Tho' the Pedler and Whore And one or two more Attempt to surprize and trapan thee The rest are all thine Both the Lay and Divine With all the true Friendship that can be Dublin Feb. 10. 1698 9. Yours S. M. SIR I Presume you will not believe I am so much an Ape to be fond of the deformed Brat I here send you You see I have not set my Name to it which perhaps may occasion Campbel c. to make Reflections To be plain with him I have no manner of apprehension of him or any of his Party my only concern is that when you come to peruse it you will think it unworthy of the meanest place in your Book and then I 'm confident both in point of Wisdom and Interest I ought to keep my self conceal'd In short I am one of those that by your Fair and Genteel Dealing you have solemnly engag'd to your Friendship and one of those too that earnestly expect your SCUFFLE As for my Name c. If the Scotchman insists upon it when you think fit he shall know it And withal be further satisfy'd with what Sincerity I am THE Dublin-Scuffle c. LETTER I. SIR IN the History of my Irish-Travels I am come so far as to speak of the Auction I made in Dublin which I fear will end in a sort of Scuffle something like your Counter-scuffle in London But that you may have the better Idea of this Rambling Project and of Patrick Campbel the Chief Adversary I have yet met with I here send it in the Words 't was Publisht An Account of the Three Auctions to be held in the City of Dublin In a Letter to the Wise Learned and Studious Gentlemen in the Kingdom of Ireland but more especially to those in the City of Dublin Gentlemen THough the Summer be a Time for Rambling and the Season of the Year invite all Men abroad that love to see Foreign Countries yet 't was not this alone but the good Acceptance the way of Sale by Auction has met with from all Lovers of Books that encouraged me to bring to this Kingdom of Ireland a General Collection of the most valuable Pieces in Divinity History Philosophy Law Physick Mathematicks Horsemanship Merchandize Limning Military Discipline Heraldry Musick Fortification Fire-works Husbandry Gardening Romances Novels Poems Plays Bibles and school-School-Books that have been Printed in England since the Dreadful Fire in London in 1666 to this present Time In this General Collection you 'l find that many a good Book has lain asleep as not being known and when a Book is not Publish'd it cannot be nourished by the favourable Acceptance of the World I might Instance in Mr. Turner's History of the Remarkable Providences which have happened in this Age of which there is near a Thousand disposed of in London and scarce Twenty of 'em Sold in Ireland though by viewing the Contents of this Work which are given Gratis at Dick's Coffee-House in Skinner-Row 't will evidently appear there is not a more useful Book Now Gentlemen as Books are the best Furniture in a House so I see no Reason why others with my self should not think their Variety the most excusable Prodigality and therefore as the good success Auctions have met with with my Natural Love to Travelling as appears by my Venture of this Nature to New-England Holland and other Parts in the Year 1686. put me upon this Undertaking so I hope you will give it incouragement in some proportion to my great Expence in Purchasing and bringing over so large a Collection and indeed Gentlemen as this Sale is designed for your Profit as well as my own so it seems of right to Challenge your Protection which if it receives I shall not value what some little prejudic'd People can do to discourage it I design by this no Reflection on my Brethren in this City for to do 'em Justice they acted generously and gave me all the Countenance I could expect all save Patrick Campbell who grins at my Undertaking Though had they not Learning and Knowledge are such real things they need no other props to support them but what is cut out of themselves and a better Medium to effect it than by reading Books I know not And though there be a Complaint that the World seems oppressed with Books yet do we dayly want them if it were not so what is the Reason that many of great Estates can hardly make their Minds or Thoughts stretch to a Geometrical Measuring of their own Lands but surely he that has Money in his Pockets and will starve his Brains when so many new and valuable Pieces are brought to his Door deserves to be posted for what can a Mans Rusty Bags afford him to the Profits and Treasures of Books Plato was accounted a Wise Man and we find it Recorded of him that he thought it a rich Purchase when he bought three Books of Philosophy belonging to Philolaus a Pythagorean in Sicily though at an incredible Rate and that Atlas of Learning that Orthodox Scholar Archbish. Vsher whose Name makes Ireland Famous as 't was the Birth-place of so great a Man He it was that sent to Samaria for sundry Copies of the Samaritan Pentateuch and with a dear Purchase it was also that he brought the Syriack Bible with other Books from Syria It 's Recorded that Solomon's Library was the Feather in the Plume of his Glorious Enjoyments a part whereof he thought was the choicest Present he could make to the Queen of Sheba for the Recompence of her great pains in Travelling to Profit her self and Honour him and seeing the Variety of Books says the Ingenious Burton he must needs be a Block that 's affected with none King Iames the First when he saw the Oxford Library wished that if it ever happened that he should be a Prisoner that there he might be kept and that those Câ—ained Books might be his Fellows and the Chains his Fetters And who will not say that Good Books and Good Company are the very Epitomy of Heaven In a Word there 's nothing comparable to the purchase of Knowledge and whenever Men begin to taste it they will say I speak Truth with a Witness Gentlemen Having said thus much of Auctions Learning and the Collection of Books I have brought into this Kingdom I would have no Man displeased if he finds not all he expected in my First Catalogue for if he has Patience his Expectation will be fully Answered But the great Variety of Books I have brought over have rendred it impossible to have 'em all Bound time enough for my first Sale I have therefore divided 'em into Three Auctions The first of which will begin Iuly 7th 1698. Neither can I exceed that Time my design being to take Scotland France and Italy c. in my way home and to be in London by next Christmass There will be a Distinct Catalogue for every Auction and when Printed of which Publick Notice shall
Blessings from the Starvlings whom they save from Death Learning I do verily believe runs low in Ireland generally speaking and no wonder it should when they have not Books at moderate Rates and therefore your bountiful Design to the Publick will not be able to atone for the Injury which some Persons will be ready to apprehend from you in their Private Affairs If you Sell a better Penny-worth than they you must expect their Envy and the Consequence of that is all that 's unjust and mischievous But let none of these Things discourage you go on with your good Design of dispersing those Books in Ireland that are fitted for their Instruction and Diversion Profit and Pleasure ought to go Hand in Hand I would not frighten you by representing only the black side of the Cloud I hope you will meet with some fair weather try if you can invite the Muses in your Summers-Ramble to make a visit once more to the Irish Parâ—assus and to disperse the Liberal Arts amongst the Kerns What Pity is it that a People who are generally so fair of Body should not have better Means to cultivate their Souls You are very well furnish'd with proper Materials for so good a Work if they fall into charitable Hands You are accustomed to Rambling to use your own Term though some would have the Ambition to call it Travelling and if as other Travellers do generally drop Money in those Countreys which they visit you drop Learning too it will be a double Advantage I must take leave to dissent from one of your Propositions That Books are the best Furniture in a House and I believe you will be of my Mind too when you know what it is and I will tell it you frankly that I think a Good Wife is better but both of 'em do well together I could the more readily have pardon'd your Mistake if you had not known the Truth of what I say by both sides of Experience but of this enough It would seem by you that Solomon thought them equal seeing he presented the Queen of Sheba with part of his Library for if we may believe â—rester Iohn she was one of his Concubines that pass'd for a sort of Wife in those Days and from their Bed it is he pretends to derive his own Original This must needs Enhance the Value of Books and the Stationers Trade seeing they were the noblest Present that the wisest of Princes could think on to make to the wisest of Queens Had that Prince happened to live when Printing was Invented he had certainly been a great Incourager of the Booksellers-Trade He who knew the sweets of Wisdom and Understanding and press'd others so earnestly to the pursuit of it would have thought himself very Happy in such a proper and easie Method of acquiring and diffusing it Yet such is the unhappy Genius of too many in this Age that they Care not how empty their Brains be so they can but Stuff their Bags or their Bellies Covetousness and Sensuality are equally Enemies to Learning The Miser laughs at those who spend their Time and Strength in search of the Philosophers-Stone the Grand Elixir and Auram Potabile whilst he has the Aurum Potabile under a sure Guard of Locks and Bars The Sensualist doth in the same manner Ridicule those who Abridge themselves of Sleep and other Conveniencies in the pursuit of Knowledge He thinks the best Ornament for the Head is a fine Hatt and a flanting Wigg a good Complection owing to the Bottle is preferrable in his Sense to a Pale Face the usual Reward of Study He had rather be taught how to cut Capers with his Heels than enabled to Judge betwixt Truth and Error with his Head These are some of the principal Reasons why Learning makes so little progress amongst many who by Providence and Nature are furnish'd ' with Opportunity and Ability to acquire it Your Instances of the value put upon Books by Plato Arch-Bishop Vsher and King Iames I are pertinently brought in and may they be as perfectly copied Knowledge is without doubt the most valuable of all sublunary Treasures Solomon was certainly of that Opinion when he said that a poor and wise Child was better than an old and a foolish King Wisdom had something more Charming in his Eyes than any thing the Crown and Scepter could afford whence we may rationally infer that Solomon would have preferr'd the Industry of those that should have brought him a Cargo of good Books to the Industry of his Richest Merchants that brought him Gold and Silver from the Indies which some Modern Authors understand by Ophir The Thoughts of this may be enough to support you against the Cavils of those who may happen to oppose you Seeing the Native result of your Voyage to Ireland is to make good Books common there at a moderate Rate for which others would exact upon their Customers I shall conclude this long Letter with this one Remark That your Fancy soars too high and your Mind is too nimble for your Body To talk of compleating your Ramble in Ireland to visit Scotland France and Italy and to be in London by Christmass next is somewhat too much for Pegasus himself for you have known him sometimes play the Jade I find you are already oblig'd to go to Wexford for your Health whence I am afraid you will be induc'd to alter your Project For if your Body won't keep pace with your Mind you must send your Thoughts upon the Ramble and spare the Carkass However I approve of your return to London by Christmass for at that Time we have generally as good Cheer in England as you will find any where else Give me leave to adde one Word as to your Conditions of Sale If the Conditions of your Chapmen be as Fair you have Reason to expect all possible Encouragement but I am afraid you will find Solomons Observation hold as true in Ireland as in other Kingdoms where the Buyers do usually say of the Merchandize It is naught it is naught but when they have once got it into their Possession they will be sure to boast of their Penny-worth I have no more to adde but pray you to make haste Home and in the mean Time fortifie your self against the Distemper of the Countrey by its own natural Product I mean a good Freeze Coat lin'd with Vsquebaugh but don't linger too long least our minc'd Pyes be all eat before you get over for I look upon them to be a more proper Cordial for a true English Stomach But I shall exceed the bounds of a Letter and therefore without any further Ceremony subscribe my self Your Friend and Servant c. The Second Letter My Worthy Friend I Have receiv'd Yours with your Thoughts of my Dublin Auction and of the Conditions of Sale for which I return you hearty Thanks I have already found that your Conjectures of Envy's attending my Design were too well grounded and have reap'd
