Henry St John

Philip Dormer Stanhope

William Cowper

George Faulkner

Charles Ford

David Garrick

John Gay

Elisabeth Germain

Martha, Lady Giffard

Miscellanies

Alexander Pope

Katherine Richardson

Thomas Sheridan

Joseph Spence

Jonathan Swift

Henry St John, First Viscount Bolingbroke

1678-1751
420 Autograph letter, signed 'Bolingbroke', to Sir Thomas Hanmer, written from 'Dunkirke Aug: ye 31st 1712'. 4 leaves, 22.5 x 17.5cm. Text 7 pages; endorsed on the verso of the last leaf, 'Ld Bolingbroke. Aug. 31.1712'. Unpublished. An important letter in the light of the peace negotiations then in progress, reading in part: "... I have seen enough to make me with reluctance think of ye demolition of a place [Dunkirk] which seems to be an instance of ye uttmost which profusion of expence and ye efforts of art can produce. I am apt to think that it would not be impossible still to reserve this place to ye Queen, if the objection of ye allys be not to be regarded, and if it be really a desirable thing for Brittain to have such a footing on this side of ye water...' Provenance: (A.A.A., 1 February 1927, Lot 305.)
421 Autograph letter, signed [? to the Duke of Marlborough] dated from 'Whitehall Octobr. 14th 1712.' 2 leaves, 29.5 X 18.5cm. Text on both sides of the first leaf, endorsed on the verso of the second,' 14. Octobr 1712 From my Lord Bolingbroke'. Unpublished. The letter starts: 'My Lord, I have seen a letter from Mr. Watkins of the 21st, with a paragraph from London in the Ghent Gazette of ye 20th containing the most scandalous and malicious falsities relating to our affairs imaginable. . .', and goes on to discuss the steps taken and to be taken in the matter, and ends with a postscript: 'I cannot omit to add that her Majesty is in perfect health, and the fit of the gout having been regular is a joy to all her servants. Does not the Gazetteer seem to dare the Queen, when he writes at that rate, her General, and her troops, being in the town?' Provenance: (A.A.A., 1 February 1927, Lot No. 305.)
422 Autograph letter, initialled 'B', undated [to Charles Ford, from London, August 1723]. 2 leaves, 23 x 18cm. Text 3 pages. Published in Letters of Swift to Ford, ed. Nichol Smith, p. 236. Provenance: Ford Collection (see No. 2282).
423 Autograph letter, unsigned [to Charles Ford, from Paris], dated 25th December 1723. 2 leaves, 22 x 17cm. Text 2 pages, the second leaf blank. Published in Letters of Swift to Ford, ed. Nichol Smith, p. 238. The letter thanks Ford for easing me of that fright which the account he [Swift] gives of himself had thrown me into.. . . Thanks be to Stella.... I am confident that we had lost the Dean if it had not been for her, if she had not fix'd his course, our poor friend would have wandered from one ideal world to another, and have forgot even the species he is of. he had been at this very instant perhaps freezing in Saturn, burning in Mercury, or stalking along with a load on his back, a bell under his chin, a plume on his head, and a fox tail att each ear in that country which he discover'd not long ago, where Horses & mules are the reasonable creatures, and men ye beasts of burden. But thanks to heaven and Stella, that danger is over. Since he loves a woman he will not forget that he is a man . . [Gulliver's Travels was not published until 1726.] This letter reached Swift by accident, instead of Ford, whom he reproached as a most finished Traytor', 'else how should he [Bolingbroke] know anything of Stella or of Horses?' (19 January and 13 February 1724, Letters XLII, XLIII, Swift to Ford, pp. 1 oo, 103). Swift's letter, to which Bolingbroke refers, has not survived. Provenance: Ford Collection (see No. 2282).

Philip Dormer Stanhope, First Earl of Chesterfield

1694-1733
602 Autograph letter, signed 'Chesterfield' and dated 'Hague July ye28th 1729'. [? To Lord Townshend, Secretary of State.] Two leaves, 22 x 18.5 cm., gilt edged, written on both sides of the first leaf, the second blank. Unpublished. Lord Chesterfield enquires 'whether you think it best for me or not, to ask leave to go to Hannover' (where King George II was in residence) and whether he should address his request for permission to go to the Queen direct, or through the Duke of Newcastle. He adds: 'I may assure your Lordship... I have no manner of desire to go to Hannover.... I would meerly do what is most for my interest...' Subsequent reflection apparently persuaded him that the visit would be in his interest, for after a further exchange of letters both with Lord Townshend and with the Duke of Newcastle, Chesterfield heard on 13 September, the very day on which he proposed to leave for Hanover, that the King was about to return to England, and wrote to Lord Townshend: 'I am extremely mortified that I have not had an opportunity of going to Hannover this year' (Letters, ed. Dobree, II, p. 132).

William Cowper

1731-1800
689 [Variations in the Iliad and Odyssey.] 32 leaves from a note-book, in two sections; the last leaf of the first, and the last seven leaves of the second are blank. 25 x 20 cm. Unbound. MS in Cowper's hand, consisting of 50 pp. of variations to his Iliad and Odyssey, with Book and line references to Books XVIII-XXIV of the Iliad, and I-XXII of the Odyssey. The Odyssey notes start on the thirteenth page of the first section. These variations are also transcribed in Cowper's hand, on the blank leaves interleaving the 'New Edition' of the Iliad and Odyssey (see No. 690), and in some cases the alterations have been superseded by amendments in Johnson's hand taken from the notes recorded below (No. 692).

George Faulkner

1710-1766
836 Autograph letter, signed, dated from 'Dublin, November 30. 1751', to the Earl of Orrery. Two leaves, 19 x 24cm. Written on both sides of both leaves. Unpublished. The letter reports a continued 'amazing Demand' for Lord Orrery's Remarks (see No. 1489): 'I think my sale is not inferior to Mr. Millar's, having sold three hundred in one Weak [sic] . . . .'

Charles Ford

1681-1743
871 [Drop-head title:] Ad Celerem. Die Natali Nov. 30. 1727. Holograph MS. A single sheet, 21.6 x 17.80cm., written on one side of the paper, in two columns. Printed in full from this draft, the only copy known, in Letters of Swift to Ford, ed. Nichol Smith, Pp. 213-15. Provenance: Ford Collection (see note, p. 617). Transcripts of poems by Jonathan Swift in the handwriting of Charles Ford: Vanbrugs' House. [1703], Stella's Distress on the 3d fatal day of Octobr 1723, Directions for a Birthday Song Oct: 1729. see Jonathan Swift, Nos. 2257, 2268, 2272.

David Garrick

1717-1779
903 Autograph letter, signed, addressed to 'Grosvr Bedford Esqr' and sealed. Undated. Two leaves 18.5 x 15.2cm., written on the recto of the first leaf, sealed and addressed on the verso of the second. Unpublished. Text as follows:
'Dear Sir, I have so little Time upon my Hands that I have but just enough to spare to tell you that I am most sincerely Yrs D: Garrick' Grosvenor Bedford (d. 1771) was Horace Walpole's deputy in his Exchequer post.

John Gay

1685-1732
930 Autograph letter, initialled, to Charles Ford. Dated from 'Hanovre Aug. 7. 1714' 4to. Two leaves,15.5 x 9.5cm. Written on the recto of the first leaf only. Printed in full in Letters of Swift to Ford, ed. Nichol Smith, p. 222. Provenance: Ford Collection, see No. 2282.

Lady Elisabeth Germain

1680-1769
932 Autograph letter, unsigned, to Jonathan Swift, May 1735. 4to. Two leaves, 18.5 x 11cm. (Ball v, p. 183.) Written on both sides of the first leaf and recto of the second; addressed on the verso of the second leaf to 'The Revd Dr Swift Dean of St Patricks Dublin Ireland', and endorsed in Swift's handwriting' May 27th 1735 Ldy El. Germain. Answerd Jun 15th 1735', and again 'May 27th 1735 Ldy E. Germain Answered'. Provenance: Thomas Percy, Bishop of Dromore, with a note in his handwriting on the recto of the first leaf: 'Printed by Dr Hawkesworth Vol. 3. Lettr 345'; A. C. Goodyear (A.A.A., 1-2 February 1927, Lot 305).

