The Sun.
London, England, 1807-04-09 00:00:00

DEAN SWIFT.

The following original Letter from, this extraor-
dinary genial is given as authentic by Mr. Woof.,
the liberal and learned' biographer of the late Dr.
JOSEPLI.WAkTON The letter_ is very curious, inas-
much as it thews what a remarkable revolution took
place in the mind and temper of the Author.. When
the letter was written it is evident that he who -af-
terwards prOved such: a surly Misanthrope was once
susceptible of the most amiable feelings, since he
manifested so strong an interest ,respeCting the me-
mory -of a lady not distinguished by rank and
fortune, but knowq to live .only by the pi ivate me"
rits of het charaaer, and the distress to which she
was reduced. It may therefore- be inferred, that
however saturnine, coare, and violent the Dean af-
terwards became, be was rendered so chiefly by his
long experience of the artifice,- seltisbness, and de-
pravity of mankird.

DEA.N SWI,FT

Lona:Al, 26, 1711

" SIR,

" That you may not be surprised with. a letter
from a person utterly unknown to you, I will imme-
diately tell you the; occasion-of 'it.' The Lady who
lived-near two years in your neighbourhood, and
whom you were so kind sometimes to visit, under the
name of Mrs. Smyth, was. Mrs. Ann Long, sister to
Sir James Long, 'and niece of Colonel Sirang-,,i.qtys:
She was of as good a private family as most in Etw-
land, and had every valuable Inality of body :Ind
mind that could make a lady loved and esieemed ;
accordingly she was always. •alt.ted hereabove most
iolher sex,. and by the Most distinguished persons.
But by the unkindness of her friends. and the, gene-
rosity • of her own nature, and depending-upon the
death of a very old grandmother,' which did not hap-
pen till it was too late; she contraaed some debts t hat
made her uneasy here, and,.in order to clear them,
was content to retire unknown to your town, where
I fear her death has been hastened by melancholy,
and perhaps the want of such assistance as she might
have found .here.,

" I thought fit to signify this to you, partly to let,
you know how valuable a person you have lost ; 'but
chiefly to deSire that you will
.please to bury her in
some part of your church, near a wall, where 'a plain
marble stone may he fixed, as a poor monument for
one who deserved so well, and which, if God sends
me life, I hope one day to place there, if nu o: her of
her friends will think fit to do it. I had the honour
of an, intimate acquaintance with her, and was never
so sensibly touched with any one's death as. with
hers ; neither didi. ever know a person of either sex,
with more virtues or fewer infirmities the only
one she had, whiCh was the negled of her own iii 7
fars, arising wholly from the goodness of her tem-
per. I write not thit .to you at all as a secret., bet
am content your town' shotild know IA hat an excel-
lent pers'on they have had among them.
If you visited her any short time before her
deadr„or know any particulars about it, or of the
state of her mind, Or the nature of her disease,' I beg
you will hi; so obliging as to inform the ;' for the let-
ter we have seen from her poor maid is so' im-
perfed, by her grief fthe death of SO good a lady,
that.it.only tells the time cf her .death and your
letter may &you please be directed to Dr. SWilt, and
put wider a cover, which cover may be diredted:to
Erasmus Lewis, Esq. at the Earl of Dartthouth's
Office, at, Whitehall.

I hope-you Will forgive this trouble for the occasion
of it, and give some allowances to so great a loss,
not only to me, but to all who have any regard for
every perfeetion that human nature can possess
and if in any way I can serve or oblige you, I shall
be glad of an c.Tportunity of obeying your com-
mands. . . . .

I. am, &C.
".1. SNIT-IFr