# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 11/From Chiverton Charlton to Jonathan Swift - 1

FROM CHIVERTON CHARLTON, ESQ.,
CAPTAIN OF THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD.
HEARING from honest John, that you still persist in your resolution of retiring into the country, I cannot but give you my thoughts of it, at the same time that I am sensible how intruding it may appear in me to trouble you with what I think: but you have an unlucky quality, which exposes you to the forwardness of those who love you: I mean good nature. From which, though I did not always suspect you guilty of it, I now promise myself an easy pardon. So that, without being in much pain as to the censure you may pass upon my assurance, I shall go on gravely to tell you, I am entirely against your design.
I confess a just indignation at several things, and particularly at the return your services have met with may give you a disgust to the court; and that retirement may afford a pleasing prospect to you, who have lived so long in the hurry, and have born so great a share of the load of business; and the more so at this juncture, when the distraction among your friends is enough to make any one sick of a courtier's life. But on these very accounts you should choose to stay, and convince the world that you are as much above private resentment, where the publick is concerned, as you are incapable of ​being tired out in the service of your country; and that you are neither afraid nor unwilling to face a storm in a good cause.
It is true, you have less reason than any one I know, to regard what the world says of you; for I know none, to whom the world has been more unjust. Yet since the most generous revenge is to make the ungrateful appear yet more ungrateful, you should still persecute the publick with fresh obligations; and the rather, because some there are of a temper to acknowledge benefits; and it is to be hoped the rest may not always continue stupid. At least (suppose the worst) the attempt to do good, carries along with it a secret satisfaction, with which if you are not sensibly affected, I am at a loss how to account for many of your actions. I remember very well, what you have sometimes said upon this subject; as if you were now grown useless, &c. To which I have this to answer, that though your efforts are in vain to day, some unforeseen incident may make them otherwise to morrow; and that, should you by your absence lose any happy opportunity, you will be the first to reproach yourself with running away, and be the last man in the world to pardon it. If I denied self interest to be at the bottom of all I have said, I know you would think I lied villanously, and perhaps not think amiss neither; for I still flatter myself with the continuance of that favour you have on many occasions been pleased to show me; and am vain enough to fancy I should be a considerable loser, if you were where I could not have an opportunity of clubbing my shilling with you now and then at good eating. But as much as I am concerned on this account, I am not so selfish ​to say what I have done, if it were not my real opinion; which, whether you regard or not, I could not deny myself the satisfaction of speaking it, and of assuring you, that I am, with the utmost sincerity and respect, sir, your most obliged, and most faithful humble servant,
CH. CHARLTON.
* ↑ Alderman Barber.
* ↑ Of Ormond.