Martha, Lady Giffard

1639-1722
1003 A Letter to my Lady Chesterfield upon Friendship written by my Lady G. [and half-way down p. 4.] An Essay upon Friendship written by my Lady G. Contemporary transcript undated, c.1664. 4 leaves, 19 x 16 cm. Text 7.5 pages, the last page blank; top edges gilt. Bibliography. Longe, p. 6 (reference, not printed in full). Note. Elizabeth, Countess of Chesterfield (née Butler), d. 1665, second wife of the 2nd Earl. Provenance: Longe Sale, Lot ? 1076.
1004 *[The Character of Sir William Temple]. MS in the hand of Lady Giffard. [1688/9] 6 leaves, 18 x 15cm, stitched. Two blank leaves followed by 7 pages of text, final page blank. Bibliography. Longe, p. 176, reproduces the first page. Note. This MS is accompanied by a contemporary transcript in another hand. Provenance: Longe Sale, Lot 1076.
1005 *[Life of Sir William Temple written in 1690]. MS in Lady Giffard's hand. 24 leaves, 20.5 x 15.5 cm, in one fold, gilt edged. On the first leaf, title as above, by a different eighteenth-century hand, not Lady Giffard's, verso blank. Text 30 pages, followed by 8 blank leaves. There are many corrections and deletions made by Lady Giffard at a later date, when she also wrote at the top of the first page of text, 'writt in 1690'. Provenance: Longe Sale, Lot 1076.
1007 *[Life of Sir William Temple]. MS in Lady Giffard's hand [? 1704]. 12 leaves, 18.5 x 15 cm. Text, 21 pages, followed by 3 blank pages. The first 16 pages are an abridged version of the Life of 1690 (see No. 1005 above); the seventeenth page is headed 'some passages out of ye other paper written by Sr John Temple". Sir John Temple (1632-1704) was Sir William's younger brother. A final note by Lady Giffard refers to these passages also having been written in 1690, and implies that the time of transcription was after Sir John's death. Provenance: Longe Sale, Lot 1076.
1008 Autograph letter, unsigned, in the hand of Lady Giffard, addressed to Mrs. Temple 'at Moreparke near Farneham Surry' and dated 'July ye 23' [1715]. Two leaves, 15 x 10.5 cm. Text, 3 pages; addressed on the verso of the second leaf. Bibliography. Reprinted in full in Longe, pp. 280-2. Provenance: Not listed in Longe Sale.
1009 HENLEY, Anthony, (i) Autograph letter, signed, dated 2 February 1698. Two leaves, 17.5 x 11.5 cm., gilt edged. Text, 1 page, endorsed on the verso of the second leaf, 'Ant: Henley'. Longe, p. 239. (ii) Autograph letter, signed, dated 16 February 1698. A single leaf, 17.5 x 11 cm., gilt edged. Text, 2 pages. Longe, p. 239. (iii) Autograph letter, signed, dated 5 July [? 1709] from Grange. Two leaves, 22.5 x 15 cm., gilt edged. Written on the recto of the first leaf, sealed and addressed on the verso of the second, to Lady Giffard at Moor Park. Unpublished. The letter refers to Swift's publication of Sir William Temple's memoirs. Note. In 1698 Henley was M.P. for Andover.
1010 SOMERSET, Elizabeth, Duchess of. Eight autograph letters.
(1) 4 February [1698], signed. Two leaves, 22 x 17 cm., gilt-edged, written on 1 page, sealed and addressed to Lady Giffard at Moor Park. Longe, p. 240.
(2) 26 June [1709], unsigned. Two leaves, 20 x 13 cm. Text, 1 page, addressed to Lady Giffard at East Sheen and endorsed in Lady Giffard's hand: 'Duchess of Somerset June 26th Dr. Swift's Publication of r Wm Temple's Memoirs', to which the letter refers unfavourably. Longe, p. 247 (where the date, 'June ye 26th' is misprinted 'June 7th-26th').
(3) 18 August [1719], signed. Two leaves, 20 x 14 cm., gilt edged. Text, 2 and a half pages. Longe, p. 326.
(4) 28 August [? 1719], signed. Two leaves, 20 x 14 cm. Text, 2 pages. Not in Longe.
(5) 23 July [1720], initialled. Two leaves, 20 x 14 cm., gilt edged. Text, 3 pages. Longe, p. 329.
(6) 4 June [? 1721], signed. Two leaves, 18 x 11.5 cm., gilt edged. Text, 1 page. Not in Longe. A short note in which the writer refers to illness and 'the paine in my face', clearly later than No. (iv).
(7) 20 September [? 1721], signed. Two leaves, 20 x 14 cm., gilt edged. Text, 2 and a half pages. This letter is a sequel to No. (vi). Longe, p. 333. The MS is dated 'Sepbr ye 20th' not 'Sept. 7th. 20' as in Longe.
(8) 26 June [1722], signed. Two leaves, 20 x 15.5 cm., gilt edged. Text, 2 pages. Longe, p. 338 (where the date is misprinted June 20th).
The Duchess died on 23 November 1722, not 26 June as stated in Longe. This letter again refers to the pain in her face of which she complained in Nos. (6) and (7), and it is possible that the three letters all belong to 1722.
Note. Elizabeth Percy (1667-1722), heiress of the 11th Earl of Northumberland, married in 1682, as her third husband, Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset (1662-1748).
Provenance: Longe Sale, Lot 1068.
1011 SOMERSET, The Sixth Duke of. Autograph letter, signed, dated 16 May [no year]. Two leaves, 17 x 15 cm., written on both sides of the first leaf. Unpublished. It is not possible from the contents to date the letter precisely, but a reference to the Queen places it between 1702 and 1714. The letter refers to another, apparently sent by Lady Giffard to the Duke by the 'peny post", which he had not received. Provenance: Longe Sale, Lot 1068.
1012 DANVERS, John. Autograph letter, signed, dated '1st July 1709'. A single leaf, 20.5 x 18 in. Text, 2 pages. Longe, p. 249, where the date is wrongly given as 3 July 1709. Provenance: Not listed in Longe Sale.

Miscellanies

1439 Poems.Poems of the early eighteenth century, transcribed in an unidentified hand of the period. c.1728. 81 leaves. 20.5 x 16 cm. The first leaf is blank; text 134 pages, followed by 12 blank leaves. Bound in contemporary vellum, unlettered. Notes: This collection contains eighty-five pieces, ranging from 2 to 256 lines. The majority are anonymous; Budgell, Eusden, Farquhar, Pomfret, and Prior are represented; there are twenty-five short poems by George Granville, Lord Lansdowne (1667-1735); the longest poem included is Parnell's Hesiod, or the Rise of Woman (256 lines); five poems from 'The Last Volume' of the Pope-Swift Miscellanies, 1727, are included.

Contents

[The First Line in each poem is given, followed by the number of lines]

Farquhar, [G.] The Lovers night

'The Night's black Curtain o'er the world was spread' (63)

[Anon.] The Surprise. British Appollo

'To Silvia long I had my vows confest' (28)

[Anon.] Advice to a Young Lady

'Behold what Lusture now adorns' (24)

[Anon.] The Recovery

'Tis true my sufferings lately were compleat' (13)

[Anon.] The Mistake

'As Love's bright Queen with pleasing wonder stood' (14)

[Anon.] The ffugitive returned

'Tho' I so foolishly withdrew' (18)

[Anon.] To a Lady who told her Lover he only served to divert her Spleen

'Happy that I in any sort can please' (12)

[Anon.] The Acknowledgem't

'With uttmost fforce and Stratagem I strove' (19)

[Anon.] To a Young Lady on her first Attempt in Poetry

'With deep surprize and boundless pleasure too' (12)

[Anon.] Answer to an Epigram witten by a Lawyer on Love and ffreindship

'Since Chloe is fair and you want to possess her' (4)

[Anon.] The Happy Man

'High on the land that bound the Kentish Shore' (24)

Swift and Pope's Mesellinous [sic] Works: To Mr. Jno. Moor (40); Baucis and Philemon (178);

A Discription of a City Shower (63); The Happy Life of a Country Parson (24); A Tale of Chaucer (26).
[These five peoms are all in 'The Last Volume' of the Pope-Swift Miscellanies 1727 (see No. 1422).]

[Anon.] A Reciept to make a Cuckold.

