The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Voltaire to Jonathan Swift - 3

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The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12
(1727)
by Voltaire, edited by Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, John Boyle, Patrick Delany, John Hawkesworth, Deane Swift, William Bowyer, John Birch, and George Faulkner

From monsieur Voltaire

From the same

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1554516The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12
— From monsieur Voltaire1727Voltaire

FROM MONSIEUR VOLTAIRE.

In London, Maiden Lane, at the White Peruke,

Covent Garden, Dec. 14, 1727.⁠⁠

SIR,

YOU will be surprised in receiving an English essay^[1] from a French traveller. Pray, forgive an admirer of you, who owes to your writings the love he bears to your language, which has betrayed him into the rash attempt of writing in English.

You will see by the advertisement, that I have some designs upon you, and that I must mention you, for the honour of your country, and for the improvement of mine. Do not forbid me to grace my relation with your name. Let me indulge the satifaction of talking of you, as posterity will do.

In the mean time, can I make bold to entreat you to make some use of your interest in Ireland, about some subscriptions for the Henriade; which is almost ready, and does not come out yet for want of a little help? The subscriptions will be but one guinea in hand. I am, with the highest esteem, and the utmost gratitude, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,

VOLTAIRE.

↑ An essay on the civil wars of France, which he made the foundation of his Henriade, an heroick poem, since well known. He had been imprisoned in the Bastille, in Paris, but being released about the year 1725, he came to England, and solicited subscriptions for his poem.

[1] An essay on the civil wars of France, which he made the foundation of his Henriade, an heroick poem, since well known. He had been imprisoned in the Bastille, in Paris, but being released about the year 1725, he came to England, and solicited subscriptions for his poem.

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