Front matter
ONLY COMPLETE AMERICAN EDI' ON.
T
GU ^LIVER’S TRAVELS
Chapter I
The author gives some account of himself and family — His inducements to travel — He is shipwrecked, and swims for his life — Gets safe on shore in the country of Lilliput — Is made a prisoner, and carried up the country . . 85
Chapter II
The Emperor of Lilliput, attended by several of the nobility, comes to see the author in his confinement — The Emperor’s person and habits described. — Learned men appointed to teach the author their language — He gains favour by his mild disposition — His pockets are searched, and his sword and pistols taken from him 100
Chapter III
The author diverts the Emperor, and his nobility of both sexes, in a very uncommon manner — The diversions of the court of Lilliput described — The author lia° liberty granted him upon certain conditions lid
Chapter IV
Mildendo, the metropolis of Lilliput, described, together with the emperor’s palace — A conversation between the author and a principal secretary, concerning the affairs of that empire — The author offers to serve the emperor in his wars . 1 ‘24
vii
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P AG*
Chapter V
The author, by an extraordinary stratagem, prevents an invasion— A high title of honour is conferred on him — Ambassadors arrive from the Emperor of Blefuscu and sue for peace — The Empress’s apartments on fire by accident; the author instrumental in saving the rest of the palace 131
Part II. A Voyage To Brobdingnag
‘ - CHAPTER I.
A great storm descried ; the long boat sent to fetch water, the author goes with it to discover the country — He is left on shore, is seized by one of the natives and carried to a farmer’s house — His reception, with several accidents that happened there — A description of the inhabitants . . . . . . 1T5
CHAPTER II.
A description of the farmer’s daughter — The author carried to a market town, and then to the Metropolis — The particulars of his joux-ney .... 191
CHAPTER III.
The author sent for to court— The queen buys him of his master the farmer, and presents him to the king — He disputes with his majesty’s great scholars— An apartment at court provided for the author — He is in high favour with t lie queen — He stands up for the honour of his own country — His quarrels will the queen’s dwarf 196
CON TENTS
IX
PAS*
CHAPTER IY.
The country described — A proposal for correcting modern maps — The king’s palace, and some account of the metropolis — The author’s way of travelling — The chief temple described . 210
CHAPTER V.
Several adventures that happened to the author — The execution of a criminal — The author shows his skill in navigation 216
CHAPTER YI.
Several contrivances of the author to please the king and queen — He shows his skill in music — The king inquires into the state of England, which the author relates to hi m — The king’s observations thereon 227
CHAPTER Yn.
The author’s love of his country — He makes a proposal of much advantage to t king, which is rejected — The king’s great ignorance in politics — The learning <• that country very imperfect and confined — The laws and military affairs, ai 1 parties in the state !
CHAPTER VIII.
The king and queen make a progress to the frontiers — The author attends them— The manner in which he leaves the country very particularly related — He returns to England 248
Chapter I
The Author sets out on his third voyage — Is taken by pirates— The malice of a
Dutchman— His arrival at an island — He is received in Laputa
.Ty.
Chapter II
The humours and dispositions of the Laputians described — An account of their learning — Of the king and his court — The author’s reception there — The inhabitants subject to feqf and disquietudes — An account of the women . . 272
X rui
Chapter III
A phenomenon solved by modern philosophy and astronomy. The Laputians* great improvement in the latter. The king’s method of suppressing insurrections 281
Chapter IV
The Author leaves Laputa ; is conveyed to Balnibarbi ; arrives at the metropolis — A description of the metropolis, and the country adjoining — The Author hospitably received by a great lord — His conversation with that lord . . 2S7
A VOYAGE TO THE COUNTRY OP THE HOUYHNHNMS.