this Kingdom has an higher esteem of that Sacred Order than my self But as in this I have done Justice to the Clergy of Ireland so I resolve to do some to my self and whatever Notions some YOUNG CASVISTS may have of refusing to fetch what others whom they out-bid would have honestly paid for yet they shall find I dare call a Spade a Spade if they live to read The History of my Summers Ramble c. or The Dublin-Scuffle which I finish't in this Countrey at the Barbarous Provocation of Patrick Campbel and will Publish as soon as I get to London And here Gentlemen I can't forbear telling you a second Time that notwithstanding I have with an excessive Charge brought over the best Collection of valuable Books that ever was exposed in this Kingdom and have treated both in my Catalogues and otherwise my Brethren in this City and the rest of Mankind with the greatest Respect and Civility and been so just to them as not in the least to employ any Setter in any of my Four Sales but wholly to submit my large Venture to the Mercy Candour and Generosity of the Bidders Yet after all this Fair Play for their Money I understand such hath been the Practice of some Persons from some of whom better usage might be expected considering their Character in the World as maliciously and ignorantly to discourage those Worthy Gentlemen and Clergy-men that were disposed to furnish themselves with Good Books Gentlemen this usage is unbecoming any thing of a Christian especially c. who by his setting up for a Banterer contrary to Christianity spoils his Neighbours fair Market making good what Solomon so long ago observ'd It is naught it is naught saith the Buyer but when he is gone he boasteth This is therefore to give Notice to the World That as I Act upon the Fairest and Justest Bottom that can be in this last Sale which I call the Packing Penny so I am resolved to vindicate my Proceedings and in order thereunto if I can have but good Proof that either without Doors but more especially at my Sale of any Persons that shall take the Liberty to spoil my Market I am resolved to bring Actions of Damage against those Persons that shall be guilty of such Notorious Actions Gentlemen I shall only add That as I never reflected on Patrick Campbel or any Man in my whole Life without a just Provocation as I am ready to prove whilst I am in Dublin So I must acquit all the Persons concern'd in my Auctions of having any hand in any thing I Publisht here it being as the Scuffle is writ with my own Hand and Subscribed by Gentlemen Dublin Decem. 12th 1698. Your most Obliged and very Humble Servant John Dunton All Gentlemen are desired to take Notice That what is Bought at this Sale is to be deliver'd and paid for at the same Time SIR THis Packing Penny was no sooner taken and the remaining Books Sold in the Lump to Honest Gun for about an Hundred Pound but Mr. Wilde Publisht the following Advertisement further proving my Charge against Dick and Campbel It also gives an Account of an Auction he designs on his own Account as soon as I leave Ireland Mr. Wilde's Advertisement was this viz. MY Friend Mr. Dunton's Three Auctions Farewel Sale and Packing Penny ending this Night I thought fit to give Notice to all the Lovers of Learning That I design God willing within a few Days after Mr. Dunton's departure to Expose by Auction a considerable Parcel of good Books of my own at Patt's Coffee-House in High-Street where I now am by reason of Dick the Coffee-Man's contrary to Solemn Promises before Witnesses as well as all the Bonds of Gratitude Letting the Room I had to Mr. Campbel over my Head and though Mr. Campbel thinks to excuse himself by laying the Sole Fault upon Dick yet Casuists will inform him that He who either by his Threats of taking the Great Room at the Dukes-Head Tavern or by the mighty Allurement of a Double Rate as Dick has under his Hand Asserted shall Tempt or Corrupt a Person that is not Proof against a base Temptation is as much if not more to blame than the Person so Corrupted R. Wilde Thus Sir have I sent you an Account of the Packing Penny it relating to the Dublin Scuffle and also Mr. Wilde's Opinion of Campbel and Pue on which I desire your Thoughts I formerly sent you those others Papers wherein the Scuffle 'tween Iohn Dunton and Patrick Campbel is any ways hinted at all which Papers save my Reasons for removing to Patt's were Printed in Dublin but what I have further to send you relating to this Scuffle is what the Printers of Dublin durst not meddle with but I suppose when I get to London the Printers there at Three Hundred Miles distance will be no more afraid of Patrick then I am though now on the Spot with him I have only to add that I am Your very humble Servant John Dunton Remarks on my Sixth Letter SIR I Have received yours with the Account of your Packing Penny and the Continuance of the Scuffle betwixt Patrick and you I perceive you are a couple of good Game-Cocks and know no when to give over its Pity you are not both in England the Gown-men that frequent Westminster-Hall would find a way to make a Penny of you and for any thing I know might Sell you by Auction too for I am apt to think you would weary them at last if Money did not make them Proof against the Fatigue I perceive Patricks Malice is very keen and your Resentments are not without a tollerable Edge and therefore would advise you to beware of cutting your own Fingers Be sure to summon up all your Patience for I perceive you have need on 't don't let Patrick's Injustice provoke you to indecencies of Passion for that may be a snare laid to gain an Advantage against you either by an Action at Law or blemishing your Reputation I approve your Diligence and Ingenuity in promoting the Sale of your Books but am sorry you have met with such as Buy and don 't Pay I am glad to find however that though you had so much unfair dealing from others you have found the Clergy Just in their Bargains and that you vindicate your self from having reflected upon them in your Advertisement of Iuly 9th This is a Time when every Man that has any value for the Christian Religion should be very tender in his Reflections on the Clergy and indeed rather Conceal their real Faults than proclaim them on the House-tops and much less utter groundless Suspicions against them You are oblig'd particularly both by Parentage and the Profession of Religion you make to be very careful in this Matter and therefore I am glad to find you so sensible of your Duty in this Respect The old Barbarous Verse of Presbyteri nati raro solent esse Beati is as far from Truth
a Time lest your Name be made use of in future Ages to frighten peevish Bantlings into a better Humour for it s too too much for one Man thus to Triumph over the Irish Men Women and Children all at once I am SIR Yours The Twelfth Letter SIR I Sent you Word by the last Post how Campbel and I parted when I left Ireland I have also told ye of other Enemies who continued Scuffling after Patrick had done his worst I shall now as I promis'd send ye a Copy of my Last Farewel to my Friends in Dublin that stood by me in every Skirmish and here likewise I shall Point at my worst Enemies I mean those that have sharl'd at the second Spira have been very Zealous to cut my Throat for Private-slandering is of that Nature or which is worse have bought what they won't pay for and with this Farewel to both Friends and Enemies I shall conclude the Dublin Scuffle I don't doubt but in this Farewel I shall say something that will vex the Guilty yet I find it necessary for my Reputation and Sir you 'll find I fear nothing in Defence of that 'T is true I can't fight my way in Tropes and Figures but Truth needs no Varnish it shines brightest in its Native Dress and therefore in this Retreat which is the most difficult Part of War I face all my Enemies at once and if I cou'd not spell my Name I 'd venture at 'em for I 'd rather be thought a poor Scribe then a Coward as you 'll find by the following Lines which I call MY Last Farewel To my Acquaintance in DUBLIN Whether Friends or Enemies And is as follows viz. Gentlemen HAving now Sold the Venture of Books I brought into this Countrey maugre all the Opposition I met with from Patrick Campbel and other Enemies and being to Embark an Hour hence for England I send this as my Last Farewel to my Acquaintance in Ireland whether Friends or Enemies and with this shall conclude the Dublin Scuffle Gentlemen I Told you in my First Letter That I had brought into this Kingdom A General Collection of the most Valuable Books Printed in England since the Fire in London in 66. to this very time to which I told you was added Great Variety of Scarce Books A Collection of Pamphlets in all Volumns And a Parcel of Manuscripts never yet in Print and that I have made good my word is acknowledged by all that have seen my Catalogues and Printed Bills of evedays Sale for near Six Months Neither can it be thought that the Gentlemen of Ireland who are own'd to be very ingenious would give one Thousand Five Hundred Pound for a Parcel of TRASH as my Venture was call'd by some selfish People of which more anon except Bibles Common-Prayer Books Pools Annotations Clarks Bible Hammond on the New Testament Book of Martyrs the best Edition Duty of Mans Works Dupins Ecclesiastical History Josephus the best Rawleighs History of the World Heylins Cosmography in Folio Eusebius the best Edition Bakers Chronicle Stanleys Lives Cambdens Brittania Terryls History Lock of Humane Vnderstanding L'Estranges Aesop Seneca's Morals Cambridge Concordance The Great Historical Dictionary Greoads Dictionary Littletons Dictionary Gouldmans Dictionary Coles Dictionary Screvelius Lexicon Speeds Maps Mordens Geography The Irish Statutes Cook upon Littleton Wingates Abridgment Ben Johnsons Works Shakespears Works Beaumont and Fletchers Works Cowleys Works Oldhams Works Drydens Works Congreves Works Westleys Life of Christ Prince Arthur Iudge Hales Works Mr. Boils Works And the Works of Archbishop Usher Archbishop Tillotson Bishop Taylor Bishop Patrick Bishop Sprat Bishop Barlow Bishop Fowler Bishop Wilkins Bishop Stillingfleet Bishop Burnet Bishop Kidder Dr. Barrow Dr. Sherlock Dr. Scot Dr. Horneck Dr. South Dr. Wake Dr. Lucas Dr. Claget Mr. Norris Mr. Edwards Mr. Dorington Dr. Amesley Dr. Bates Dr. Mâ—â—ton Mr. Charnock Mr. Howe Mr. Alsop Mr. Clarkson Mr. Williams Mr. Mead Mr. Baxter Mr. Flavel Mr. Boyce Mr. Showers Mr. Rogers Mr. Calamy and such like may be reckon'd into that Number And Gentlemen as I have fully answered your Expectations as to the Goodness and Variety of the Books that I brought over so I find you are all pleased with the Candour you had in the Sale you may remember I told you I thought it a sort of Picking your Pocket as you came to my Auctions supposing to buy a Pennyworth to advance the Rate upon you by any underhand Bidding and to shew this was not to serve a Turn I again declare though I 'm leaving Ireland that for every Penny I got that way I 'll restore a Pound But the Dignity of Truth is lost by much Protessing so I 'll say no more to prove my Innocence for 't is what you all believe And Gentlemen as you have been all satisfied with the Part I acted in this Matter so I hope you have been all pleased with the Genteel Treatment you had from Mr. Wilde throughout the whole Sale The Truth is he has shewn a matchless Command over his Passions under very great Provocations and therefore 't is my Design in these Adventures being to please the Buyer and my Self too that I have engaged him in a second Auction I design for Scotland and were I to make a Third as far as Rome as who knows but I may for I design to see his Holiness Mr. Richard Wilde should be the sole Manager not only as his Vniversal Knowledge in Books renders him fit for it but as I have found his Condour and Diligence to be as great as his Knowledge And Gentlemen as Mr. Wilde has treated you with the greatest Respect imaginable so I hope he has done you as much Justice as he has me in the whole Management And I hope you have been as much pleased with my Book-keeper Mr. Price as to his great Fidelity in prizing what you bought as I have been with his accounting with me for all the Moneyâ— receiv'd or if you can prove any Mistake for no Man's Infallible I shall be forward to have it rectiâ—â—ed though ne're so much to my Loss And as Mr. Wilde Mr. Price and my Self have labour'd to give you Content so I hope so much as Honest Rohinson Trushy James and my very Porter Bacon who brought the Bill of every Days Sale to your Doors have not been wanting in their respective Place In a word I suppose you are all Content for we all endeavoured to make you so but for all my Care in these Particulars I find I have some Enemies but Gentlemen my Comfort is that I have no Enemy that 's acquainted with me or has Bought a Book in my Three Auctions 't was said of a Bookseller lately Dead that he had no Enemies but those that knâ—w him but I Thank God if I have any Friends they are chiefly those that have dealt with me But I find 't is impossible to please all for though Mr. Wilde and my Self managed the whole Affair from
the first Minute I proposed it to him to the last Book he Sold in Dublin with that Sincerity as we thought had left no room for Exception not so much as a Penny was â—aid in the Auction if any doubt arose from whom 't was received but I gave it the Poor for fear I had received more than my Due But for all this scrupulous Care there was a certain Person beyond the Herring-Pond and in Dublin too for they Ecchoed to one another that whisper'd about that I had brought you nothing but a Parcel of TRASH And that the Auctioneer was a Grand Sharper Gentlemen 't is a pitiful Cowardice as I told Campbel that strikes a Man in the Dark but I suppose you know who I mean by the Littleness of his Soul for all such Books that he has not a Hand in he calls not fit to wipe his B ch and a Copy from Heaven would be a foolish Paper with him if T. F. were not the Bookseller strange how far Ignorance Self-Interest and Pride will carry Men especially Men that rise from nothing or come of Mechanick Parents 'T is true I could take a singular Pleasure in forgiveing this sneaking Fellow there is such a noble-Pride attends this generous Conquest of an Enemy as far surpasses the celebrated sweetness of Revenge And this made Judge Hales say He thanked God he had learnt to forget Injuries and I wish I could say the same for I hate to gratifie my Passion the common Way and because T. F. has acted the Part of a mean Spirit I must do so or worse by giving Scope to my Rage but though I had rather suffer a thousand wrongs then offer one yet for all that when a Man persists in a base Practice he ought to be jerk'd in hopes of a Reformation and T. F. the most of any I know in London for how often has he call'd The Heads of Agreement Assented to by the United Ministers The Morning Exâ—rcises Published by my Reverend Father in Law Dr. Annesley The French Book of Martyâ—s Publisht by Order of Queen Mary and was the only Book she ever gave Her Royal Hand to Malâ—ranches search after Truth so much commended by the Learned Mr. Norris in his Advice to his Children Mr. Coke's Detection of the Court and State of England of which large work there is Three Editions The Works of the Lord Delamere Publisht by consent of the now Earl of Warrington Dr. Burthoggs Essay on Reason and the Nature of Spirits Dedicated to Mr. Lock The Tigurine Liturgy Publisht by the Approbation of six Learned Prelates Bp. Barlows Remains Publisht from his Lordships Original Papers by Sir Peter Pet Kt. Advocate General for the Kingdom of Ireland Mr. Baxter's Life in Folio written with his own hand The Life of that Charitable Divine Mr. Thomas Brand. The Life and Death of Mr. Iohn Elliot the First Preachâ—â— of the Gospel to the Indians in America of which there is three Editions The Bloody Assizes Containing the Tryals and Dying Speeches of those that Dyed in the West of which there is four Editions Sermons on the whole Parable of Dives and Lazarus by Ioseph Stevens Late Lecturer of Câ—â—pplegate and Lothbury Churches The Tragedies of Sin by Mr. Iay Rector of Chinner Mr. Williams Gospel Truth of which