The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 12/From Elizabeth Germain to Jonathan Swift - 1

by Elizabeth Germain

FROM LADY BETTY GERMAIN.

LONDON, SEPT. 19, 1730.

HAD I not been retired into the country, yours should have been answered long ago. As to your poetess, I am her obliged servant, and must confess the fact is just as you state it. It is very true I was gaming; and upon the dapper youth's delivering me a paper, which I just opened, found they were verses; so slunk them into my pocket, and there truly they were kept exceeding private; for I cannot accuse myself of showing them to a mortal. But let me assure you, it was not out of modesty, but in great hopes that the author would have divulged them; which, you know, would have looked decenter than trumpetting my own fame. But it seems unhappily we were both bit, and judged wrong of each other. However since you desire it, you may be very sure she should not fail of my entreaties to his grace of Dorset for her, though you have not yet let me into the secret what her request is: so till my lord Carteret does his part, or that I hear from you again, it will be but a blind sort of a petition. I have not seen his grace this great while, and he is now at Windsor, and I choose rather to speak to him on all accounts, having not so fine a talent at writing, as that lord's lady; and whether just or no, I will not attempt disputing with her ladyship. But as you are commonly esteemed by those, who pretend to know you, to have a tolerable share of honesty and brains, I do not question your doing what is right by him; nor his paying you all the civility and kindness you can desire. Nor will I hope their influence ever can make him do otherwise, though he has the unfashionable quality of esteeming his old friends; but however partial to them, yet not to be biassed against his own sense and judgment. The consequence of this, I hope, will be your coming to England, and meeting often with him, (in lady Betty's chamber^[1]) where the happy composition^[2] should exert her skill in ordering dinner; and I would not mistake oil of amber for the spirit of it, but continue as I ever was, your sincere friend, as well as faithful humble servant,

E. GERMAIN.

1. Alluding to the first line of Francis Harris's petition.
2. Mrs. Biddy Floyd. This expression alludes to the last verse of Swift's "Receipt to form a Beauty,"

   "And call'd the happy composition Floyd."

   This lady is mentioned in the Ballad on the Game of Traffick, as being one of the party at lord Berkeley's, and at this time lived with lady Betty.