P. 723. Thomas Burnet.  The bishop was a kind and bountiful master to his servants, whom he never changed, but with regret and through necessity:  Friendly and obliging to all in employment under him, and peculiarly happy in the choice of them; especially in that of the steward to the bishopric and his courts, William Wastefield, Esq. (a gentleman of a plentiful fortune, at the time of his accepting this post) and in that of his domestic steward, Mr. Mackney.—­Swift.  A Scot, his own countryman.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

NOTES ON THE FREE-HOLDER.

NOTE

“THE FREE HOLDER” was a political periodical written in the form of essays.  It continued for fifty five numbers from Friday, December 23rd, 1715, to Friday, June 29th, 1716.  Its purpose was to reconcile the English nation to the Hanoverian succession.  “These papers,” notes Scott, “while they exhibit the exquisite humour and solid sense peculiar to the author, show also, even amid the strength of party, that philanthropy and gentleness of nature, which were equally his distinguishing attributes.  None of these qualities would have conciliated his great opponent, Swift, had the field of combat yet remained open to him.  But as he withdrew from it in sullen indignation, he seems to have thrown out the following flashes of satire, as brief examples of what he would have done had the hour of answer been yet current.”

Scott obtained these “notes” from a transcription of the original in Swift’s own hand, in a copy of “The Free holder” which belonged to Dr. Bernard, Bishop of Limerick.  The present text is a reprint of Scott’s, but the text of “The Free holder” has been read with the octavo and duodecimo editions of that periodical issued by Midwinter in 1716.  The titles to the essays were not given in the original issue, except that to No. 9.  They were added as a “Contents” to the re-issue in volume form.

[T.S.]

NOTES ON THE FREE-HOLDER.[1]

No. 2. Dec. 26, 1715.—­Of His Majesty’s Character.

Addison.

[Footnote 1:  “The Free-holder,” conducted by Addison, was published on Mondays and Fridays from December 23rd, 1715, till June 29th, 1716; fifty-five numbers were issued altogether. [T.S.]]

It was by this [this firmness of mind] that he surmounted those many difficulties which lay in the way to his succession.—­Swift.  What difficulties were those, or what methods did he take to surmount them?

Addison.  It is observed by Sir William Temple, that the English are particularly fond of a king who is valiant:  Upon which account His Majesty has a title to all the esteem that can be paid the most warlike prince; though at the same time, for the good of his subjects, he studies to decline all occasions of military glory.—­Swift.  This seems to be a discovery.