sufficient to stop the Mouths of all Cavillers The Second Part of my Book is Intitled what it really was A Billet Doux sent me by a Citizens Wife in Dublin with my Answers to her And as LUST was her Master-Sin so in my First and Second Letter I check her Impudence and then prescribe Remedies for her Disease And in my Third Letter I tell her the way how she and her Husband whom she â—alls Argus may yet be happy in Wedlock Gentlemen by this attempt of Dorindâ— at a time when I was scuffling with Campbel you may see I was condemn'd to fight with Beasts of both Sexes though I am apt to think as my London Correspondent observ'd that 't was a Trap of Patrick's laying and that he had a mind to try what he cou'd do by Women since he durst not face me himself or Answer my Challenge in Print and therefore I publish Dorinda's Billet with my Dublin Scuffle as it seems to be part of it Had I been caught in the Snare as my ingenious Friend further observes there 's no reason to doubt but Patrick wou'd have blaz'd it on the House-top 'T is true the Billet was really sent me and my Answer directed to St. Lawrence's Coffee-house on Cork-hill where it lyes still for any thing I know to the contrary but wou'd it save my Life I cou'd not tell who sent it nor cou'd I ever guess at the Author but I know my Innocence and therefore am not afraid or asham'd that the World should see Dorinda's Billet and what an Enemy I was to her Assignation which is writ as if she were acquainted with me the better to allure or fright me to her wanton Arms. As to the Third Part of my Book which I call my Conversation in Ireland 't was necessary to add it to my Scuffle with Campbel and the Irish Dorinda that the World might see by my Method of Living in that Country what little reason I gave Patrick to sucffle with me or to the Irish Dorinda to tempt me to her lewd Embraces This Account of my Conversation was really sent in a Letter to a Lady of High Birth and the Answer to it is a Letter of her own Writing but who she is I having promis'd to conceal her Name â—ven Râ—cks and Gibbets shou'd not squeezâ— it from me Tho' wou'd she honour me so far as to let me tell who she is it would add greatly to the sale of my Book and perhaps occasion several Impressions But this is a Favour I can't expect However to make my Conversation as agreeable as I well cou'd I 've intermixt it with particular Characters of the most Eminent Persons I convers'd with in the Kingdom of Ireland but more especially in the City of Dublin And if in these Characters I 've been too lavish in any one's Praise or have describ'd some Persons what they shou'd be rather than what they are 't is excusable sure for who knows but these by seeing how charming Vertue wou'd make 'em may endeavour to practise it Gentlemen If these ben't Reâ—sons sufficient for publishing my Conversation in Ireland I might add one more and that is I publish it to please my self Why may not I have my Humour as well as others I promis'd my Summer Rambles for the Diversion of the Gentlemen in Ireland who incourag'd my Auctions and this Conversation is a part of 'em And Gentlemen if that Honourable Lady to whom 't is directed or your selves do but cast a favourable Eve upon it I have my end And who knows what success I may have For the World is at present much upon the search after Voyages and Travels to which Rambles being something a-kin they are I hope coming in fashion too and I may be allow'd to offer at something of that Nature since I have cross'd the Sea half a dozen times visited America and been four Months together on the Ocean Sir William Cornwallis saith of Montaign's Essays That it was the likeliest Book to advance Wisdom because the Authors own Experience is the chiefest Argument in it And indeed shou'd every Man write an History of his Life comprehending as well his Vices as Vertues and have them with simplicity related how useful wou'd this prove to the Publick But this may rather be wished for than expected since Men have ever preferr'd their own private Reputation before the real good of themselves or others But now if contrary to the mode of such Travellers as lose their Thoughts in the open Air where they were conceiv'd I have with more Diligence register'd mine It was out of no Opinion they deserve a longer Life but to prevent Idleness The chief thing I seek in publishing this Dublin Scuffle and Conversation in Ireland next to clearing my Innocence with respect to Campbel Dorinda and other Enemies is by my Pen to find Employment for a Spirit that wou'd break the Vessel had it nothing to work upon To those that are angry at my frequent Digressions I answer here with the ingenious Montaign that Constancy is not so absolutely necessary in Authors as in Husbands and for my own part when I have my Pen in my Hand and Subject in my Head I look upon my self as mounted my Horse to ride a Iourney wherein although I design to reach such a Town by Night yet will I not deny my self the Satisfaction of going a Mile or two out of the way to gratifie my Sences with some new and diverting Prospect Now he that is of this rambling humour perhaps will be pleas'd with