Beschreibung:

SWIFT, Jonathan (1667-1745). Autograph letter to the Reverend Doctor [Patrick] Delaney, London, 11 July 1726 , expressing surprise at the contents of Delaney's letter which he had received one hour before, 'if ... I did not know you so well, I should have thought you in jest as far as your letter relates to me', vehemently denying that he was seeking advancement, 'I have writ too many ludicrous things, have been suspected with some grounds to have writ more and have been charged with hundreds I never writ ... now it is impossible to recover my self, and too late to endeavour it', illustrating his argument by describing the visits he had paid in England, to 'the premier M---re' [Sir Robert Walpole], 'I never saw him but twice, and the second time we differed in every Point', and to 'somebody too great to name', with whom he had raised the question of the ¨1,000 owed to him by the Crown, asking Delaney, 'Judge whether I have gone the proper Steps to make my Court', and explaining, 'unless I were offer'd Promotion with a Public Declaration that I should not be the least hinted at to change an Opinion, or so much as be quiet, I would not attempt it; because it is too late at 58 to lose Honor and hazard one's Soul', refering to the solemn promise he made to a mutual friend [?Stella] before leaving for England that he would accept nothing from those in power though he knew this was 'an idle thing', and that they would prefer the Devil much sooner than me', continuing on the subject of preferments in the Church of Ireland, including the appointment of 'Mall' [Henry Maule, appointed Bishop of Cloyne in July 1726], 'whom I have seen and, who by ten years Sollicitation Sanctification, and Party Zeal found Friends here', assuring Delaney that he had written to the Lord Lieutenant [Carteret] on his behalf, and asking for money to be sent, 'I have not 10¨ left and ow above 20¨', 2½ pages, 4to , integral address panel 'To the Reverend Doctor Delaney at his Chambers in the College of Dublin Irel . .', postmark (two seal tears, one affecting two words, two ink burns on one pages, folds weak, folds of address panel holed in places) UNPUBLISHED; not in The Correspondence , ed. Williams. Swift had crossed to England from Dublin early in March 1726 bringing with him the finished manuscript of Gulliver's Travels . He arrived in London in mid-March, and took lodgings where he was joined for a time by Pope, who undertook the arrangements for the publication of Gulliver . Swift stayed with Lord Bolingbroke near Uxbridge and with Pope at Twickenham. His interview with Walpole on the subject of Ireland was unprofitable. He had returned to Ireland by the end of August. The preferments received by Delaney from Lord Carteret led to the accusation by Swift of obsequiousness, and a temporary coolness in their friendship. Included with the lot is a note by a niece of Fanny Burney stating that the letter was given to her aunt by Mrs. Delaney. (2)