The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 18/Letter from Thomas Sheridan to Jonathan Swift - 18
FROM DR. SHERIDAN.
I SUSPECT that some secret villain has prevented the lord chancellor to sign my commission; and therefore I entreat the favour of you to know the meaning of it from his excellency; for I had his consent by a recommendation from my lord chief baron Marley, and Mr. justice Ward. The summer is going off fast, so are my best fowl; and you are not yet come. Will you not come for your six hundred and sixty pounds? We have no way to carry it except you come for it yourself: and do not forget to bring the deed of sale with you for the Marahills and Drumcor. I wish you could sail with them hither to save you the trouble of riding, which I would rather see than fifty pounds which I would set my hand and seal to. Mr. Jones, as I told you before, will not pay any body but yourself; so that you must inevitably come nolens volens, right or wrong, whether you can or not. Our venison is plenty: our weather too hot for its carriage. We have not had two hundred drops of rain these six weeks past.
Our river is dry,
And fiery the sky;
I fret and I fry
Just ready to die:
Oh, where shall I fly
From Phœbus's eye?
In bed, when I lie,
I soak like a pie;
And I sweat, oh, I sweat, like a hog in a sty.
I know you love Alexandrines; for which reason I closed the above madrigal with one. I think it is of a very good proportion, which I hope you will set to musick; and pray let me have a base, and second treble, with what other decorations and graces, you can better design than I can direct. To let you see you can want for nothing, if you come to Cavan, I write you the following catalogue:
| Good road, | Fat venison, | |
| A clean house, | Small mutton, | |
| A hearty welcome, | Green pease, | |
| Good ale, | Good water, | |
| Good beer, | Good wine, | |
| Good bread, | Young ducks, | |
| Good bed, | Young lambs, | |
| Young turkeys, | Grouse pouts, | |
| Young beans, | Fine trouts, | |
| Right bacon, | Carrots, | |
| Cauliflowers, | Parsnips, Item | |
| Young chickens, |
A LONG GRAVEL WALK
I must trouble your reverence with a small sample of some things, to let you see that all I have said is truth.
REFERENCES.
1. Artichoke.
2. Carrot.
3. Parsnip.
4. Raspberries.
5. Gooseberries.
6. Currants, red.
7. Currants, black.
8. Purslain.
9. Kidney beans.
10. Common beans.
11. Red cabbage.
12. Common cabbage.
13. Turnip.
14. Cauliflowers.
15. Cos lettuce.
16. Silesia lettuce.
17. Thyme.
18. Sweet marjoram.
19. A Cavan fly, and a thousand things beside.
20. Some of my gravel walk.
21. Nasturtium.
22. Cucumber.
23. Orange.
24. Spinage.
25. Onion.
26. Pea.
I would send you some of my canal, but the paper could not hold it.
I have nothing more to send but my best wishes, which you can only see in my face, when you come down.
Present my love 9678946846734056789897324 times to my dear Mrs. Whiteway, and all her chickens.
I am, dear sir, as I ever must be, your most obedient and very humble servant to command, Dumb Spur it us hose rage it art us.