'Two or three Visits and two or three bows' (7)

J:W:L:D: Cheapside To Miss Polly Peacham, a Flower Pastoral Written in Imitation of the fourth Eclogue of Virgil

'Farewell. ye nimphs, who range the humble plains' (48)

[Anon.] The Wish

'O, could I find (grant heav'n that once I may)' (21)

Pomfret, J. The Choir

'If heaven the grateful liberty would give' (167)

Chamberlain Quot. London Bridge

'When Neptune from his billows London spi'd' (16)

[Anon.] The Presbyterian Epithalamium

'A certain Presbyterian pair' (24)

Lord Landsdowne Fulvia

'Why pines my dear? To Fulvia his young bride' (32)

Prior, M. Hans Carvel

'Hans Carvel, impotent and old' (148)

[Prior, M.] Paulo Purganti & his Wife, an honest but simple Pair

'Beyond the fix'd and settled rule' (71)

[Prior, M.] The Ladle

'The Skepticks thinks twas long ago' (170)

[Anon.] Written in an Ovid

'Ovid is ye surest Guide' (4)

Prior, M. A reasonable affliction

'On his death poor Lubian lies' (18)

[Anon.] Quid pro Quo: or ye Bitter Bit. Scarborough Miscellany

'In Yorkshire, scarce ten years ago' (66)

[? Anon.] The Midsummer wish, by Mr. Pope. Sett to Musick by Mr. Gray

'Waft me some soft and cooling breeze' (32)

[Anon.] To Damon telling Strephon that Philestria was a pretty Lady

'If one regardless glance at your soul can throw' (24)

[Anon.] To Philestria

'O thou my only wish my dear delight' (54)

[Anon.] The ascention. Mr. Hare's Book of Select Poems

'Muse, to a Trumpet change ye feeble Lyre' (25)

By the Right Honble. George Granville Lord Landsdowne:

'Clarinda with a haughty Grace' (8)

'Warn'd and made wise by other's flame' (12)

'Why cruel Creature, why so bent' (16)

'No warning of the approaching fflame' (16)

'Tune, tune thy Lyre; begin my Muse' (34)

'Why should a hear so tender break?' (12)

'Belinda's Prides an errant Cheat' (16)

'Love is begot by ffancy, bred' (4)

'What Charm is this, that in ye midst of Snow' (22)

'Since the Truth and Constancy are vain' (24)

'That Macro's Looks are good let no man doubt' (14)

'Love is by ffancy led about' (12)

'When we reflect upon our charming Queen' (6)

'Bright as ye day, and like the morning fair' (2)

'Of injur'd fame and mighty wrongs reciev'd' (8)

'In vain Clarinda night and day' (4)

'Women to cards may be compar'd: we play' (4)

'In vain a thousand slaves have try'd' (12)

'Impatient with desire at last' (12)

'Here end my Chains, and thraldom cease' (12)

'When fam'd Aplles [sic] sought to frame' 16

'Nature indulgent provident and kind' (22)

'Enough, enough, my Soul of worldly noise' (27)

[Anon.] An Hymn to Venus [Translated from the Greek of Sappho with 13 lines of introductory not n prose]

'O Venus Beauty of ye Skyes' (42)

[Translation from Sappho with introductory note]

'Blest as the immortal Gods is he' (16)

[Free translation of the same passage by Boileau]

'Heureux qui près de toi' (12)

Parnell, T. Hesiod: Or, the Rise of Woman

'What antient times (those times we fancy wise)' (256)

[Anon.] Little Mouths

'from London, Paul ye Carrier coming down' (29)

Dryden, J. Epitaph on Mrs. Margaret Paston of Barningham in Norfolk

'So ffair, so young, so innocent, so sweet' (9)

[Anon.] Cosmelia. 2nd Pope's Miscellanies

'Cosmelia's Charms inspire my lays' (12)

Eusden, L. Martial Lib.10. Ep.47 imitated

'T'enjoy you life in happiness' (20)

Harrison, William To a very young Lady

'Florella, when those eyes I see' (12)

[Anon.] Upon a company of bad Dancers to good Musick

How ill ye Motion with ye Musick suits' (2)

Budgell, E. Song

'I'm not one of your foxes who to please a coy Lass' (10)

[Anon.] To Flavia. Miscellanies published by Mr Steele

'Nature, in Pity, has deny'd you shape' (6)

[Anon.] Verses from a young Lady.[Dialogue]

'To find ye dear resenting Charmer fled' (170)

[Anon.] The Rapture, by ye same Hand

'Lord, if one distant glimpse of thee' (16)

[Anon. Untitled]

'Concieved of God, and of a Virgin born' (6)

[Anon.] On the Maids at Medley by a Student at Oxford

'Bright Sally glowing in her full blown Charms'(22)

[Anon.] An Epigram on Betty

'If Beauty should itself appear' (6)

[Anon.] An Ode on Myrtilla

'When first Myrtilla blest my sight' (42)

[Anon.] From ye Collection of Epigrams in 1727:
The Rapture 'Cry'd Strephon, panting in Cosmelia's Arms' (6)
A Character 'Sometimes to Sense, sometimes nonsense leaning' (2)
[Untitled] 'Selinda sure's ye brightest thing' (16)
[Untitled] 'When Lesbia first I saw so heav'nly fair' (8)
[Untitled] 'When Thomas calls his wife, his half' (4)
Written on the Chamber door of King Chas. ye 2d. 'Here lies ye Mutton eating King' (4)
[Untitled] 'Chloe brisk and gay appears' (12)
[Anon.] To a Painter drawing a Lady's Picture 'He who great Jove's artillery ap'd so well' (6)

[Marginal note:] 'one of ye best Epigrams in our language.'

[Untitled] 'Before her Husband, Lesbia calls me names' (8)
[Untitled] 'That thou dost shorten thy long nights with wine' (8)
Provenance: Sir Mark Dalrymple (Sotheby, 25 april 1937, Lot 311).
1441 Poems. Transcript in an eighteenth-century hand of eight anonymous poems. 11 leaves, c. 21 x 16 cm. The first leaf is blank. Text 17 pages; with the exception of the third leaf, written on both sides, the fourth, cut away, and the tenth, blank, the poems are written on the rectos only. Unbound.
CONTENTS
[The first line of each poem is given, followed by the number of lines.]
1. Song. 'The Fool that is wealthy is sure of a Bride' (12).
2. The Coquet. 'Both Art, & Nature seem with Rival care' (18).
3. In Praise of Philosophy. 'In vain by Sensual joys we hope to find' (18).
4. On a Lady who Slept with her Eyes Open. 'Kind Heaven which all things wisely did conceive' (4).
5. On Corinna Weeping. 'When Heaven with Sable Clouds around is hung' (17).
6. A Catch. 'The two richest Treasures that kind Heaven can send' (16).
7. To Mira. 'I've long in vain laid Sighing at your Feet' (27).
8. A Dialogue [Strephon and Chloe]. 'Whilst thy happy pleasing Charms' (41).

Alexander Pope

1688-1744
1573a Receipt. Printed receipt sent to William Donville for a subscription for the translation of Homer's Illiad. Signed by Alexander Pope. 11 x 17 cm.
1654 Autograph letter, signed, dated from 'Twitenham Feb. 12' [? 1723]. Two leaves, 19 x 15 cm. Text three pages, the last blank. Unpublished. The letter starts: 'I ought to have thanked you for your present and desird you to convey my acknowledgments to Sir Luke Schaub. . ..'Sir Luke Schaub was ambassador in Paris 1721—1724, and Pope's correspondent, to whom he refers as a Secretary and 'a sort of Minister' was presumably also in Paris. After a reference to Mme Dacier's criticism of his Preface to the Iliad in its French translation, and to rumours of his translation of the Odyssey, on which he says he has stopped working, Pope continues: 'I desire you to tell Mr. Tickell I was three times waiting on him to ask if he had no view of this design himself, before I would actually engage in it. And I will certainly desist from it if he will faithfully promise for himself, or his superiors will but ingage for him, that he will do Homer this justice. . ..' Pope wrote to Harcourt in the same vein on 20 February 1723 (Elwin X, Letters, v, p. 197), and this letter is probably of the same year.
1655 Autograph letter to Charles Ford, signed, undated. Two leaves. 18 x 11.5 cm, folded in two, written on the recto of the first leaf, addressed on the verso of the second: ' To Mr. Ford at Mr. Hoyes's at ye blue periwig ovr agst ye Coco tree in Pallmall.' and sealed. Published in Letters of Swift to Ford, ed. Nichol Smith, p. 230. Not in Elwin & Courthope. Provenance: Ford Collection (see No. 2282).

