Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/709

Rh he admired with raptures, was changed, when he became a husband, into an object of envy.

She was very ambitious of being known to Dean Swift, and obtained her desire in this manner. The anniversary of his birth-day being kept at the deanery, she wrote a copy of verses on the occasion, and inclosed them to Dr. Delany, who next day presented them to the dean: the dean kindly accepted her compliment, and said, "He would see her whenever she pleased." And in a day or two's time, she and her husband were invited, at the dean's request, to dine at Dr. Delany's, where he met them, and was so pleased with her conversation, that from that time she had free access to the deanery; where she had for several years after, all the opportunities she could desire of conversing with him upon all subjects; and it is allowed on all hands, that the description she has delineated of his character, his strange whims, humours, and oddities, is nearer the truth than that any other writer has given of him.

Mr. Alderman Barber being, in his turn, chosen lord mayor of London; from a former intimacy he had with the dean, he made him an offer to nominate his chaplain, and the dean recommended Mr. Pilkington, who with great joy accepted the place: this happened at the time when his jealousies of his wife's excelling him in poetry ran very high, and had greatly soured his temper towards her. After he had been some time at London, and growing at a distance in a better humour, he wrote her a very kind letter, and said that her verses were full of elegance and beauty; that Mr. Pope, to whom he had shewn them, longed to see the writer; and that he himself heartily wished her in London. She accepted the invitation, went, and when his chaplainship was