ear to 1710 he worked hard to undermine the Whigs
and to open a way for the Tories to come into power. His intimacy with
Harley commenced, as may be deduced from his works, in October, 1710.
It seems undeniable that a settlement in England was the constant
object of Dr. Swift's ambition; so that his promotion to a deanery in
Ireland was rather a disappointment than a reward, as appears by many
expressions in his letters to Mr. Gay and Mr. Pope.

The business which first introduced him to Harley was a commission
sent to him by the primate of Ireland to solicit the queen to release
the clergy of that kingdom from the twentieth-penny and first-fruits.
As soon as he received the primate's instructions, he resolved to wait
on Harley; but before the first interview he took care to get himself
represented as a person who had been ill used by the last ministry,
because he would not go such lengths as they would have had him. The
new minister received him with open arms, soon after accomplished his
business, bade him come often to see him privately, and told him that
he must bring him to the knowledge of Mr. St. John (Lord Bolingbroke).
Swift presently became acquainted with the rest of the ministry, who
appear to have courted and caressed him with uncommon assiduity.

From this era to the death of Queen Anne we find him fighting on the
side of the ministers and maintaining their cause in pamphlets, poems,
and weekly papers. But notwithstanding his services to the ministry,
he remained without preferment till the year 1713, when he was made
Dean of St. Patrick's. In point of power and revenue such a deanery
might appear no inconsiderable promotion; but to an ambitious mind
whose perpetual aim was a settlement in England, a dignity in any
other kingdom must appear only an honorable and profitable banishment.
There is great reason to imagine that the temper of Swift might
occasion his English friends to wish him happily and properly promoted
at a distance. His spirit was ever untractable, the motions of his
genius irregular. He assumed more the airs of a patron than a friend.
He affected rather to dictate than advise, and was elated with the
appearance of enjoying ministerial confidence.

Dr. Swift had little reason to rejoice in the land where his lot had
fallen: for upon his arrival in Ireland to take possession of his
deanery, he found the violence of party reigning in that kingdom to
the highest degree. The common people wer