Katherine Richardson

d.1740
1743 Autograph letter, signed 'Kath. Richardson' dated from 'Sumerseat 10th Janry 1737', to Jonathan Swift. 2 leaves, 22.5 x 9.5 cm. Text 1 page, addressed on the verso of the second leaf, 'To The Reverend Doctr Swift Dean of St Patricks at the Deanery House in Dublin'. Endorsed in Swift's handwriting 'Miss Richardson: I accept her as my mistress, because she did her duty in making the first advances.', and 'Miss Richardson Jan. 10th 1737-8.' Unpublished; Ball, Vol. vi, p. 59, prints Swift's note only. Notes. According to Ball, Katharine was a niece of William Richardson of Summerseat, with whom she lived (but see Bishop Percy's note below). She had never met Swift, and wrote to ask his acceptance of some shirts which she had made for him. The Dean replied on 28 January 1738 (Ball VI, p. 61), referring to the shirts as follows: 'The few ladies that come to the Deanery assure me, they never saw so fine linen, or better worked up, or more exactly fitted.' Provenance: Thomas Percy, Bishop of Dromore (1768-1808); Alfred Morrison (Sale Part III, Sotheby, 10 December 1918, Lot 2610, with others, to Maggs). On the verso of the second leaf is the following note in Bishop Percy's hand: The Dean's Answer to this is printed in his Works, 1766, Vol. xvii, Lettr. 69, p. 253. Miss Richardson's Reply to that Lettr is printed by Deane Swift. Vol. vi. Lettr 156 p. 148. See anothr Letter of her's Ibid. Lettr. 169. p. 164. This Miss Richardson was Sister of Wm Richardson of Summerseat Esq, who Wm Caldwell thinks was Uncle of Rev Dr Richardson Fellow of Trin. Coll. & afterwds R. of Confech near Moy in ye Co. of Tyrone.

Thomas Sheridan, the Younger

1719-1788
1856 Autograph letter, signed 'Thomas Sheridan', to William Strahan, dated June 5 [no year. ? 1766]. Unpublished. Two leaves, 23 x 18 cm., written on both sides of the first leaf, and half the recto of the second. The letter expresses indignation at 'the shameful manner in which the Works of Dr. Swift have been published, which are now swelled to the enormous bulk of 26 volumes, partly by the intermixture of works of others, and partly by a number of writings of a private & trifling nature, surreptitiously taken from his closet...' and announcing his intention of preparing an edition, with a history of Swift's life, and asking Strahan to approach Mr Bathurst and Mr Davies of Piccadilly 'with a view to a meeting of all the proprietors'. Sheridan's edition of Swift's Works, with his Life as Vol. I, was published in 1784. The twenty-sixth volume of Hawkesworth's edition (the first of three volumes of Letters') was published in 1766.

Rev. Joseph Spence

1699-1768
1944 [Drop-head title:] Some Account of the Life, Writings, & Character, of Dr Swift. 36 leaves. Text, for the most part, on one side only. Disbound. 20.5 x 16 cm. The first leaf (unpaginated) bears the section title 'Dr Swift's Life: No 1. 1667, to 1694." The narrative runs from the recto of the second leaf, p. 1, with drop-head title as above, to the recto of the last leaf, p. 65. The narrative is continuous, but the 13th and 25th leaves (unpaginated) break into the text with section titles for 'No. 2. 1695, to 1712' and 'No. 3. 1713, to 1745'. The text on each page is enclosed in a pencil frame, and copious footnotes give the source of each statement. The verso of the 22nd leaf (p. 40) carries an additional paragraph for p. 41. Note. On the tide-page of No.1 is pencilled? in the author's hand: 'To show ye Dean: (Memd Hill)'. Provenance: 5th Duke of Newcastle; 7th Duke of Newcastle (Clumber Sale, Pt. 4, Sotheby, 16 February 1938, Lot 1312). (In the Clumber Sale this MS was bound with another, calf, gilt, with arms of the 5th Duke on the upper cover.)