Chapter I
The Author sets out as captain of a ship — His men conspire against him, confine him a long time to his cabin, and set him on shore in an unknown land — He travels up into the country — The Yahoos, a strange sort of animal, described — The Author meets two Houyhnhnms ......... 841
Chapter II
The Author conducted by a Houyhnhnm to his house — The house described — The Author’s reception — The food of the Houyhnhnms — The Author in distress for want of meat — Is at last relieved — His manner of feeding in this country 349
Chapter III
The Author studies to learn the language — The Houyhnhnm, his master, assists in teaching him — The language described— Several Houyhnhnms of quality come out, of curiosity to see the Author — He gives his master a short account of his voyage 856
CHAPTER IY.
The Houynhnm’s notion of truth and falsehood— The Author’s discourse disap proved by his master — The Author gives a more particular account of himself and the accidents of his voyage
Chapter V
The Author, at his master’s commands, informs him of the state of Engl and- -The causes of war among the princes of Europe — The author begins to explain the English constitution 869
CHAPTER YI.
A continuation of the state in England under Queen Anne — The character of a first minister of state in European courts ....... 877
Chapter VII
The Author’s great love of his native country — His master’s observations upon the constitution and administration of England, as described by the Author, with parallel cases and comparisons — His master’s observations upon human na
tore 885
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Chapter VIII
The Author relates several particulars of the Yahoos — The great virtues of the Houyhnhnms — The education and exercise of their youth — Their general assembly 394
Chapter IX
A grand debate at the general assembly of the Houyhnhnms, and how it was determined — The learning of the Houyhnhnms — Their buildings — Their manner of burials — The defectiveness of their language 401
Chapter X
The Author’s economy, and happy life, among the Houyhnhnms — His great improvement in virtue by conversing with them — Their conversations — The Author has notice given him by his master, that he must depart from the country — He falls into a swoon for grief: but submits— He contrives and finishes a canoe by the help of a fellow-servant, and puts to sea at a venture .... 40T
Chapter XI
The Author’s dangerous voyage — He arrives at New Holland, hoping to settle there —Is wounded with an arrow by one of the natives — Is seized and carried by force Into a Portuguese ship — The great civilities of the captain — The Author arrives
at England ' 416
Chapter XII
The Author’s veracity — His design in publishing this work— His censure of those travellers who swerve from the truth — The Author clears himself from any sinister ends in writing— An objection answered — The method of planting colonies — Ilis native country commended — The right of the crown to those countries described by the Author, is justified — The difficulty of conquering them — The Author takes hia last leave of the reader ; proposes his manner of living for the future ; gives good advice, and concludes 426
«p
LIFE OF SWIFT.
BY THE REVEREND JOHN MITFORD.
Jonathan Swift, the Dean of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, was descended from the younger branch of the family of the Swifts in Yorkshire. His grandfather was the Rev. Thomas Swift, vicar of Goodrich, in Herefordshire. He died in the year 1658, leaving ten sons and three or four daughters, with no other fortune than a very small patrimonial estate, almost destroyed by the fines and sequestrations which he drew on himself for his activity in the cause of Charles I. Jonathan Swift, the father of our author, was the sixth or seven son of the Yicar of Goodrich ; in consequence of his elder brother, Godwin, being appointed attorney-general of the palatinate of Tipperary, under the Duke of Ormond, after the Restoration, Jonathan, who was also bred to the law, followed him into Ireland. There he married Abigail Ericke, of Leicestershire, a lady of ancient family, but no fortune. In Ireland he had some employments and agencies, and was appointed steward to the Society of the King’s Inn, Dublin, in 1665.
is
LIFE OF S W IFT.
After having held his appointment two years, he died, leaving an infant daughter, and his widow then pregnant, in so destitute a situation as to be unable to defray the expenses of her husband’s funeral. Her brother-in-law, Godwin, was her chief support. On the 30th of November, 1667, being St. Andrew’s Day, she was delivered of a son ; and the house where the celebrated author, whose life we are now writing, was born is still pointed out. It is No. 7, of Hoey’s Court, Dublin ; the appearance of its antiquity seems not to oppose the correctness of the tradition ; it is small, and was, not many years since, occupied by Mrs. Jackson, a dealer in earthenware.
