fhew a mind inceffantly attentive, and, when it was not employed upon great

*

things, bufy with minute occurrences. It is apparent that he must have had the habit of noting whatever he obferved; for fuch a number of particulars could never have been affembled by the power of recollection.

He grew more violent; and his mental powers declined till (1741) it was found neceffary that legal guardians fhould be appointed of his person and fortune. He now loft diftinction. His madness was compounded of rage and fatuity. The laft face that he knew was that of Mrs. Whiteway, and her he ceafed to know in a little time. His meat was brought him cut into mouth

fuls;

fuls; but he would never touch it while the fervant ftaid, and at laft, after it had ftood perhaps an hour, would eat it walking; for he continued his old habit, and was on his feet ten hours a-day.

Next year (1742) he had an inflammation in his left eye, which fwelled it to the fize of an egg, with boils in other parts; he was kept long waking with the pain, and was not eafily restrained by five attendants from tearing out his

eye.

The tumour at last fubfided; and a fhort interval of reafon enfuing, in which he knew his phyfician and his family, gave hopes of his recovery; but in a few days he funk into lethargick ftupi dity, motionlefs, heedlefs, and speech.

lefs. But it is faid, that, after a year of total filence, when his houfekeeper, on the 30th of November, told him that the ufual bonfires and illuminations were preparing to celebrate his birthday, he anfwered, It is all folly; they had better let it alone,

It is remembered that he afterwards fpoke now and then, or gave fome intimation of a meaning; but at laft funk into perfect filence, which continued till about the end of October 1744, when, in his feventy-eighth year, he expired without a struggle.

WHEN

WHEN Swift is confidered as an author, it is juft to estimate his powers by their effects. In the reign of Queen Anne he turned the ftream of popularity against the Whigs, and must be confeffed to have dictated for a time the political opinions of the English nation. In the fucceeding reign he delivered Ireland from plunder and oppreffion; and fhewed that wit, confederated with truth, had fuch force as authority was unable to refift. He said truly of himfelf, that Ireland was his debtor. It was from the time when he first began to patronize the Irifh, that they may date

F 2

date their riches and profperity. He taught them firft to know their own intercft, their weight, and their ftrength, and gave them fpirit to affert that equality with their fellow-fubjects to which they have ever fince been making vigorous-advances, and to claim thofe rights which they have at last established. Nor can they be charged with ingratitude to their benefactor; for they reverenced him as a guardian, and obeyed him as a dictator.

In his works, he has given very different fpecimens both of fentiment and expreffion. His Tale of a Tub has little refemblance to his other pieces. It exhibits a vehemence and rapidity of mind, a copioufhefs of images, and vivacity