As might have been expected it was the religious allegory which, though really the less important part of the work, attracted popular attention. The irreverence with which the author treated all sacred things enabled the fanatics against whom it was specially levelled to brand him as a sceptic and blasphemer. The grossness of those passages in which Swift, as so often happens in his work, has followed the example of Rabelais without the excuse of Rabelais, disgusted a public which grinned at Wycherly and chuckled over Ward. The "Tale of a Tub" lost Swift a bishopric.

In cultured circles, to whom its real merits were obvious, the "Tale" had a most favourable reception. There is no exact evidence to show that Swift ever revealed the secret of his authorship. It must, however, have needed something besides a serious political pamphlet and a few light poems to win him that great reputation which he now began to enjoy among the London wits, and there is strong presumption in the surmise that Addison, when he gave Swift a copy of his recently published "Travels in Italy," inscribed "to the greatest genius of his age," had the "Tale of a Tub" in his mind.1

The years 1704 to 1707 were spent by Swift partly in Ireland, partly in London. The Whig party growing stronger every year had become more fixed in its opposition to an exclusive Church policy. The bill against occasional conformity disappeared. In 1707, Lord Pembroke was sent as lord lieutenant to Dublin with direct instructions to bring forward a bill in the Irish Parliament for the relief of Protestant Dissenters from their most pressing disabilities. Pembroke's mission failed, but Swift's faith in the Whigs was much shaken

See Forster's "Life of Swift," p. 160.

In the November of 1707,

by this effort at toleration. Swift himself came to England at the request of the Irish bishops, to try and obtain from Queen Anne a renunciation of the first-fruits due from the Irish Church. A refusal to entertain his demand, especially if accompanied by a personal slight to himself, would send him over to the Tory ranks.

CHAPTER III.

A TORY CONVERT.

Swift's mission on behalf of the Irish Church-He is disappointed of the bishopric of Waterford-Writes "Project for the Advancement of Religion"-His interview with Godolphin-Whigs favour. able to the Dissenters-Growing alienation of Swift from the Whig leaders-His private life at this time--Writes "Sentiments of a Church of England Man"-His "Argument to Prove the Inconveniences of Abolishing Christianity"-Summary and explanation of Swift's religious views-His dislike of the Dissenters -Final triumph of the Whigs-They refuse Swift any assistance -His departure for Ireland-Stay at Laracor-Incidents thereof -He returns to England on a second mission-Change in the political situation there-Accession of the Tories-The Journal to Stella-Swift's account of his own conduct-Policy of Harley -He wins Swift over to the Tory cause-Swift's motives.

SWIFT had come over to England in the same vessel as the Irish viceroy, Lord Pembroke, with whom he had been very intimate at Dublin Castle. After a visit to his mother at Leicester he proceeded to London, where he arrived, it would seem, towards the end of December, 1707. He found the Whig party stronger than ever. The ministry still contained a small Tory leaven; but the Tory opposition to the Spanish succession war, on the steady prosecution of which the Whigs had staked their reputation, rendered the influence of the former party very weak. Before Swift could enter fully on the

question of the Irish first-fruits he soon had evidence. that, in spite of his relations with Lord Somers, the Whigs laid little value on his support. In January, 1708, the bishopric of Waterford became vacant. Swift's claims to the succession were suggested, but the Government preferred to promote Dr. Milles. Swift's fury at what he considered a personal slight is hardly concealed in a letter written by him on this occasion to his friend, Archdeacon Walls. ". . . I once had a glimpse," he says, "that things would have gone otherwise. But now I must retire to my morals, and pretend to be wholly without ambition, and to resign with patience. You know by this time who is the happy man; a very worthy person, and I doubt not but the whole kingdom will be pleased with the choice. He will prove an ornament to the order, and a public blessing to the Church and nation. And after this, if you will not allow me to be a good courtier, I will pretend to it no more. But let us talk no further on this subject. I am stomach-sick of it already."

Why Swift's claims were disregarded at this time is not very clear. Considerable discord, however, existed between him and the Whigs on the question of Church policy. It is not impossible, moreover, that the open secret of his authorship of the "Tale of a Tub" still stood against him. There is no formal evidence on the point; but may not his "Project for the Advancement of Religion and the Reformation of Manners," written at this

The value of the twentieth parts, first-fruits and crown-rents, payable to the Crown from the Irish Church was £3,000 a year. They were a heavy burden and their collection was onerous and expensive. A remission of these dues had been urgently demanded by the Irish Convocation after Anne's resignation of the English first-fruits in 1704. See the memorial drawn up by Swift on October 7, 1710, and printed in his correspondence.

time, and dedicated to Lady Berkeley, have been intended to show his real fitness for the episcopal office? It is without exception the dullest of his works, and may be compared with Fielding's "Charge to the Grand Jury of Westminster" to show how tedious a clever man can be, when forced to deal in an uncongenial style with an uncongenial subject. So unlike Swift's ordinary vein is it, that critics have endeavoured to find a hidden meaning in the work. From its recommendations, which repeat the sayings of all moralists in all ages, no extracts need be given. The pamphlet, however, was well received, and Lord Berkeley pressed Swift to see that the queen had a copy thereof. She surely could not fail to form a high opinion of so sound and pious a writer!

In the February of 1708, Robert Harley, the Tory secretary of state, was dismissed from office. Henry St. John, Sir Simon Harcourt, and Sir Thomas Mansell, the remaining Tories in the ministry, resigned, and that body was now wholly Whig.

Swift now hoped that, even though his personal claims had been disregarded, the Government would at any rate fall in with his other demand. But this was not the case. The Whigs, relying for support on the Dissenters, were naturally in favour of conciliating them. When Swift, therefore, after much pressing, at length obtained an interview with the Lord Treasurer Godolphin, he was given to understand that the ministry saw no objection to advising the queen to remit the first-fruits of the Irish Church; but in return for this favour, the Irish bishops must make "due acknowledgments," i.c., allow a repeal of the Sacramental Test against Irish Dissenters.

Swift, who refused to see that politicians give nothing for nothing, was bitterly disappointed. Having resolved to give no guarantee that the Irish bishops would