You may remember that there was a Paper published predicting my death upon the 29th March at night, 1708, and after the day was past, the same villain told the World I was dead, and how I died, and that he was with me at the time of my death.

I thank GOD, by whose mercy I have my Being, that I am still alive, and (excepting my age) as well as ever I was in my life:  as I was also at that 29th of March.  And that Paper was said to be done by one BICKERSTAFF, Esq.  But that was a sham name, it was done by an impudent lying fellow.

But his Prediction did not prove true!  What will he say to that?  For the fool had considered the “Star of my Nativity” as he said.  Why the truth is, he will be hard put to it to find a salvo for his Honour.  It was a bold touch! and he did not know but it might prove true.

One hardly knows whether to wonder most at the self-delusion or credulity of this last paragraph by the old quack.

This called forth from SWIFT: 

A VINDICATION OF ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esq., &c.

MR. PARTRIDGE hath been lately pleased to treat me after a very rough manner, in that which is called his Almanack for the present year.  Such usage is very undecent from one Gentleman to another, and does not at all contribute to the discovery of Truth, which ought to be the great End in all disputes of the Learned.  To call a man, fool, and villain, and impudent fellow, only for differing from him in a point merely speculative, is, in my humble opinion, a very improper style for a person of his Education.

I appeal to the Learned World, whether, in my last year’s Predictions, I gave him the least provocation for such unworthy treatment.  Philosophers have differed in all Ages; but the discreetest among them, have always differed as became Philosophers.  Scurrility and Passion in a Controversy among Scholars, is just so much of nothing to the purpose; and, at best, a tacit confession of a weak cause.

My concern is not so much for my own reputation, as that of the Republic of Letters; which Mr. PARTRIDGE hath endeavoured to wound through my sides.  If men of public spirit must be superciliously treated for their ingenious attempts; how will true useful knowledge be ever advanced?  I wish Mr. PARTRIDGE knew the thoughts which foreign Universities have conceived of his ungenerous proceeding with me:  but I am too tender of his reputation to publish them to the World.  That spirit of envy and pride, which blasts so many rising Geniuses in our nation, is yet unknown among Professors abroad.  The necessity of justifying myself will excuse my vanity, when I tell the reader that I have received nearly a hundred Honorary Letters from several part of Europe, some as far as Muscovey, in praise of my performance:  besides several others, which (as I have been credibly informed) were opened in the P[ost] Office, and never sent me.