he Postboy.
King thanked Swift for this action, explaining that he had been arguing
on Harley's behalf when someone instanced the story of Rufus.

4 A Tory paper, published thrice weekly by Abel Roper.

5 Sir Charles Duncombe, banker, died on April 9, 1711. The first wife of
the Duke of Argyle (see Letter 11, note 57) was Duncombe's niece,
Mary Browne, daughter of Ursula Duncombe and Thomas Browne, of St.
Margaret's, Westminster. Duncombe was elected Lord Mayor in 1700, and
was the richest commoner in England.

6 The Rev. Dillon Ashe (see Letter 12, note 23).

7 John, fourth Baron Poulett, was created Earl Poulett in 1706, after
serving as one of the Commissioners for the Treaty of Union with
Scotland. From August 1710 to May 1711 he was First Lord of the
Treasury, and from June 1711 to August 1714 he was Lord Steward of the
Household.

8 Lost or stupid person.

9 Sir William Read, a quack who advertised largely in the Tatler and
other papers. He was satirised in No. 547 of the Spectator. In 1705
he was knighted for his services in curing many seamen and soldiers of
blindness gratis, and he was appointed Oculist in Ordinary to the Queen.
Read died in 1715, but his business was continued by his widow.

10 General John Webb was not on good terms with Marlborough. He was a
Tory, and had gained distinction in the war at Wynendale (1708), though
the Duke's secretary gave the credit, in the despatch, to Cadogan. There
is a well-known account of Webb in Thackeray's Esmond. He was severely
wounded at Malplaquet in 1709, and in 1710 was given the governorship of
the Isle of Wight. He died in 1724.

11 Henry Campion, M.P. for Penryn, is mentioned in the Political State
for February 1712 as one of the leading men of the October Club. Campion
seems to have been Member, not for Penryn, but for Bossiney.

12 See Letter 3, note 32.

13 Sir George Beaumont, Bart., M.P. for Leicester, and an acquaintance
of Swift's mother, was made a Commissioner of the Privy Seal in 1712,
and one of the Lords of the Admiralty in 1714. He died in 1737.

14 Heneage Finch, afterwards second Earl of Aylesford, was the son of
Heneage Finch, the chief counsel for the seven bishops, who was created
Baron Guernsey in 1703, and Earl of Aylesford in 1714.

15 James, Lord Compton, afterwards fifth Earl of Northampton, was the
eldest son of George, the fourth Earl. He was summoned to the House of
Lords in December 1711, and died in 1754.

16 See Le