petition of all the merchants, shopkeepers, &c. to a man. May his own estate be lowered the other forty parts, for we now lose by all gold two and a half per cent. He will be a better (that is to say a worse) man by 60,000l. than he was when he came over; and the nation; better (that is to say worse) by above half a million; beside the worthy method he hath taken in disposal of employments in church and state. Here is a cursed long libel running about in manuscript on the legion club; it is in verse, and the foolish town imputes it to me. There were not above thirteen abused (as it is said) in the original; but others have added more, which I never saw; though I have once read the true one, What has Fowlbrother[1] done to provoke you? I either never heard, or have forgot your provocations; but he was a fellow I have never been able to endure. If it can be done, I will have it printed; and the title shall be, "Upon a certain bookseller (or printer) in Utopia." — Mrs. Whiteway will be here to morrow, and she will answer your sincere, open hearted letter very particularly; for which I will now leave room. So adieu for one night.
SIR,
"I am most sincerely obliged to you for all the civil things yoou have said to me, and of me to the dean. I found the good effects of them this day; when I waited on him, he received me with great good humour, said something had happened since he saw me last, that had convinced him of
- ↑ Fairbrother. See the letter by Dr. Swift and Mrs. Whiteway, p. 258, and the subsequent part of this.
