Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/426

 422 MATHEW. tiplicity of guests, or their domestics, ever occasioned any disorder; and a l l things were conducted with the same ease and regularity a s i n a private family. He was the first who put a n end t o that inhospitable custom o f giving vails t o servants, by making a suitable addition t o their wages, a t the same time assuring them, that i f they ever took any afterwards, they should b e discharged with dis-, grace; and, t o prevent temptation, the guests were in formed, that Mr. Mathew would consider i t a s the highest affront, i f any offer o f that sort were made. AsSwift had heard much o f the place from Dr. Sheridan, who had been often a welcome guest there, both on account o f his companionable qualities, and a s being pre ceptor t o the nephew o f Mr. Mathew, h e was desirous o f seeing, with his own eyes, whether the report o f i t were true; which h e could not help thinking t o have been much exaggerated. Upon receiving a n intimation o f this from Dr. Sheridan, Mr. Mathew wrote a polite letter t o the dean, requesting the honour o f a visit, i n company with the doctor, o n his next school vacation. They set out accordingly o n horseback, attended by a gentleman who was a near relation of Mr. Mathew. They had scarce reached the inn where they were t o pass the first night, and which, like most o f the Irish inns a t that time, afforded but miserable entertainment, when a coach and six arrived, sent t o convey them the remainder o f their journey t o Thomastown; and, a t the same time, bringing store o f the choicest viands, wine, and other liquors, for their refreshment. Swift was highly pleased with this uncommon mark o f attention paid him; and the circumstance o f the coach proved particularly agreeable, a s h e had been a good deal fatigued with his day's journey. When they came within sight o f the house, the dean, astonished a t i t s magnitude, cried out, “What, i n the name o f God, can b e the use o f such a vast building 2 " “Why, Mr. Dean,” replied their fellow-traveller before mentioned, “there are n o less than forty apartments for guests i n that house, and a l l o f them probably occupied a t