my Conversation which is little else than a hasty digression from one thing to another However in this I have as I said before the honour to imitate the Great Montaign whose Umbrage is sufficient to protect me against any one age of Criticks and 't is well it is so for Gentlemen I am very sensible that 't is safer to make 50 Challenges at Sword and Buckler long Sword and Quarter-staff than to play one Author's Prize on the Bookseller's Stall for the one draws but Blood but by the other a Man is drawn and quarter'd To appear in Print is worse than hanging for the Torture of the Halter is but an Hour or so but he that lies on the Rack in Print hath his Flesh torn off by the Teeth of Envy and Calumny though he meant no body no harm Nay some of my Brethren themselves are turn'd Demi-Criticks and call every thing Stuff that has not their own Name to it There 's P. C. T. F. and two or three more ill-natur'd Fops if an Angel should send a Copy to Phil they would call it Stuff except they had a share in it But I shall meet with them elsewhere and would have these ill-natur'd Criticks take notice that I wear my Pen as others do their Sword and for that same end too and don't care one Rush whether thy approve or condemn what I write It is not their Judgment that I value and therefore
spade I also own I 'm very rash in my Actionâ— and scarce ever did any thing save taking two Women for better for worse but I repented of one time or other I have a great deal of Mercury in my natural Temper for which I must have allowance or shall appear but an odd Christian but the best Men are the most Charitable and no man if he considers himself will blame that in me which I can't help perhaps I shall be blam'd for this open Confession but having an honest design in every thing I do I publish that to the World which others wou'd keep as a secret and for this Reason I creep to no body but by daring to tell the Truth do often lose a Friend for the sake of a Jest but bating but this Fault tho' I say 't my self I 'm as fit to make a Friend as any Man I know for my Bosom is my Friends Closet where he may safely lock up all his Complaints his Doubts and Cares and look how he leaves so he finds ' em The Dead the Absent the Innocent and he that trusts me I never deceive or slander to these I owe a nobler Iustice and am so sensible of another's Injuries that when my Friend is stricken I cry out I was never forward in contracting of Friendships but where I once love I never hate no not for a Crime any longer then till Pardon is ask'd and if my Friend falls to decay I 'm even ready to rejoyce I ask his Pardon that I have an Opportunity to convince him I lov'd in earnest and tho' 't were impossible he shou'd ever requite me while I have any thing my Friend shall have all nay I have this peculiar to my self that I love a Friend better for being Poor Miserable or Despis'd True Friendship like the Rose flourishes best amongst Thorns and my Hopes are so strong that they can insult over the greatest Discouragement that lies in the way of serving my Friend And therefore I 'd rather serve my Friend then barely pretend to 't for I hate a noise where there 's no Performance I never do that to my Friend that I can't be content he shou'd do to me and therefore loving at this warm rate 't is but just I slight what loves not so much as my self So much for my Birth Education Person Temper of Mind Religion and Friendship As to my Dealings with Men my Word is my Parchment and my Yea my Oath which I will not violate for Fear or Gain and this is one Reason why I never eat my Promise or say this I saw not but this I said In 600 Books I ha'e Printed I never swerv'd from the Price agreed on or made any Printer call twice for his Money which Practice I learnt from my honoured Master nor did I ever print any Man's Copy or purchase his Author by out-bidding and my way of Traffick is all above board for I betray the Faults of what I sell. I have twenty times in Dublin restor'd the over-seen Gain of a mistaken Reckoning and being haunted with a scrupulous Mind have often paid a Sum over twice for fear of doing wrong and this even Dick Pue will own if he has any justice left But what Justice can I expect when the Malice of some Men is so deep and their Capacities so shallow as to believe a Criminal in his own Case to the Prejudice of an Innocent Man But they that will judge me by the malicious Tongues of my prejudic'd Enemies are â—itter for a place in Bedlam then to live amongst honest People for honest Men there are in the World and therefore I appeal to Mr. Wild in Dublin to Mr. Wilkins in New-England to Mr. Darker in London and all that have traded with me for the Truth of this scrupulous Iustice. But as scrupulous as I am in Trade I was never wanting to my Belly nor a Wretch to my Back and am the same Enemy to Prodigality as I am to a sneaking Temper and I think I am right in this part of my Character for Solomon says Eccles. 2.24 There is nothing better for a Man then that he shou'd eat and drink and that he shou'd make his Soul enjoy good in his Labour But tho' I pity the Man Eccles. 6. 