CHAPTER II.

1710-1713.

State of political parties-Establishment of the Tory administration— Swift's political pamphlets-Kit-Kat Club-October Club-Tatlers and Spectators-Pope's illness in London-He finishes his translation of STATIUS-Publishes his ESSAY ON CRITICISM-Remarks upon it by Dennis and others-Commended by Addison-WINDSOR FORESTRAPE OF THE LOCK; Dennis abuses it-KEY TO THE LOCK-Pope's acquaintance with Steele and Addison-Supposed jealousy between Addison and Pope-Correspondence between Pope and Steele-THE MESSIAH-Translation of VERSES BY THE EMPEROR ADRIAN-THE DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL-ODE FOR MUSIC TEMPLE OF FAME-ELEGY TO THE MEMORY OF AN UNFORTUNATE LADY-Pope's PROLOGUE TO CATO-NARRATIVE OF THE FRENZY OF JOHN DENNISConduct of Addison, and Remarks thereon-Pope's acquaintance with Gay-Quarrel between Pope and Ambrose Philips, and remarksPope's early acquaintance with the two Miss Blounts.

ALTHOUGH upwards of twenty years had now elapsed, since the liberties of the country had been successfully asserted and secured by the Revolution, yet the nation was by no means restored to a state of internal tranquillity. The friends and promoters of that great measure had, indeed, during the life of King William, maintained an ascendancy in the councils of the country; they had been strengthened after his death by the accession of some of the more moderate Tories, and particularly of Godolphin and Marlborough, by whose powerful cooperation they had carried on a successful war, in which the ambition of the French monarch had been humbled, and this kingdom raised to its highest degree of credit and of glory; yet, notwithstanding these circumstances, a powerful party still remained, which,

although they who composed it acted upon principles and with views very different from each other, was firmly united in opposition to the existing administration. Amongst these were many who adhered both in politics and religion to the cause of the Stuarts, and who maintained by their agents a secret correspondence, and constant intercourse with that family. Another portion consisted of such as professed themselves adherents to the Church of England, but who having adopted the ideas of Divine right, and the indefeasible claims of sovereigns, endeavoured to effect the restoration of the Stuarts, vainly flattering themselves that religious liberty was compatible with political servitude; whilst a third party, including a great portion of the country gentlemen, averse to the war, which, as they contended, had impoverished the country and aggrandized our allies, united its efforts with those from whom in other respects it was so widely separated. To this it must be added, that Queen Anne, although a sincere Protestant, was actuated by high monarchical principles, and perhaps was justly suspected not to be indisposed towards any efforts, which might be likely, eventually, to restore the line of succession in the individuals of her own more immediate family.

Although this opposition had exerted itself for several years to overthrow the administration, it was not till 1710, that its leaders were enabled to accom

plish their purpose. The ability and patriotism of Somers and of Halifax, the integrity and industry of Godolphin, and even the victories and successful negotiations of the immortal Marlborough, were insufficient to form a barrier against the attack of their opponents; who having gained an ascendancy with the queen, and excited amongst the people a distrust of ministers, and an aversion to the continuance of the war, accomplished their object, and in the month of October, in the

last-mentioned year, succeeded to the direction of public affairs.

Of the manner in which this great change was effected, we have a most extraordinary and particular account by a person who acted a very important part in its completion, and will frequently appear in the course of our narrative. This was the celebrated Dr. Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's, who was born in the year 1667, and was consequently upwards of twenty years older than Pope. He had already distinguished himself by several of his most celebrated works, and in particular by his History of the Civil Discords of Athens and Rome, intended to serve the cause of his political friends, when called in question for their conduct in the Partition Treaty in 1701. At that period Swift avowed himself a Whig, although a high-churchman in principle; but circumstances occurred at this period, which induced him to attach himself to the opposite party, of which he became the most decided and efficient champion.

About the time this great change in the administration took place, Swift made an excursion to England, where he was already well known to Lord Somers, Lord Halifax, the Earl of Pembroke, and other persons of rank, as well as to Steele, Addison, Philips, and the other literary characters of the time. His ostensible object was to solicit the remission of the first-fruits and tenths in Ireland, to which office he had been appointed by the clergy of that kingdom, in conjunction with the Bishops of Ossory and Killaloe; but it appears pretty evidently from his own writings, that a principal motive of his journey was the expectation of obtaining preferment. He arrived in London in September, 1710, when the influence of the Whig ministry was manifestly on the decline, and with them, under such circumstances, he appears to have taken little

pains to maintain a friendly intercourse. This indifference was on his part soon converted into hostility, as a cause for which, he alleged the neglect with which he had so long been treated, and before a month had elapsed, he had formed an intimate acquaintance with Harley and St. John (afterwards Lord Bolingbroke); who, after having been excluded from the administration, of which they had for a time formed a part, had now obtained a decided superiority, and were delighted to find in their former opponent, an associate no less qualified by his abilities, than inclined by his resentment, to espouse their cause. The pamphlets which Swift produced on this occasion, were written in the strength of his talents, and were as close and argumentative in their matter, as they were keen and sarcastic in their manner, towards his former friends. The characters of Lord Somers, the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, Lord Sunderland, Lord Wharton, Lord Cowper, and the Earl of Nottingham, are portraits in which truth and fiction are so artfully mingled as to present a more disgusting picture than even falsehood itself could have produced. If however we wish to obtain an intimate acquaintance with the secret springs and causes of one of the most important political events that has occurred in the history of our country, we must have recourse to his Journal to Stella; the most extraordinary instance of egotism, ability, shrewdness, and humour, that ever was offered to the surprise, the information, and the amusement of mankind.

During the continuance of the Whig administration, an association, or society, had been formed, consisting of noblemen and gentlemen of rank, who were zealously attached to the Protestant succession, which was known by the name of the Kit-Kat Club, from a person named Christopher Katt, a pastry-cook, at whose house in Shire-lane they met and dined together. Amongst the

members were the Dukes of Somerset, Richmond, Grafton, Devonshire, and Marlborough, the Earls of Dorset, Sunderland, Manchester, Wharton, and Kingston, Lords Halifax and Somers, Sir Richard Steele, Addison, Congreve, Garth, Mainwaring, Pulteney, and many other persons distinguished as well by their talents as their rank'. The objects of the society were not confined to politics, but extended to subjects of literature, and it is recorded that on one occasion a sum of 400 guineas was subscribed for the encouragement of good comedies.

This club, which continued its meetings after the change in administration had taken place, seems to have given rise to an opposition club, which was established between Swift and the principal members of the new administration, under the name of the October Club, alluding to the month in which the great alteration in the ministry took place. Although rather of a political than of a literary nature, this society was composed of several persons of rank and ability, who were looked up to as some of the principal patrons of the taste and literature of the times. Amongst its members were Harley, Lord Treasurer and Earl of Oxford, St. John Lord Bolingbroke, Secretary of State, Mr. afterwards Lord Masham, Sir William Wyndham, Lord Bathurst, Dr. Arbuthnot, Swift, and other persons of rank and celebrity.

In this society, the members of which always addressed each other by the name of brothers, Swift seems to have enjoyed himself at his ease, and to have exercised great authority in the rejection or admission of its members. Here all new publications, whether

1 Of this society, Jacob Tonson, the bookseller, was secretary, and employed Sir Godfrey Kneller to paint for him the portraits of the members, of a size which admitted of representing the hands, and which has since been called the Kit-Kat size.