The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 13/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 13


MAY 1, 1733.


I SHOULD have answered yours of the 22d of March long ago, but that I have had some troubles and frights: and the uneasiness I was under made me neglect, what, at another time, would have been agreeable to myself; Mrs. Chambers's younger sister, having had the smallpox; but now perfectly well! though she has been hitherto a very puny sickly girl. Mrs. Floyd too has been excessively bad with her winter cough and dispiritedness; but country air, I think, has a little revived her.

His grace of Dorset bids me present his humble service to you, and says, the rectory of Churchtown is at Mr. Stafford Lightburne's service. As to the countess of Suffolk's affair in dispute, I cannot possibly (according your own just rule) be angry, because I am in the right. It is you ought to be angry, and never forgive her, because you have been so much in the wrong, as to condemn her without the show of justice; and I wish with all my heart, as a judgment upon you, that you had seen her, as I did, when the news of your friend's[1] death came; for though you are a proud parson, yet (give you, devil, your due) you are a sincere, good natured, honest one. I am extremely Mrs. Kelly's humble servant; but I will never believe she is more valued for her beauty and good qualities in Ireland, than she was in England. The excise you mention has caused great changes here. Some that I am sorry for; though I will not enter into the merits of the cause, because of my aversion for politicks. But if you did dislike it, why did you bestow such a costly funeral upon it, as to burn its bones on a sumptuous pile, like a Roman emperor?

Adieu, my ever honoured old friend; and do not let me see any more respects or ladyships from you.