The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 13/From Edward Harley to Jonathan Swift - 8

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The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 13
(1737)
by Edward Harley, edited by Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, John Boyle, Patrick Delany, John Hawkesworth, Deane Swift, William Bowyer, John Birch, and George Faulkner

From lord Oxford

To Dr. Sheridan

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1557499The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 13
— From lord Oxford1737Edward Harley (1689-1741)

FROM THE EARL OF OXFORD.

GOOD MR. DEAN,

DOVER STREET, APRIL 7, 1737.

I AM extremely obliged to you for several letters, which I, with great shame and concern, acknowledge that I have not answered, as also several remembrances of me and my family in your letters to Mr. Pope: I stand very strongly obliged to you upon these accounts; I dare say you will do me that justice, that you will not attribute my not writing to proceed from any neglect of you, or from any forgetfulness: I am certain of this, that I do retain the warmest esteem and sincerest regard for you of any one, be he who he will; and therefore I hope you will pardon what has passed, and I promise to amend, if my letters would in the least be agreeable to you.

One reason of my writing to you now is (next to my asking your forgiveness) this; I am told that you have given leave and liberty to some one or more of your friends to print a history of the last four years of queen's Anne's reign, wrote by you.

As I am most truly sensible of your constant regard and sincere friendship for my father, even to partiality (if I may say so) I am very sensible of the share and part he must bear in such a history; and as I remember, when I read over that history of yours, I can recollect that there seemed to me a want of some papers to make it more complete, which was not in our power to obtain; besides there were some severe things said, which might have been then very currently talked of, but now will want a proper evidence to support; for these reasons it is that I do entreat the favour of you, and make it my earnest request, that you will give your positive directions, that this history be not printed and published, until I have had an opportunity of seeing it; with a liberty of showing it to some family friends, whom I would consult upon this occasion. I beg pardon for this; I hope you will be so good as to grant my request: I do it with great deference to you. If I had the pleasure of seeing you, I could soon say something to you that would convince you I am not wrong: they are not proper for a letter, as you will easily guess.

My wife desires your acceptance of her most humble service; my daughter is extremely pleased with the notice you are pleased to take of her, she is very well: she brought me another grandaughter last month: she desires your acceptance of her most humble service, and would be glad of the pleasure of seeing you here in England.

The duke of Portland so far answers our expectations, that indeed he exceeds them; for he makes the best husband, the best father, and the best son; these qualities are, I assure you, very rare in this age.

I wish you would make my compliments to my lord Orrery; do you design to keep him with you? I do not blame you, if you can. I am, with true esteem and regard, sir, your most obliged and most faithful humble servant,

OXFORD.

I wish master Faulkner, when he sends any thing to me, would say how you do^[1].

↑ Mr. Faulkner was with Dr. Swift when he received this letter, which he instantly answered, and made Faulkner read it to him: the purport of which was, "that although he loved his lordship's father more than he ever did any man; yet, as a human creature, he had his faults, and therefore, as an impartial writer, he could not conceal them." The dean made Faulkner write on the same sheet of paper to his lordship to answer for himself, and to put it into the postoffice, as he would not trust a servant with it, that he might vouch the truth, if ever he should hear his character called in question upon this occasion.

[1] Mr. Faulkner was with Dr. Swift when he received this letter, which he instantly answered, and made Faulkner read it to him: the purport of which was, "that although he loved his lordship's father more than he ever did any man; yet, as a human creature, he had his faults, and therefore, as an impartial writer, he could not conceal them." The dean made Faulkner write on the same sheet of paper to his lordship to answer for himself, and to put it into the postoffice, as he would not trust a servant with it, that he might vouch the truth, if ever he should hear his character called in question upon this occasion.

[1]