propter excellentem Humanitatem, (καὶ τὴν ̓Αγάπην, erat enim vere φιλαν OpwπóTaτos) videbatur omnino mori non debuiffe*.

My very humble Service to Mr. R***** ; his Father; your better Half; and to All Friends: especially those who were fuch to the Alderman; and whofe Hopes attend and accompany Him to the Happiness of the other World.

* Gracchus may perhaps be flandered by the feditious,notwithstanding he was a true Citizen, and rose to the greateft Honours, by his own natural Genius and Acquirements. But fuch a one I cannot but admire: And indeed who can be fo brutifh and inhumane, as not to regret the Loss of Him, who (though he lived to be far advanced in Years) did yet, on account of his exceeding great Humanity and Love to Mankind, feem to have deferved not to die at all?

I

то

Philalethes Oxonienfis.

SIR,

Received, from one of my Notices in the Daily Advertifer, Three Original Letters, under the Alderman's own Hand, with Certificates, relating to his Parentage and Birth; together with the following Letter, viz.

Mr. CURLL,

YOUR

OUR General Invitation for fending Authentic Memoirs concerning the Life of Mr. Alderman Barber, with which you are going to oblige the Public, occafions my fending you the following Original Letters and Anecdotes concerning him, which you may depend on as Genuine; and I commend ⚫ your laudable Zeal for letting the World into the true Characters of Great Men, and am,

SIR,

March 15, 1741.

Your bumble Servant,

FAVONIUS.

This Letter, Sir, and the above-mentioned Papers, I immediately fent to a very worthy London Divine my particular Friend, who had long held the greatest Intimacy with the Alderman, and was perfectly well acquainted with

C

him

his moft fecret Tranfactions and public Negotiations both abroad and at home. I earnestly re

quested him to take up the Biographical Pen; for the Tafk was fo arduous, that I durft not affume it any farther than I had done, by introducing the kind Inftructions you were pleased to fend me in your foregoing Letter.

I was advised to continue my Notices in the Daily Advertiser for more Affiftance, which I did for fome Time, and at length my City Friend returned the following Answer to my Request, viz.

Mr. CURLL,

I

Received your Papers,and shall very readily oblige you in any Thing that is in my Power. It is impoffible for me to guess what • Particulars you want, in relation to the Hif tory you mention of Alderman Barber; whether it may be concerning his Friends, his Qualities, or the Political Occurrences of his latter Scene of Life. I fuppofe you intend to introduce feveral Characters to make the Hiftory; and therefore you ought to be very particular in your Directions to Me, upon thofe Heads where you want Intelligence; and I fhall be as particular in my Answer, as far I can indeed as my Knowledge enables me. • furnish you with fome remarkable Paffages: And as you defign to introduce Dean SWIFT,

up

I can

I can give you fome Account of his procuring the Place for his Chaplain, and fend you a Copy of the recommendatory Letter: I could alfo recollect feveral other Incidents, which might probably be fome Embellishment: However, I muft freely own to you,that I never • confidered the Alderman with a very favour⚫able Eye: He had many Defects, and but few Virtues to weigh in the oppofite Scale; and indeed, were I to give an impartial Account, (which a Biographer ought always to do) moft of the Paffages I could mention concerning him would not be greatly to his AdC vantage. Now you ought candidly to let me know, whether you defign to publish an En⚫ comium, or an Authentic Hiftory of him and his Times. If you prefer Truth, I can perhaps point you out a good many Articles, which will be curious to the Public, although not altogether fo highly to his Honour. As to Dean Swift, I will be bold to fay no Man alive 'knows more of him than a Friend of mine, ' and who hath been feveral Years collecting Incidents to write his Life.

The Revd Mr. Matthew Pilkington printed the Sermon which was preached on the Day of Barber's being elected Lord MAYOR : It met with that Approbation it justly deferved.'

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Yours, &c.

P. L.

On

On the Receipt of this Letter, the Gentleman was requested by me, to furnish whatever he knew relating to his Acquaintance and Tranfactions with the Alderman and accordingly he favoured me with the following Answer out of the Country, viz.

Mr. CURLL,

I

Received your last, and would not delay

to answer you this Poft. I inclose fome < Sheets of Alderman Barber's Hiftory, and I have Materials both concerning his Travels and the Excife Scheme, and other Incidents ⚫ not known to many. If you think to confine your History to a particular Size, I can either enlarge or diminish, by only using or rejecting the Hints I have by me.

6 Let me know your Mind in

your next.'

Yours, &c

P. L.

I wholly fubmitted myself to the Conduct of my judicious Friend; and on the 15th of June I received his Memoirs, with the Alderman's Character; all which are faithfully printed.

And now, Sir, give me leave to obferve; that I think my Biographer has carefully followed your Inftructions: But he told me he fcorned to take notice of any Incident fo mean as a Pint of Porter, or of the Person who let poor Jack pay for it. He alfo made the following Strictures upon your Letter, viz.

I. As