to the malignant influence
of an ascendant mind. But the truth is, that Gulliver had described his
Yahoos before the visit; and he that had formed those images had nothing
filthy to learn.

I have here given the character of Swift as he exhibits himself to
my perception; but now let another be heard who knew him better. Dr.
Delany, after long acquaintance, describes him to Lord Orrery in these
terms:--

"My Lord, when you consider Swift's singular, peculiar, and most
variegated vein of wit, always rightly intended, although not always so
rightly directed; delightful in many instances, and salutary even where
it is most offensive; when you consider his strict truth, his fortitude
in resisting oppression and arbitrary power; his fidelity in friendship;
his sincere love and zeal for religion; his uprightness in making right
resolutions, and his steadiness in adhering to them; his care of his
church, its choir, its economy, and its income; his attention to all
those who preached in his cathedral, in order to their amendment
in pronunciation and style; as also his remarkable attention to the
interest of his successors preferably to his own present emoluments; his
invincible patriotism, even to a country which he did not love; his very
various, well-devised, well-judged, and extensive charities, throughout
his life; and his whole fortune (to say nothing of his wife's) conveyed
to the same Christian purposes at his death; charities, from which he
could enjoy no honour, advantage, or satisfaction of any kind in this
world: when you consider his ironical and humorous, as well as his
serious schemes, for the promotion of true religion and virtue; his
success in soliciting for the First Fruits and Twentieths, to the
unspeakable benefit of the Established Church of Ireland; and his
felicity (to rate it no higher) in giving occasion to the building of
fifty new churches in London:

"All this considered, the character of his life will appear like that
of his writings; they will both bear to be reconsidered, and re-examined
with the utmost attention, and always discover new beauties and
excellences upon every examination.

"They will bear to be considered as the sun, in which the brightness
will hide the blemishes; and whenever petulant ignorance, pride,
malignity, or envy interposes to cloud or sully his fame, I take upon me
to pronounce, that the eclipse will not last long.

"To conclude--No man ever deserved better of his co