there is three Editions Mackenzye's Narrative of the Seige of Derry Mr. Boyses Answer to Bishop King First Printed in Dublin and then in London Mr. Showers Mourners Companion Mr. Rogers Practical Discourses The Poems writ by the Pindarlek Lady And the Athenian Gazzet which has been continued to 20 Volumns and is so much Valued in Dublin that the Sale of that Book alone has come to an Hundred Pound Gentlemen I shou'd prove Tedious or I would inlarge for these ben't the Fifth Part of those Valuable Pieces I Print and to which to shew his parts or rather â—is Envy he gives the Title of Meer Stuff Perfect Trash Sweet Rhetorick Gentlemen which with something will keep Cold has made his Conscience as black as his Sign I was likewise Treated in this manner by another Critick near Hatton-Garden who tho' he struts like a Turky-Cock at a Red Pettycoat wipes his mouth in London and is very sawcy to every Book that he don't Print himself yet his Sin has found him out in Dublin and 't is very remarkable that I my self should first discover it whom he has most abus'd of any man in London but he 's quiet enough at present and if he Repents I can forgive but if he stir hand or foot against this small Revenge the World shall know as Proud as he is who has abus'd â—he name of a late Peer by a Notorious Sham-Title Gentlemen such and only such as these are my Enemies and this is the Undermining Treatment I have had from ' em But tho' there be Little Souls in the World that have great Dealings yet I find the Gentlemen of Ireland have more Honour then to â—e-lye their Senses or to call that Stuff or Trash which they find to be Solid Dyet I am sure in proportion to the Great Number of Books I have Printed no Man has Printed less Trash then my self I am sure T. F. has not if you take in his Black Lists his false Titlcs his Printing other Mens Copies and new Vamping of Old Books But Gentlemen 'T is losing of Time to speak in praise of my Bookish Venture or to talk more of my Enemies Trash Seeing a Worthy Member of the House of Commons did me the Honour to say That I had been â—by this Undertaking a Great Benefactor to this Country and no longer than yesterday a Clergy-Man told Mr. Penny an English Gentleman That I had done more Service to Learning by my Three Auctions than any one single Man that had come into Ireland these hundred years I speak not this out of Ostentation but to rectify the 〈◊〉 opinions who judge Men by what they hear from the Scandalous Tongues of their selfish prejudic'd Enemies But tho' Boasting is none of my Talent yet I must say That my Venture has been serviceable to this Countrey is not only the Sentiment of one or two but of all I meet with and therefore 't is I am desired by some of the best Quality To make an Annual Auction of Books in Dublin but my Ramble to Scotland will hinder this or if it don't I 'll still promise You shall have no Setter in my Auctions and as Good Books as now Not that I pretâ—â—d to be more Infallible than other People and of Six Hundred Books I have Printed as I said in my second Letter it wou'd be strange if all should be alike Good But tho' in my Vnthinking Age I have Printed something I wish I had never seen though of 600 I know but of six I am angry at yet where I have err'd 't is from Heaven and not from Man that I heartily ask Forgivness I confess 't was a Noble Saying
was bound an Apprentice to George Sawbridge Esq the greatest Bookseller that has been in England for many years as may sufficiently appear by the Estate he left behind him for besides that he was Chosen Sheriff of London and paid his Fine he left behind him four Daughters who had each of 'em for their Portions Ten Thousand Pound apiece and you may easily imagine Madam that serving a Master who drove so great a Trade he cou'd not fail of understanding Books without he was greatly wanting to himself Which he was so far from being that I need not make any scruple to aâ—â—irm That there are very few Booksellers in England if any that understand Books better then Richard VVilde Nor does his Diligence and Industry come short of his Knowledge for he is indefatigably Industrious in the dispatch of Business of which his managing my Auction is a sufficient Proof He far exceeded even my Expectation and gave the Buyers too such great Content that had I not seen I cou'd hardly have believ'd it Nor does his Talent lie in knowing Books only but he knows Men as well too and has the Honour to be personally known to very many of the Nobility and Gentry of the first Rank both in England and Ireland and there 's scarce a Bookseller in Dublin but has a Kindness for him If any thing hates him 't is the Fair Sex for his living so long a Batchelor but they might excuse him for he 's too busie to think of Love and too honest to Marry for Money and I believe scorns to creep for 't is beneath a Man to whine like a Dog in a Halter to the greatest Fortune in Dublin not but Wilde is of a courteous affable Nature and very obliging to all he has to do withal and 't is visible by his Carriage he was bred as well as born a Gentleman He had a good Estate to begin the World with but has met with Losses yet when his Stars were the most unkind as was confest in my hearing by his raving Enemy he was still as honest as ever and being always just in his Dealings he now like the Sun just come from behind a Cloud shines brighter and fairer then ever Some Men are only Just whilst the World smiles but when it frowns they act such little Tricks as renders their Vertue suspected But VVilde ever preserv'd his Integrity and is the same good Man under all Events and as he was ever just in his Dealings so I must say his Universal Knowledge in Books render him a fit Companion for the best Gentleman and his great Sobriety a fit Companion for the nicest Christian and to add to his Reputation Whereâ—s a greater VVilliamite in the three Kingdoms then Richard VVilde Madam he has done such Eminent Service to the present Government that he can't in time but meet with an ample Reward and 't is but just to think he shou'd be prefer'd for he 's a true lover of his Majesty and the present Government and a strenuous Asserter of the Rights and Liberties of the People and the Protestant Religion in opposition to Popery and Slavery and this he has been from his Youth insomuch that for shewing his Zeal in these things even while he was an Apprentice the Tories and Iacobites by way of derision call'd him Protestant Dick. And by his Management of my Auction he has given both to my self and others such a Specimen of his Iudgment and great Fidelity that the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Clogher has done him the Honour in his Letter to me to tell me he is extreamly satisfy'd in Mr. Wilde's Fidelity I do assure you Madam I am so well satisfy'd in his Conduct herein that were I to keep an Auction as far as Rome it self Mr. Wilde should be the sole Manager But tho Mr. VVilde really merits the Character I here give him yet he being one whom I convers'd so much with in Dublin which my Inclination wou'd have led me to if my Business had not he also is one of St. Patrick's Kennel of Scoundrels by which you may also know what to think of St. Patrick whose Characters run counter to the Sentiments of all honest Gentlemen And yet even in this Patrick is true to himself and hereby declares he hates Honesty and Ingenuity where-ever he finds it But Madam I fear you will think me too long in my Character of Mr. Wilde and I fear so too with respect to your Ladyship tho' as to himself I have not yet done him that Iustice he deserves from me and therefore must remain in his Debt till I publish my Summer Ramble But I 'll now proceed to the Account of my parting Visits the first of which was rather an Invitation than a Visit to the House of Dr. Phoenix who invited my self and three of my Friends to wit Mr. Wilde Mr. Larkin and Mr. Price to Dinner He lives in that part of the City which is call'd St. Thomas Court and is a peculiar Liberty belonging to the Earl of Meath We found the Doctor Discoursing with the Dean of Killalloo who Din'd with us At our first coming the Doctor saluted us all in a very obliging manner but was pleas'd to pay me a most particular Respect in regard as he express'd it that I had so much obliged the Nation in general and himself in particular by bringing so large a Collection of valuable Books into the Kingdom After this first greeting the Doctor had us into his Laboratory and there shew'd us his Stills and several great Curiosities Before Dinner we had some Conversation with the Dean about the Power of Imagination and the Dean told us he knew a Man at Barnet near London about Forty years ago that profess'd to have a constant Converse with the Dead affirming that while he was discoursing with others he was at the same time conversing with the Dead This Man wou'd utter many strange Expressions of his Discourses with dead People and pretended by this Converse to tell things done at that Moment a vast distance off which afterwards upon Enquiry prov'd true But Dinner then coming up put an end to our Conversation and found us other Business to do then to talk of melancholly People After Dinner the Doctor 's Lady told us this Remarkable Story That some years since having been deliver'd of a fine Girl two Ladies that were then the Doctor 's Patients desir'd the Baptising of the Child might be deferr'd till they were able to go abroad because they had a mind to stand Gossipâ— to it But the two Ladies not being well enough to go abroad so soon as they thought at first a Months time was passed since the Birth of the Child all which time it remain'd unchristen'd But one day as the Doctor 's Lady was in her Chamber looking for something which she wanted in a Press on a sudden she cast her Eyes back and saw sitting down in a Chair an Vnckle of hers
THE Dublin Scuffle BEING A CHALLENGE SENT BY Iohn Dunton Citizen of London TO Patrick Campbel Bookseller in Dublin Together with the small Skirmishes of Bills and Advertisements To which is Added The Billet Doux sent him by a Citizens Wife in Dublin Tempting him to Lewdness WITH His Answers to Her ALSO Some Account of his Conversation in Ireland Intermixt with particular Characters of the most Eminent Persons he Convers'd with in that Kingdom but more especially in the City of Dublin In several Letters to the Spectators of this Scuffle With a Poem on the whole Encounter I wear my Pen as others do their Sword Oldham London Printed for the Author and are to be Sold by A. Baldwin near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane and by the Booksellers in Dublin 1699. To the Honourable Colonel BUTLER A MEMBER of the House of Commons in Ireland Honoured and Worthy Sir THE Generous Incouragement which you were pleas'd to give to all my Auctions of Books and the Extraordinary and Unmerited Kindnesses I receiv'd at your Hands when in Ireland embolden me to trouble you with this Dedication I confess it may justly seem unworthy of the Acceptance of a Person of so Great Honour and Endowments as you are known to be Nor can any thing less than your own Goodness find an Excuse for this Presumption But having had such large Experience of the Excellency of your Temper and of the Greatness of your Soul I should be unjust to your Character if I did not publickly own that you measure the Tokens of Gratitude by the Affection of your Friend and not by the Value of the thing presented Give me leave then Worthy Sir to inscribe your Name to the following Sheets as a Great Patron of Learning and a Generous Friend to an injur'd Stranger who came to promote the Interest of Learning in your Country The Kindness you were pleas'd to Vouchsafeâ—unto me and the Concern you express'd for my Welfare perswade me that you will not disdain to be my Patron in defending my self in Print in England seeing I could not have the opportunity of doing it in Ireland I must indeed own that your Character and Courage Entitles you to be the Champion of such as are engaged in a more Masculine Quarrel than the Scuffle betwixt Patrick Campbel and my self Yet you know Sir that the Greatest Captains after the Campaign is over do sometimes divert themselves by seeing a Mock-fight on the Stage This Sir has something more in it as being a real piece of Injustice first committed and then defended by my Adversary who has arm'd himself with Impudence and Malice and manages his Attacks by Fraud and Forgery as I have made sufficiently clear in the following Sheets I confess Sir the Entertainment you will meet with here is not answerable to that Hospitable and Generous Treatment I was honoured with at your House and that I am not capable of gratifying your Curiosity with such excellent pieces of my own drawing as you were pleased to feast my Eyes with when I beheld with wonder the effects of your happy Pencil Yet Sir I dare say that I present you here with an ORIGINAL which tho' drawn by an unskilful Hand has something very surprizing in it such Features such a mixture of Hypocrisie and double dealing cover'd over with a false Varnish of Religion that I question much Whether Patrick may not pass for a Iudas Redivivus And were my Pen able to keep pace with your Pencil or had I the Art of tempering my Colours drawing the Features to the Life and observing due Proportion I doubt very much Whether Africa could shew any such Monster as I should here present to the publick View But Worthy Sir I must beg your Pardon for daring to offend the Eye of such a Curious Artist as your self with such a deformed piece It were indeed unpardonable did I not know that by one Glance of the Eye upon your own Perfections and Eminent Vertues you will immediately race out those foul Idea's which the fight of Patrick may impress upon your Imagination Contraries expos'd to the View at one and the same time do mightily illustrate one another and therefore when you see his Picture and reflect upon your own you will find great Cause to bless him who hath made the distinction Pardon me Sir I don't think your Vertues need any such foyl to set them off for they are such as when compar'd with those which render the Enjoyers of them Amiable in the Eyes of Mankind will undoubtedly give you the Preference amongst Thousands but I must break off lest my Affection should offer Violence to your Modesty and lest it should be said I only commend my self in extolling my Patron I must indeed own that the Honour of your Friendship is one of those things that I value my self most upon and esteem my self happy in some measure by Patricks Enmity which gives me this Opportunity of letting the World know that Collonel Butler is my Friend Or if that be a Degradation to you that you are an Encourager of Learning and a Protector of those that Endeavour to promote it I shall add no more but beg your Pardon for prefixing your Name to such a Trifle You know Sir that how meanly soever it be perform'd it was absolutely necessary for the defence of my Reputation which Patrick Campbell has so unjustly endeavour'd to destroy and seeing it is usual with Authors to attone for their own Defects by chusing an Honourable Patron I hope Sir you will indulge me the same Liberty May you Live long to be an Ornament to your Country and the Object of His highest Esteem who is Honoured Sir Your much Obliged and Most Obedient Servant IOHN DVNTON London Feb. 20. 1698 9 TO THE SPECTATORS OF THE Dublin Scuffle Gentlemen IT may be justly expected I should give some Account of the Reason of this Vndertaking which is in short to Vindicate my Reputation from the Malice of some of my own Profession who have unjustly endeavoured to bespatter me I need not say much as to my Conversatiâ—n at Home those who have dealt with me will allow the fairness of my Dealing in way of Trade It 's true some Reflections have been thrown upon me about the 2d Spira and the multitude of things I have Printed both which are here accounted for and I think I may make bold to say that my Adversaries are fairly diâ—â—rm'd As to my Scuffle with Patrick Campbel a Dublin Bookseller I found my self obliged to publish all the Circumstances of it to the World that I might not be wanting to my own Reputation on that Head Here the Reader will find I have acted fairly and above board and that I don't depend either upon my own Evidence or Iudgment in the Mattâ—r therefore I have here made it plain that I have the Testimony of Persons of the greatest Figure in Church and State in Ireland for my Conduct there which I hope will be