2. To whom God hath given Riches and not the Power to eat thereof but a Stranger eateth it yet of the two extreams I think it much better to live beneath then above my Estate for I had rather want then borrow and beg then not pay And tho' I ha'e Printed 600 Books I never Printed a New Title to an old Book nor never undervalued a Copy because I did not Print it my self and I ever thought it as base Injustice to run upon another's Project neither did I ever murther any Man's Name with saying he Printed this or that the more cunningly to praise my self and I as little like underselling others to get Chapmen To summ up my Character in few words I love Rambling don't love Fighting love Valeria don't love Money love my Friend don't fear nor hate my Enemy Love Fair-draling Had rather be call'd Fool then Knave Let People laugh while I win Can be secret if trusted Am ow'd more then I owe and can pay more then that make my Word as good as my Bond. Won't do a foul thing and bid the World go 〈◊〉 Now whatever your Ladyship thinks or my Enemies may say against me all that know me will own this is the True Character of Iohn Dunton or at least 't is the Character of what I shou'd be I write not this out of vain Glory but as a necessary Vindication of my Life and Actions against the Abuses of Patrick Campbel But perhaps your Ladyship will say I live by ill Neighbours that I praise my self To this I Answer I see little in this Character that adds much to my Praise or if I did I shou'd spoil it with telling your Ladyship that my Faults are so many to my few Vertues if I have any that I 'm ready to own my self the worst of Men and do often cry out with the Publican Luke 18.13 God be merciful to me a Sinner However Madam If I have been too kind to my self in this present Character if your Ladyship in your Remarks on it will honour me so far as to take your Pencil and draw me just as I am for this Conversation sets me in a true light â— I 'll Print the Character you give me tho' 't were a Satyr upon my whole Life for I know you 'r just and will write nothing but what you think and I so little value the Praises of others that I 'll Print it just as you send it and if the exposing my Faults will make others avoid 'em I shall reckon the Publishing of 'em amongst the chief Blessings of my Life And if when your Hand 's in at Characters you 'll send me your own 't wou'd direct
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.
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
be Partner in it and that too after his going with me to the Methodizer by which he could know no more of Spira then I did so that 't is clear if I have Printed a False Spira as I hope not that 't is no more than an older Man would have done upon the same Informations which I received But to do this Bookseller Justice there were several Divines as well as he and I that believed the Truth of the Second Spira from the Account the Methodizer gave of it I could name two that from the Pulpit advised their Hearers to read it 'T is true this Bookseller tells you he afterwards alter'd his mind what the Divines did I can't say but what of that This no ways affects me for he would fain have been concern'd at first and to tempt me to it promises a Preface to recommend the Book and I could see no more into Futurity then he and therefore I fell a blushing for his sake not for my own to hear him Rail at the Book Gentlemen I really thought it Second Spira had wanted a Champion this had been the very Man he was so zealous for a share in it but I rejecting the offers he made instead of being the last as I might expect he was the first Publick Enemy it met with And the next to him was a Man who leers under his Hat and may now see his Sin in his Punishment in those â—ashes Mr. Mather gives him in p. 68. But I won't Name the Book or Passage for when I remember how abusive he was I think it revenge enough to forgive him A Third Slanderer of Second Spira and is all I met with amongst Booksellers was a Gentleman-Stationer who had no grudge against me or the Book yet had the Conscience to send it to to serve a Turn I would explain my self for here we are Bout-Ship as we shall cry by and by at Sea but that He 's below himself that is not above an Injury or at least the Ingratitude of a little Fellow I am thus particular in telling the Enemies to Second Spira and in Defending my Printing of it that the World may see what a vile thing Slandering is especially the Private Slanderer The thing is True but pray say nothing you had it from me is a Wound can never be Cured 'T is Stabbing a Man behind and is the worst sort of Murther as it leaves no room for Defence And this has been my Fate for I verily think were all the Lyes that were told about Second Spira Printed in one Book 't would scarcâ— be Printed in Two Years But I am willing now for I have bore long to be out of the Slanderers Debt and I hope what I here affirm will give Satisfaction to all the World For Gentlemen you see my Innocence as to this Book and how much I suffered when formerly rail'd at for Publishing of it by the malice of some and ignorance of others and therefore I thought it proper now to set