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

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The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12
(1731)
by William Pulteney, edited by Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, John Boyle, Patrick Delany, John Hawkesworth, Deane Swift, William Bowyer, John Birch, and George Faulkner

From W. Pulteney, esq

From lady Betty Germain

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1554600The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12
— From W. Pulteney, esq1731William Pulteney

FROM WILLIAM PULTENEY, ESQ.

DEAR SIR,

LONDON, FEB. 9, 1730-31.

AMONG the many compliments I have received from my friends on the birth of my son, I assure you none gave me greater pleasure, than the kind letter you honoured me with on the occasion. When you were last in England, your stay was so short, that I scarce had time, and very few opportunities, to convince you how great a desire I had to bear some share of your esteem; but, should you return this summer, I hope you will continue longer among us. Lord Bolingbroke, lord Bathurst, Pope, myself, and others of your friends, are got together in a country neighbourhood, which would be much enlivened, if you would come and live among us. Mrs. Pulteney joins with me in the invitation, and is much obliged to you for remembering her. She bid me tell you, that she is determined to have no more children, unless you will promise to come over, and christen the next. You see how much my happiness, in many respects, depends upon your promise. I have always desired Pope, when he wrote to you, to remember my compliments; and I can assure you, with the greatest truth, though you have much older acquaintances, that you have not in England a friend that loves and honours you more than I do, or can be with greater sincerity than I am, your most humble and obedient servant,

W. PULTENEY.

P. S. If any of our pamphlets (with which we abound) are ever sent over to Ireland, and you think them worth reading, you will perceive how low they are reduced in point of argument on one side of the question. This has driven certain people to that last resort of calling names. Villain, traitor, seditious rascal, and such ingenious appellations, have frequently been bestowed on a couple of friends of yours. Such usage has made it necessary to return the same polite language; and there has been more Billingsgate stuff uttered from the press within these two months, than ever was known before. Upon this, Dr. Arbuthnot has written a very humourous treatise^[1], which he showed me this morning; wherein he proves, from many learned instances, that this sort of altercation is ancient, elegant, and classical; and that what the world falsely imagines to be polite, is truly Gothick and barbarous. He shows how the gods and goddesses used one another; dog, bitch and whore were pretty common expressions among them: kings, heroes, ambassadors, and orators, abused one another much in the same way; and he concludes, that it is a pity this method of objurgation should be lost. His quotations from Homer, Demosthenes, Æschines, and Tully, are admirable, and the whole is very humourously conducted. I take it for granted, he will send it you himself, as soon as it is printed.

↑ Probably that published in the Miscellaneous Works of the late Dr. Arbuthnot, at Glasgow, vol. I, p. 40. The title of the piece is, "A brief Account of Mr. John Ginglicut's Treatise concerning the Altercation or Scolding of the Ancients."

[1] Probably that published in the Miscellaneous Works of the late Dr. Arbuthnot, at Glasgow, vol. I, p. 40. The title of the piece is, "A brief Account of Mr. John Ginglicut's Treatise concerning the Altercation or Scolding of the Ancients."

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