Jonathan Swift, Dean of St Patrick's, Dublin

1667-1745
2253 [Transcript] HINTS WRITTEN AT THE DESIRE OF DR. F. AND OF HIS FRIEND, [by Sir William Temple, 1694.] Nine leaves, 18.5 x15cm. Disbound. Text sixteen pages, headed 'Sect, I', starting immediately below the title; Sections 2, 3, 4 of the original MS are missing; Section 5 begins on the ninth page, and Section 6 on the thirteenth. Above the title is noted, in a nineteenth century hand, 'See Sr Wm Temple's Works [1770] Vol. 3. p. 471. This MS is in the handwriting of Dr Jonn Swift.' The Hints are accompanied by a separate note (two leaves 14x9.5cm.) in an unidentified eighteenth-century handwriting, headed 'A Fragment upon ye Subject of Ant & Mod. Learning', explaining ' the Occasion of writting this Fragment'. William Wotton's Reflections on Temple's Essay on Ancient and Modern Learning was published in 1694. Temple at first refused to reply to it, but when some months later 'Dr. Fullham acquainted him, that Mr. H, a Friend of his at Oxford, had taken the pains to write a full answer...But before he call it into method he desired Sr W. T. would give him some hints', he was 'prevayld upon to write the following papers which were done at 6 severall sittings of about 2 hours at a time and made ye 6 sections whereinto they are divided….' The Hints did not fit into Mr H's draft and the project was dropped until Wotton issued a second edition (1697) to which was added an essay by Bentley on the Letters of Phalaris, when the 'Author of these earlyest Papers has been at last content they should take their fortune abroad', and they were written up as Some Thoughts upon Reviewing the Essay of Ancient and Modern Learning. Provenance: Moor Park; Rev J. C. Longe (Sotheby 3 August 1934, Lot 1070. See note, p247).
2254 [From draft of PREFACE TO SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE'S WORKS.] [? 1699.] A single leaf, 18x15cm. Twenty lines written on the recto, four on the verso, the whole crossed through. Notes. Sir William Temple died in 1699, and Swift, who had been his secretary, edited and published his manuscripts in three volumes of Letters (Vols. I and II, 1700, see No. 2401; Vol. Ill, 1703, not in this Library), Miscellanea, The Third Part (see No. 2405), and Memoirs Part III, 1709 (see No. 2407). Provenance: Moor Park; Rev. J. C. Longe (Sotheby, 3 August 1934, Lot 1071. See note, p. 247).
2257 [Transcript in the handwriting of Charles Ford.] VANBRUGG'S HOUSE BUILT FROM THE BURNT RUINS OF WHITE­HALL [1703.]
Two leaves, 15x12cm. Text three pages, starting immediately below the title. Bibliography. H. Williams (Poems) I, p. 78; Nichol Smith (Letters of Swift to Ford), p. 179. Provenance. Ford Collection (see No. 2282).
2258 (i) ACCOUNT OF MY LIVINGS FOR 1703. (ii) ACCOUNT OF EXPENCES From Novbr Ist 1703 to No Novbr 1st Nineteen leaves, 15x10cm. Disbound. (i) Title-page, verso blank; details of receipts inscribed on the verso of the second, fourth, fifth and sixth leaves, facing details of payments on the recto of the third, fifth, sixth and seventh leaves, the remaining pages of these leaves blank; four blank leaves. (ii) The second part of the accounts, on seven leaves, starts at the reverse end. Title-page; on the verso five lines of notes recording visits made or received, 23 July 1704 to 2 December 1705; four leaves, containing seven pages of expenses, followed by a blank page; two leaves containing three pages of expenses followed by a blank page; one leaf 'Totalls of a Year. . .' on the recto, verso blank.
2259 RECEIPT to Benjamin Tooke for £40 in full payment of the third Part of Sir William Temple's Memoirs; dated 'Apr. 14. 1709'. A single leaf, 14x9cm., written on one side. Ball I, p.150.
2260 ATLAS, writt. 1712. To the Earl Oxford Two leaves, 21x16cm. Text, starting immediately below the tide, occupies the recto and one-third of the verso of the first leaf, and is followed by a note in Pope's handwriting: 'This is the Original, in Dr Swift's hand. A. Pope.'; the second leaf is blank, except for the title 'Atlas.' See Plate XXXVII a, b. Bibliography. H. Williams (Poems) I, p. 159. Notes. Atlas was first published in Motte's Miscellanies, The Last Volume, in 1727. The following differences between the MS and the printed version are noted: The subtitle in the printed version is amplified: Atlas: Or, the Minister of State. To the Lord Treasurer Oxford. lines 4, 5: MS: 'Porter', printed: 'Pedlar'. line 8: MS: 'some Friend', printed: 'a Friend'. line 12: MS: 'take his Rest', printed: 'sit and rest'. line 15: MS: 'All Statesmen', printed: 'Great Statesmen'.
2261 A DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE FEARS FROM THE PRETENDER. (Febr. 20) [?1713]. Two leaves, 19x15cm. Text on the right-hand half of the recto of the first leaf only. Notes. The Discourse was not completed, perhaps on account of the appearance in 1713 of three pamphlets on this theme by Harley's other scribe, Defoe (see No. 758). The text of this fragment was first printed in Letters of Swift to Ford, ed. Nichol Smith, p. 216, and reprinted by Davis, Prose Works, VIII, p. 69. Provenance: Ford Collection (see No. 2282).
2262 MEMORIAL ABOUT DR RAYMOND. 1713. Two leaves, 16x9cm. The Memorial is written on the recto of the first leaf, and endorsed on the verso of the second 'Memoriall about Dr Raymond. May. 5. 1713 Dr Prat & Dr Swift.' Ball II, p. 25. Note. Dr Anthony Raymond was Rector of Trim.
2264 AN ENQUIRY INTO THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE QUEEN'S LAST MINISTRY, 1715. (i) [Pages i & 2 in Esther Johnson s handwriting] An Enquiry into the Behavior of the Queen's Last Ministry, with Relation to their Quarrels among themselves, and the Design charged upon them of altering the Succession of the Crown Foul Copy. Twenty-eight foolscap leaves, c. 31x 18.5 to 32 x 20 cm., with four quarto leaves 20x15 to 21 x 16 cm. inserted after the second foolscap leaf. The above title, in Swift's hand, is on the recto of the first leaf, verso blank. The foolscap leaves, with text in the right-hand half on both sides, and corrections on the left, are paginated 1-54. The quarto leaves are written right across and paginated 1-8, p. 1 also bearing the instruction 'Ad. P. 3.' The text on foolscap pages 1 and 2 is in Esther Johnson's hand; the title repeated at the head of the left-hand column of p. 1, and the remainder of the MS, in Swift's. See Plate XXXVIII. (ii) [Transcript by an amanuensis, with Swift's autograph corrections. Drop-head title on p. i.] An Enquiry into the Behaviour of the Queen's last Ministry, with Relation to the Quarrells among themselves, and the Design charged upon them of altering the Success of the Crown. June—1715. Forty-two foolscap leaves, 31.5x 20cm. Text in the right-hand half on both sides of each leaf, paginated 1-84. There are a few corrections in Swift's hand in the left-hand margins, and on p. 51, below the cross-heading 'Cap. 2d.': 'Written above a year after.' There are notes in Mrs Whiteway's hand on pp. 67 and 68. These two MSS are separately bound in modern red morocco, by Riviere. Bibliography. Davis (Prose Works) VIII, p.129. Notes. In both MSS, numbers have been pencilled at some time in the lower left-hand corner of the recto of each leaf; in (ii) these numbers start with a '2', suggesting that there may originally have been a title-leaf, or covering leaf. The Enquiry was written in Dublin in 1715, but not published until 1765 in Vol. VIII (4to) and Vol. XV (8vo) of Deane Swift's edition of his cousin's Works. Provenance: Deane Swift; John Forster (ex Swift family c. 1860); John Murray (Forster's publisher); Sir John Murray, 1935.
2265 [THE BUBBLE.] To Charles Ford, dated at end, 'Decbr 15th 1720'. Two leaves, 30.5 x 19cm. Text, 2 and a half pages, in two columns, without title; below the poem is a letter of ten lines with the date, and a postscript. Addressed on the verso of the second leaf, 'To Charles Ford Esqr, at His Lodging at the blue Perewig in Pell-Mell [sic] London'. See Plate XXXIX. Bibliography. Nichol Smith {Letters of Swift to Ford), p.182; H. Williams (Poems) I, p. 248. Notes. The Bubble was first published in London on 3 January 1721, ' Printed for BENJ. TOOKE. . .and Sold by J. roberts . . . ' (see No. 2068). This MS was one of the collection described by Nichol Smith in Letters of Swift to Ford. When Mr (now Sir) Harold Williams and I inspected the collection in 1935, the condition of The Bubble caused us great concern, as it seemed possible that it was irreparably damaged by damp and neglect. I sent it to Messrs Rivière, who succeeded in effecting a most remarkable repair, by mounting the tattered leaves on fine gauze. R. Provenance: Ford Collection (see No. 2282).