some Benefit by your Advice Therefore I have here sent you an Account of an unhappy Scuffle betwixt me and a Dublin-Bookseller That you may the better be possess'd of the whole Matter I have here sent you the Copies of the Letters and Proceedings that have yet pass'd on this Occasion and hope you will oblige me with the Favour of your Thoughts upon this as you did upon my former This Scuffle was first occasion'd by his taking my Auction-Room over my Head which oblig'd me to Publish the following Reasons for my Removal to another directed to the Gentlemen of Dublin The Reasons for my Removal to Patt's Coffee-House Gentlemen I Have drawn up some Reasons for my Removal to Patt's Coffee-House which I had sent to the Press where they were Composed and the Letters set but the Printer being over-awed by Mr. Campbel refused to Print them But Gentlemen if Money will purchase the Printing of them elsewhere you shall have them in Print to morrow Morning or otherwise in writing at Patt's Coffee-House in High-street Iohn Dunton Gentlemen The above Lines wore Printed before my Catalogue for November the seventh and owned as a Truth by my Printer in Dublin in the Presence of Mr. George Larkin and Mr. Richard Wilde who then declared that Mr. Campbel threatened to Arrest him and his Partner and to take away all his Work then in the House if he went on with the Printing of my Reasons for removing to Patt's Gentlemen Patricks frighting Printers with Actions and by this way Locking up the Press is I confess a pretty way of answering my Charge against him and sufficiently shews his Guilt but I am so far from being frighted with Bugâ—ears of that Nature having a just Cause to defend that at the same Hour he enters one Action I 'll enter two and pursue it further then he is aware of and though my Printer had not Soul brave enough to Work off at the Press what was Composed in his House for my Letter annexed was directed to him yet other Printers in Dublin being satisfied with the Truth of my Charge assur'd me in the Presence of Mr. Larkin that they would have Printed it with all their Hearts had they done my former Work however Gentlemen I here present you in Writing with what I design to Publish with this Promise to the Printers of Dublin that were afraid to Print the following Paper that whatever they shall Print against me I will take no Advantage against them for it provided they 'll declare the Author and if I cannot have the Liberty of the Press here as I can in London tho' for every Sheet Printed in this Scuffle I 'll give a double Price I 'll Answer what my Adversary shall Print every Day in Manuscript with my Name to it and leave it at Patt's Coffee-House An Account of my Third Auction in Dublin to be held at Patt's Coffee-House over against St. Michael's Church in High-street on Monday November 7th 1698 with my Reasons for removing thither In a second Letter to those Gentlemen who have bought Books at my two former Auctions Gentlemen THis present Monday being November the seventh at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon will begin my Third Auction at Patt's Coffee-House in High-street 'T is true I fully designed that this Third Aâ—ction as well as my First and Second should have been Sould at Dick's Coffee-House in Skinner-Râ—w for I had agreed with Dick for his Back Room as long as my Sale lasted and though I never released the Bargain as Dick himself has own'd at the Ram in the Presence of divers Persons any further then by telling him that I did not doubt to have done in a few Days which I only said to shew my readiness to quit his Room assoon as possible I could but Dick catching at these Words and one Patrick Campbel designing himself to keep an Auction of Books there and thinking that the Room where Gentlemen had found such fair Usage in my Auction would give a Reputation to his takes it over my Head and Mr. Wild's too as he had the Promise on 't when my Sale was done Pressing Dick to the Bargain by those moving Arguments of a double Price or going to another Place and easie Dick though otherwise I hope Honest finding that 't was the Law of Auctions that he who bids most is the Buyer e'en lets the Room to Patrick at the Time when 't was actually mine without being so fair as to cry Ten Shillings Once Ten Shillings Twice either to my self or to Mr. Wilde to whom he promised the Refusal Gentlemen This was odd Treatment but because my stay in Dublin won't permit me to do my self Justice I chose rather to quit my Right then contend for 't but had Dick considered how far the Rules of Civility to me and Gratitude to Mr. Wilde should have sway'd with him Mr. Wilde not only being the Proprietor of the Shelves that stood in the Room but also the first that brought an Auction thither that had kept several there and was the means of bringing Mr. Thornton's formerly and mine now I say had Dick reflected on these Things his Eyes had been Proof against the double Price that Dick in his Letter tells me Patrick had agreed to give him and the Scot might have gang'd with his Pack of Bewks to another Place I shall be glad to see Patrick acquit himself but I much doubt it when I consider the dark usage I had in Turner of which more hereafter and the l'orty Shillings I had of him was a second Part to the same Tune You must know Gentlemen he â—ragg'd of lending me Forty Shillings when I first came to Dublin thinking I suppose to lessen my Credit with Printers Stationers and Binders not knowing how forward they were to serve me that so my Venture might slâ—â—p in quiet till this Geud Man had cull'd out my best Books which I judge he thought if the Binders were made Infidels he shou'd have for a Song and the rest Gentlemen you know might have been serviceable to your Ladies under Minc'd Pyes in this you see the very Soul of Patrick for he could not but know that I had not a drop of Mechanick Blood in my whole Body my self being the fourth John Dunton in a Lineal Descent from the Tribe of Levi that I could bow low but could never creep to any Thing that I was born to a good Estate in Land and had made it treble by a late Marriage that I had brought a venture of Books to Dublin of near Ten Tun which could not yield less then 1500 l. and 200 l. more could I approve of Setters and he as well knew that if I wanted an 100 l. for the King's Customs and other Charges c. that I could have it at a Words speaking from Mr. Lum a Parliament Man But for all this he talk'd so loud of his Forty Shillings though then he ow'd me a greater Summ and
the World Gentlemen had I begun my Auctions or carried them on by other Means then is here mentioned I should own it a piece of Impudence to desire your Company a third Time or had I pretended Conscience to you and yet play'd the Knave with Dick for I did not take his Room from Week to Week as he falsly Asserts but for as long as my Sale lasted as several Witnesses will Depose upon Oath 't wou'd have shown you at first glance what Candor you were to have in my Three Auctions but to Rob Peter to Pâ—y Paul is a Doctrine I never practised and scarce know what 't is call'd and would you have a Name for 't you must send to the een Mon of Coâ—nshence but though I am able to stand the Test with the same Allowance that every Man would wish for himself under the like Circumstance as to my Auctions here and the whole Trading Part of my Life yet I have Enemies as well as other Men two of a Trade can never agree and you would wonder if I had not for I have Printed Six Hundred Books writ by Authors of different Judgments and 't is strange if in drawing upon one another the Bookseller a sort of Second in such Duels should always'scapâ— without any Wound but though I have Enemies they are only those that never knew me or never heard what I had to say for my self Or else such narrow Souls as are wholly guided by self-interest Of all that have Traded with me tho' for many Thousands I know not of one Enemy I have in the whole World save Patrick Campbell at the Bible in Skinner-Row and a piece of Trash that I smell beyond the Herring Pond And to the immortal Glory of the Stationer's Company I know but two more such in London and not one of them Lives in St. Paul's Church-Yard or at the Bible and Three Crowns but Gentlemen if I find out more you shall know the Names their God-fathers gave them but 't will be Time enough to descend to Particulars when I leave Ireland and then I 'll surely do it in a Farewel Letter to those Gentlemen that Buy what they won't Pay for Now Gentlemen if my Friend Campbell thinks himself injur'd by these Reflections the Press is open to him I mean but not to me as he has order'd it But if I have a clear Stage I desire no Quarter from him for I have yet so much by me which will keep Cold as would make a PEDLAR Sweat or as stout a Man as the great Campbell But Gentlemen Conscience makes Cowards of us all and for that Reason Campbell will scarce give you the Diversion of a Paper War No Patrick is a great Man and to scorn my Charge as in Yesterdays Flying Post is the easiest way to Answer it the truly Valiant dare face their Danger but I doubt my Enemy won't meet me with any Weapon but his old one of Niff-Naff for fear his Defence in Print should move me to new Discoveries or to fall to Writing of Ears but if he hangs out his Flag of Defiance and dares answer this let him do it while I 'm here and subscribe it with his right Name as I will my Reply with John Dunton for 't is a pitiful Cowardize that strikes a Man in the dark or like T. W. bites a Man by the Heel and then like a Serpent creeps into his Hole again for want of Courage to abet his Actions I never in my whole Life was the first Agressor in any Quarrel but when I am justly provok'd I wear my Pen as others do their Sword and if Campbell Replies to this I 'll Answer his Charge De Die in Diem till I have worn my Pen to the stumps What though I lose the Day yet I aim high And to dare something is some Victory Though Patrick can fright the Printers that Live by him yet I do assure him As I tell Dorinda in my Answer to her Billet Doux till he 's Vertuous I can't Love him and 't is not in my Nature to fear any Thing neither will I forget him nor the Brass in Copper-Alley in the History of my Summers Ramble which will be a Crown Bound and shall be sent to Dublin in few Weeks When we have thus Box'd it out We 'll Kiss as the Gentlemen of Ireland do wash our Selves shake Hands and Part. But whither does my just Resentment carry me Yet Gentlemen I hope you 'll Pardon it for when at any Time I go out of the Way it is rather upon the Account of License than over-sight there be Pieces in Plutarch as well as in Dunton where he forgets his Theam besides I 'm the more excusable as I told you I lov'd Rambling and should visit Scotland in my way home and you see I 'm as good as my Word Gentlemen I shall only add that the Candid Treatment you have found in my Two Auctions I hope will invite you this Afternoon to visit my Third and to engage you to it you will find daily in my Printed Bills that I have yet divers good Books as Doctor Barrow's Works Josephus History in English Rawleigh the best Editiion Milton's Political Works and many others I han't Time to mention You will also find I have several Excellent Law Books in all Volumes such as the Irish Statutes in Folio and the Year Books of the best Edition c. I have also in this Third Auction A Collection of scarce Pamphlets on most Subjects and when my Catalogue of Manuscripts is Publish'd it containing great variety of Curious Subjects never yet in Print I shan't doubt the Company of ingenuous Persons but this being my last Sale for the Year 1698. and my Time of Imbarquing for London being very soon I can allow but Two Days after the Auction is ended for the taking away what you Buy in it To Conclude I told you in my first Letter that I thought it unjust to advance the Rate upon you by any Vnder-hand Bidding and for every Penny I got that way I 'd restore a Pound which was not said to serve a turn for I have been true to my Word as a Worthy Member of the House of Commons who has been a great Encourager of my Auction has done me the Honour to Declare and as honest Dobbs a considerable Buyer and all the Servants attending my Auction can Testifie but surely Gentlemen the Buyer should be Iust as well as the Seller and if you consider the vast Charge I am at to serve you with such an Auction of New Books as never was sold in Ireland you will be as forward to Pay me as I am to subscribe my Self Dublin NOV 5th 1698. Your very humble Servant John Dunton To the end the foregoing Letter might be forthwith Printed I sent it to the Person who Printed my Auction-Bills with this Letter viz. To the Printer SIR FInding a Necessity of vindicating my self against the ill usage of Mr.
