have this Duke of Somerset
out, and he apprehends it will not be, but I hope better. They are going now
at last to change the Commissioners of the Customs; my friend Sir Matthew
Dudley will be out, and three more, and Prior will be in. I have made Ford
copy out a small pamphlet, and sent it to the press, that I might not be known
for author; 'tis A Letter to the October Club,[4] if ever you heard of such a
thing.--Methinks this letter goes on but slowly for almost a week: I want
some little conversation with MD, and to know what they are doing just now. I
am sick of politics. I have not dined with Lord Treasurer these three weeks:
he chides me, but I don't care: I don't.

19. I dined to-day with Lord Treasurer: this is his day of choice company,
where they sometimes admit me, but pretend to grumble. And to-day they met on
some extraordinary business; the Keeper, Steward, both Secretaries, Lord
Rivers, and Lord Anglesea: I left them at seven, and came away, and have been
writing to the Bishop of Clogher. I forgot to know where to direct to him
since Sir George St. George's death,[5] but I have directed to the same house:
you must tell me better, for the letter is sent by the bellman. Don't write
to me again till this is gone, I charge you, for I won't answer two letters
together. The Duke of Somerset is out, and was with his yellow liveries at
Parliament to-day. You know he had the same with the Queen, when he was
Master of the Horse: we hope the Duchess will follow, or that he will take
her away in spite. Lord Treasurer, I hope, has now saved his head. Has the
Dean received my letter? ask him at cards to-night.

20. There was a world of people to-day at Court to see Prince Eugene, but all
bit, for he did not come. I saw the Duchess of Somerset talking with the Duke
of Buckingham; she looked a little down, but was extremely courteous. The
Queen has the gout, but is not in much pain. Must I fill this line too?[6]
well then, so let it be. The Duke of Beaufort[7] has a mighty mind to come
into our Society; shall we let him? I spoke to the Duke of Ormond about it,
and he doubts a little whether to let him in or no. They say the Duke of
Somerset is advised by his friends to let his wife stay with the Queen; I am
sorry for it. I dined with the Secretary to-day, with mixed company; I don't
love it. Our Society does not meet till Friday, because Thursday will be a
busy day in the House of Commons, for then the Duke of Marlborough's bribery
is to be examined into about the pension paid him by those that furnished
bread to the army.

21. I have been five times with the Duke of Ormond about a perfect trifle,
and he forgets it: I used him like a dog this morning for it. I was asked
to-day by several in the Court of Requests whether it was true that the author
of the Examiner was taken up in an action of twenty thousand pounds by the
Duke of Marlborough?[8] I dined in the City, where my printer showed me a
pamphlet, called Advice to the October Club, which he said was sent him by an
unknown hand: I commended it mightily; he never suspected me; 'tis a twopenny
pamphlet. I came home and got timely to bed; but about eleven one of the
Secretary's servants came to me to let me know that Lord Treasurer would
immediately speak to me at Lord Masham's upon earnest business, and that, if I
was abed, I should rise and come. I did so: Lord Treasurer was above with
the Queen; and when he came down he laughed, and said it was not he that sent
for me: the business was of no great importance, only to give me a paper,
which might have been done to-morrow. I stayed with them till past one, and
then got to bed again. Pize[9] take their frolics. I thought to have
answered your letter.

22. Dr. Gastrell was to see me this morning: he is an eminent divine, one of
the canons of Christ Church, and one I love very well: he said he was glad to
find I was not with James Broad. I asked what he meant. "Why," says he,
"have you not seen the Grub Street paper, that says Dr. Swift was taken up as
author of the Examiner, on an action of twenty thousand pounds, and was now at
James Broad's?" who, I suppose, is some bailiff. I knew of this; but at the
Court of Requests twenty people told me they heard I had been taken up. Lord
Lansdowne observed to the Secretary and me that the Whigs spread three lies
yesterday; that about me; and another, that Maccartney, who was turned out
last summer,[10] is again restored to his places in the army; and the third,
that Jack Hill's commission for Lieutenant of the Tower is stopped, and that
Cadogan is to continue. Lansdowne thinks they have some design by these
reports; I cannot guess it. Did I tell you that Sacheverell has desired
mightily to come and see me? but I have put it off: he has heard that I have
spoken to the Secretary in behalf of a brother whom he maintains, and who
desires an employment.[11] T'other day at the Court of Requests Dr.
Yalden[12] saluted me by name: Sacheverell, who was just by, came up to me,
and made me many acknowledgment and compliments. Last night I desired Lord
Treasurer to do something for that brother of Sacheverell's: he said he never
knew he had a brother, but thanked me for telling him, and immediately put his
name in his table-book.[13] I will let Sacheverell know this, that he may
take his measures accordingly, but he shall be none of my acquaintance. I
dined to-day privately with the Secretary, left him at six, paid a visit or
two, and came home.

23. I dined again to-day with the Secretary, but could not despatch some
business I had with him, he has so much besides upon his hands at this
juncture, and preparing against the great business to-morrow, which we are top
full of. The Minister's design is that the Duke of Marlborough shall be
censured as gently as possible, provided his friends will not make head to
defend him, but if they do, it may end in some severer votes. A gentleman,
who was just now with him, tells me he is much cast down, and fallen away; but
he is positive, if he has but ten friends in the House, that they shall defend
him to the utmost, and endeavour to prevent the least censure upon him, which
I think cannot be, since the bribery is manifest. Sir Solomon Medina[14] paid
him six thousand pounds a year to have the employment of providing bread for
the army, and the Duke owns it in his letter to the Commissioners of Accounts.
I was to-night at Lord Masham's: Lord Dupplin took out my new little
pamphlet, and the Secretary read a great deal of it to Lord Treasurer: they
all commended it to the skies, and so did I, and they began a health to the
author. But I doubt Lord Treasurer suspected; for he said, "This is Mr.
Davenant's style," which is his cant when he suspects me.[15] But I carried
the matter very well. Lord Treasurer put the pamphlet in his pocket to read
at home. I'll answer your letter to-morrow.

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