14
LETTERS TO AND FROM
by putting my own interests out of the case, has failed me in this juncture. I only consider that I shall want your conversation, your friendship, your protection, and your good offices, when I can least spare them[1]. I would have come among the crowd
of
- ↑ As the intimacy between these two great men had not then been of long standing, it may be amusing to trace its rise and progress. About four months before the date of this letter. Swift had taken lodgings at Chelsea. "I got here," says he, "with Patrick and my portmantua, for sixpence, and pay six shillings a week for one silly room, with confounded coarse sheets. I lodge just over against Dr. Atterbury's house; and yet perhaps I shall not like the place the better for that." Journal to Stella, April 26, 1711. — "Mr. Harley excused his coming, and Atterbury was not there [at the Westminster dinner]; and I cared not for the rest." May 1. — "I have just now a compliment from dean Atterbury's lady, to command the garden and library, and whatever the house affords; but the dean is in town with his convocation." Ibid. "— I sent over to Mrs. Atterbury, to know whether I might wait on her, but she is gone a visiting: we have exchanged some compliments; but I have not seen her yet." May 2. "— I did not go to town to day, it was so terrible rainy; nor have I stirred out of my room till eight this evening; when I crossed the way, to see Mrs. Atterbury, and thank her for her civilities. She would needs send me some veal and small beer and ale to day at dinner." May 3. — "Dr. Freind came this morning to visit Atterbury's lady and children, as physician; and persuaded me to go to town in his chariot." May 9. — "Since I came home, I have been sitting with the prolocutor, dean Atterbury, who is my neighbour over the way, but generally keeps in town with his convocation." May 14. — "I dined with Mr. Prior to day, at his house, with dean Atterbury and others." May 16. — "I sat with dean Atterbury till one o'clock, after I came home." May 18. — "I stayed at home till five o'clock, and dined with dean Atterbury; then went by water to Mr. Harley's, where the Saturday's club was met." May 19. — "This is the first wet walk I have had in a month's time that I came here; however, I got to bed, after a short visit to Atterbury." May 24. — "My lord [Oxford] set me down at a coffeehouse, where I waited for
the