Spira in a True Light for I can't run every where to answer Slanderers especially my Dublin Enemies for I 'm now leaving of 'em and these have treated both Spira and me without the least mixture of Candour tho Archbishop Tillotson tells 'em in p. 515. in his works That if there were any need that a Man should be Evil spoken of it is but fair and equal that his good and bad Qualities should be mentioned together otherwise he may be strangely misrepresâ—nted and an indeferent Man may be made a Monster They coâ—tinues this Great Prelate that wilâ— observe nothing in a Good Man but his failings and infirmities may make a shift to renâ—â— a very Wise and Good Man and I never pretended to be either very Despicable If one should heap together all the Passionate Speeches all the Froward and Imprudent Actions of the Best Man all that he had â—aid or done amiss in his whole Life and present it all at one view concealing his Wisdom and Vertues the Man in this disguise would look like a Mad-Man or a Fury and yet if his Life were â—airly Represented and just in thâ— same manner it was led and his many and great Vertues set over against his failings and infirmities he would appear to all the World to be an Admirable and Excellent Person But adds this learned Author How many and great soever any Mans ill Qualities are it is but just that with all this heavy load of faults he should have the due praise of the few real Vertues that are in him Herbert says He that will but one side hear Tho' he judge right is no good Iusticer One would have thought this distich with the foregoing passage of Archbishop Tillotson were enough to cure Ceâ—suring and to have enclin'd the Readers of the Second Spira to have been more charitable to the Publisher of it for if I had not One Good Quality to mention with my Bad as Bishop Tillotson advises yet they were wholly ignorant of me and cou'd not tell did they give me a hearing but I might clear my Innocence and having now done it I expect they receant their old Reslections and revive that Opinion they had of me before the publishing of this Book The Reason why I expect this Generous Treatment and am thus positive in the Account I give of the Second Spira is because I write this as if I made an Affidavit before a Master in Chancery For Livy the Famous Historian saith That he that writes a Lye for Truth is the greatest of Perjur'd Persons and his Reason is because he imposes upon Generations to come and this makes me yet think that the Second Spira is a true Narrative For â—an't there been as strange Concealments who 'd have thought that Overbury's Murder would have come to light 5 years after 't was done and I believe the Methodizer a Man of that Honour Vertue that had he the least suspition that I S the Divine which he says gave him the Notes had impos'd upon him he 'd soon Publish the same to the World and as a Christian ought own his Error in being imposed upon This is what I believe of the Methodizer and as for my own share my Innocence is such as I have here shewn by running through all the steps of the Publication that if I find Second Spira a Lye tho' 't were Ten Year hence I 'd be the first should tell it and be as zealous for Printing the Methodizers Recantation But till such Discovery is made I shall still believe it as much the true Spira as his in Newgate-Street who to shew the honesty of his little Soul calls his Book the True Spira that mine might be thought a False One or as is the Relation of Francis Spira whence this Second Spira has its name Now Gentlemen what I have here said of the Second Spira being what I am able to swear to upon all the Bibles in the Kings Dominions and if my
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
'em all as Places I must quickly leave which made 'em all indifferent to me but cou'd I have enjoy'd Valeria there I shou'd have given the Preference to Mr. Orson's his curious Gardens being very delightful and his House a private Country-Seat Thus Madam I have given you a brief Account of my way of Living in Dublin with which had I had Valeria's ' batying Company I shou'd have thought my self very happy for through the Divine Goodness bating my first fit of Sickness I enjoy'd a competent measure of Health those other Indispositions I sometimes met with serv'd only as Memento's to put me in mind of preparing for another Wâ—rld and even under them I was chearful and well contented having tho not exempt from humane Infirmities no guilt of any wilful Sin lying on my Conscience so that all troublesome Thoughts were banish'd from my Breast and I pass'd away my Life with great Delight And now being pretty well I had a mind to ramble into the Country for a little Conversation among the Irish of which more anon and to view the Cabins Manners and Customs c. of the dear Ioyes but the Company I met in Dublin was so agreeable I cou'd not presently leave it and which made it yet the more delightful after my Recovery I sometimes convers'd with Counsellor Kairns Counsellor Stevens Mr. Bourn Mr. Bosworth Mr. Crawcroft Men eminent for Piety Wisdom Learning and all other Vertues by whose Conversation I improv'd my own