1st. To this letter was subscribed the name of Swift, and it has all the appearances of his diction and sentiments. Now I will appeal to any one of taste acquainted with Swift's style, whether there ever was a more clumsy imitation attempted, both with regard to thoughts and expression. It bears indeed as little resemblance to his, as one of Overton's wooden prints, to the copper-plate of Hogarth.
2d. "When he was charged with this letter, he laid hold of the inaccuracies, and urged the improbability of the accusation, but never denied it." That is to say, because Swift does not in express terms say, "I did not write those letters," — therefore he does not deny it. But his indignation at so base a charge was too great to answer it only by a simple denial; to his friend Pope he refutes it by such forcible arguments, as showed the impossibility of his being capable of such an egregious piece of folly, unless, as he expresses it, he were fit for Bedlam. "To the queen indeed (as he nobly says) I scorn to defend myself; grounding my scorn upon the opinion I had of her justice, her taste, and good sense."
While the doctor was maliciously endeavouring to fix the stain of a base prevarication on Swift, he did not foresee that the charge —
Would, like a devilish engine, back recoil
Upon himself.Milton.
For, as it is a received opinion in the world, that men judge of others by themselves, there is no one who sees so vile an imputation thrown on so exalted a character, upon such bad grounds, but will suppose