The nurse to whom the care of the infant was entrusted was a native of Whitehaven ; being summoned to attend the request of a dying relation, she clandestinely, but out of pure affection, carried away the child with her. His mother was unwilling to risk the insecurity of a second voyage, and permitted it to remain with its faithful and affectionate protector for three years, when she returned to Ireland, and proved that she had been as careful of its education as she was attached to its person.
At the age of six, Swift was sent to the school of Kilkenny, and at fourteen admitted into the University of Dublin. He was entirely dependent for his support upon the allowance made to him by his uncle Godwin ; this was hardly more than would cover the necessities of life, for his uncle had a numerous family his own, and had much injured his fortune by imprudent speculations. Swift was either not awaro o+* his uncle’s circumstances, or if he were, the smallness in beneficence was not enough to awaken his gratitud
LIFE OF SW IFT.
when once questioned about it, rather roughly, at a visitation dinner, he answered the insulting question in a loud and bitter accent,— “ Yes, he gave me the education of a dog !”
While he was at the university, he appears to have disliked and neglected the line of study which was at that time cultivated; and a proficiency in which was necessary for the attainment of his degree. Instead of mastering the intricacies of the old Treatises on Logic, written by those great men, Smeglesius, Kechermanus, and Burgesdicius, he passed his time more agreeably in reading poetry and history, and he told his tutor that he could reason without the assistance of the artificial rules of logic. There is a proof, however, that though he turned aside from the path of academic study, his voluntary reading was extensive and various, for he had drawn up a rough sketch of the Tale of a Tub, which he communicated to his friend, Mr. Waryng. The first time he sat for his degree it was refused him ; and so pertinaciously did he" adhere to his determination not to attend to the necessary line of studies, that when he went up a second time he succeeded only through the interest of his friends. It was inserted in the College Register that he attained his degree Speciali gratia. In going through the forms of disputation, he told Dr. Sheridan that he was utterly unacquainted even with the logical terms, and answered the arguments of his opponents in his own manner and words. His biographer adds, that there was one circumstance in the account which S'.vift ^ave him that surprised him with regard to his memory; for • told him the several questions on which he disputed,
• peated all the arguments used ly his opponents in their
LIFE OF SWIFT.
syllogistic forms. He remained in the college nearly three years after this, not through choice, but necessity. Little known or regarded by scholars, he was esteemed a blockhead ; and as the lowness of his circumstances would not allow him to keep company of an equal rank with himself, or on an equal footing, he scorned to take up with those of a lower class, or to be obliged to those of a higher. He lived therefore much alone, and his time was employed in pursuing his course of reading in history and poetry, then very unfashionable studies for an academic, or in gloomy meditations on his own unhappy circumstances.
Soon after this time, his uncle Godwin was seized with a lethargy, which rendered him incapable of business, and the embarrassed state of his affairs became known. Another uncle, William, for a short period, supplied to our author the place of his former benefactor ; and though he had not the means of enlarging the extent of his bounty, he bestowed it with so much more willingness and grace, as to receive that gratitude from Swift which he deserved. But Swift’s chief hopes now rested on his cousin Willoughby, the eldest son of his uncle Godwin, a merchant at Lisbon ; nor was he disappointed in his expectations ; a supply arrived at the very time when it was needed, and the incidents attending it shall be related in the words of his biographer : “ Swift, without a penny in his purse, was despondingly looking out of his chamber window to gape away the time, and happened to cast his eye on a sea-faring man, who seemed to be making inquiries after somebody’s chambers ; the thought immediately came into his head that this might be some master of a
LIFE OF SWIFT.
vessel, who was the bearer of a present to him from his cou sin at Lisbon. He saw him enter the building with pleasing expectation, and soon after heard a rap at his door, which he eagerly opening, was accosted by the sailor with, ‘ Is your name Jonathan Swift?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘ Why then, I have something for you from Master Willoughby Swift of Lisbon.’ He then drew out a large leather bag, and poured out the con* tents, which were silver coins, upon the table. Swift, enraptured at the sight, in the first transports of his heart, pushed over a large number of them, without reckoning, to the sailor, as a reward for his trouble ; but the honest tar declined taking any, saying, That he would do more than that for good Master Willoughby. This was the first time that Swift’s disposition was tried with regard to the management of money ; and he said that the reflections of his constant suffering through the want of it, made him husband it so well, that he was never afterward without something in his purse.”
