Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 1.djvu/143

Rh would add their reformation too: and I told him he was the only whig in England I loved, or had any good opinion of What obligation Swift had to that lord, and his party, may be seen by his indorsement on the following letter, received from lord Halifax. SIR, My friend, Mr. Addison, telling me that he was to write to you tonight, I could not let his packet go away, without telling you how much I am concerned to find them return without you. I am quite ashamed for myself and my friends, to see you left in a place so incapable of tasting you; and to see so much merit, and so great qualities, unrewarded by those who are sensible of them. Mr. Addison and I are entered into a new confederacy, never to give over the pursuit, nor to cease reminding those who can serve you, till your worth is placed in that light it ought to shine: Dr. South holds out still, but he cannot be immort.... The situation of his prebend would make me doubly concerned in serving you. And upon all occasions that shall offer, I will be your constant solicitor, your sincere admirer, and your unalterable friend. I am your most humble and obedient servant,Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax. Thus indorsed by Swift. I kept this letter as a true original of courtiers, and court promises. And in the first leaf of a small printed book, entitled, "Poesies Chrétiennes de Mons. Jolivet," he wrote these words, "Given me by my lord Halifax, May 3, 1709. "I begged it of him, and desired him to remember, it was the only favour I ever received from him or his party." ."

One may form a just idea of the greatness of Swift's resentment, at the treatment he had met with from the whigs, from a passage in his Journal of the following year, after the wonderful success which his writings against them had met with; where he says, "I have been gaining enemies by scores, and friends by couples, which is against the rules of wisdom; because they say, one enemy can do more hurt, than ten friends can do good. But I have had my revenge at least, if I get nothing else. And so let fate govern." I have