Understanding and found that the knowledge of my own Ignorance was a great step towards being a good Proficient in the School of Wisdom When I cou'd not have such Company I gave my self to Reading some useful Book or other the Bible having always the preference and afterwards to writing my American Travels and Summer Ramble both which I begun and finish'd in Ireland I enjoy'd also especially when I lay at Mr. Orson's the Pleasure of walking in a delightful Garden well furnish'd with the most curious Herbs and Flowers whose various Colours delighted my Eye and their Fragrancy my Smell Besides which I had the Satisfaction of a lovely Prospect Southwards towards the City of Dublin I had the silent Murmurs of the River Lyffee in my way Westward I had a full view of Kilmanum Hospital which at that distance being seated on the summit of a Hill was a very agreeable Prospect To the Northwards or rather the Northwest I had the pleasant sight of a Village call'd Kabragh which was pretty near and at a greater distance the fine Town of Finglass seated on a Hill where I had a noble Prospect of the Sea and of all the Ships in the Harbor of Dublin Sometimes I wou'd walk down from my Lodging to the River-side which was not a Mile from it where the pleasant Rills of running Water were extream delightful At other times I wou'd walk through those green Meadows from the end of Stony-batter to the Kaâ—ragh which is a Village about a Mile from my Lodging full of stately Trees which gives a pleasing shade and delightful Prospect From whence as I came back I had the Sea and Harbour directly in my View And sometimes Madam I walk to Chappel-Izod to visit the Lord Clonuff who is President of the Illustrious House of Cabinteelee and confers Honours as freely as a Prince tho' with more Ceremony than those of the Round-Table During the time of my last being there he created no less than Four Noble-Men of which the Duke of Frâ—om was one the Marquess of Swan-Castle carrying the Sword and assisting at the Ceremony but more of this in my Summer Ramble where you 'll have the History of my Lord Clonuff at large with a merry Account of the Original of the House of Cabinteeiee and the Honours the President has conferr'd with an exact List of the Nobility created by the said President Sometimes I wou'd for my Diversion ride out a few Miles either to Santry Swords or Mallahide a Place as Eminent as Billinsgaie for Peoples going to eat Oysters there And that which made these little Iourneys more delightful was that I had now though at a distance the Sea within my view which I like well enough on shore but not on board for I am always sick on the Ocean Sometimes I walk along the Strand up to Clantarff which when the Tide is in is very pleasant and the next day perhaps I take a Ramble to Donnibroeâ— Dumcondrah Repharnum Palmerstown and whither else my Fancy leads me And sometimes I went to the Dublin Bowling-Green perhaps the finest in Europe either to divert my self by Playing or look on those that did where I have seen the Gentlemen screwing their Bodies inâ— o more Antick Postures than Proteâ—s ever knew as if they thought the Bowl wou'd run that way they screw'd their Bodies and many times wou'd curse it when it did not And while I thus look'd on I cou'd not but reflect how like the Iack is to the World which most men covet with the greatest Earnestness but very few obtain And when sometimes I saw a Bowl play'd by a skilful hand lye very near her it has in one small Moment by the unlucky knock of a succeeding Bowl lain at the greatest distance from it and others have in the sâ—me instance been laid by the Jack that never thought of it just so 't is with the things of the World some that with Toil and Industry have gotten an Estate by one or other unforeseen Disaster have in a Moment lost it all when some perhaps that never expected it by the same Accident that quite undid the other were made Rich. So sickle are Riches which as the Wise Man tells us Make themselves Wings and fly away At other times I have gone further off and visited some of the Irish Cities and the first I rambled to was Kilkenny where I was introduc'd to the Acquaintance of my worthy and ingenious Friend Dr. Wood by the following Letter written by an Eminent Person in Dublin and which I 'll insert here not out of vain Glory for the Praises he gives me shews that his Love had blinded his Iudgment but that your Ladyship might the better see by that Inquisitive Temper which he found in me what variety you are like to have in my Summer Ramble The Letter I deliverd to Dr. Wood from my Friend in Dublin was this following viz. Dear Doctor THE Bearer hereof Mr. Dunton is my Friend and as such you will look upon him as a very good and honest Gentlemâ—n he goes to your Town to look about him and see the place for some days I pray oblige me so far as to let him have your Assistance to see the Castle and such other things as his Curiosity leads him to for he is an inquisitive Person and a Man not unâ—it for Travel All the Favours you do him shall be thankfully acknowledg'd as done to Dublin Septemb. 12. 1698. Your Humble Servant c. This Letter