Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12.djvu/304

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LETTERS TO AND FROM

seven miles of Chester; and that Mr. Whittle, the owner of the ship, was to deliver it himself; but he sent it by a man of a noted bad character, who, as Mrs. Kenna supposes, kept it some time, and opened it before he delivered it; for, immediately upon the delivery of it, Mrs. Kenna sent to Park Gate, to have the usquebaugh brought up to Chester; but was told that the fellow had brought it away; that he said, he sent it as directed; but that no doubt he must have some view of paying himself for the trouble, which made him so busy; but whether it was by changing the usquebaugh, or overrating the charges of it, Mr. Gavan could not tell; but adds, that, if I should hear of any thing amiss, I should write to Mrs. Kenna, his mother, who will endeavour to make the fellow do me justice. All this I have transcribed from Mr. Gavan's letter; and I desire you will call upon her father, Mr. Luke Gavan, (who is a known man in Dublin,) and desire him, when he writes to his son, to give my service to him and Mrs. Kenna, and let them know I will do as they direct. I am very unfortunate in this affair; but have no remedy: however, I will write to lord Bolingbroke; though I fear I am cheated of it all; for I do not find that the fellow demanded any thing from Mrs. Kenna, or came to her at all. Your new fancies of making my riding gown and cassock (I mean Mrs. Brent's fancies) do not please me at all, because they differ so much from my old one. You are a bad packer of bad grapes. Mrs. Dingley says, she cannot persuade Mrs. Brent to take a vomit. Is she not (do not tell her) an old fool? She has made me take many a one without mercy. Pray give Mrs. Worrall a thousand thanks from me, for her kind

present