424 MATHEW. to stay there some time longer; and Mr. Mathew himself for once broke through his rule of never soliciting the stay of any guest, ( i t being the established custom o f the house, that a l l might depart when they thought proper, without any ceremony o f leave-taking,) b y joining i n the request. Swift found himself s o happy i n his situation there, that h e readily yielded t o their solicitations; and, instead o f the fortnight which h e had originally intended, passed four months there, much t o his own satisfaction, and that o f a l l those who visited the place during that time. The following singular adventure, i n which the subject o f our memoir was engaged, i s deserving o f being recorded. I t was towards the latter end o f Queen Anne's reign when Mr. Mathew returned t o Dublin, after his long residence abroad. A t that time party ran very high, but raged n o where with such violence a s i n that city; inso much, that duels were every day fought there o n that ac count. There happened t o be, a t that time, two gentlemen i n London who valued themselves highly o n their skill i n fencing; the name o f one o f them was Pack, o f the other Creed; the former a major, the latter a captain, i n the army. Hearing o f these daily exploits i n Dublin, they resolved, like two knights-errant, t o go over i n quest o f adventures. Upon inquiry, they learned, that Mr. Mathew, lately arrived from France, had the character o f being one o f the first swordsmen i n Europe. Pack, rejoiced t o find a n antagonist worthy o f him, resolved, the first oppor tunity, t o pick a quarrel with him; and meeting him a s h e was carried along the streets i n his chair, jostled the fore-chairman. Of this Mathew took n o notice, a s sup posing i t t o b e accidental. But Pack afterwards boasted o f i t i n the public coffee-house, saying, that h e had pur posely offered this insult t o the gentleman, who had not the spirit t o resent i t . There happened t o b e present a particular friend o f Mr. Mathew's, o f the name o f Mac namara, a man o f tried courage, and reputed the best fencer i n Ireland. He immediately took u p the quarrel, and said, h e was sure Mr. Mathew did not suppose the