2268 [Transcript in the handwriting of Charles Ford.] STELLA'S DISTRESS ON THE 3D FATAL DAY OF OCTOBR 1723. Two leaves, 23x18.5cm. Text starting immediately below the title, on verso of the first leaf and recto of the second. Bibliography. Nichol Smith (Letters of Swift to Ford), pp. 197-202; H. Williams (Poems) 11, p. 744. Notes. This transcript consists of two poems, the first of 22 lines, written as a fair copy; the second, 76 lines, divided from the first by a double rule and two lines of Latin quotation, has marginal additions and corrections. The two poems were printed together by Faulkner in 1735, revised and expanded, with the title Stella at Wood Park (Ford's house), and with the lines which form the first part of this transcript inserted following line 25 of the printed version. Two fair copies of the latter part of this transcript, also in Ford's hand, are now in the Pierpont Morgan Library. It was first printed in its original form by Davis (op. cit. p. 199) and reprinted by Williams (loc. cit.). Provenance: Ford Collection (see No. 2282).
2270 THE WHOLE INCOME OF THE MASTER OF THE SONG, for the Main-tenance of Six Choristers, in both Cathedrals. Febr. 4th. 1725-6. A single leaf, 30.5x19.1cm. Text one page. Unpublished. Notes. This document sets out the Master's yearly income from Christ Church and St Patrick's, totalling £120, of which for the past four years he had received only £111. 'This Income was settled on the Master of the Song near 60 years ago, and was then as valuable as twice that sum is now, yet the Present Master loseth 911 even of that sum. I do therefore recommend it to the Trustees for the Augmentation, to consider this matter.' Below his original signature Swift later added a note, also signed: 'This affair was settled by the Trustees to the satisfaction of the Deans Vicar, Master of the Song.' Provenance: (Sotheby, 10 February 1948, Lot 427.)*
2271 THE GRAND QUESTION DEBATED. Sepr 2d 1729 Eight leaves, 22.6x18.4cm, stitched, gilt edges. Title-page (upside-down to the text), verso blank; text eight pages, followed by three blank leaves. The title is repeated at the top of the recto of the second leaf, dated 'Sept 1728' [sic], with the subtitle 'Whether *Hamilton's bawn shall be turned into a Malt-house or a Barack' and a marginal note, '*A large old house two miles from Sr AAS seat.' Bibliography. H. Williams (Poems) III, p. 863. Notes. The printed versions of this poem vary. It first appeared in London in 1732, under the title A Soldier and a Scholar (see No. 2128), and later in the same year Faulkner published it in Dublin with the original title. This MS corresponds with the first Dublin edition, with the following exceptions:
Sub-title: Printed '...a Barrack or a Malt-House.'
line 6: The printed version has a footnote defining a Barrack, not present in the MS.
line 22: MS, 'And, whatever...'; printed 'Whatever...'.
line 131: Footnote: MS, '...in Armagh.'; printed, '...in the Neighbourhood.'
line 138: MS, 'peeps on'; printed, 'peeps at'.
line 150: MS, 'mending your gown'; printed, '...Cassock'.
line 152: MS, 'Jinny.'; printed, 'Jenny'.
line 159: The printed version has a footnote 'Ovids, Plutarchs, Homers.', not in the MS.
Minor variations in punctuation and spelling throughout. In Faulkner's 1735 edition four lines were added following line 166. 'Hamilton's Bawn' was on Sir Arthur Acheson's estate at Market Hill (now known as Gosford Castle), Armagh, where Swift spent three long visits during the years 1728–30. Provenance: (?) Rev. Matthew Pilkington; Bishop of Derry (? William Barnard, 1697-1768); Henry Dupuy (Sale, 18 January 1922, Lot 254); William Randolph Hearst (Sale Part 3, Parke Bernet, December 1938, Lot 266). When this MS was sold in 1922 it was accompanied by a written statement in the autograph of a previous owner, printed in the catalogue as follows:
'Original copy of Hamilton's Bawn in Swift's handwriting. Probably given to my grandfather the Bishop of Derry by Pilkington, the author of the Biographical Dictionary of Painters. His wife was one of Dean Swift's flirts. My reason for supposing so is that Pilkington used frequently to be a visitor at the Bishop's who was a great collector of pictures and used to like to hear Pilkington's opinion. (Signed) A.F.B.'
2272 [Transcript in the handwriting of Charles Ford.] DIRECTIONS FOR A BIRTH-DAY SONG Oct: 30. 1729. Six leaves, 18.5 x 11.5 cm., marbled paper wrappers. First leaf blank, text nine pages, starting immediately below the title, final page blank. Bibliography. Nichol Smith (Letters of Swift to Ford), p. 203; H. Williams (Poems) ii, p. 459. Notes. First printed by Deane Swift, 1765, Works, xvi. 30 October was George IIs birthday. Provenance: Ford Collection (see No. 2282).
2273 DOCUMENT PROMISING TO PAY JOHN WHITEWAY'S APPRENTICE-SHIP FEES, signed 'this fifteenth day of May 1736—six Jonath: Swift...in the presence of Roger Kendrick and Alexdr Croaders'. Two leaves, 21 x 13 cm., edged in black. Text on the recto of the first leaf only. Ball V, p. 334. Reproduced in Jonathan Swift, Dean and Pastor by R. W. Jackson, 1939. Provenance: William Mitchell of Ballymullen, Grogan, Leix, 1939.
2274 RECEIPT FOR TITHES. 'Mar. 8th 1738-9'. A single sheet, 11 x 9 cm. Text, one page.
2275 [Drop-head title:] DIRECTIONS TO POOR SERVANTS. Cap. 1. Directions to the Butler Fourteen leaves, 20 x 16 cm. Unbound. Text on both sides of the leaves, starting immediately below the title, paginated [1]-28. Pp.2-14 are headed 'Butler'; p.15 'Instructions to the Cook', and pp.16-23 'Cook'; p.[24] is blank; pp.25-8 'Footman'. Notes. Directions to Servants was published posthumously by Dodsley in London and Faulkner in Dublin, in 1745 (see Nos. 2178-2180). Hayward (Swift, Nonesuch Press, 1934, p. 596, writes as follows: 'Several copies of the manuscript of this curious work seem to have existed. A fragment of one, with some corrections in Swift's hand, is in the Forster Collection...' This MS, which varies considerably from the printed text, and from the transcript in the Forster Collection, was found among the papers of the 1st Earl of Normanton, b. 1736, who became Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. The paper is the same as that used by Swift for his letters to Ford between 16 June 1724 and 14 August 1725. Provenance: 5th Earl of Normanton (Sotheby, 14 October 1946, Lot 310).
2277 TO THOMAS SWIFT, initialled. Dated from 'Moorpark. May 3d 1692' Two leaves, 20.5 x 16.5 cm. Text 3 and one third pages. Addressed in the centre of the verso of the second leaf: 'To Mr Swift, at Sr John Morgan's in Kinnersley, to be left with John Griffith in Wobbly [sic] Herefordshire June 5.' Ball I, p. 361. Provenance: Below the address is a note in an eighteenth-century hand: 'Swift's lettr from Mrs Cathral's Papers.' Mrs More-Molyneux, Loseley House, Surrey, 1937.
2278 TO THOMAS SWIFT, signed. Dated 'Decbr 6th 1693'. Two leaves,19 x 15 cm. Text three pages. Addressed on the verso of the second leaf: 'For Mr Swift at Dr D'avenant's—in Red-lyon Square near Holborn London.' Ball I, p. 367. Provenance: Mrs More-Molyneux, Loseley House, Surrey, 1937.
2279 TO THE REV. JOHN WINDER, signed. Dated from 'More Park Janry 13th 1698 [i.e. 1699]. Two leaves, 21 x 16 cm. Text three pages, addressed on the verso of the second leaf: 'For the Reverend Mr Windar [sic] Prebendry of Kilroot; to be left at Belfast in the County of Antrim Ireland.' Ball I, p. 26. Note. Winder was a fellow-student of Swift's at Oxford in 1692, and his successor at Kilroot in 1697. Provenance: Walls Collection (see No. 2281).
2280 TO JOHN TEMPLE, signed. Dated from 'Dublin, June 15. 1706.' Two leaves, 16 x 20.5 cm. Text three pages with a postscript on the verso of the second leaf, which also bears the address 'For John Temple Esqr at his House at Morepark near Farnham in Surrey England'. The letter was folded in three and sealed with red wax. Ball 1, p. 55.
2281 TO THOMAS WALLS, Archdeacon of Achonry. Forty-six letters. Except where indicated in the table below, these letters are unsigned. Those marked with an asterisk were sent to Charles Ford for dispatch, and are addressed and endorsed by him. With three exceptions, these letters are on paper folded to form two leaves, ranging from 18 x 11 to 22 x 18 cm. Nos. 5, 20 and 32, each a single leaf, measure respectively 23 x 18, 23 x 17 and 20 x 16 cm.
Show ContentsHide Contents
No.
Date
From
Ball
number, page
Notes
1
22 January 1708
London
I, 69
Initialled
2
9 November 1708
London
I, 118
-
3
7 August 1713
Trim
II, 63
Postscripts in the autograph of and initialled by A. Raymond and T. Warburton
4
17 September 1713
London
II, 66
-
5
26 November 1713
London
II, 93
Signed
6
2 February 1714
London
II, 124
Two lines torn off at end
7
6 March 1714
London
II, 130
Signed
8
27 March 1714
London
II, 131
-
9
*11 June 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
II, 147
-
10
*3 July 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
II, 164
-
11
*29 July 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
II, 203
-
12
23 November [1714]
-
II, 256
-
13
27 December [1714]
Belcamp
II, 262
-
14
5 May 1715
Trim
II, 279
-
15
22 May 1715
Woodbrooke
II, 280
Initialled
16
15 June 1715
Trim
II, 281
-
17
26 February 1716
Trim
II, 305
-
18
6 May 1716
Trim
II, 314
-
19
15 May 1716
Martry
II, 315
-
20
6 June 1716
Gaulstown
II, 317
-
21
14 June 1716
Gaulstown
II, 318
-
22
18 June 1716
Gaulstown
II, 321
-
23
4 October 1716
Trim
II,332
-
24
6 December 1716
Trim
II, 343
Initialled
25
