(producing it), and the
villanous lines on me?" at the same time reading them aloud with great
vehemence of emphasis, and much gesticulation. "Sir," said Swift, "it
was a piece of advice given me in my early days by Lord Somers, never to
own or disown any writing laid to my charge; because, if I did this in
some cases, whatever I did not disown afterwards would infallibly be
imputed to me as mine. Now, sir, I take this to have been a very wise
maxim, and as such have followed it ever since; and I believe it will
hardly be in the power of all your rhetoric, as great a master as you
are of it, to make me swerve from that rule." Bettesworth replied,
"Well, since you will give me no satisfaction in this affair, let me
tell you, that your gown is alone your protection," and then left the
room.

The sergeant continuing to utter violent threats against the Dean, there
was an association formed and signed by all the principal inhabitants of
the neighborhood, to stand by and support their generous benefactor
against any one who should attempt to offer the least injury to his
person or fortune. Besides, the public indignation became so strong
against the sergeant, that although he had made a considerable figure at
the bar, he now lost his business, and was seldom employed in any suit
afterwards.

SWIFT AMONG THE LAWYERS.

Dean Swift having preached an assize sermon in Ireland, was invited to
dine with the Judges; and having in his sermon considered the use and
abuse of the law, he then pressed a little hard upon those counsellors,
who plead causes which they knew in their consciences to be wrong. When
dinner was over, and the glass began to go round, a young barrister
retorted upon the dean; and after several altercations, the counsellor
asked him, "If the devil was to die, whether a _parson_ might not be
found, who, for money, would preach his funeral?" "Yes," said Swift, "I
would gladly be the man, and I would then give the _devil_ his due, as I
have this day done his _children_."

PREACHING PATRIOTISM.

Dean Swift is said to have jocularly remarked, that he never preached
but twice in his life, and then they were not sermons, but pamphlets.
Being asked, upon what subject? he replied, they were against Wood's
halfpence. One of these sermons has been preserved, and is from this
text, "As we have the opportunity, let us do good to all men." Its
object was to show the great want of public spirit in Ireland, and to
enfor