The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 11/From John Arbuthnot to Jonathan Swift - 4
FROM DR. ARBUTHNOT.
I THOUGHT it necessary to speak to lady Masham about that affair, because I believe it will be necessary to give her majesty the same notion of it, which the memorial does[1], and not that you are asking a little scandalous salary for a sinecure. Lewis despairs of it, and thinks it quite over since a certain affair. I will not think so. I gave your letter, with the enclosed memorial, cavalièrement, to lord Bolingbroke. He read it, and seemed concerned at some part of it, expressing himself thus: "That it would be among the eternal scandals of the government to suffer a man of your character, that had so well deserved of them, to have the least uneasy thought about those matters." As to the fifty pounds, he was ready to pay it; and if he had had it about him, would have given it me. The dragon was all the while walking with the duke of Shrewsbury. So my lord Bolingbroke told me, "I would immediately stir in this matter, but I know not how I stand with some folks;" for the duke of Shrewsbury has taken himself to the dragon in appearance. "I know how I stand with that man, (pointing to the dragon) but as to the other, I cannot tell; however, I will claim his promise:" and so he took the memorial.
Do not think I make you a bare compliment in what I am going to say; for I can assure you I am in earnest. I am in hopes to have two hundred pounds before I go out of town, and you may command all or any part of it you please, as long as you have occasion for it. I know what you will say; "To see a scoundrel pretend to offer to lend me money." Our situation at present is in short thus: they have rompu en visière with the dragon, and yet do not know how to do without him. My lady Masham has in a manner bid him defiance, without any scheme, or likeness of it in any form or shape, as far as I can see. Notwithstanding he visits, cringes, flatters, &c. which is beyond my comprehension.
I have a very comical account of Letcombe, and the dean of St. Patrick's, from Pope, with an episode of the burning glass. I was going to make an epigram upon the imagination of your burning your own history with a burning glass. I wish Pope or Parnell would put it into rhyme. The thought is this: Apollo speaks; "That since he had inspired you to reveal those things which were hid, even from his own light, such as the feeble springs of some great events; and perceiving that a faction, who could not bear their deeds to be brought to light, had condemned it to an ignominious flame; that it might not perish so, he was resolved to consume it with his own; a celestial one." And then you must conclude with some simile. Thus, &c. There are two or three, that will fit it.
Whiston has at last published his project of the longitude; the most ridiculous thing that ever was thought on. But a pox on him! he has spoiled one of my papers of Scriblerus, which was a proposal for the longitude, not very unlike his, to this purpose; that since there was no pole for east and west, that all the princes of Europe should join and build two prodigious poles, upon high mountains, with a vast lighthouse to serve for a pole star. I was thinking of a calculation of the time, charges, and dimensions. Now you must understand, his project is by lighthouses, and explosion of bombs at a certain hour.
Lewis invited me to dinner to day, and has disappointed me. I thought to have said something more about you. I have nothing more to add, but, my dear friend, adieu.
- ↑ A memorial to the queen, humbly desiring her majesty to appoint him historiographer.