A dialogue between Dean Swift and Tho. Prior, Esq. in the isles of St. Patrick's Church, Dublin, on that memorable day, October 9th, 1753 / By a friend to the peace and prosperity of Ireland.

Date:: 1753

Credit: A dialogue between Dean Swift and Tho. Prior, Esq. in the isles of St. Patrick's Church, Dublin, on that memorable day, October 9th, 1753 / By a friend to the peace and prosperity of Ireland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

10/146 page 4

$La] _ am fure, as to my Particular, I may juftly fay, I found it fo; for, as I well knew, that writing with a Defign to pleafé or ferve others, ends, generally, either in Neglect or Cenfure; fo, I would not have engaged in fuch a dangerous Undertaking, if I could ‘have quiet- ed my Heart, that was: ever tempting me to defpife the Danger for the Hopes of doing 28 by. my Pen. Swirrt. I with Jom the Tribe of wsiaie had ever. writ from fuch a Turn of Mind, and then I fancy the World had not been fo much over-run with Books. ~ Prior. I can an{wer for my felf that I had only the Service of my Fellow Citizens in view. Let thofe whofe miferable Aim is writing well, be afhamed if they are criticiz’d, or ridiculed, but he who fincerely {trives to ferve Millions, muft have a Scorn for Malice | or Satyr, if he thinks hecan feed or cloath half a Nation by fcribling. I profefs I writ whatever I publith’d, _ barely for the Joy I had in doing fome Service to my Country, and with {o little a view to Reputation, that I would have done it, if there had’ been no fuch thing as Fame in the World; and‘furely, there is al- moft as little of that phantaftick Pleafure to be had here as in the J/le of Man, or the Orcades. Nay; _ Dean, I'll go further, I would have done it for the gra- tifying the pleafing Inftinét that lead me to it, if there had not been a great Lord and Parent of Good to approve and reward it. Hence it was that I troubled the World with a dea! of Tracts on publick Subjects ; and, I thank Heaven, my Heart is as little afham’d of it, now I am dead, as I was proud of it when I was$