Patrick Campbell and Mr. Richard Pue I send this Second Letter giving an Account of my Third Auction for you to Print you see I have Subscribed my Name to it and will own it in the Face of the Sun and if Mr. Campbell be a generous Enemy he will be no more angry at your Printing this then I shall be if you Print his Answer nor will I ever give you any Trouble upon that Account how scandalous and false soever the Things may be that you shall Print against me provided you will be ready to testifie who is the Author but if you han't Soul brave enough to assist a Stranger in a Iust Cause especially one who has been so great a Benefactor to your Art both in England and Ireland in the last of which I have been none of the worst of Customers to you I shall then be obliged to take other Measures to right my self But hoping you won't give me that unnecessary Trouble I shall only add that I am Your hearty Friend John Dunton SIR THus I have given you a true and impartial Account of my Dublin Scuffle on which I desire such Remarks as you were pleas'd to oblige me with on my former I know you will deal freely with me and therefore shall accept your Reproof for any Thing wherein you think I am faulty as kindly as your Approbation when you think I have Right on my side for you know I was never a Slave to my own Iudgment but have always desired the Opinion of those whose Thoughts I valued I am Yours to Command John Dunton Remarks upon the Second Letter SIR I Am sorry that I have happen'd to be too true a Prophet I told you in my Last that I foresaw you would meet with Opposition and that too from those of your own Way of Business but I could scarcely have thought that any Man who calls himself a Christian would have attempted it in such a mean and scandalous Method Your Adversary may perhaps have read the Ten Commandment but it would seem he hath altogether forgot the Last or at least to put it in Practice seeing he had so little Conscience as fraudulently to take your Auction-Room over your Head Perhaps he may think 't was but a just Reprizal to over-bid you on pretence that you had under-sold him which though it had been so is contrary to the Law of Christianity which forbids Rewarding Evil for Evil. But I don't see the least pretence he had for it You were not the first that set up an Auction in Dublin and it seems Patrick Campbel resolved you should not be the last seeing he follow'd your Example and slily bought you out of your Room but had that been dispos'd of by way of Auction too I am apt to think you would have been able to Cope with him either for Purse or in offering a fair Price By what I can perceive your Adversaries Courage and Christianity are both of a Piece He was resolv'd to fight you but that he might assure himself of the Victory he would first disarm you or at least make sure of the longest Weapon Like another Guy Faux he undermin'd your Auction-house and then like an Almanzor he Huffs and Braves you Truth did never yet of it's own Accord affect a lurking-Hole but has always Courage enough to stand the Test. Had Patrick's Practise been open and fair He would never have hinder'd it's being Publish'd in Print There were other Methods to be taken for vindicating his Fame than threatening your Printers and out-bidding you there too Had you advanc'd any Falshoods the Law was open but Patrick thought it safer to Silence the Press Every Cock is stout on his own Dunghil Patrick Claims a Priviledge to Crow at Dublin but he cannot hinder you to Answer him at London so as you may be heard beyond St. George's Channel and I am apt to think he will take no great Pleasure in hearing the Story related I am glad to find you retain your Courage and are not to be frighted into any thing that 's Sneaking by your Adversaries big Looks or Words Your natural Temper â—ffords you Strength enough to bear up against greater Attacks than those and if it want a Support you know it is to be found in him who always Patronizes a Just Cause Though you be now at a distance from your well-furnish'd Closet there 's no want of proper Helps in your present Auction-Room Brooks's Remedies against Satan's Devices may be a proper Book for you to consult on this Occasion I am glad to hear that my former has contributed any thing to fortifie you against this Encounter I am of Opinion your Adversary will have no occasion to Triumph when he casts up his Accounts either with his own Conscience if it be his Custom to keep a fair Reckoning there or when he comes to count his Gains by his Envious Auction which fastens the brand of foul Guilt upon him But it seems Patrick has a Mind to be the sole Bookseller and Auctioneer in Dublin at what Rate soever I am much surpriz'd at the meanness of his Temper in talking of lending you Forty Shillings which to be sure he knew you could not want when you brought such a Cargo of Books with you though you had not had a good Estate in England to depend upon I question very much whether Patrick's Estate be able to ballance yours and I am satisfied he cannot be a better Husband than you are known to be nor more Industrious in his Calling but Malice and Covetousness in one Man and indeed they are seldom to be found asunder are enough to transform him into a Monster and by your Character of Patrick I can form no other Idea of him but that he is one of the worst sort His Pretensions to Conscience on the one Hand and making no Conscience of depriving you of your Auction-Room and bespattering your Reputation on the other are very becoming a Man who can sell one Book for two under different Titles So that Patrick it seems is a Saint on one side and a Devil on the other and can shew himself in various Shapes as occasion requires I am Glad you were aware of his Tricks and did not suffer him to Gull your Library though there 's no doubt his disappointment in that is one of the Chief Causes of the base Treatment you meet with at his Hands I am very well pleas'd that the other Dublin-Booksellers behaved themselves with more Candour and Generosity towards you and that the whole Mass was not corrupted by Patrick's Envy The Questions you propose to him and the odd hints you give of his Practice I hope are founded upon good Information otherwise I would not advise you to Publish them lest they be thought Envious and may detract from your own Reputation instead of painting him in his true Colours but if the Things be known and that the divulging of 'em are necessary for your own Vindication
of the Great Mountaigne after he had finish'd his Rambles That wâ—re â—e to live over his Life again he would Live exactly as he â—ad done I neither says he complain of the past nor do I fear the future I can't say so for tho I am but turn'd of my 30th year and have always devoted my Time and Rambles to the knowledge of Countries Books and Men yet were I to correct the Errata's of my short Life I would quite after the Press Wou'd Time 〈◊〉 my Age again to the first thread What another man wou'd I be but as willing as I am to confess this yet where I have Erred with Respect to Printing I must cast the fault into the great heap of Humane Error for seeing we digress in all the ways of our Lives yea seeing the Life of man is nothing else but digression I may the better be excused and the rather as I am truly griev'd when any good Man is displeas'd not that I ever Printed a Book in my whole Life but what I had a just end in the Publication But if others won't think so I can't help it not but I must own That having Printed a great many Books and not reading through the twentieth part of what I Print some Errors have ' scap'd my hand but this is my Misfortune and not my Crime and ill success ruines the merit of a good meaning however the way to Amendment is never out of date Repentance is a Plank we Book-Merchants have still left on which we may swim to shore and having Err'd the Noblesâ— thing we can do is to own it He that Repents is well near Innocent Diogenes seeing a Lad sneaking out of a Bawdy House bid him Hold up his head for he need not be asham'd of coming out but of going in I could even forgive Patrick Campbel if I saw him a True Penitent such a Penitent as the Thief who robb'd me in Dublin who begging my Pardon I scarce suffered him to kneel for it but as readily gave it as he was to ask it Thus Gentlemen you see at our last parting that tho' I am no more perfect than other Folks yet that I don't deserve that ill Usage I had froâ— T. F. in London or Patrick Campbel in Dublin and by the Grace of God for the future will deserve it less for as I grow in years I alter my opinion of things when I now Print a Book I put on my Graver Spectacles and consult as well with my Iudgment as Interest When I first began to Print I had then seen but the out-side of the World and Men and conceiv'd them according to their Appearing Glister You know Gentlemen Youth are Rash and Heedless green Heads are very ill Judges of the Productions of the Mind The first Glance is apt to deceive and surprize Novelties have Charms that are very taking but a little Leisure and Consideration discovers the Imposture those false Lights are dispell'd upon a serious Review and second Thoughts are wiser than the first and this is my very Case But though I am no more Infallible then other People yet I have ever had that regard to Iustice that I never Printed any Mans Copy or stole his Author by Private Slanders and though I have Printed six hundred Books I never Printed a new Title to an old Book nor never damn'd any Man's Book because I must Buy it with ready Money and I ever thought it as base Injustice to run upon another's Project neither did I ever murther any Mans Name with saying he Printed this or that the more cunningly to praise my self and who ever will prove one single Instance of this in all the Books I have Printed a Jolly Company for the small Time I have Traded I 'll own my self of as Poor a Spirit as those are be they who they will that Practice what I here condemn And I as little like under-selling others to get Chapmen I believe T. F. will own though a great Offender in this Kind that I keep my Copies as punctal as any Man Mr. Wilde knows in all the Notes I made for Dublin that I put the same Price to every Man and wou'd any Bookseller be at the Pains to compare all my Notes together though I exchanged with all the Trade for every Penny he finds charged more to himself then to other Men he shall have five Pound Reward and a Thousand Thanks into the Bargain for rectifying a Mistake I never design'd Then pray Gentlemen for I am now speaking to the Booksellers of Dublin no more Reflections as if I injur'd the Trade by Auctions for is it not your own Case There 's few Eminent Booksellers but have traded this whole-Sale way is that a Crime in me which is seen in your daily Practice If I have a Fancy to Travel a Year or so and after that to live a studious and retired Life as I have done several Years what harm do I do in selling my Stock and making of Auctions without Setters For my own Part I have enough to bear my Charge to the Grave for thither Gentlemen we are all going and am contriving now to Live for my Self as well as for other People I would have business but exempt from strife and therefore 't is I have done with Shops the hurry of 'em are apt to ingross our Thoughts and I 'm loth to venture Eternity upon my last Breath to what Purpose should I covet much I really Pity those that like the Dog in a Wheel toil to Roast Meat for others Eating Abraham see how he beginneth to possess the World by no Land Pasture or Arable Lordship the first Thing is a Grave The Reverend Mr. Stevens Author of the Sermons on Dives and Lazarus gave Order for the making his Coffin in perfect Health I desire to follow such Examples as these and therefore instead of loosing Time in a Shop I 'd now in a quiet Retreat from the World be studying what good I may do to my Friends with what I have and how little a Time I may Live to enjoy it being troubled with the Distemper my Father dyed of I take my last leave at I now do of Dublin of every Place I depart from And that 's the Reason I now follow the World with such Indifference as if 't was no Matter whether I over-took it or no. But though I 'm come from behind the Counter yet methinks a Man out of Business like a rotten Tree only cumbers the Ground so I won't altogether desert Printing or that Learned Trade which my Father so much approv'd of whilst there 's an Author in London or a Pen in the World but with Submission to better Judgments I think 't is a great madness to be laying new Foundations of Life when I am half way through it And they methinks deserve my Pity Who for it can indure the Stings The Crowd and Buâ— and Murmurings Of this great Hive the City Cowley
So that being tir'd with Galloping after the World I 'll walk now with a Horse in my Hand and who ever sees my House and Green Prospects before and behind it will own 't is suited to this Purposeâ— And here Gentlemen don't let 's mistake one another at Parting or think I prescribe my Method of Living as a Rule for others to walk by No! He that takes me for a Guide in this or in any thing else may perhaps fall into the ditch for I must confess that if he alone is a Wise Man who hath a clear and certain Knowledge of Things then I am excluded for I mistake every thing I feel a Mountain of Ignorance on my Understanding which I struggle under but cannot remove I dwell in the out-side of things do what I can Circumstances do always so uneven the Scales that I cannot Balance things aright when I weigh the Conditions of Men whether Friends or Enemies if I come near them I am within a Circle and am strait-ways as if conjured from giving a true Verdict these things are best seen at a distance when I have sometimes given a right Sentence a new Relation or some other Event hath stept in and violently blindfolded me Again when I have beheld a worldling as full of Earth as a Worm one that loads himself with thick Clay that walks in the Sun-shine daily and never enquires who hath lighted him that glorious Candle as goes rooting as if he were a Mole in Humane Shape and Cannibal-like devours poor Mens Flesh when I had clearly seen I confidently affirm'd his Gold to be dross and himself beautiâ—ied with all his Pomp to be but a Iade in Trappings when I had made use of him as an occasion of admiring Divine Providence for sparing such a monstrous Hog yea when I had Out-lawed him as one altogether unworthy of Protection yet how hath the tender of some few Courtesies or a bare pretence to a Reconcilâ—ation as in the Case of Campbel been ready to make me reverse it hath not only stopped my Mouth but muddied my sounder Judgment of him so that now I have had enough to do to see the fault through my Friend my very Iudgeing Faculty hath been somewhat bribed to spare the Sin least I should fall too foul upon the subject of it and how have I found out a weak Brain a strong Temptation or something or other to extenuate the Offence Yea an intent of assaying the World my self hath disposed me to the pondering yea almost to the Entertainment of his Principles and a Resolution of returning again to the hurries of a Shop and some possibility of arriving at his heighth hath been such a Powder-mine that I have been well nigh blown up in mine own Trenches and my Affections have been like a NAVY in a Storm at Sea hardly kept together I therefore thought the best Prospecetive to see the World in its genuine and proper State was a great distance from it A Man must play the Cunning Astronomer who when he wou'd gaze a Star gets not on the Top of a Pyramid but descends some deep Pit for so the Visual Spirits are kept together thus a Man should look as a wise man just before him Earthly things are a very Mist before a Man comes at it he may see the Dimensions of a Fog and perhaps look over it but when once invellopt and clouded within it his sight is limited to a small extent Gentlemen such thoughts as these made me retreat to that Countrey-like Seat where after Scuffling a while in Dublin I 'm now going to live again which being still and private and suited to a studious Life is next to my Wife the only thing on Earth I Love Gentlemen having largely shewn you why I leave the Hurries of Dublin and given my Reasons for a Private Life when I return home having also told ye my Thoughts of Shop-keeping and of the several Copies I Printed perhaps my Enemies will expect here being faln amongst Books that I say something of the Second Spira for though 't is a Book quite forgot yet my Innocence is such with respect to the Printing of it that I dare bring it again on the Stage and the rather still as my Dublin Enemies and some in London have snarl'd at it with so much Fury As to this Second Spira which my Enemies so nibble at perhaps the Publishing of that Relation was one of the most Innocent Actions of my whole Life Gentlemen to prove this I 'll lead you step by step into this Affair so far as I was concern'd in 't This Narrative was put into my hands about Decem. 