you are content to fee fometimes, when they happen to be modeft; which was not frequent among them while I was in the world.

I would defcribe to you my way of living, if any method could be called fo in this Country. I chufe my companions among those of least consequence and most complyance: I read the moft trifling Books I can find, and whenever I write, it is upon the moft trifling fubje&s: But riding, walking, and fleeping take up eighteen of the twenty-four hours. I procraftinate more than I did twenty years ago, and have several things to finish which I put off to twenty years hence; Hæc eft vita Solutorum, &c. 1 fend you the compliments of a friend of yours, who hath paffed four months this fummer with two grave acquaintance at his country - house without ever once going to Dublin, which is but eight miles diftant; yet when he returns to London, I will engage you shall find him as deep in the Court of Requests, the Park, the Opera's, and the Coffeehouse, as any man there. I am now with him for a few days.

You must remember me with great affection to Dr. Arbuthnot, Mr. Congreve, and Gay, I think there are no more eodem tertio's between you and me, except Mr. Jervas, to whofe houfe I addrefs this, for want of knowing where you live: for it was not clear from your last whether you lodge with Lord Peterborow, or he with you?

I am ever, &c.

I

Need not tell you, with what real delight I fhould have done any thing you defired, and in particular any good offices in my power towards the bearer of your Letter, who is this day gone for France. Perhaps 'tis with Poets as with Prophets, they are so much better liked in another country than their own, that your Gentleman, upon arriving in England, loft his curiosity concerning me. However, had he try'd, he had found me his friend; I mean he had found me yours. I am disappointed at not knowing better a man whom you esteem, and comfort myself only with having got a Letter from you, with which (after all) I fit down a gainer; fince to my great pleasure it confirms my hope of one more feeing you. After fo many difperfions and so many divifions, two or three of us may yet be gathered together: not to plot, not to contrive filly schemes of ambition, or to vex our own or others hearts with bufy vanities (fuch as perhaps at one time of life or other take their Tour in every man) but to divert ourselves, and the world too if it pleases; or at worst, to laugh at others as innocently and as unhurtfully as at ourfelves. Your Travels 7) I hear much of; my own I promife you fhall never more be in a strange land, but a diligent, I hope useful, inveftigation of my own Territories 8). I mean no more Tranflations, but fomething domeftic, fit før my own country, and for my own time.

7) Gulliver,

8) The Effay on Man.

If you come to us, I'll find you elderly Ladies enough that can halloo, and two that can nurse, and they are too old and feeble to make too much noise; as you will guefs, when I tell you they are my own mother, and my own nurse. I can alfo help you to a Lady who is as deaf, tho' not fo old, as yourself; you'll be pleased with one another I'll engage, tho' you don't hear one- another: you'll converse like fpirits by intuition. What you'll most wonder at is, fhe is confiderable at Court, yet no Partywoman, and lives in Court, yet would be easy, and make you easy.

One of those you mention (and I dare fay always will remember) Dr. Arbuthnot, is at this time ill of a very dangerous diftemper, an impofthume in the bowels; which is broke, but the event is very uncertain. Whatever that be (he bids me tell you, and I write this by him) he lives or dies your faithful friend; and one reafon he has to defire a little longer life, is the wish to see you once more.

He is gay enough in this circumstance to tell you, he would give you (if he cou'd) fuch advice as might cure your deafnefs, but he would not advise you, if you were cured, to quit the pretence of it; because you may by that means hear as much as you will, and answer as little as you please. Believe me

Your's, &c.

I

LETTER XI.

From Dr. S w F T.

Sept. 29, 1725.

Am now returning to the noble scene of Dublin, into the grand Monde, for fear of burying my parts: to fignalize myself among Curates and Vicars, and correct all corruptions crept in relating to the weight of bread and butter, through those dominions where I govern. I have employed my time (befides ditching) in finifhing, correcting, amending, and tranfcribing my 9) Travels, in four parts compleat, newly augmented, and intended for the prefs when the world fhall deferve them, or rather when a Printer fhall be found brave enough to venture his ears. I like the scheme of our meeting after distresfes and difperfions; but the chief end I propofe to myself in all my labours, is to vex the world, rather than divert it; and if I could compafs that defign without hurting my own person or fortune, I would be the most indefatigable writer you have ever seen, without reading. I am exceedingly pleafed that you have done with Translations; Lord Treasurer Oxford often lamented that a rafcally world should lay you under a neceffity of mifemploying your genius for fo long a time. But fince you will now be fo much bet→ ter employed, when you think of the world, give it one lash the more at my request. I have ever hated all Nations, Profeffions and Communities; and all my love is towards Individuals: for inftance, I hate the Tribe of Lawyers, but I love Counsellor fuch a

9) Gulliver's Travels.

one, and Judge fuch a one: 'Tis fo with Phyficians (I will not speak of my own Trade) Soldiers, English, Scotch, French, and the rest. But principally I hate and deteft that animal called Man, although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas, and fo forth. This is the fyftem upon which I have governed myself many years (but do not tell) and fo I fhall go on till I have done with them. I have got materials towards a Treatise, proving the falfity of that definition Animal rationale, and to fhew it fhould be only rationis capax. Upon this great foundation of Milanthropy (tho' not in Timon's manner) the whole building of my Travels is erected; and I never will have peace of mind, till all honest men are of my opinion: By confequence you are to embrace it immediately, and procure that all who deferve my esteem may do fo too. The matter is fo clear, that it will admit of no difpute; nay, I will hold a hundred pounds that you and I agree in the point.

I did not know your Odyffey was finished, being yet in the country, which I shall leave in three days. I thank you kindly for the prefent, but fhall like it three fourths the lefs, from the mixture you mention of other hands; however, I am glad you fav'd yourself fo much drudgery I have been long told by Mr. Ford of your great atchievements in building and planting, and especially of your fubterranean paffage to your garden, whereby you turned a Blunder into a Beauty, which is a piece of Ars Poetica.

I have almost done with Harridans, and fhall foon become old enough to fall in love with girls of fourteen. The Lady whom you defcribe to live at Court, to be deaf, and no party - woman, I take to be Mythology, but know not how to moralize it. She cannot be Mercy, for Mercy is neither deaf, nor lives at Court: Justice is blind, and perhaps deaf,