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SWIFT. 579 remain there t i l l h e was better able t o bear the fatigues o f the voyage i n his return; i n consequence o f which, h e was not restored t o them till h e was four years old. This circumstance has given rise t o a n opinion, that h e was a native o f England; indeed, when displeased with the people o f Ireland, h e has been heard t o say, “I am not o f this vile country; I am a n Englishman:” but the facts above related, are taken from a n account left b y him i n his own hand-writing. When six years old, h e was sent t o the school o f Kilken ny, and a t a proper age was admitted a student o f Trinity college, Dublin. During the four years h e passed i n this seat o f literature, h e made s o little progress i n the usual and necessary studies, having given himself u p without reserve t o history and poetry, that, o n a n application for the degree o f bachelor o f arts, h e was rejected. A similar fate would have attended his second attempt, had h e not been relieved from i t b y the good offices o f some o f his friends, who obtained his admission t o the degree, but not with out the insertion o f the words speciali gratid, a s a mark o f degradation. This latter circumstance i s said t o have given rise t o a curious misunderstanding some years afterwards, when h e applied for the degree o f master o f arts i n the university o f Oxford. This i s said t o have been imme diately granted with peculiar tokens o f respect, that learned body construing those words a s a mark o f especial honour. His uncle Godwin, having been attacked b y a lethargy, which terminated i n a total loss o f speech and memory, Swift was deprived o f the assistance h e had expected from that relative i n the guidance o f his future pursuits. He, therefore, i n 1688, went over t o Leicester t o consult with his mother, who recommended him t o apply t o Sir Wil liam Temple; t o whose wife Mrs. Swift was distantly related. He was received b y Sir William, who was a t that time high i n the confidence o f the king, with great kindness; and his patron being lame o f the gout, Swift used t o attend his majesty i n h i s walks i n the garden, who