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# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 1

FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN.
LONDON, SEPT. 19, 1730.
HAD I not been retired into the country, yours should have been answered long ago. As to your poetess, I am her obliged servant, and must confess the fact is just as you state it. It is very true I was gaming; and upon the dapper youth's delivering me a paper, which I just opened, found they were verses; so slunk them into my pocket, and there truly they were kept exceeding private; for I cannot accuse myself of showing them to a mortal. But let me assure you, it was not out of modesty, but in great hopes that the author would have divulged them; which, you know, would have looked decenter than trumpetting my own fame. But it seems unhappily we were both bit, and judged wrong of each other. However since you desire it, you may be very sure ​she should not fail of my entreaties to his grace of Dorset for her, though you have not yet let me into the secret what her request is: so till my lord Carteret does his part, or that I hear from you again, it will be but a blind sort of a petition. I have not seen his grace this great while, and he is now at Windsor, and I choose rather to speak to him on all accounts, having not so fine a talent at writing, as that lord's lady; and whether just or no, I will not attempt disputing with her ladyship. But as you are commonly esteemed by those, who pretend to know you, to have a tolerable share of honesty and brains, I do not question your doing what is right by him; nor his paying you all the civility and kindness you can desire. Nor will I hope their influence ever can make him do otherwise, though he has the unfashionable quality of esteeming his old friends; but however partial to them, yet not to be biassed against his own sense and judgment. The consequence of this, I hope, will be your coming to England, and meeting often with him, (in lady Betty's chamber) where the happy composition should exert her skill in ordering dinner; and I would not mistake oil of amber for the spirit of it, but continue as I ever was, your sincere friend, as well as faithful humble servant,
E. GERMAIN.
* ↑ Alluding to the first line of Francis Harris's petition.
* ↑ Mrs. Biddy Floyd. This expression alludes to the last verse of Swift's "Receipt to form a Beauty," "And call'd the happy composition Floyd." This lady is mentioned in the Ballad on the Game of Traffick, as being one of the party at lord Berkeley's, and at this time lived with lady Betty.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 10

FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN.
DRAYTON, JULY 19, 1732.
I BELIEVE you will not wonder at my long silence, when I tell you, that Mrs. Floyd came ill here, but she kept pretty much to herself; and ever since she has been here, till within these two or three days, I ​have had no hopes of her life. You may easily guess what I must have suffered for a so long tried, prudent, useful, agreeable companion and friend. And God knows, she is now excessively weak, and mends but slowly: however, I have now great hopes, and I am very good at believing what I heartily wish. As I dare say you will be concerned for her, you may want to know her illness, but that is more than I can tell you. She has fancied herself in a consumption a great while: but though she has had the most dreadful cough I ever heard in my life, all the doctors said, it was not that; but none of them did say what it was. The doctor here, who is an extraordinary good one, (but lives, fourteen long, long miles off) has lately been left ten thousand pounds, and now hates his business; he says, it is a sharp humour that falls upon her nerves, sometimes on her stomach and bowels; and indeed what he has given her, has, to appearance, had much better effect than the millions of things she has been forced to take. After this, you will not expect, I should have followed your orders, and rid, for I have scarcely walked; although I dare not be very much in her room, because she constrained herself to hide her illness from me.
The duke and duchess of Dorset have not been here yet, but I am in hopes they will soon. I do not know, whether you remember Mrs. Crowther, and Mrs. Acourt: they and Mr. Presode are my company; but as I love my house full, I expect more still; and my lady Suffolk talks of making me a short visit. I have been so full of Mrs. Floyd, I had like to have forgot to tell you, that I am such a dunderhead, that I really do not know what my ​sister Pen's age was; but I think, she could not be above twelve years old. She was the next to me, but whether two or three years younger I have forgot; and what is more ridiculous, I do not exactly know my own, for my mother and nurse used to differ upon that notable point. And I am willing to be a young lady still, so will not allow myself to be more than forty-eight next birthday; but if I make my letter any longer, perhaps you will wish I never had been born. So adieu, dear dean.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 6

FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN.
NOV. 4, 1731.
I BELIEVE in my conscience, that though you had answered mine before, the second was never the less welcome.
So much for your topscript, not postscript; and in very sincere earnest I heartily thank you for remembering me so often. Since I came out of the country, my riding days are over; for I never was for your Hyde park courses, although my courage serves me very well at a handgallop in the country, ​six or seven miles, with one horseman, and a ragged lad, a labourer's boy, that is to be clothed when he can run fast enough to keep up with my horse, who has yet only proved his dexterity by escaping from school. But my courage fails me for riding in town, where I should have the happiness to meet with plenty of your very pretty fellows, that manage their own horses to show their art; or that think a postillion's cap, with a white frock, the most becoming dress. These and their grooms I am most bitterly afraid of; because, you must know, if my complaisant friend, your presbyterian housekeeper, can remember any thing like such days with me, that is a very good reason for me to remember that time is past; and your toupets would rejoice to see a horse throw an ancient gentlewoman.
I am sorry to hear you are no wiser in Ireland than we English; for our birthday was as fine as hands could make us; but I question much whether we all paid ready money. I mightily approve of my duchess's being dressed in your manufacture; if your ladies will follow her example in all things, they cannot do amiss. And I dare say you will soon find that the more you know of them both, the better you will like them; or else Ireland has strangely depraved your taste, and that my own vanity will not let me believe, since you still flatter me.
Why do you tantalize me? Let me see you in ​England again, if you dare; and choose your residence, summer or winter, St. James's square, or Drayton. I defy you in all shapes; be it dean of St. Patrick's governing England or Ireland, or politician drapier. But my choice should be the parson in lady Betty's chamber. Make haste then, if you have a mind to oblige your ever sincere and hearty old friend,
LADY BETTY.
* ↑ Mrs. Brent, widow of a printer in Dublin, with whom the dean lodged when a young man.
* ↑ The duchess appeared at the castle in Dublin, wholly clad in the manufactures of Ireland, on his majesty's birth day in 1753, when the duke was a second time lord lieutenant.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 9

FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN.
LONDON, MAY 13, 1732.
I AM sorry my writing should inconvenience your eyes; but I fear, it is rather my style, than my ink, that is so hard to be read: however, if I do not forget myself, I will enlarge my hand to give you the less trouble. Their graces are at last arrived in perfect health, in spite of all their perils and dangers; though I must own, they were so long in their voyage, that they gave me an exceeding heart ach; and if that would be any hinderance, they shall never have my consent to go back to Ireland, but remain here, and be only king of Knowle and ​Drayton; and I do not think it would be the worse for him, either in person or pocket. I dare say, he would not need a remembrancer's office for any thing you have spoke to him about; but however, I will not fail in the part you have set me.
I find you want a strict account of me, how I pass my time. But first, I thank you for the nine hours out of the twenty-four you bestowed on sleeping; one or two of them, I do willingly present you back again. As to quadrille, though I am, generally speaking, a constant attendant to it every day, yet I will most thankfully submit to your allowance of time; for, when complaisance draws me no farther, it is with great yawnings, and a vast expense of my breath, in asking, Who plays? Who's called? And What's trumps? and if you can recollect any thing of my former way of life, such as it was, so it is. I never loved to have my hands idle; they were either full of work, or had a book; but as neither sort was the best, or most useful, so you will find forty years and a wee bit have done no more good to my head, than it has to my face. Your old friend Biddy is much your humble servant, and could she get rid of her cough, her spleen would do her and her friend no harm; for she loves a sly sedate joke, as well as ever you knew her do.
The duke and duchess are just come in, who both present their service to you, and will take it as a favour, if you will bestow any of your time that you can spare upon lord George.
Adieu, for the duchess, the countess of Suffolk, Mr. Chardin, and I, are going to quadrille.
* ↑ Knowle, a fine old seat of the duke of Dorset's, near Seven Oaks, in Kent.
* ↑ Lord George Sackville was at this time a student in the university of Dublin.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 3

FROM LADY ELIZABETH GERMAIN.
FEB. 23, 1730-31.
NOW were you in vast hopes you should hear no more from me, I being slow in my motions: but do not flatter yourself; you began the ​correspondence, set my pen a going, and God knows when it will end; for I had it by inheritance from my father, ever to please myself when I could; and though I do not just take the turn my mother did of fasting and praying; yet to be sure that was her pleasure too, or else she would not have been so greedy of it. I do not care to deliver your message this great while to lieutenant Head, he having been dead these two years. And though he had, as you say, a head, I loved him very well; but, however, from my dame Wadgar's first impression, have ever had a natural antipathy to spirits.
I have not acquaintance enough with Mr. Pope, which I am sorry for, and expect you should come to England, in order to improve it. If it was the queen, and not the duke of Grafton, that picked out such a laureat, she deserves his poetry in her praises.
Your friend Mrs. Barber has been here. I find she has some request; but neither you nor she has yet let it out to me what it is: for, certainly you cannot mean That by subscribing to her book; if so, I shall be mighty happy to have you call That a favour; for surely there is nothing so easy as what one can do one's self, nor any thing so heavy as what one must ask other people for; though I do not mean by this, that I shall ever be unwilling, when you require it; yet shall be much happier, when it is in my own power to show, how sincerely I am my old friend's most faithful humble servant,
E. GERMAIN.
Mrs. Lloyd is much yours; but dumber than ever, having a violent cold.
* ↑ The deaf housekeeper at lord Berkeley's.
* ↑ Colley Cibber.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 4

FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN
JUNE 5, 1731.
I FANCY you have comforted yourself a long time with the hopes of hearing no more from me; but you may return your thanks to a downright fit of the gout in my foot, and as painful a rheumatism that followed immediately after in my arm, which bound me to my good behaviour. So you may perceive I should make a sad nurse to Mr. Pope, who finds the effects of age and a crazy carcase already. However, if it is true what I am informed, that you are coming here soon, I expect you should bring us together; and if he will bear me with patience, I shall hear him with pleasure.
I do not know what number of chaplains the duke of Dorset intends to carry over; but as yet, I have heard of but one that he has sent, and he as worthy, honest, sensible a man as any I know, Mr. Brandreth, who, I believe, was recommended to your acquaintance. I have not been in a way of seeing Mrs. Barber this great while; but I hear (and I hope it is so) that she goes on in her subscription very well; nor has the lady she so much feared done her any harm, if she endeavoured it, which is more than I know that she did. I believe you will find by my writing, that it is not quite easy to me, so I will neither tease you, nor trouble myself longer, who am most sincerely your faithful humble servant,
E. GERMAIN.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 5

FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN.
DRAYTON, SEPT. 7, 1731.
TO show how strictly I obey your orders, I came from the duchess of Dorset's country house to my own, where I have rid and walked as often as the weather permitted me. Nor am I very nice in that; for, if you remember, I was not bred up very tenderly, nor a fine lady; for which I acknowledge myself exceedingly obliged to my parents: for had I had that sort of education, I should not have been so easy and happy, as I thank God, I now am. As ​to the gout, indeed, I believe I do derive it from my ancestors; but I may forgive even that, since it waited upon me no sooner; and especially since I see my elder and two younger brothers so terribly plagued with it; so that I am now the only wine drinker in my family; and upon my word, I am not increased in that since you first knew me.
I am sorry you are involved in lawsuits; it is the thing on earth I most fear. I wish you had met with as complaisant an adversary as I did; for my lord Peterborow plagued sir John all his lifetime; but declared, if ever he gave the estate to me, he would have done with it; and accordingly has kept his word, like an honourable man. I saw Mrs. Barber the day before I came out of town, and should be mighty glad to serve her, but cannot say so much by her husband, whom, for her sake, I recommended to the duke of Dorset to buy his liveries of. The first thing he did was to ask a greater price than any body else: and when we were at Whitchurch, where I attended their graces, he was informed he had not cloth enough in his shop; and he feared they would not be ready against he came over.
I hope in God I shall soon hear of their safe landing; and I do not question the people of Ireland's liking them as well as they deserve. I desire no better for them; for, if you do not spoil him there, which I think he has too good sense to let happen, he is the most worthy, honest, good natured, great souled man that ever was born. As to my duchess, she is so reserved, that perhaps she may not be at first so much admired; but, upon knowledge, I will defy ​any body upon earth, with sense, judgment, and good nature, not only not to admire her, but must love and esteem her as much as I do, and every one else, that is really acquainted with her. You know him a little; so, for his own sake, you must like him: and till you are better acquainted with them both, I hope you will like them for mine. Your friend Biddy is just the same as she was; laughs sedately, and makes a joke slily. And I am, as I ever was, and hope I ever shall be, your most sincere friend, and faithful humble servant,
E. GERMAIN.
* ↑ Husband to lady Betty Germain.
* ↑ The duke and duchess of Dorset.
* ↑ Mrs. Biddy Floyd.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 7

FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN.
JAN. 11, 1731-2.
IT is well for Mr. Pope your letter came as it did, for else I had called for my coach, and was going to make a thorough search at his house; for that I was ​most positively assured that you were there in private, the duke of Dorset can tell you. Non credo is all the Latin I know, and the most useful word upon all occasions to me. However, like most other people, I can give it up for what I wish; so for once I believed, or at least went half way in what I hoped was true, and then, for the only time, your letter was unwelcome. You tell me you have a request, which is purely personal to me: non credo for that; for I am sure you would not be so disagreeable as not to have made it, when you know it is a pleasure and satisfaction to me to do any thing you desire, by which you may find you are not sans conséquence to me.
I met with your friend Mr. Pope the other day. He complains of not being well, and indeed looked ill. I fear that neither his wit or sense do arm him enough against being hurt by malice; and that he is too sensible of what fools say: the run is much against him on the duke of Chandos's account; but I believe their rage is not kindness to the duke, but glad to give it vent with some tolerable pretence. I wish your presence would have such a miraculous effect as your design on Biddy's speech: you know formerly her tongue was not apt to run much by inclination; but now every winter is kept still perforce, for she constantly gets a violent cold that lasts her all winter. But as to that quarrelsome friend of the duke of Dorset's, I will let her loose at you, and see which can get the better. Miss Kelly was a very ​pretty girl when she went from hence, and the beaux show their good taste by liking her. I hear her father is now kind to her; but if she is not mightily altered, she would give up some of her airs and equipage to live in England.
Since you are so good as to inquire after my health, I ought to inform you I never was better in my life than this winter. I have escaped both headachs and gout: and that yours may not be in danger by reading such a long letter, I will add no more, but bid adieu to my dear dean.
E. GERMAIN.
* ↑ It was said that Mr. Pope intended the character of Timon, in his epistle on the use of riches in works of taste, addressed to the earl of Burlington, for the duke of Chandos.
* ↑ Mrs. Biddy Floyd.
# The Works of H. G. Wells (Atlantic Edition)/Love and Mr. Lewisham

LOVE AND MR. LEWISHAM
THE STORY OF A VERY YOUNG COUPLE
LOVE AND MR. LEWISHAM
"Great Spirits and Great Businesse doe keepe out this weak Passion . . . yet Love can finde Entrance not only into an open Heart but also into a Heart well fortified, if Watch be not well kept."—Francis Bacon.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1946, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 77 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
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# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 11/From Andrew Fountaine to Jonathan Swift - 1

SIR ANDREW FOUNTAINE TO DR. SWIFT.
JUNE 27, 1710.
I NEITHER can nor will have patience any longer; and, Swift, you are a confounded son of a ——. May your half acre turn to a bog, and may your willows perish; may the worms eat your Plato, and may Parvisole break your snuffbox. What! because there is never a bishop in England with half the wit of St. George Ashe, nor ever a secretary of state with a quarter of Addison's good ​sense; therefore you can't write to those that love you, as well as any Clogher or Addison of them all. You have lost your reputation here, and that of your bastard, the Tatler, is going too; and there is no way left to recover either, but your writing. Well! 'tis no matter; I'll e'en leave London. Kingsmill is dead, and you don't write to me. Adieu.
# The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 11/From Benjamin Tooke to Jonathan Swift - 1

MR. TOOKE TO DR. SWIFT.
ENCLOSED I have sent the Key, and think it would be much more proper to add the notes at the bottom of the respective pages they refer to, than printing them at the end by themselves. As to the cuts, sir Andrew Fountaine has had them from the time they were designed, with an intent of altering them. But he is now gone into Norfolk, and will not return till Michaelmas; so that, I think, they must be laid aside; for, unless they are very well done, it is better they were quite let alone. As to the Apology, I was not so careless but that I took a copy of it before I sent it to you; so that I could have printed it easily, but that you sent me word not to go on till you had altered something in it. As to that cousin of yours which you speak of, I neither know him, nor ever heard of him till the Key mentioned him. It was very indifferent to me which I proceeded on first, the Tale, or the Miscellanies: but, when you went away, you told me there were three or four things should be sent over out of Ireland, which you had not here; which, I think, is a very reasonable excuse for myself in all these affairs. What I beg of you at present is, that you would return the Apology and this Key, with directions as to the placing it: although I am entirely of opinion to put it at the bottom of each page; yet shall submit. If this be not done soon, I cannot promise but some rascal or other will do it for us both; since you see the ​liberty that is already taken. I think too much time has already been lost in the Miscellanies; therefore hasten that: and whichever is in the most forwardness, I would begin on first. All here depend on an entire alteration. I am, &c.