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The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 13/From Mary Barber to Jonathan Swift - 1

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FROM MRS. BARBER.


SIR,
BATH, NOV. 3, 1736.


I SHOULD long since have acknowledged the honour of your kind letter, but that I found my head so disordered by writing a little, that I was fearful of ​having the gout in it; so I humbly beseech you to pardon me; nor think me ungrateful, nor in the least insensible of the infinite obligations I lie under to you, which, Heaven knows, are never out of my mind.

How shall I express the sense I have of your goodness, in inviting me to return to Ireland, and generously offering to contribute to support me there? But would it not be base in me, not to try to do something for myself, rather than be burdensome where I am already so much indebted?

As to the friend who you say, sir, is in so much better circumstances, I should be very unjust, if I did not assure you that friend has never failed of being extremely kind to me.

I find I need not tell you that I am not able to pursue the scheme of letting lodgings, your goodness and compassion for my unhappy state of health, has made you think of it for me; it is impracticable, but am desirous to try if I can do any good by selling Irish linen, which I find is coming much into repute here: in that way, my daughter, who is willing to do every thing in her power, can be of service, but never in the other.

If I should go from Bath, I have reason to think that the remainder of my life would be very miserable, and that I should soon lose the use of my limbs for ever; since I find nothing but the blessing of God on these waters does me any good; beside this, the interest of my children is a great inducement to me, for here I have the best prospect of keeping up an acquaintance for them. My son[1], who is learning ​to paint, goes on well; and, if he be in the least approved of, in all probability he may do very well at Bath; for I never yet saw a painter that came hither, fail of getting more business than he could do, let him be ever so indifferent: and I am in hopes that Con[2], may settle here. Dr. Mead, whose goodness to me is great, may be of vast use to him, if he finds, as I hope he will, that he is worthy of his favour. And if God blesses my sons with success, they are so well inclined, that I do not doubt but they would take a pleasure in supporting me, if I can make a shift to maintain them and myself till then: and I find Mr. Barber is very willing to do what he can for them, though his circumstances are far from being what you are told they are; nor, I fear, half so good.

But though I cannot hope to be supported by letting lodgings, I would willingly take a house a little larger than I want for myself, if I could meet with it on reasonable terms; that if any particular friend came, they might lodge in it, which would make it more agreeable: and if I live till my son the painter goes into business, he might be with me. As for Con., if he does not choose to settle here, good Dr. Helsham, with his usual friendliness has promised to honour him with his protection, if he returns to Ireland.

I have now, sir, told you my schemes, and hope they will be honoured with your approbation; and encouraged by your inexpressible goodness to me, I have at length got resolution enough to beg a ​favour; which, if you, sir, condescend to grant, would make me rich, without impoverishing you.

When Dr. King of Oxford was last in Ireland, he had the pleasure of seeing your Treatise on Polite Conversation, and gave such an account of it in London, as made numbers of people very desirous to see it. Lady Worseley, who heard of it from Mrs. Cleland[3]; and many more of my patronesses pressed me to beg it of you, and assured me I might get a great subscription if I had that, and a few of your original poems; if you would give me leave to publish an advertisement, that you had made me a present of them. This they commanded me to tell you, above a year ago, and I have had many letters since upon that account; but, conscious of the many obligations I already lay under, I have thought it a shame to presume farther upon your goodness: but, when I was last in London, they made me promise I would mention it the next time I wrote to you; and indeed I have attempted it many a time since, but never could till now. —— I humbly beseech you, sir, if you do not think it proper, not to be offended with me for asking it; for it was others, that out of kindness to me, put me upon it. They said you made no advantage for yourself, by your writings; and, that since you honoured me with your protection, I had all the reason in the world to think it would be a pleasure to you, to see me in easy circumstances; that every body would gladly subscribe for any thing ​Dr. Swift wrote; and indeed, I believe in my conscience, it would be the making of me.

There are a great many people of quality here this season; among others, lady Carteret, and Mrs. Spencer[4]; who commanded me to make their best compliments to you. They came on Mrs. Spencer's account, who is better in her health since she drank these waters. I daily see such numbers of people mended by them, that I cannot but wish you would try them: as you are sensible your disorders are chiefly occasioned by a cold stomach, I believe there is not any thing in this world so likely to cure that disorder as the Bath waters; which are daily found to be a sovereign remedy for disorders of that kind: I know, sir, you have no opinion of drugs, and why will you not try so agreeable a medicine, prepared by Providence alone? If you will not try for your own sake, why will you not, in pity to your country? O! may that Being that inspired you to be its defence in the day of distress, influence you to take the best method to preserve a life of so much importance to an oppressed people!

Before I conclude, gratitude obliges me to tell you, that Mr. Temple[5] was here lately, and was exeedingly kind to me and my daughters. He made me a present of a hamper of very fine Madeira, which he said was good for the gout, and distinguished me in the kindest manner. He ​manded me to make his best compliments to you, and says, he flatters himself, you will visit Moor park once again. Heaven grant you may! and that I may be so blest as to see you, who am, with infinite respect and gratitude, your most obliged, most dutiful, humble servant,


  1. ↑ Mr. Rupert Barber, an eminent painter in crayons and miniature.
  2. ↑ Dr. Constantine Barber, a very learned physician, and president of the college of physicians in Dublin. Some of his poems are printed in the collection of his mother.
  3. ↑ Lady Worseley, wife of sir Robert Worseley. Mrs. Cleland, wife of major William Cleland]], a friend of Mr. Pope, and author of the Letter to the Publisher of the Dunciad, prefixed to the first correct edition of that poem.
  4. ↑ Daughter of lord Carteret, married, first to the honourable John Spencer, brother to the duke of Marlborough, and afterward to William, second earl Cowper.
  5. ↑ John Temple, esq., nephew of sir William Temple, whose grand daughter he married. He was brother to the late lord viscount Palmerston.
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