Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 13.djvu/74

62 a safe retreat for you. I wish any thing would send Barber here; for I was at the Bath to see some of my friends, and was forced to swear that only the want of health kept her book from being published. I am sure you will be glad to hear, that a lady of very good understanding, that is a particular friend of mine, comes to me next week to stay while I do: her name is Rooke, admiral Rooke's son’s lady.

JUNE 5, 1733.

AS Mr. Stafford Lightburne's friend got the gout in his fingers? Or is he so busy in measuring the water, and casting a figure to know the exact time when to set his friends a swimming, that he cannot find one moment to let me know that he received my letter, written a month ago, to inform you that his grace would cheerfully and readily obey your commands. However, I am again ordered by him to tell you, that the warrant will be sent to Dublin by next post; so pray let Mr. Lightburne be ready to make his personal appearance, lest they should not else know how to find him. It was well you needed no intercessor to his grace; and that the no promise from you, is of much more weight than my rhetorick: for I have been so horridly used by a nasty griping brother black coat, in a small three and sixpence affair of my own, that I do not know  ther