But after waiting some time, he found that his memo rial had produced no better effect than his dedication. He therefore readily accepted of an offer made to him by Lord Berkeley, then appointed one of the lords justices of Ireland, to attend him to that kingdom, in the double eapacity of chaplain, and private secretary.t This total neglect of his promise, made in consequence of a last, and it may be called, a dying request, of his parucular friend, hard on the characiend, seems to bear not a little b of King William. But it is to be observed that Swift was the most unfit man in the world to solicit a point of that sort in in due form, without which nothing is to be done at court. He thought that his showing himself there, or at most the dedication on of Sir William's works, was all that was necessary to be done on his part. And with regard to the memorial, he himself exonerated King William so far, as to say often that he believed it never was received. For he put it into the hands of a certain nobleman, who professed great regard to him, and offered to present it to the king, and second it with all his might; but Swift had afterward reason to believe that he had sunk it, and said not a word of the matter, and sa ༤ ས་ Swift acted as secretary to Lord Berkeley, till they ar rived at Dublin; when he was supplanted in that office by one Bush, who had by some means ingratiated himself with my lord; and representing the office of secretary as an improper one for a clergyman, he was appointed in Swift's room. Lord Berkeley making the best apology to him that he could, and at the same time promising to make him amends, by bestowing on him the first good church preferment that should fall in his gift. Swift was not a man to be treated in this manner with impunity. Accordingly, he gave free scope to his resentment, in a severe copy of verses, which placed the governor and his new-made secretary in a most ridiculous point of light, * o more. confound you both for a couple of scoundrels." With these words he immediately quitted the room, and turned his back on the castle, determined to appear ther there no more. But Lord Berkeley was too conscious of the ill treatment he had given him, 1, and too fearful of the resentment of an exasperated genius, not to endeavour to pacify him. He therefore immediately presented him with the rectory of Agher, and the vicarages of Laracor, and Rath-beggan, then vacant, in the diocese of Meath. Though these livings united did not make up a third of the deanery in Pa value; and though from the large promises, which had been made him, he had reason to expect much greater preferment, yet, considering the specimens already given of the performance of those promises, Swift thought it most prudent to accept of those livings, dropping all future expectations from that quarter. Nor did he al terward estrange himself from Lord Berkeley's family, but continued still in his office of chaplain; to which he seems to have been chiefly induced, from the great honour and respect which he had for his excellent lady; whose virtues he has celebrated in so masterly a manner, in the Introduction to the "Project for the Advancement of Religion." From this behaviour to Lord Berkeley, we may judge how little Swift was qualified to rise at court, in the usual *He was instituted March 22, 1699-1700. N. + Not even after his purchase (for 2601.) of the rectorial tithes of one part of the parish, called Effernock, which he gave by his last will to his successors for ever. In his account-book he reckons the annual value of the said union about 2301.; and within the first year, from March, 1699, to Nov. 1, 1700, the expense of his titles, rent, curate, &c. amounted to 1177. He got the prebend of Dunlavan, in the chapter of St. Patrick, Sept. 23, 1700. Being in actual attendance as domestiz chaplain to the Earl of Berkeley, he had a dispensation from the bishop of Meath, that year, in May, for not reading his assent and consent at Laracor and Rath-beggan until the month of June, at which time he went through the necessary form. N |