5. Swift, Jonathan (1667-1745)

Autograph letter, signed to Rev. William Diaper, 30 April, 1713.
Autograph letter, unsigned, to Charles Ford, 7 June 1713.
Autograph letter, signed, to the Rev. Henry Jenney, 8 June 1732.
Autograph letter, signed, to Frances Kelly, 4 May 1733.
Autograph draft letter in “Anglo-Latino,” to Dr. Thomas Sheridan, [late July 1735?]
Autograph memorandum, signed, concerning St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 21 May 1729.

Examples of our Swift manuscript material. These have been used as the basis for articles by Prof. Clive Probyn of the English Department, and published in David Woolley's edition of Swift's correspondence.

The “Anglo-Latino” was part of the punning and word play Swift and his circle enjoyed.

The transcript of the autograph memorandum pictured here reads:

The Monument of the first Earl of Cork on the South side of the Quire in
my Cathedral of St Patricks is in a very tottering Condition, and endangers the Lives
of those Clergy-men who attend at the Altar, as well as those people who come up
to Receive the holy Sacrament. [A] great Pieces of the Marble [of the] Supporters
having fallen, and more may do so in the Time of Divine Service. It is ordered by Dean
and Chapter of St Patrick’s, that the sd Monument shall be taken down so low,
as that there may be not the least Danger of any Mischief to those who shall attend at or near
the Altar.
One Mr Burwood near Lismore is Agent and Receiver to the Earl of Cork and Burlington
May 21. 1739. Jonathan Swift.. Dean

Background of this article:

As Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Swift included building maintenance among his responsibilities. The towering, multi-storey monument to the Boyle dynasty includes nearly life-size effigies of the family of Richard Boyle, first Earl of Cork and Lord High Treasurer of the Kingdom of Ireland (1566-1643). As well as this instruction, Swift also wrote a letter to the third Earl of Burlington, Palladian architect and friend of Alexander Pope, pointing out his responsibilities towards the decent repair of the family monument. Swift threatened that unless Burlington cooperated in its repair, the Dean himself would commission and pay for the necessary work, and then commemorate the third Earl’s parsimony.