13 December 1716
Trim
II, 344
-
26
16 December 1716
Trim
II, 347
-
27
17 December 1716
Trim
II, 349
-
28
19 December 1716
Trim
II, 350
-
29
23 December 1716
Trim
II, 355
-
30
27 December 1716
Trim
II, 356
-
31
30 December 1716
Trim
II, 357
-
32
[1716]
-
II, 404
-
33
[1716]
-
II, 406
-
34
3 January 1717
Trim
II, 358
-
35
13 January [1717]
Trim
II, 363
-
36
24 January [1717]
Trim
II, 365
Note on verso in another hand
37
27 January [1717]
Trim
II, 367
-
38
28 January [1717]
Trim
II, 367
-
39
31 January [1717]
Trim
II, 368
Postscript signed by A. Raymond
40
3 February 1717
Trim
II, 369
Postscript signed by A. Raymond
41
28 March 1717
Trim
II, 380
-
42
30 March 1717
Trim
II, 380
-
43
19 May 1717
Magheralin
II, 385
-
44
23 May 1717
Trim
II, 387
-
45
19 August 1717
Arsallagh
II, 460
Signed
46
9 July 1725
Quilca
III, 250
-
Provenance: Walls Collection, Sir John Murray, 1935
2282 TO CHARLES FORD. Forty-three letters, unsigned. The majority of these letters are written on paper folded to form two leaves, ranging in size from 15.5 x 10 cm. (No. 34) to 32.5 x 20 cm. (No. 28), subsequently (except Nos. 5, 12 and 28) folded for transmission and addressed on the verso of the second leaf. Nos. 6, 7, 8, 11, 15, 25, 26, 32, 35 and 41, each a single leaf, measure from 18.5 x 15 cm. (No. 7) to 32 x 19 cm. (No. 26); with the exception of No. 15 these also are folded and addressed for transmission. Separate covers accompany Nos. 5, 12 and 15, but it cannot be proved that these were the original envelopes (see note on No. 15; the slip accompanying No. 5 is postmarked 'IY [July] 20').
Show ContentsHide Contents
No.
Date
From
Nichol Smith
number, page
Notes
1
12 November 1708
London
I, 1
-
2
8 March 1709
London
II, 3
-
3
8 September 1711
London
III, 6
-
4
9 July 1713
Laracor
V, 11
-
5
30 July 1713
Laracor
VI, 14
Separate cover
6
12 June 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
VII, 15
-
7
16 June 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
VIII, 16
-
8
1 July 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
IX, 17
-
9
11 July 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
XII, 24
-
10
18 July 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
XV, 29
-
11
25 July [1714]
[Letcombe Bassett]
XIX, 37
The MS has '1712', but the text refers to events in 1714.
12
3 August 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
XXI, 43
Separate cover
13
7 August 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
XXIII, 49
-
14
12 August 1714
[Letcombe Bassett]
XXIV, 52
-
15
September 1714
Dublin [postmark Trim]
XXVII, 60
Separate cover. MS has 'Sepr.' Nichol Smith dates this letter August, partly on internal evidence, partly on the postmark ' AV ? 30 or 31'. As, however, the postmark is on the accompanying cover, and not on the letter itself, this evidence is inconclusive.
16
27 September 1714
Dublin
XXVIII, 62
-
17
20 August 1718
Laracor or Trim
XXX, 66
-
18
20 December 1718
Dublin
XXXI, 67
-
19
6 January 1719
Dublin
XXXII, 71
-
20
16 February 1719
Dublin
XXXIII, 75
-
21
3 May 1719
Laracor
XXXIV, 79
-
22
4 April 1720
Dublin
XXXVI, 85
-
23
15 December 1720
-
-, 185
The Bubble (see separate entry, No.2265)
24
15 April 1721
Dublin
XXXVIII, 89
'I am now writing a History of my Travells.'
25
19 June 1721
Dublin
XXXIX, 93
-
26
30 September 1721
Gaulstown
XL, 94
-
27
22 July 1722
Loughgall
XLI, 95
-
28
31 January 1723
-
-, 193
To Charles Ford Esqr on his Birthday (see separate entry, No. 2267)
29
19 January 1724
Dublin
XLII, 98
-
30
13 February 1724
Dublin
XLIII, 102
-
31
2 April 1724
Dublin
XLIV, 105
-
32
16 June 1724
Dublin
XLV, 109
-
33
27 November 1724
Dublin
XLVI, 111
-
34
29 December 1724
Dublin
XLVII, 114
Addressed 'To the Reverend Mr. Lightburn', 'to save postage'
35
31 December 1724
Dublin
XLVIII, 115
-
36
1 March 1725
[Dublin]
XLIX, 118
-
37
11 March 1725
Dublin
L, 119
-
38
14 August 1725
[Quilca]
LI, 120
'I have finished my Travells' (see Plate XL)
39
16 August 1725
Quilca
LII, 123
-
40
27 August 1725
[Quilca]
LIII, 126
-
41
20 September 1728
[Market Hill]
LIV, 127
-
42
18 March 1729
Dublin
LV, 128
-
43
14 October 1732
Dublin
LVIII, 139
-
Provenance: Sir John Hynde Cotton (d. 1752, Ford's executor); Miss Philadelphia Letitia Cotton; Mrs Rowley Smith of Shortgrove; Rev. J. J. Antrobus, 1935.
2283 TO AMBROSE PHILIPS, signed. Dated from 'London. Mar. 8th 17089. O.S.' Two leaves, 19.7x15.2cm. Text 2 and a half pages, addressed on the verso of the second leaf 'For Mr Philips, at Copenhagen', and endorsed in Philips's hand 'Jonathan Swift—1709—Resp. May. 21.' Notes. This letter has not previously been printed in its entirety. Ball (I, p. 141) prints part only, from a copy in the Forster Collection. The full text is as follows: London. Mar. 8* 17089 O.S. I give you Joy of all the difficultyes in your Journey, since they ended in a safe Arrivall; and I pity you the less, since Mr Molsworth told me of the present he made you of a warm Fur cap for Yr Head and Shoulders. I am sensible how mortal an Enemy cold is to Gentlemen of your thin Composition, You know Horaces Rule, dissolve frigus ligna super foco large reponens, and merum diota, which last, is a Receit I suppose Denmark may teach you. At worst, a good Reception and friendly Treatment, will remove the Clymate ten degrees southward. Your Dane of a refined Tast is somewhat Extraordinary, unless it be a Tast of Second Hand, but I desire, whoever admires or blames the Book, you will not think me to have any concern in the Matter, tho since People will inspight of my disarming suspect me for an Author, I cannot but be better pleased with those who think me so to my Advantage—Your versifying in a Sledge seems somewhat parallell to singing a Psalm upon a Ladder, and when you tell me it was upon the Sea, I suppose it might be a Pastorall, and that you had got a Calenture, which makes men think they behold green Feelds, and Groves on the Ocean. I suppose the Subject was Love, and then came in naturally your burning in so much cold, and that the Ice was hott Iron in comparison of her disdain. Then there are frozen Hearts, and melting Sighs, or Kisses, I forget which, But I believe your Poeticall Faith could never arrive at allowing that Venus was born on the Belts or any Part of the Northern Sea.-Treve des bagatelles. This same Mistress of yrs is a very usefull Amusement takes all your Passions by turns and putts them into Motion, which may not be amiss in a cold Clymate; therefore I hope she will step once more to France and ply you with a Rival or two while Winter lasts. As to what you enquire about me, I can only tell you that Ld Berkeley has at last refused going to Vienna, wherein all his Friends think him in the Right, and my self among the rest; so that the Peace with the Hungarian Rebels is like to be made without me; Let the Emperor look to it. I shall return to Ireland in Summer and have desired Mr Steel to take care of any Letters you will please to send me: therefore pray direct them to Him, who shall know my Address. This is onely meant as long as you shall think fitt to keep up the Humor of remembering absent Friends especially of so short a standing, and so little Use as I. Mr Addison will go for Ireland in a Month. Collonell Froud has received yr Lettr, and His Lady commended me this day to give you her Service, and began Yr Health to me. Mr Addison and I drink it often; He loves you very well, and you can hardly have a better Possession, upon every Account imaginable. You do not expect I shall send you News or Politicks, and if you did, you would be deceived; and therefore a Lettr from Ireld will be full as valuable as from hence. All your Friends here are well, and howvr transitory the rest of the world may be, St James Coffee house still continues as you left it. Dr King has reprinted all his Works together and the Volume begins with his Answer to Mr Molesworth's Book [word obliterated by Swift] of Denmark. Your Pastorals will appear at the head of the new Miscellany in a Month. Nic Row is with great difficulty coming in to be Secretary to the Duke of Queensbury, much against his Grace's Inclination. The Town is run mad after a new Opera. Poetry and good Sense are dwindling like Echo into Repetition and Voice. Critick Dennis vows to G— these Opera's will be ruin of the Nation and brings Examples from Antiquity to prove it. A good old Lady five miles out Town, askt me tother day, what these Uproars were that her Daughter was allways going to. I wish I had the Honr to be known to the Envoy, that I might end my Letter with desiring You to present my most humble Service to Him; It is so necessary a Part in the conclusion of an Epistle that I do not know how to supply it. His Brother that dyed last Year was my particular Friend. His Father is also of my Acquaintance, so that I seem to have some sort of Title—I am a scurvy Writer, and as I remember you are not very expert at reeding an ill Hand; which if I had thought on sooner I would have made mine a little worse, for now you are growing to be a Minister you mus learn to decypher. Lett me know if there are any Country houses of Men of Quality in Denmark; because I have a Notion that in all arbitrary Governments they are very scarce. I forgot you are a Man of Business, but you may read this Letter at three or four reprises you will break no Connection- I am Your most faithfull humble Servant J: Swift. Provenance: (? Puttick, 1857, see Ball 1, p. 141, n. 1.) 7th Duke of Newcastle (Clumber Library, Sotheby, 16 February 1938, Lot 1407).
