Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 12.djvu/178

166 at the deanery; but I can assure you it is a fine day in the parish, where we set up for as good tastes as our neighbours: to convince you of mine, I send you this invitation. I am, dear sir, your much obliged and obedient servant,

GEORGE ROCHFORT.

QUILCA, SEPT. 11, 1725.

F you are indeed a discarded courtier, you have reason to complain, but none at all to wonder; you are too young for many experiences to fall in your way, yet you have read enough to make you know the nature of man. It is safer for a man's interest to blaspheme God, than to be of a party out of power, or even to be thought so. And since the last was the case, how could you imagine that all mouths would not be open when you were received, and in some manner preferred by the government, though in a poor way? I tell you, there is hardly a whig in Ireland, who would allow a potatoe and butter milk to a reputed tory. Neither is there any thing in your countrymen upon this article, more than what is common in all other nations, only quoad magis et minus. Too much advertency is not your talent, or else you had fled from that text, as from a rock. For