If this piece of imprudence does not spoil so excellent a paper, I propose to myself the highest satisfaction in reading it with you, over a dish of tea, every morning next winter. As we have yet had nothing new since the Spectator;* it only remains for me to assure you, that I am Yours, &c. J. G. P. S. Upon a review of my letter, I find I have quite forgotten the British Apollo;† which might possibly happen from its having of late retreated out of this end of the town into the city; where I am informed, however, that it still recommends itself by deciding wagers at cards, and giving good advice to the shopkeepers and their apprentices. "The Spectators are printed in a larger and a smaller volume; so I believe they are going to leave them off; and indeed people grow weary of them, though they are often prettily written." Journal to Stella, Nov. 2, 1712.-We fear there was (to say the best of it) some prejudice in this prediction. A similar reflection is thrown out on the Tattler, in p. 166. N. +"The British Apollo, or Curious Amusements for the Ingenious; to which are added, the most material Occurrences, foreign and domestic Performed by a Society of Gentlemen." This paper, which was published twice a week, began Feb. 13, 1708; and was continued on that plan till March 26, 1711, when three folio volumes were completed: after that time, it got into a fresh channel, and sunk into obscurity. N. DR. SWIFT'S REMARKS* On "The first Fifteen Psalms of David translated into + Lyric Verse. + Bagpipe. Nor I hope ever will again. this and ¡ Sternholdides. SWIFT. By a memorandum on the first page it appears that these Remarks were thought "Witness my hand, this 25th day of February, 1745. WILLIAM DUNKIN. "N. B. The original was by me presented to his excellency Philip Dormer Stanhope, earl of Chesterfield, lord lieutenant general and general governor of Ireland. W. D." DR. GIBBS. PSALM OF DAVID.(1) DR. SWIFT. (1)I warn the reader that Comparing the different state of the righte- not the Psalms of David, but ous and the wicked, both in this and the next world. THRICE happy he that doth refuse With impious (2) sinners to combine But still to learn and to obey The law of God is his delight, ; And reads and thinks thereon at (4) night. For as a tree, whose spreading root of Dr. Gibbs. DR. GIBBS. Whose very (6) leaves tho' storms descend, The man that does the Lord revere. The above may serve for a tolerable specimen of Swift's Remarks. The whole should be given, if it were possible to make them intelligible without copying the version which is ridiculed; a labour for which our readers would scarcely thank us. A few detached stanzas, however, with the dean's notes on them, shall be transcribed. DR. GIBBS. Why do the heathen nations rise, Confederate kings vain plots. (1) devise DR. GIBBS. But those that do thy laws refuse, Ye earthly kings, the caution hear, Ye rulers, learn the same ;(4) (1) For should the madness of his fees DR. SWIFT. (2) After a man is broken in (3) Neak. (4) Rulers must learn it, but (5) Very proper, to make a (1) For should the foes of Provoke his gray-goose Happy are they that can The vengeance of his pills. |