26. 1692. by the Methodizer of it who assured me that he received the Memoirs that composed it from a Divine of the Church of England and as a Confirmation of this he delivered into my Hands a Letter and Preface which are Printed in the said Book both which he said was sent to him by the Divine that visited the Sick Man wherein the Divine says That having examined the Peice now 't is perfected with the Original Notes and Papers which he drew himself he finds the Substance and Material Part very faithfully done he further adds I dare affirm that there 's nothing material left out nor is there any Interpolations which are not genuine And in his Letter to the Methodizer he begins thus Sir I had yours with the Manuscript and having compared it with the Memoires I took I think you have done me and the Case of that miserable Gentleman a Rigid Iustice My way being made thus plain by these Attestations given me by a Gentleman I had long known to be a Person of Integrity I procured Mr. Bohuns License to the Book which I have still by me After the Book was Publish'd several Clergy-men and others inquiring of me the Truth of the Relation I went with them my self to the Methodizer of it for so he had order'd me to do if any one enquir'd about the Truth of it who gave 'em alâ— as he owns in his Preface to this Book the very same account he had given me and they thereupon did me that Justice as to acquit me of any unfair dealing in the Case and the same thing has been also done by the Methodizer himself in the Third Fourth Fifth and Sixth Editions of this Book so that I need add no more on my own Account for what can appear fairer But that no doubt may remain as to my Innocence in this Matter I further and solemnly declare in the Presence of God the searcher of all Hearts that I ne're thought of the Second Spira till 't was brought to me and that 't was all every Page Line and Syllable of it delivered to me as a True Narrative And 't is worth Remark as it shews the Generosity of the London Booksellers that but three of 'em quarrel'd with this Book and the first was that very Person who as I can prove offer'd to
of spending a few agreeable minutes in this Gentlemans Company which I thought no ordinary Blessing as he was a Person of a truly Humble and Affable carriage As to his Preaching 't is Plain Pure and Edifying and generally without-book The last Sermon I heard in Ireland was Preach'd by the Reverend Mr. Searle upon these Words For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and I thought it the most Practical and awakening Discourse I ever heard in my Life He succeeded Mr. Davis whose death I mention'd before and is no ways inferiour to him either for good Preaching or vertuous Living In a word I have such an Idea of the Piety and Moderation of this eminent Divine that I could dwell on his Character for ever but I must remember Pickancâ— is ready to Sail and I have other Visits to make and so Worthy Sir Adieu For I am now going to take my leave of the Reverend Mr. Rowe a Country Minister a Pious Humble Man and great Encourager of my Book-Adventure I ha'nt the happiness to be known to this Generous Buyâ—r so I 'll take my leave with this short acknowledgment And my next Farewel shall be to the Reverend Mr. Fisher Chaplain to the Right Honourable the Earl of Meath this Gentleman was a great Encourager of my Auction by which means I had the happiness of enjoying his Company often we were together that very time when Patrick Campbel refus'd to meet me at the Keys in High street The Satisfaction I receiv'd in Mr. Fishers company obliges me to attempt his Character He is all that 's delightful in Conversation so easy company and so far from all constraint that 't is a real pleasure to talk with him he 's a Person of a sweet natural Temper one that 's never out of Humour and I must say I found his Friendship to be ever equal and the same In a word 't is a Vertue to know him and a glimpse of Heaven to hear him Preach But dear Sir Adieu for the wind is Fair and I must be gone but I leave your Company with as much regret as ever I did any Earthly Blessing Having taken my leave of the Clergy my next Visits must be to the Layety and these must be very short for fear the Ship should Sail before I finish my Letter And here I shall first take my leave of the Honourable Colonel Butler a Member of Parliament He is a great Lover of Books and was a constant and generous Encourager of all my Auctions His Affability Candour and extraordinary Sense but more especially his ingenuity in Painting to the Life is beyond what I ever saw in my whole Life but at his House and in his Person 'T is to this Honourable Gentleman I Dedicate my Dublin Scuffle where and in my Visit to him you have his Character more at large so with a short Farewel to the Noble Colonel I shall next pass on to own my great Obligations to Mr. Lum Gradon Esq Councellor Reading and diverse other Members of the Honourable House of Commons who were great Encouragers of my Undertaking and in this Farewel I return 'em my Humble thanks Neither can I in this place forget the many Favours I received from that Worthy Gentleman Christopher Vsher Esq. a Relation of that Famous Prelate Arch Bishop Vsher He 's a Person of True Piety solid Judgment and Great Estate and God has given him a Heart to do good with it in his Life Time for he is very Eminent for his Great Charity and a Vast Encourager of Learning he laid out several Pounds at my Auction and almost daily honoured me with his Presence at my Sale I could write a Folio in this Gentlemans Praise but he 's as Humble as he 's Rich so I sha'nt inlarge lest I offend his Modesty But this hint is enough to shew how worthy he is of that Great Name he bears and therefore however he may resent this Publick Farewel considering his Great Humility yet I could not think of leaving Ireland without paying my thanks to him not only as he was my Friend but one of my Chief Benefactors I shou'd also before I Embarke pay my Acknowledgements to Sir Henry Tichbourn Robert Stopford Esâ—abque Captain Acghmooty Mr. Recorder of Dublin an Eminent Counsellor Stephen Ludlow Esq one of the Six Clerks to Mr. Iustice Coot of the Kings Bench a Person of great Piety Lives universally Belov'd and justly merits the Honour he enjoys He was pleased to cause several Books to be bought for him at my Sale And here I cannot omit to add to the rest of my Benefactors in this Farewel Mr. Baron Ecling a Person of Great Honour and of a Greatness of Soul beyond most that I ever heard of He is such an Vniversal Lover of Books that very few if any shall escape him whatever they cost He has a very Large and Curious Library yet as inquisitive still after Rarities as if he had none He is a most Noble Encourager of the Book-selling-Trade and whenever he dyes the Stationers of England and Ireland will have a great loss besides what the Publick will sustain thereby I fear if I write on I shall lose my Passage but Gentlemen you see by my unwillingness to leave Ireland how I resent your Generous Treatment But shou'd I tâ—ke my leave of all my Friends of the Laiety that were kind to me and my Auction I should swell this Farewel beyond bounds However tho I Scribble till the Ship is gone I won't forget at parting to give my thanks to my True and Generous Friend Mr. Robert Jey He was one of those that gave me a Farewel Treat in Essex Street and was my True Friend from first to last and the chief Person I advis'd with in Dublin under any Difficulty He is a real lover of Learniâ—â— as appear'd by what he bought at my Auction Extreamly Civil and Obliging in his Conversation and a Man of that Great Integrity and of such quick dispatch in Business that had I a Thousand Causes they should all be intrusted in his hands I wou'd inlarge in his Character but that I shall meet him again in the Account I design to give of my Conversation in Ireland I have also many Thanks to return to Captain Simon Annion Mr. Rath Iones Mr. Sholdham Mr. Cuppage Mr. Iohn Smith Mr. Moss Mr. Williamson Mr. George Osborn Mr. Bonny Mr. Samuel Martin and diverse other Eminent Atornies who were great Encouragers of my Undertaking Neither can I think of leaving Dublin before I have taken my leave of my Three Printers Mr. Brent Mr. Powel and Mr. Brocas for they come into the number of my Benefactors and I 'm told bought several Books in my Auction besides to forget these would be a little unkind not only as they served me once at a Pinch but as they Printed my daily Catalogues and 't was only by their Presses that I could
now and then Thunder at Patrick Campbel and defy all my Enemies so that at shaking hands sheer Gratitude obliges me to give each of these Printers a particular Character And I shall first begin with Mr. Brent who I think is the Oldest Partner He 's a Scrupulouâ— Honest Conscientious Man and I do think a True Nathaniel he 's perfect Innocence yet a Man of Letters he knows no harm and therefore contrives none And by his frequent attempts to make Campbel and I Friends 't is clear he never promoted the Dublin-Scuffle tho the Printing of it would have furnish'd him with daily work so that he 's what we may truly call a Religious Printer and I was going to say he hates Vice almost as-much by Nature as Grace and this I think is his True Character As to Mr. Powâ—l the second Partner His Person is Handsom I don't know whether he knows it or no and his mind has as many Charms He 's the very Life and Spirit of the Company where he comes and 't is impossible to be sad if he sets upon it He 's a Man of a great deal of Wit and Sense and I hope of as much Honeâ—â—y and his Repartees are so Quaint Apposite and Genteel 't is a pleasure to observe how handsomly be acquits himself in the mean time he 's neither Scurrilous nor Prophane but a Good Man and a Good Printer as well as a good Companion I come next to Honest Brocas the third Partner and with him if he 's return'd from Holland take leave of my Three Printers Mr. Brocas is much of a Gentleman he gave me a Noble Welcome to Dublin and never grew less Obliging He 's one that loves his Friend as his Life nay he values Mr. Wild beyond it and I may say without offence to the Printers of Dublin that no Man in the Universe better understands the Noble Art and Mystery of Printing than Iohn Brocas in Skinner Row and as a threefold Cord is not easily broken so Mr. Brent Mr. Mr. Powel Mr. Brocas 't is my Advice tee yee all at parting that you never divide your Interests For what would you have Your House is a meer Paradice Oh Spatious Dwelling A Garden in a Paradise wou'd be But a too mean Periphrasis of thee And Gentlemen as your House is Airy Great and Noble and the Top Printing-House in all Dublin so if you keep together Copies so Croud in from Patrick Campbel c. you 'll soon be Aldermen of Dublin and in time arrive to the Honour of Lord Mayor and what a charming Figure will the Beautiful Powel make when attended with Sword and Mace Surrounded with Aldermen Bedeckt with Jewels and Glittering with a Gold Chain But I don't know when to ha' done I see so Gentlemen Printers farewel tee yee all Three but when I come to Dublin with another Cargo of Books 't will be in Company with Mr. Larkin and then expect my Custom again and to find us both at the Dolphin And this tho' he 's going with me brings me in the last place to own my Great Obligations to my Most Ingenious Friend Mr. George Larkin whose Noble Treatment at his own house and Great Readiness to Serve me at all hours and upon all occasions from the first minute I saw Dublin to the last hour I staid in it shall be kindly acknowledged to my dying day But I can't inlarge for Mr. Larkin is come to tell me the Ship is going to Sail which makes me Tremble for tho' I 've crost the Ocean often yet I still dread the Irish Sea but my comfort is Mr. Larkin like a true Friend still ventures his Life with me and I can never dye in better Company Thus have I paid my thanks where I think it due and given a Farewel to all my Friends and as I took my Leave have Characterized my Benefactors concerning whom I have said nothing but the real Truth and Gentlemen I have often wisht there were no such thing as a Complement in the World and therefore I flatter no Man in these Characters I have no occasion to do it for my Auction's ended and I 'm leaving Ireland besides I was not born to creep neither is it agreeable to my Temper of mind but a Man may be grateful sure without being of a mean Spirit But perhaps my Enemies will say I 'm thus large in Praising my Friends that my Scuffle may Sell the better I do declare this is all as false as what they said about Second Spira c. for I don't write this Farewel or the Dublin-Scuffle to get a Penny my Circumstances set me above it the Athenians long since told you my Raven was gon to Roost neither do I publish it out of Vain Glory to be talked of when I 'm gone for as Cowley says I 'd Live unthought of and unheard of Dye and my aversion to Shops and Private Dwelling in Iewin-street proves I'm of this humour but I Publish it purely to do justice to my self in the first place and then to my Dublin Enemies and lastly that the World may see How Generous my Friends were and who knows but my Enemies by seeing other Mens Vertue and how charming it makes 'em look may endeavour to practice it but whether they do or no I must declare the Honest Dealings I had from 'em is that alone which has put me i' th' head of a Second Auction so that as soon as I get to London I shall fall to Printing several Copies in order to Furnish out a New Venture with which I shall march directly for Scotland and when I return from thence having clear'd with all the World for as to my Morals I am or should be an Honest Man I 'le Embark for France Italy c. but more of this in My Summer Ramble or History of my Travels through Ten Kingdoms c. of which I have seen four Scotland France and Italy make it seven and when I ha' crost the Hellespont where poor Leander was drown'd Greece China and the Holy Land are the other three I am bound too and perhaps when my hand 's in I may step thence to the Indies for I 'm a true Lover of Travels and when I am once mounted care not whether I meet the Sun at his Rising or going down provided only I may but Ramble But as much as I love Travelling I love pleasing my Wife better and were I now entered the City of Rome as far as 't is and as much as I desire to see it her least Impatience to see me should hurry me back before I had seen any thing or if shee 's so obliging as to let me gratifie my Curiosity Ten Months will be the longest time I can live from her and having seen the foresaid places in that time I 'le return to the Raven in Iewin-street for tho' 't is good to Travel abroad 't is best to dye in the Arms of a kind Wife But Shops