Soon after this, on the breaking out of the war in Ireland, Swift left that country to visit his mother ‘at Leicester, and to consult with her on his future plans and prospects of life. He was now in his one-and-twentieth year, not qualified by particular study for any profession, except, perhaps, for the church ; his academical reputation was not advantageous to him; the recluseness of his life had rendered him little known ; and the spleen and severity of his temper had not attracted many friends.
Without any letter of recommendation to introduce him in England, and without any acquaintance who could assist him, Swift left Chester on foot to visit a mother, who was
LIFE OF SWIFT.
Herself dependent on the precarious bounty of her frieiids. With her he remained some months, and requested her advice as to the course which he should pursue.^ Most fortunately she recollected that the lady of Sir William Temple was her relation, that there had been an intimacy between the families, that Thomas Swift had been chaplain to Sir William Temple, and had been provided for by him in the church. She therefore recommended her son to go to Sir William Temple, and communicate to him his depressed situation and gloomy prospects. When he arrived at Shene, the residence of the retired statesman, his story was listened to with compassionate attention ; he was cheerfully received into his house, and treated with kindness and generosity. Although he was not admitted to much personal familiarity with his illustrious kinsman, yet he found in his house what was of invaluable advantage, sound advice with regard to the prosecution of his studies, and a secure and elegant retirement, where he could pursue them undisturbed.
For eight years he followed a system of study, according to his own account, of not less than eight hours a day. Among other books, he is known to have read Cyprian and Iranaeus. The first interruption of this studious course of life, was occasioned by an illness produced by a surfeit of fruit, which brought on a coldness of stomach and giddiness of head that he never afterwards could shake off. At one time, his physician advised that he should try the effects of his native air, and he left Moor Park (to which Sir William had removed) for Ireland ; but finding himself worse, he returned, and when his illness abated, resumed with fresh vigour his interrupted studies.
LIFE OF SWIFT.
About this time, Sir William Temple began to discover some of the valuable parts of bis relative’s character; and Swift says, that he then grew in confidence with him. He was present at the confidential interviews between King William and the statesman ; and when the latter was confined to his room with the gout, the duty of attending on the king devolved on Swift. It is said, that the king offered him a a troop of horse ; and he showed him how to cut asparagus after the Dutch fashion. It is probable that he obtained some promise of preferment in the church ; for, in a letter dated 1692, he says to his uncle, “I am not to take orders till the king gives me a prebend.”
In 1692, he went to Oxford to take his Master’s degree, to which he was admitted on the 5th of July, 1692. From Oxford he paid a visit to his mother, and then returned to Moor Park. He now was anxious to establish himself independently in the world, and he looked for the preferment which had been promised. But suspicions grew in his mind that Sir William Temple was not so forward in assisting him as he could wish, and feared that Swift would leave him when he was provided for. Perhaps his society was become not only convenient and agreeable, but even necessary to one far advanced in life, declining in health and afflicted with painful disorders. Besides, Temple was very anxious to have an accurate and correct copy of all his writings ; and Swift’s assistance in this respect was invaluable. The work, however, whicn the aged and experienced statesman was to bequeath to posterity, advanced but slowly, and Swift’s impatience could ill bear any longer delay. After remaining tw<s
LIFE OF SWIFT.
years longer at Moor Park, he determimed to leave his patron and take his chance in the world. Sir William received the communication with marks of displeasure ; but offered him a small place, worth about a hundred pounds a year, then vacant in Ireland : Swift replied, “ That since he had now an opportunity of living without being driven into the cnurch for a maintenance , he was resolved to go to Ireland to take holy orders. ,, This answer conveyed his belief in the insincerity, and his feelings of the indelicacy of Sir William’s proposal ; and they parted with resentment at least on one side, and displeasure on both.
