The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 11/From John Arbuthnot to Charles Ford - 2
FROM DR. ARBUTHNOT TO MR. FORD[1].
DEAR FRIEND,
I HOPE this will find you in good health; and I hope in greater tranquillity of mind, than when we used to lament together at your office for the eternal faults of our friends. I have seen the dragon thrice since I wrote to you. He is without shadow of change; the greatest example of an unshaken tranquillity of mind, that ever I yet saw, seeming perfectly well satisfied with his own conduct in every particular. You know we have often said, that there is but one dragon in rerum natura. I do not know what he thinks, but I am perfectly well satisfied, that there will not be that one dragon left, if some people have their will. Haly Bassa, they say, struggles for his son-in-law. It is generous and grateful. There is a prodigious quarrel between him and the president about it[2]. I have given you the trouble of the adjoined for the dean, as also a scrap of a letter for him which we had begun at our club, but did not finish; Dr. Parnell not going, as he said.
I am not yet out, but expect to be soon. Adieu.
I had almost forgot to tell you of the pretender's declaration, in which there are words to this purpose: "That he had no reason to doubt of the good intention of his sister, which was the reason that he sat quiet in her time; but now was disappointed by the deplorable accident of her sudden death."
- ↑ Endorsed, "Received Dec. 2, 1714."
- ↑ The president of the council, who at that time was Daniel, earl of Nottingham.