2284 TO JOSEPH ADDISON, signed. Dated from 'Dublin. August 22 1710'. Two leaves, 22 x 17.5 cm. Text two pages, the second leaf blank. Ball 1, p. 187. Provenance: E. J. Tickell.
2285 TO JOSHUA DAWSON, signed. Dated from 'London Feb 11th 17 14/13' . A single leaf, 20.5 x 17 cm. Text on one side; on the verso is pasted the address 'To Joshua Dawson Esqr at the Castle of Dublin Ireland'. Ball 11, p. 126. Provenance: (Sotheby, 24 May 1938, Lot 559.)*
2286 TO LORD BOLINGBROKE, initialled. Dated from 'Dublin March 1st 17 15/14.' Two leaves, 22 x 17 cm. Text two pages, the second leaf blank. Unpublished. Notes. The letter recommends the bearer, Mr Howard, a Prebendary of Dublin, 'to your Favor and Protection, whether he finds you still at Paris... or already arrived at London…'. Swift com¬miserates with Bolingbroke on his exile, though expecting his early return: 'You have the Honor to be used ill with the best Men of the Kingdom….I have no Concern at present about you but with Relation to your Fortune. You and some others have convinced the World that a Man of Business may be a Man of Witt, but I will swear he ought not be a Philosopher too.... I know you can retire as gracefully as any man from six footmen and a gilt Chariot to Jonathan and your Cloak; but I pronounce whatever Court suffers it is not a Christian one….' Provenance: (Sotheby, 5 March 1934, Lot 201.)*
2287 (i) Autograph Letter FROM WILLIAM KING, Archbishop of Dublin, to Swift. Signed 'Wm Dublin' and dated from 'London Suffolk Street Novr 22 1716'.
(ii) DRAFT REPLY in Swift's handwriting, unsigned. Dated from 'Trim December ye 22d 1716'. Three leaves, 32 x 18 cm. Archbishop King's letter fills both sides of the first two leaves, and recto of the third. Swift's draft is on the verso of the third leaf. Ball II, p. 339 (Archbishop King's letter) and p. 348 (Swift's draft, as 16 December). Notes. Inscribed at the foot of Swift's draft, by a contemporary hand: '(This answer is printed in Swift's Works, 1766, Vol. XII. Lettr VIII. p. 122.)', and below, by another hand 'NB. The above seems a first sketch only, written in the hasty moment of Resentment, but never sent: as in his real answer to this Letter (wch is printed in Vol. VIV. No 36) it is much soften'd & the Dean continued in Friendship with Abp. King to the End of his Life, see King Correspond[ence] (ibid)'. Swift's draft is very different from the letter which he eventually sent to Archbishop King on the same date, 22 December 1716 (Ball II, p. 352); it is printed by Ball, from Sheridan's edition of Swift's Works, 1784, with the date 'December 16, 1716.' Provenance: (A.A.A., 1 February 1927. Lot 305.)
2288 TO ISAIAH PARVISOL, signed. [Undated: 1716.] Two leaves, 16 x 10 cm. Text on the recto of the first leaf, addressed on the verso of the second 'For Mr Parvisol'. Inscribed also on the verso of the second leaf, in an eighteenth-century hand, 'Dr Swift 1716'. Ball II, p. 405. Provenance: Walls Collection (see Note, No. 2281).
2289 TO SIR THOMAS HANMER, signed. Dated from 'Dublin Ocbr 1st 1720'. Two leaves, 20 x 16 cm. Text 2 and a half pages. Addressed on the verso of the second leaf 'To the Honorable Sr Thomas Hanmer, Bart, at his House in the Pell-mell [sic] London'. Ball III, p. 64.
2290 TO LORD CARTERET, signed. Dated from 'Dublin. Sepbr 4th 1724'. Two leaves, 23 x 18 cm. Text four pages. Ball III, p. 211. Provenance: (Hodgson, 24 November 1938, Lot 148.)
2291 TO MRS. PRATT. Draft, or final page, of the postscript of a letter, dated 18 March 1724-5, unsigned. A single leaf, 22.5 x 18 cm. Text on one side, addressed on the verso 'To Mrs Prat'. Ball (III, p. 233) prints a slightly variant text from Sheridan's edition of Swift's Works.
2293 TO LADY WORSELEY, signed. Dated from 'Dublin. May 11th 1731.' Two leaves, 20 x 16 cm. Text 2 and a half pages, verso of the second leaf blank. Ball IV, p. 222.
2294 TO THE REV. JOHN WINDER, unsigned. Dated from 'Dublin. Feb. 19th 1731-32'. Two leaves, 18 x 15.5 cm. Text two pages, addressed on the verso of the second leaf 'To the Reverend Mr Winder at Belfast'. Ball IV, p. 281. Provenance: Sir John Murray, 1935.
2295 TO BENJAMIN MOTTE, signed. Dated on p. 1 from 'Dublin. Nov. 4th 1732', and at the end 'Janr 9th 1732.' Two leaves, 18.5x 15 cm. Text 3.5 pages, addressed below and at right angles to the text on p. 4, 'To Mr Motte'. Ball IV, p. 359.
2296 TO EATON STANNARD, signed. Dated from 'Deanry-house Apr. 11th 1735.' Two leaves, 18.5 x 15 cm, with accompanying cover leaf. Text 1.5 pages, second leaf blank; addressed on the cover leaf 'To Eaton Stannard Esq Recorder of the City of Dublin'. Ball V, p. 159. Provenance: A. J. Maley (see Ball); Alfred Morrison (Sale Part III, 10 December 1918, Lot 2609, to Potter, £30); G. W. Panter (Sotheby, 15 July 1929, Lot 54).
2297 TO THEOPHILUS HARRISON, signed. Dated from 'Deanry-house March 25th 1735'. Two leaves, 13 x 9 cm. Text two pages, addressed on the verso of the second leaf 'To Mr Harrison'. Unpublished. Note. This letter accompanied a gift of 'three large Volumes of Galen's Works of the best translation into Latin. . .'. Provenance: Henry Purdon of Huntingdon, Killnean, with his inscription on the recto of the second leaf, recording the date of 'finding' the letter, 1819, followed by the names of two 'Members of West Meath' in that year, Gustavus Rochfort and Hercules R. Pakenham.
2299 [TO THE REV. JAMES KING], signed. Dated from 'Deanry-house Octb 1735'. Two leaves, 14.5 x 9cm. Text one page. Ball v, p. 255. Notes. In the catalogues of the Sotheby sales of 1918 and 1948, to which reference is made below, this letter was described as addressed to Alderman Barber; this mistake probably arose because in the the 1918 sale it was included with a group of letters addressed to Barber. In the opinion of Sir Harold Williams it can safely be assumed to be addressed to King, on whose name Swift punned in it: 'I dine like a King, always alone.' Provenance: Mrs King, Proby Park, Dalkey, Co. Dublin: Alfred Morrison (Sale Part III, Sotheby, 10 December 1918, Lot 2084, to Maggs); W. Marchbank (Sotheby, 20 December 1948, Lot 245). ENDORSEMENT on a letter from Lady Elisabeth Germain 27 May 1735. See No. 932.
2300 TO JOHN NICHOLS, signed. 'Dated at Mrs Whiteway s house. Jun. 25th 1736'. Two leaves, 14.5 x 9 cm. Text two pages, addressed 'To Mr Nicholls' on the verso of the second leaf. Ball v, p. 355. Note. Nichols was a surgeon, and is mentioned in Swift's will. Provenance: Alfred Morrison (Sotheby, 16 April 1918, Lot 1127, to Maggs, £33); G. W. Panter (Sotheby, 15 July 1959, Lot 57)-
2301 TO WILLIAM RICHARDSON, signed. Dated 'Apr. 9th 1737'. Two leaves, 18 x 15cm. Text two pages, the second leaf blank. Ball VI, p. 8. Note on a letter from Katharine Richardson, 10 January 1738. See No. 1743. Ball VI, p. 59.
2302 TO WILLIAM RICHARDSON, signed. [Undated. ? 5 August 1738.] Two leaves, 19.5 x 15cm. Swift's letter fills two-thirds of the recto of the first leaf, and is immediately followed by a letter in Mrs Whiteway's handwriting (unsigned), which breaks off at the bottom of the verso of the second leaf, and was evidently completed on a leaf now missing. Ball VI, pp. 90, 96. Notes. Ball reprints Swift's letter from Berkeley's Literary Relics, with the date 5 August 1738. The letter from Mrs Whiteway which he prints in association with it is not the one in this manuscript, which is undated. The present Whiteway letter Ball reprints from Nichols's Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, 1803, with the date, 16 September 1738, and the missing part of the final paragraph. Provenance: (Hodgson, 28 June 1940, Lot 282.)
2303 TO WILLIAM RICHARDSON, part of a letter, unsigned. 1739. Two leaves, 18.5 x 15cm. Swift's opening paragraph fills two-thirds of the recto of the first leaf, breaks off in the middle of a sentence, and is immediately continued by a letter in Mrs Whiteway's handwriting, signed at the foot of the recto of the second leaf; addressed on the verso of the second leaf, ' To Willm Richardson Esqr', and endorsed, presumably by Richardson, ' 17 April 1739 Doctr Swift & Mrs Whiteway'. Ball VI, p. 120. Provenance: Lady Harty (Sotheby, 18 December 1929, Lot 659).
2304 TO LADY BERESFORD, signed. [Undated.] Two leaves, 16 x 10.5cm. Text one page, addressed on the verso of the second leaf, 'For the Honorable the Lady Beresford'. [? Wife of Sir Tristram Beresford, Bt.] Unpublished. Notes. In this letter Swift proposed himself to dine: 'I lay last night in yr Ladyships Neighborhood on purpose to dine with you today in my way to Dublin. . .'. At end, 'Tuesday morn.' Provenance: Milton Brodie, with accompanying note 'given me by Miss Beresford' signed and dated 1826; (Sotheby, 22 February 1938, Lot 649)*.