He procured a slight recommendation to Lord Oapel, then 'ord deputy of Ireland, and was ordained in September, 1694, being then almost twenty-seven years old. Soon after, Lord Capel gave him the prebend of Kilroot, in the diocese of Connor, worth about a hundred pounds a year. To this place Swift repaired to discharge the duties of his office, and taste, . for the first time, the sweets of independence. But there were many serious drawbacks on his happiness ; he was placed in a very obscure situation and in a half civilized country ; he enjoyed none of the charms of society, or the advantages of enlightened conversation : his mind looked back with regret to the delights which Moor Park had so long afforded ; he was also reluctant that his talents and his ambition should be buried in the seclusion of a distant and deserted pl'Mie; and having received a kind letter from Sir William h ; aself, which proved that all animosities had subsided, and v "ich contained an invitation to his house, Swift resigned i^s living, and hastened to England, after a little more than
LIFT OF SWIFT.
a year’s absence. His residence with Sir William Temple was now voluntary ; and they appear to have lived in mutual confidence and esteem. Swift maintained his same diligent pursuit of study, and performed the duties of chaplain in the family.
Swift took on himself the office of preceptor to a niece of Sir W. Temple, who resided in the house ; and, at the same time, Miss Esther Johnson, so well known as Stella, shared the benefits of the instructor. Miss Johnson was daughter of a gentleman of good family in Nottingham, by profession a merchant in London ; she was about fourteen years of age. very beautiful, possessing fine talents, and it is not to be wondered at, that Swift took peculiar pleasure in cultivating and improving her mind, though he probably little thought how closely their fortunes and their fame were hereafter to be united. He wrote his digressions in the Tale of a Tub and the Battle of the Books at this time.
Sir W. Temple died in the year 1699, leaving Swift a legacy and the advantage to be derived from publishing his posthumous writings. He also obtained from King William a promise of a stall at Canterbury or Westminister for him. How much Swift esteemed him, may be seen in a part of the register which he kept of Sir William’s illness, where he concludes : — “ He died at one o’clock in the morning, and with him all that was great and good among men.” From another memorandum copied by Thomas Steele, Esq. jun. we have this further character of his patron : — He was a person of the greatest wisdom, justice, liberality, politeness, elegance, of his age and nation. The truest lover of his country, and one ♦hat deserves more from it, by his eminent public services.
LIFE OF SWIFT.
than any man before or since, besides his great deserving of the commonwealth of having been universally esteemed the most accomplished writer of his time.’*
On the death of Sir W. Temple, Swift removed to London, and his first care was to discharge the trust reposed on him of publishing a full and correct edition of his patron’s works. This he dedicated to the king. After waiting some time for the fulfilment of the promise made for his advancement in the church, he addressed a memorial to the monarch ; but it is said that Swift had reason to believe that the Earl of Romney, who promised to second it with all his interest, in fact, suppressed it, and never mentioned it at all. After waiting dome time in vain, he relinquished his hopes of preferment and Accepted the offer made to him by Lord Berkeley, of Attending him to Ireland as his private secretary and chaplain. When they arrived at Dublin, he found himself supplanted in nis former office by a person of the name of Bush, who had ingratiated himself into his lordship’s favour. Swift’s indignation, ever ready to awaken at the first appearance of insult, took flame, and he lampooned without mercy the governor and bis new made secretary, in a copy of verses that were widely circulated. The rich deanery of Derry now fell vacant and Swift applied for it. Lord Berkeley said it had been promised to Bush for another, but that perhaps the affair might be arranged. Swift had an interview with the secretary, who frankly told him that he was to have a thousand pounds for it. Swift knew this could not be done without Lord Berkeley’s participation, and made do other answer than “ God confound you both for a couple of rascals Tic then
LIFE OF SWIFT.
left the castle, resolving to see him no more. Lord Berkeley was, however, unwilling to exasperate a person who could so successfully revenge himself, and he therefore presented him to the rectory of Agher, and the vicarage of Laracor and Rath-beggin, in the diocese of Meath. They were not worth, in value, one third of the deanery, but Swift had experienced sufficiently the uncertainty of courtly promises, to trust much to the chances of the future, he, therefore, accepted them, and kept on friendly terms with his lordship, one inducement to which was, the respect he felt for the Countess, whose virtues and excellencies he has praised in his introduction to the Project for the Advancement of Religion.
