The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-07-21

many defenders, just as Lord Byron has
done. The man of genius is always de.
Tended his failings are lightly dealt
with what are crimes in others, arc re-
gardcd in him as pcecadillocs In pal.
liation of Dean Swift's conduct in rcla-
tion to Stella, some great mystery has
been apprcbended 1t has been iumor-
ed that Stella was his own sister, OF
half-sistcr, Sir William Tcmple having
been the rumored father of both and
Surgeon Wilde, of Dublin, is now said
to be engaged in the preparation of life
of the dean, in which he will ondcavor tc
establish the correctness of this view.
Without his evidence before us, we can
only say that all that has yet been pub
lisbed on the subject is in direct contra
diction of this supposition The same
theory was once before put forth by Mr.
Delany, but positive proofs to the con.
trary were found, which led to its aban-
donmcnt. TO vindicate even the mem.
ory of dean, one ought to be careful
not TO do so at the expense of the virtu-
GUS reputation of his own mother. as well
as of Sir William Temple, and Mrs
johnson, the mother of Stella Swift's
connection with Temple is quite suffi.
GENTLY explained by the fact of Sir
William being married to near rela-
tive of Swift's own mother.
We do not think it necessary to 90 far
in search of a theory of vindication for
the dean. The fact is, Swift's treatment
of tella will not bear investigating lie
had mean opinion of women generally,
and he seemed incapable of entertaining
pure and undivided affection for them.
When young man of twcnty-four, liv.
at Sir William Temples house at Moor
Park, he had love affair with Miss
Betty Jones, afterwards Mrs. Perkins,
of the George Inn, Loughborough The
Rev. Mr.. Kendall, Vicar of Thornton, to
whose ears this and other evil rumors a
bout young Swift had come, took him to
task about the affair and the young man
excused himself by saying that his mind
" must do mischief. if not otherwise en-
ployed." g | could remember" says he,
twenty women in my life, TO whom have
behaved myself just the same way, (as TO
Miss Jones' and, / profess, without any
other design than that of entertaining
myself achcn IGm ccry lille, or schcn
sontcfhtng goes 0naiSs i1 my oBairS.n
Such were the sullicd notions of love
and its professions with which the young
man started in life. Marriage he looked
upon with aversion, and snecred at those
=" honest young men," who i'm marrying
" entail misery on themselves and pos
tcrlty by an ovcracted modesty."
When Swift invited Stella and Mrs.
Dingley TO visit him at Laracor, the for
was only eighteen years of age-a mere
girl and though beautiful, educated,
and accomplished young lady, with for
tune sufficient to maintain her in COM
fort Swift did not hesitate thus to COM
promise her reputation and to aflix a
stain upon her which life could not re-
move.
The personal attractions of Stella
were great. Her hair was of raven
black, her features were beautiful and
attractive, her form was exquisite SYM
mctry added to this, she had cheer
fulness, good sense, wit, and virtue.
These qualities brought lovers and ad-
mirers about her, for as yet the secrecy
which had been observed in connection
with the visit, had not affected Miss
Johnsons reputation and a Clergyman,
the Rev Mr.. Tisdall. n friend of Swifts
offered his hand to her in marriage.
What was Swift's conduct? He wrote
an equivocal letter, very cautious, but
saying that should he ever think of ''that
state" he should certainly, of all others,
make choice of Miss johnson for his
wife ; and a good deal more to the same
effect In consequence of this letter, the
clergyman dropped his suit.
Alas poor Stella waited many long
years in vain---till the bloom of her
youth and beauty had ncd-till her heart
had become wearied and worn waiting
for the day that came not, for the hope
that was not to be fulfilled. 1t was but
too obvious that Swift only prolonged
the Irritation because it was pleasing to
him, though at the sacrifice of the health
and happiness of a young and beautiful,
woman. lie would not forego his selfish
amusement, though at the cost of anoth-
er's health and happiness lie had won
a womanS beautiful affection only to
trample on it. Is it possible that such
conduct can meet with any pallation
Is it necessary to invent a theory when
the dark facts of the case are so obvious2
That Swift professed love for Stella is
but too clear from his letters and the
journal which he sent to her, when alb
sent in London-written too, at the We
ry time that he was making professions
of love to a woman still more beautiful,
and of far higher intellectual powers
than poor Stella had pretentions to.
This was the unhappy but gifted Esther
Vanhomrigh.
The part which Swift played in the
political intrigues of the time led him
often to London, where he first met NJ Miss
Vanhomrigh in society. She was beau
tiful, handsome, accomplished, and rich.
She was inspired too with genius and
round her brow was bound that acan-
thus wreath which, ON woman, so often
leaves it bleeding She was fascinating,
brilliant, proud, yet loving such was the
woman, scarce twenty years of age, whom
Swift met in the high circles of London
life. He professed love for her per
haps he did love her-who can tell? But
before his eyes, while he lay at the feet
of this new beauty; there must often
have risen up the form of the devoted
aifectionate, quiet, and graceful Stella
then in her lodgings at Trim, or in the
rectory at Laracor, so far removed from
the gayeties of London life, living OF
L u