, but has since appeared under the title
of Free Thoughts on the present State of Affairs.

While he was waiting in this retirement for events which time or chance
might bring to pass, the death of the queen broke down at once the whole
system of tory politicks; and nothing remained but to withdraw from the
implacability of triumphant whiggism, and shelter himself in unenvied
obscurity.

The accounts of his reception in Ireland, given by lord Orrery and Dr.
Delany, are so different, that the credit of the writers, both
undoubtedly veracious, cannot be saved, but by supposing, what I think
is true, that they speak of different times. When Delany says, that he
was received with respect, he means for the first fortnight, when he
came to take legal possession; and when lord Orrery tells that he was
pelted by the populace, he is to be understood of the time when, after
the queen's death, he became a settled resident.

The archbishop of Dublin gave him at first some disturbance in the
exercise of his jurisdiction; but it was soon discovered, that between
prudence and integrity he was seldom in the wrong; and that, when he was
right, his spirit did not easily yield to opposition.

Having so lately quitted the tumults of a party, and the intrigues of a
court, they still kept his thoughts in agitation, as the sea fluctuates
awhile when the storm has ceased. He, therefore, filled his hours with
some historical attempts, relating to the change of the ministers, and
the conduct of the ministry. He, likewise, is said to have written a
history of the four last years of queen Anne, which he began in her
lifetime, and afterwards laboured with great attention, but never
published. It was after his death in the hands of lord Orrery and Dr.
King. A book under that title was published with Swift's name, by Dr.
Lucas; of which I can only say, that it seemed by no means to correspond
with the notions that I had formed of it, from a conversation which I
once heard between the earl of Orrery and old Mr. Lewis.

Swift now, much against his will, commenced Irishman for life, and was
to contrive how he might be best accommodated in a country where he
considered himself as in a state of exile. It seems that his first
recourse was to piety. The thoughts of death rushed upon him, at this
time, with such incessant importunity, that they took possession of his
mind, when he first waked, for many years together.

He opened his house by a publick