Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12.djvu/221

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DR. SWIFT.
209

swer, that he would write for the young fellow; but still, nothing is done. I will endeavour to get his name and direction, and write to him myself.

Your books shall be sent as directed: they have been printed above a month; but I cannot get my subscribers' names[1]. I will make over all my profits to you for the property of Gulliver's Travels; which, I believe, will have as great a run as John Bunyan. Gulliver is a happy man, that at his age, can write such a merry work.

I made my lord archbishop's[2] compliments to her royal highness, who returns his grace her thanks; at the same time, Mrs. Howard read your letter to herself. The princess immediately seized on your plaid[3] for her own use, and has ordered the young princesses to be clad in the same. When I had the honour to see her, she was reading Gulliver, and was just come to the passage of the hobbling prince; which she laughed at. I tell you freely, the part of the projectors is the least brilliant. Lewis grumbles a little at it, and says, he wants the key to it, and is daily refining. I suppose he will be able to publish like Barnevelt[4] in time. I gave your ser-

  1. To a work, in 4to. entitled, "Tables of ancient Coins, Weights, and Measures, explained and exemplified in several Dissertations."
  2. Probably archbishop King of Dublin.
  3. The dean sent a present of some silk plaids from Ireland, for the princess of Wales, and the young princesses.
  4. This refers to a pamphlet, entitled, "A Key to the Lock: or a Treatise proving beyond all Contradiction the dangerous Tendency of a late Poem, entitled, The Rape of the Lock, to Government and Religion. By Esdras Barnevelt, apothecary."
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