The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Francis Geogeghan to Jonathan Swift - 1

by Francis Geogeghan

FROM FRANCIS GEOGEGHAN, ESQ.

YOUR time is precious, your curiosity not very small, my esteem of you very great; therefore come not within the walls of the four courts in hopes of hearing a matrimonial decree in this reign; for on Monday, (viz.) that is to say, the 10th of this instant March, 1728, his excellency Thomas Wyndham, esq., lord high chancellor of Ireland, pronounced, after your back was turned, and not with the assistance of the two chiefs, his decree in the case of Stewart v. Stewart, on A. Powel to this effect: — He said there was a full consent till such time as the draught of the settlement was sent down to Mrs. Stewart, to be considered by her and her friends; and after she had considered it, she shall not be at liberty to make any objections; for all restrictions of marriage are odious in the civil law, and not favoured by the common law, especially after the age of one and twenty; therefore marry they may, and let Mr. Nutley^[1] be a lawyer for Mrs. Rebecca Stewart, the plaintiff, to take care of the settlement for her advantage, and let Powel choose another lawyer for himself; though by the by, Mr. Nutley would serve for both; and it is not necessary to inquire what Powel makes by his practice, although he assured the mother it amounted to one thousand four hundred pounds per annum.

Ovid, 'tis true, successfully imparts
The rules to steal deluded virgins hearts;

But O! ye fair ones, pious Nutley's skill	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
Instructs you to elude, by magick bill,
The laws of God, and gratify your will.

You will, I hope, excuse this liberty in one, who, to resent the indignity offered to you by Ram's coachman^[2], made him drunk soon after at Gory; which so incensed the aforesaid Ram, that he discharged him his service, and he is now so reduced, that he has no other way of getting his bread but by crying in this city, "Ha' you any dirt to carry out?" I am, sir, your sincere friend and humble servant.

FRANCIS GEOGEGHAN.

1. Mr. Nutley had been a judge in queen Anne's time.
2. Vid. Intelligencer, No. 2.