though it can supply me with no other Remedies but Patience and the thoughts of this made me still duller than I was before but as dull as it made me before I left the Coffee-house for tho' Love has led me out of the way I don't forget I am still at Dicks I look'd upon the Bill I publish'd for that Morning then read what publick Papers came from England in the last Packet and from thence my Stomack the most infallible sort of Clock having chim'd all in I went to Dinner which was usually at a Cooks shop a Widows in Crane-lane whom I always found very ready to please me and reasonable in her Demands a thing which few of the Dublin Cooks are guilty of for though both Flesh and Fish are sold cheap in their Markets yet a Man may dine cheaper at a Cookâ— in London I perceive in these Ordinaries if a Man makes a Noise laughs in fashion and has a grim Faceâ— to promise Quarreling he shall be much observ'd but though this was none of my Talent yet when I was set down to Dinner I look'd as big and eat as confidently as any of 'em all When we had fill'd our Bellies we all began to talk and made as great a noise as Dover Court for every Man was willing to say something tho' 't was nothing to the purpose rather than be thought to have nothing to say I had but very bad sawce to my Dinner this day but that Madam mistake me not did not arise from the fault of the Cook where I was but the Company there being in a manner nothing that was serious among 'em ones Talk was so lewd as if he had liv'd in a Brothel-house another was Prophaneness all over nothing could be heard from him but Railleries if I may call them so against serious Godliness one while in Jest then again in Earnest and sometimes to shew his Wit as I may well suppose with an intermixture of both Others there were who seemingly little believed either Heaven or Hell to reward or punish or a Supreme and Righteous God and Judge of all yet made no bones of calling the Dreadful and Oâ—â—ipotent Being for a Witness to every â—rivolous and I may say many a false thing for he that makes no Conscience of Swearing will in my Opinion make less of Lying and it may well if yet it be not be made a Proverb A Common Sweâ—â—â—r a Common Lyâ—r Of all the Vices that are but too too rise among the Children of Men this of 〈◊〉 Swearing is certainly the most unaccouâ—â—â—ble one of any something may be said for Lying as that it 's profitable for Drinking that it is for the good Company of Wâ—oreing that it is natural for Kind 〈◊〉 propagate its Kind c. But for Swearing what 〈◊〉 any Man say even nothing as all Upon a â—ild 〈◊〉 with one of the Sparks about the usefulness 〈…〉 was that it adorn'd his 〈…〉 a pass is the World 〈…〉 things terminate But 〈…〉 which consisted chiefly in Noise and Nonsence was quickly at an end For Dinner being ended away went every one according as his Business or his Humour led him Some to the College some to the Play-house others to Court a few to their Shops and Dunton to his Auction When I came there my first Word usually was Where 's Wild What Sale last Night Call Price Sir here 's your Account ready cast up Thirty Pounds receiv'd and here 's the discharge on 't Call Nelson call Robinson call James call Bacon Are the Bills Printed And were they dispers'd at the Coffee houses College and Thoâ—sel Thus Madam you see I was a Man of Business and that my Province was to have a general Inspection over all my Servants and to stir them up to their Duty with the utmost Application When I had spent about an hours time at my Auction and had seen every one in their proper Post I either went to visit a Friend with whom sometimes I walk'd into the Fields or else went home to my lodging and spent my time in my Chamber either in Reading Montaigns Essays for 't is a Book I value at a great rate or else in Writing to my Friends in England And after the shadows of the Evening have put a period to the Day I us'd to make a trip to my Auction and crowd my self among the Gentlemen that went thither to buy Pennyworths and so cou'd unobserv'd observe how things went And here to do 'em Justice I observ'd that several Gentlemen bid like themselves and as those that understood the Worth and Value of the Books they bid for And others as much betray'd their Ignorance and took no other Measures for their bidding but from the bulk of the Book if 't was large whatever the worth on 't was they bid accordingly And yet to do these Right if they had but paid for what they had so bought I have no reason to complain of ' em Others there were that in their bidding took their Measures from what they heard another bid before 'em and two of these happening to meet together wou'd strive so to out-bid each other that they wou'd sometimes raise but an indifferent Book to a good Price And these provided still they paid for 'em were very honest Chapmen and help'd out those that went too often at an under Rate But whatsoever any bid 't was their own Act and Deed for I must do my self that Justice to assert that I had none of those unworthy ways that have been used in some other Auctions I had not one Setter to advance the Price and draw on unwary Bidders in any of my five Sales For howsoever I may have been aspersed in that particular by Patrick Campbel I have that Satisfaction in my self of my Sincerity and Innocence herein as is beyond the Testimony of a thousand Witnesses Having diverted my self a while with seeing of the various Humors of the Bidders in my Auction I went away as unperceiv'd as I came thither and thence retir'd into my Chamber where having spent some time in Meditation I make it my endeavour to recollect the Actions of the Day and makâ— a scrutiny into my Heart to see what pecâ—ant Humors have exerted themselves there being jealous of my self that I have not been so much upon my Watch as I ought to have been and having-thus examined how things stand I strive by an humble Confession of what I find my self guilty of and a hearty sorrow for it to reconcile my self to my offended Maker and so strike a Tally in the Exchequer of Heaven as an ingenious Author expresses it for my quietus est before I close my Eyes that I may leave no Burthen on my Conscience And after my Addresses to Heaven by way of Confession c. my Bed is the next place where I know no more of my self till seven next Morning so strange is the Nature of sound Sleep than if I had never been at which
one of the Gentlemans Daughters who walked in her Sleep every Night which was at last discover'd by a Stranger 's having Courage enough to lie in the Room said to be haunted This naturally led us in the fourth place to talk of Apparitions and here Mr. Harman ask'd me what I thought of a Spectrum's assuming a Humane Shape I assur'd him they might and to confirm this told him the Story of one Ioseph Chambers who appeard to Mary Gossam with whom I was well acquainted in that very Night-Cap which she put upon his Head when she had laid him out This Story of Chambers appearing after his Death led Mr Larkin to tell another of an Apparision he had seen in Staffordshire in his Youth which he thought had been a living Woman till he saw it vanish adding That he look'd upon the denying of Spirits and their appearing to Persons after Death to be the next degree to Atheism After about two hours spent in such agreeable Conversation we took our leave of Mr. Harman Who is a Gentleman of a fine Presence and of a most sweet and affable Temper He is now in the Bloom and Beauty of his Youth and his great Ingenuity and close Application to his Study do justly render him the growing hopes of his Father's Family and may in time to come render him an Ornament to the College I am afraid Madam I shall tire you with this tedious Relation of my Visits but I hope your Goodness will pardon me for 't is necessary to be thus particular that I may silence the lying Tongue of Patrick Campbel who has had the Impudence to say That I kept Company in Dublin with none but a Kennel of Scoundrels Whereas you see by the Visits I made That I was not acquainted with one Scoundrel in Dublin except himself and the Brass in Copper-Allcy This naturally brings me to acquaint your Ladyship That among those I Employ'd to bind up Books for my Auction I had to do with one that I call Brass a Man poor and Proud unacquainted with Honour or good Manners to supply the want of which he is well furnished with Conceit and Impudence Being thus qualified he was look'd upon by St. Patrick as a fit Tool for him and accordly chosen for his Auctioneer though he knew not how to read the Title of a Latin Book But the Gentlemen of Dublin who had been genteely treated with Wit and Sense at my Auction by Mr. Wilde could not bear with the gross Ignorance of a Brass Hammer so that Patrick was forc'd to discard him in a Weeks time and put a better Man in his Place This Brass knowing the necessity I was under of having my Books bound in order to sale resolves to make me pay a rate for Binding not only beyond what was given in London but even beyond what was given by the Booksellers of Dublin I found Madam I was in his hands and remember'd the Proverb That he that 's in a Boat with the Devil must land where he can There was a Necessity of having my Books bound and I was forc'd to comply with his unreasonable Rates How this consisted with Iustice and Equity I leave you to judge but those were things Brass never troubled his Head about for when he brought me in his Bill he over-charg'd even his own unreasonable Agreement which I refus'd to pay but offer'd to refer it to one Mr. Servant a Binder in Golden-lane with whom I had made the same agreement as I did with him but Servant being a very honest man Brass refus'd to have the thing decided by him because then he was sure 't would go against him And therefore this Fellow who for his Impudence I call the Brass in Copper-Alley serves me with a Token from the Lord Mayor to appear before him which I accordingly did as I formerly hinted in p. 104. of the Dublin Scuffle and having told his Lordship what I had offer'd he was pleas'd to say It was a very fair Proposal I made him and so dismiss'd us both which was all he got by his Two-penny Token Having done with this Scoundrel to use St. Patrick's Phrase I will next give you an Abstract of Mr. Servant's Character who though of the same Function is the direct Antipodes to the Brass of Copper-Alley this being as eminent for Honesty fair Dealing Truth and Iustice as the other is for Pride Conceit and Ignorance But Mr. Servant's Reputation does not need a Foil to set it off For he is well known in Dublin to be all that I here say But I shall add to the good Character he has already that I never met with a more scrupuâ—ous or conscientious Man in my whole Life he 's punctual to his word in the smallest matters and one that manages all his Affairs with Discretion Courteous and affable in his Conversation and ready to do every one what good he can In short his Life is the Exemplar of a Christians Practice But leaving Thomas c. hard at work for he 's a very industrious Man My next Visit shall be to Mr. Iey and Eminent Lawyer in Dublin He was a Benefactor to my Auction and my very sincere Friend And to say the Truth whatever the Lawyers are in other Countries yet in Ireland they are the best Gentlemen and the best Christians From hence to close the Evening I went to take a Dish at Patt's who is a fair-condition'd Man and very obliging to all his Customers Loving to do business without making a noise on 't 'T was here I sometimes met with Mr. Pitts an honest and ingenious Attorney a Man of good Worth and unblemish'd in his Reputation Madam he talks finely dresses his Thoughts in curious Language and has good Nature in his very Looks he is a true lover of the present Government and a brave Assertor of English Liberties in opposition to Popery and Slavery I wou'd say more of the ingenious Pitts but that I shall meet him again in my Summer Ramble Madam just as I left Patts I met with my worthy and ingenious Friend Dr. Wood Physician in Kilkenny with whom and Dr. Smith I spent some agreeable Hours of which expect a fuller Account in the conclusion of this Letter and also in my Summer Ramble where you 'll also meet the Discourse I had with a Gentleman about the Earl of Meath's Hunting Pigg which will be very diverting And now Madam as your several Directions to me inform'd you of the changing of my Lodgings so I think it proper here to give you my Reasons for so doing My first Lodging was at a Counsellors in Wine-Tavern-street who being in some danger of overtaking the Law for he had out-ran his own Practice left his House and as 't is suppos'd the Kingdom too Yet I must say ' As to his Conversation he 's a Gentleman tho' under a Cloud and sings I 'll find out a kinder a better than she beyond any Man in Christendom
the Schollars Lodgings the length of one of the Quadrangles and contains a great many choice Books of great Value particularly one the largest I ever saw for breadth 't was an Herbal containing the lively Portraictures of all sorts of Trees Plants Herbs and Flowers By this Herbal lay a small Book containing about 64 Pages in a Sheet to make it look like the Giant and the Dwarf There also since I have mentioned a Giant we saw lying on a Table the thigh-bone of a Giant or at least of some monstrous over-grown Man for the Thigh-bone was as long as my Leg and Thigh which is kept there as a convincing Demonstration of the vast bigness which some humane Bodies have in former times arriv'd to We were next shew'd by Mr. Griffith a Master of Art for he it was that shew'd us these Curiosities the Skin of one Ridley a notorious Tory which had been long ago Executed he had been begg'd for an Anatomy and being flea'd his Skin was tann'd and stuff'd with Straw in this passive state he was assaulted by some Mice and Rats not sneakingly behind his Back but boldly before his Face which they so much further Mortified even after Death as to eat it up which loss has since been supply'd by tanning the Face of one Geoghagan a Bopish Priest executed about six years ago for stealing which said Face is put in the place of Ridley's At the East End of this Library on the right hand is a Chamber called the Countess of Baths Library filled with many handsome Folios and other Books in Dutch Binding guilt with the Earls Arms imprest upon them for he had been sometime of this House on the left hand opposite to this Room is another Chamber in which I saw a great many Manuscripts Medals and other Curiosities At the West End of the Library there is a Division made by a kind of wooden-Latice-work containing about thirty pâ—ces full of choice and curious Books which was the Library of that great Man Arch-bishop Vsher Primate of Armagh whose Learning and Exemplary Piety has justly made him the Ornament not only of that College of which he was the first Scholar that ever was enter'd in it and the first who took degrees but of the whole Hibernian Nation At the upper end of this part of the Library hangs at full length the Picture of Dr. Chalonâ—r who was the first Provost of the College and a Person Eminent for Learning and Vertue His Picture is likewise at the Entrance into the Library and his Body lies in a stately Tomb made of Alabaster At the West end of the Chappel Near Dr. Chaloner's Picture if I don't mistake hangs a new Skeleton of a Man made up and given by Dr. Gwither a Physitian of careful and happy Practice of great Integrity Learning and sound Judgment as may be seen by those Treatises of his that are inserted in some late Philosophical Transactions Thus Madam have I given ye a brief Account of the Library which at present is but an ordinary Pile of Building and can't be distinguish'd on the out-side but I hear they design the building of a New Library And I am told the Hoose of Commons in Ireland have voted 3000 l. towards carrying it on After having seen the Library we went to visit Mr. Minshul whose Father I knew in Chester Mr. Minshul has been Student in the College for some time and is a very sober ingenious Youth and I do think is descended from one of the most courteous Men in Europe I mean Mr. Iohn Minshul Bookseller in Chester After a short stay in this Gentleman's Chamber we were led by one Theophilus a good natur'd sensible Fellow to see the New-house now building for the Provost which when finish'd will be very noble and magnificent After this Theophilus shew'd us the Gardens belonging to the College which were