is impossible to read these letters without feeling the profoundest pity for the woman who could so far lose sight of all self-respect as to continue such professions of regard to a man whose conduct to her was marked by such cruel and heartless selfishness. Her passion appears to have been so resistless as to have borne before it all sense of humiliation—every feeling of womanly pride.
The circumstances of Vanessa, by a singular coincidence, were not dissimilar to those of Stella. Her parents died, and she became mistress of her own fortune Some of her estates being in Ireland, it became necessary to look after them; and she, induced, no doubt, as much by a desire to be near Swift, as by this object, repaired to Ireland. This step placed Swift in a very unpleasant position; he dreaded having the rivals on the same ground, and was terrified at the vehemence of Vanessa's passion, which she was at no pains to conceal. She took possession of her small property at Cell bridge, and her letters to Swift became more and more embarrassing to him. The jealousy of Stella was now awakened by rumours that had reached her, and her health and spirits rapidly declined. The marriage of Swift and Stella, is still a disputed question; but the most recent researches upon the subject serve to confirm this belief It is asserted, that alarmed at the state of Stella's health, Swift employed his friend, the Bishop of Clogher, to ask, what be dared not himself, the cause of her melancholy. The answer was such as his conscience must have anticipated. Swift, to appease her, consented to go through the form of marriage with her, provided it was kept a secret from the world, and that they should continue to live apart as before; and they were married at the deanery, by the Bishop of Clogher.
Notwithstanding the new obligation which he had imposed upon himself, to act with uprightness to Vanessa, Swift still continued to visit as before; he professed to discourage her attachment, and even advised her to many one of her suitors; but, by hit warm interest in her and her affairs, secretly confirmed her feelings. Vanessa had now become aware of Swift's connection with Stella, whose declining health alone had prevented her asking an explanation of Swift, as to the real state of his position with her. Impatience at length prevailed; and, in an evil hour, she wrote to Stella, requesting to be informed of the true state of the case. Stella, without hesitation, informed her of her marriage with the dean, and enclosing to him Vanessa's letter, she left her own abode in indignation, and retired to the house of a friend. Infuriated against the woman whose rashness had betrayed his treachery, Swift proceeded to the dwelling of Vanessa; he entered her presence, and casting upon her a withering glance of scorn and rage, threw the letter which she had written to Stella upon the table, and, without a word, rushed from the house, mounted his horse, and returned to Dublin.
Vanessa, horror-stricken, saw that her fate was sealed, and she sank under the weight of her despair. This cruel act of her lover, however, at last restored her to reason; she revoked a will made in his favour, and left it in charge to her executors, to publish all the correspondence between her and Swift, which, however, never appeared. Vanessa survived this fatal blow only fourteen months; she died in 1723. On hearing of her death. Swift, it is said, seized with remorse, and overcome with shame and self-
