436
LETTERS TO AND FROM
SIR,
[1731.]
I RECEIVED your packet at least two months ago, and took all this time not only to consider it ma-
turely
- ↑ Mr. Wogan, a gentleman of an ancient and good family in Ireland, sent a present of a cask of Spanish Cassalia wine to the dean, also a green velvet bag, with gold and silk strings, in which were enclosed, a paraphrase on the seven penitential psalms of David, and several original pieces in verse and prose, particularly the adventures of Eugenius; and an Account of the Courtship and Marriage of the Chevalier to the Princess Sobieski, wherein he represents himself to have been a principal negotiator; it was written in the novel style, but a little heavily. His letter to the dean contained also remarks on the Beggar's Opera, in which he censures the taste of the people of England and Ireland; and concluded with paying the dean the compliment of entreating him to correct his writings. The dean receiving them about the time (1732) Mr. Pilkington was coming to London as chaplain to alderman Barber; he put them into Mr Pilkington's hands, to look over at his leisure; but quickly recalled them into his own custody. See Pilkington's Memoirs, vol. III, p. 168. They were afterward in the possession of Deane Swift, esq. This Mr. Wogan was a gentleman of great bravery and courage, and distinguished himself in several battles and sieges. He was appointed, by the chevalier de St. George, in the year 1718, to take the princess Sobieski (granddaughter of the famous James Sobieski, king of Poland, who raised the siege of Vienna), to whom he was married by proxy in Poland: who, in her journey to Rome, was, by order of the imperial court, made a prisoner in Tyrol, and closely confined in the castle of Inspruck for some time, when Mr. Wogan undertook to set her at liberty, and bring her safe to Rome, which he effectually performed, by carrying her through all the guards: for which dangerous and gallant service he was made a Roman knight,
an