very pleasant and entertaining Here was a Sun-Dyal on which might be seen what a Clock it was in most parts of the World This Dyal was plac'd upon the top of a Stone representing a Pile of Books And not far from this was another Sun-Dyal set in Box of a very large compass the Gnomoh of it being very near as big as a Barber's Poll. Leaving this pleasant Garden we ascended several steps which brought us into a curious Walk where we had a Prospect to the West of the City and to the East of the Sea and Harbour On the South we cou'd see the Mountains of Wicklow and on the North the River Liffâ—e which runs by the side of the College Madam having now and at other times throughly survey'd the Colledge I shall here attempt to give your Ladyship a very particular Account of it t is call'd Trinity College and is the sole University of Ireland it consists of three Squares the outward being as large as both the inner one of which of modern building has not Chambers on every side the other has on the South side of which stands the Library the whole length of the Square I shall say nothing of the Library here having already said something of it so I proceed to tell ye Madam thaâ— the Hall and Butteries run the same range with the Library and separates the two inner squares it is an old building as also the Regentâ—house which from a Gallery looks into the Chappel which has been of late years enlarged being before too little for the number of Scholars which are now with the Fellows c. reckoned about 340 they have a Garden for the Fellows and another for thâ— Provost both neatly kept as also a Bowling green and large Parks for the Students to walk and exercise in The Foundation consists of a Provost who at present is the Reverend Dr. Georgâ— Brown a Gentleman bred in this House since a Youth when he was first enter'd and one in whom they all count themselves very happy for he 's an Excellent Governour and a Person of great Piety Learning and Moderation seven Senior Fellows of whom two are Doctors in Divinity eight Iuniors to which one is lately added by and seventy Scholars their publick Commencements are at Shrovetide and the first Tuesday after the eighth of Iuly Their Chancellor is his Grace the Duke of Ormond since the death of the Right Reverend the late Bishop of Meath they have had no Vice-Chancellor only pro re nata The University was founded by Queen Elizabeth and by her and her Successors largely endowed and many munificent Gifts and Legacies since made by several other well-disposed Persons all whose Names together with their Gifts are read publickly in the Chappel every Trinity Sunday in the Afternoon as a grateful acknowledgement to the Memory of their Benefactors and on the 9th of Ianuary 1693. which compleated a Century from the Foundation of the College they celebrated their first secular day when the Provost Dr. Ash now Bishop of Clogher Preach'd and made a notable Entertainment for the Lords Justices
Privy Council Lord Mayor and Aldermen of Dublin The Sermon Preached by the Provost was on the Subject of the Foundation of the College and his Text was Mat. xxvi xiii Verily I say unto you Wheresoever this Gospel shall be Preached in the whole World there shall also this that this Woman hath done be told for a Memorial of her which in this Sermon the Provost apply'd to Queen Elizabeth the Foundress of the College The Sermon was Learned and Ingenious and afterwards Printed by Mr. Ray and dedicated to the Lords Justices who at that time were the Lord Henry Capel Sir Cyril Wiche and William Duncomb Esq In the Afternoon there was several Orations in Latin spoke by the Scholarâ— in Praise of Queen Elizabeth and the succeeding Princes And an Ode made by Mr. Tate the Poet Laureat who was bred up in this College Part of the Ode was this following I. Great Parent hail all hail to thee Who hast the last Distress surviv'd To see this Ioyful day arriv'd The Muses second Jubilee II. Another Century commencing No decay in thee can trace Time with his own Law dispensing Adds new Charms to every Grace That adorn'd thy youthful Face III. After Wars Alarms repeated And a Circling Age compleated Numerous off-spring thou do'st raise Such as to Juverna's Praise Shalâ— Liffee make as proud a Name As that o Isis or of Cham. IV. Awful Matron take thy Seat To celebrate this Festival The Learn'd Assembly well to treat Blest Eliza's Days Re call The Wonders oâ— her Reign Recount In 〈◊〉 that Phoeous may surmount Songs for Pâ—oeâ—us to repeat She t was that did at first inspire And tune the mute Hibernian Lyre V. Succeeding Princes next recite With never dying Verse requite Those Favours they did show'r 'T is this alone can do â—em Right To save 'em from Oblivion's Night Is only in the Muses Power VI. But chiefly recommend to Fame MARIA and Great WILLIAM's Name Whose isle to Him her Freedom owes And surely no Hibernian Muse Can her Restorers â—raise refuse While Boyn and Shannon flowes After this Ode had been sung by the Principal Gentlemen of the Kingdom there was a very diverting Speech made in English by thâ— Terra Filius The Night concluded with Illuminations not only in the College but in other Places Madam this day being to be observ'd but once in an hundred years was the Reason why I troubl'd your Ladyship with this Account Hâ—ving Reâ—arded Theophilus for his readiness to shew us the Gardens we took our leave of the College and from thence I went Mr. Wâ—lde and Mr. â—arkin â—eing still with me to take my leave of the Honourable Collonel Butler of St. Stephen ' s Green to whom I was greatly obliged both as he was a great Encouâ—ager of my Auction and as I had all along his Countenance and Favour in it especially when there was some Persons that had a mind to 〈◊〉 and banter my Auction but by this worthy Gentlemans appearing against 'em and resenting the Affront as done to himself they quickly cry'd Pecavâ— Madam it wou'd be too great Presumption in me to attempt this Gentleman's Character for I shou'd but dim the lustre of his brighter Vertues by all that I cou'd write But the noble Favours I receiv'd from Collonel Butler oblige me to a publick Acknowledgment tho' all I can say of him will be like losser Maps of the large world where every Prick sets down some ample Shire and every Point's a City His brave and generous Soul is so well known that 't is but wasting of time to tell it then where can I begin or where shall I end Shou'd I sâ—eak of his Learning I might câ—ll him the Mecâ—enus oo Iâ—eland for the Bâ—oks he buys do by their number sufficiently declare his Love to Learning 〈◊〉 by their Value and intrinsick Worth the vaâ—â—ness of his Judgment Neither is he less remarkable for his affable Carriage his sweet and oblâ—ging Disposition his large Charity his singular Humility Iustice Temperance and Moderation and I do believe his noble Attainments in the Art o◠〈◊〉 has no parallel in the Kingdom of Ireland Madam I wou'd proceed in the Collonels Charectâ—r but I fear his Great Modesty will make â—im think I say too much tho I am very sure all that know him will think I say too littlâ— When we came to the Collonels House he receiv'd me and my two Friends in a most â—â—â—iging manner after our first Salutations â—he had us â—â—to his Dinning-room hung round with curious Pâ—ctures all of his own drawing some of which were King Edward the vith the Lady Iane Gray the two Charles's King William and Queen Mary with others which I now forgot When we were all seated the Collonel told me he took my coming to see him very kindly and that if he came to London he wou'd do himself the Honour of repaying my Visit. We next fell to discourse of the Auctions I made in Dublin and here the Collonel was pleas'd to say I had been a great Benefactor to the Kingdom of Ireland by bringing into it so large a quantity of good Books I thank'd him for the Honour he did me by that Expression and further added that if all my Buyers had been so generous as himself my Venture had been very fortunate This Discourse about my Auction naturally led us to talk of Patrick Campbel the grand Enemy to it and after I had told the Collonel what Treatment I had from Campbel he said I had just Reason to vindicate my self and that he believed there never was a fairer Auction then mine or a better Auctioneer then Mr. Wilde and therefore Madam I dedicate the Dublin-Scuffle to Collonel Butler as a generous Protector of an injur'd Stranger Upon the taking my leave of the Collonel he express'd himself very sorry that I was leaving the Country and said If ever I return'd with a second Venture he wou'd Encourage it all he cou'd for this I return'd him my humble Thanks confessing my unworthiness of those many Favours I had receiv'd from him Then taking my final leave he gave me that endearing Salutation which is the great Expression of kindness among the Gentlemen of Ireland after this tender Favour he honour'd me so far as to sâ—y he shou'd be wishing for Westerly Winds for my sake till he heard I was landed and so with wishing Mr. Larkin and my self a good Voyage we parted well satisâ—y'd in the Honour done us by the noble Collonel Madam I told ye that Collonel Butler was very remarkable for his great Humility and generous Temper and you see by his obliging Expressions to Persons so much below him how much he merits that noâ—le Character of being humble I call it so as Pride lessens or rather disgraces Men of the highest Rank as much or more then it does others and therefore 't is tho' Collonel Butler is very eminent for ev'ry Vertue yet if he excells in one more then another
forbid relieving Beggars at Random meerly to be rid of their Noise and Clamour and ways found out to employ the Charity of well-disposed Persons to the good and benefit of the Town and Country where they live that the truly Poor may find Persons to apply to for Relief who both knows them and their Wants Such a Law and the careful Execution of it would deserve the Parliaments Care as much perhaps as any other they can pretend to bless the Nation with and thus the publick Charity secured there is more liberty for the private of which the charitable Persons themselves takes so slight account their left hand scarce knows what their right hand does so many and various are the occasions of Charity they are ingaged in consisting in many different ways of doing good as in lending Money or Goods and not exacting the Payment where the Persons are not in a Condition to pay in forgiving Wrongs and Injuries concealing and bearing with Infirmities in Advice and Admonishing in a word in every thing in which we can assist ones Neighbour tho' with some difficulty and hardship to ones self Your Character of Ireland in Verse is very fine and just but I shall shorten my Reflections upon your Prose Character 't is not a Subject I love to dwell upon perhaps the moisture of the Air may contribute much to their flegm and sloth but I suppose 't is the contempt in which the Government holds 'em that is the cause of their brutality sure if it were thought worth their Pains they are as capable of being civiliz'd as the other barbarous Nations who have been brought to Christianity You talk of Priests for their Conductors sure they must have been Priests of Dan that had so well instructed those People for I perceive the best among 'em that live in Cities excell only in fashionable Villanies I am inclin'd to think your Friend Wilde deserves to the full all the Glories of his Character both as to his Vertues and natural Endowments to be as you affirm of him the same good Man in all Events and a fit Companion for the nicest Christian adâ— to this his great Love to the present Government These are all Vertues of no common size yet 't is very possible he may fail of that Reward you expect for him in time and meet a more ample Reward in a Place where Time shall have nothing to do nor can he lose by that even in this World for Vertue is its own Reward and End 'T is a surprizing Character you give of Doctor Phoenix I know not whether such another will spring out of his Ashes To be modest and humble ascribing all his Success to God and to impart his Skill to the Poor for Charity are Vertues the generality of our Physitians are Strangers to and tho' they pretend to rail at Quacks they have both one aim which is more at their Patients Purses and their own Fame and Reputations than the Health and Recovery the sick Party gives their Money for Tho' I acknowledge the force of Imagination to be very great I can't conceive how two such Persons should be so transported as one to fancy the Story and the other the Circumstances to support it nor is there any thing incredible in the whole Relation attested by two such Persons as you represent 'em The Lady's Courage was the most surprising part of the Story but I confess it would neither confirm or destroy the Doctrine of Baptizing Children with me as I believe it was the Devil what he teaches is of little weight his Policies are so refined 't is hard to guess at his Designs but to be sure his intent is always to deceive and then most certainly when he most contradict his own Interest I wonder at the Dean's so slightly imputing it to the force of Imagination unless he 's of the same Mind with a Minister I once discoursed with who deny'd the Devils Power to possess any Persons Notwithstanding many Instances I alledged out of the New Testament he affirm'd all those were only Lunaticâ—s I was much surpriz'd at such an audaciousness against such plain Scripture Cou'd I find the like for Souls entering into Bodies after they have cast 'em off I should not generally impute all Apparitions to the Devil as I do Not that I believe they enter into Bodies to appear in but that we only are deceived with the appearance of a Body for in this case the Persons had been dead so long their Bodies must needs be corrupted I believe as well in some special occasions God sends his Angels still as he did formerly in humane Shapes to warn or protect his Servants from some dangers but not to take upon 'em the Persons of the Dead to teach or confirm any point of Faith or Doctrine I never found any thing in Scripture to countenance such an Opinion If Imagination had such a Power over the Lady as the Dean pretended to think to save his giving Sentence in a case so difficult tho' who knows but he did believe so in reality that pretty Robin had been a subject proper to delude her having Qualities so much above his kind I wish when the Bird dies the Devil don't take its shape and visit the Lady again she gave him so kind an Entertainment in the Person of her Vncle. Libraries appear much greater in the Eyes of the World in my Opinion then indeed they are we think we have a great Treasure there of the Thoughts of Men but the multitude of those Thoughts shews the weakness of ' em What need so much be said If they were all agreed upon the Truth one Demonstration would reduce all the rest to silence and bring Knowledge to a much narrower Compass I take that to be the Curse that belong'd to the Soul of Man that as his Body was condemn'd to labour and the Earth at the same time to bring forth Thornes and Thistles so his Mind should have a continual thirst and desire after Knowledge and be constantly deceiv'd with appearances Yet what can be more proper to humble Man for his first Presumption when it brings him at last to see and acknowledge his own Weakness and Ignorance and to find after all his Pains in humane Learning there 's no true Knowledge but that which David found in the study of Gods Law which made him wiser than the Aged I hope you will not be startled at this stupendious temerity of a foolish Woman 't is my sence which I have your leave to own upon every occasion you give me and I find some countenance to this Opinion in the first Volume of the Port Royal. But whatever I think of the vast Curiosity of Books and Libraries I am no Enemy to the Studious for I allow fine Buildings and Gardens can't be better bestow'd than on such the labours of the Mind require that Pleasure it goes as far as any thing that 's humane towards the inspiring great and noble