It was at this time that his talenTln light and humorous poetry was first displayed, which he wrote for the amusement of his lordship’s family ; but when the government of Ireland devolved on another person, Swift retired to his living at Laracor, conscientiously discharging the duties of his office. It appears, from some letters which have found their way into the world, that he had been enamoured of a young lady of the name of Jane Waryng, sister of his chamber-fellow at college. As she had a slender fortune of about £100 a year and Swift at that time was in possession of no certain income, her good sense and prudence made her resolve to delay their union till they were in possession of an income competent to their support. A letter from Swift dated April, 1696, is published, which is written in the usual style of a complaining lover, and which accuses his Yarina of formality and coldness and too great an observance of the customs and opinions of the . »Ie tells her, “ that he has resolved to die as he
2 4
LIFE OF SWIFT.
has lived — all hers ; and that matrimony is a just and honor- * able action, which would furnish health to her.” After he had obtained his preferment, which amounted to about .£400 a year, Varina having her only objection removed, naturally looked forward to the fulfilment of their engagement ; but the fascination of a more attractive person had begun to show its influence over our faithless lover’s heart. A second letter appears, four years after the one montioned (May, 1700), in which there is a very remarkable alteration of style and address. It is written in the terms of one anxious to escape from a connection which he regrets ever to have formed. Every trifling excuse is found, and every imaginable impediment introduced, and there are demands made by him, and expressions used, which put their union on a footing so humiliating to a lady, that certainly no female could for a moment have entertained the idea of acquiescing in such a proposal. Though I have had no experience in love myself, and am ignorant of the sensibilities and feelings of the female heart, yet I should think no lady could expect to be questioned by her lover concerning the state of her health and the cleanliness of her person ; but the true cause of Swift’s declining affections were now to be more clearly seen.
Stella, for so Esther Johnson must hereafter be called, was now eighteen ; after the death of Sir W. Temple she resided with a lady of the name of Dingley, who was related to the family of Temple. Stella’s fortune consisted of one thousand pounds, bequeathed by Sir William, and Mrs. Dingley’s annuity was exceedingly small. When Swift, therefore, proposed to both the ladies to come over to Ireland to reside, where
LIFE OF SWIFT.
the interest of the money was greater, and the price of living much less, it is no wonder that the invitation was received with pleasure. Soon after the arrival they took a lodging at Trim, a town situated near Laracor, and their presence and conversation reconciled him to his obscure retirement. Of the softer and romantic qualities of the heart, which open the avenues of love, Swift was entirely devoid ; his mind was bent on higher objects, and interested in busier and more ambitious scenes. I have no doubt that he regarded the blooming and beautiful Stella with the most sincere friendship, and with something more than a brotherly fondness and affection ; but women turn everything into love. If Stella did not mistake the nature of Swift’s attachment, she did not consider the other passions of his mind which might oppose or weaken it ; of most men she would probably have judged rightly ; but unfortunately she had to speculate on the motives of a person eminently singular in his temper and thoughts, inclined to move out of the road which leads to general happiness, and to find one more congenial to his own disposition. There is a kind of attachment which it is not always easy to distinguish from love, and which is yet distinct from it ; either Stella’s want of sagacity could not even separate these, or her hopes and affections forced her to overlook the distinction. An event took place a year or two after this time, which we might conjecture would one way or another have brought Swift’s feelings to a decision, and cleared up all the past ambiguity of his conduct. Stella received an offer of marriage from the Rev. Dr. Tisdall, a friend and companion of Swift’s, Swift was, of course, consulted by her, and, we may
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