“I should be glad to see you the instrument of introducing into our style that simplicity which is the best and truest ornament of most things in life, which the politer ages always aimed at in their building and dress, (simplex munditiis) as well as their productions of wit.  It is manifest, that all new, affected modes of speech, whether borrowed from the Court, the Town, or the theatre, are the first perishing parts in any language, and, as I could prove by many hundred instances, have been so in ours.  The writings of Hooker,[6] who was a country clergyman, and of Parsons[7] the Jesuit, both in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, are in a style that, with very few allowances, would not offend any present reader; much more clear and intelligible than those of Sir H. Wotton,[8]Sir Robert Naunton,[9] Osborn,[10] Daniel[11] the historian, and several others who writ later; but being men of the Court, and affecting the phrases then in fashion, they are often either not to be understood, or appear perfectly ridiculous.

“What remedies are to be applied to these evils I have not room to consider, having, I fear, already taken up most of your paper.  Besides, I think it is our office only to represent abuses, and yours to redress them.

“I am, with great respect,
Sir,

“Your, &c.”

[Footnote 1:  In his “Journal to Stella,” Swift writes, under date, September 18th, 1710:  “Came to town; got home early, and began a letter to ‘The Tatler’ about the corruptions of style and writing, &c.”  On September 23rd, he writes again:  “I have sent a long letter to Bickerstaff; let the Bp. of Clogher smoke if he can.”  Again on September 29th:  “I made a ‘Tatler’ since I came; guess which it is, and whether the Bp.  Of Clogher smokes it.”  On October 1st, he asks Stella:  “Have you smoked the ‘Tatler’ that I writ?  It is much liked here, and I think it a pure one.”  On the 14th of the same month he refers still again to the paper which had evidently pleased him:  “The Bp. of Clogher has smoked my ‘Tatler’ about shortening of words,” etc. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 2:  Compare Swift’s “Proposal for Correcting the English Tongue.” [T.S.]]

[Footnote 3:  Thomas Harley, cousin of the first Earl of Oxford.  He was Secretary of the Treasury, and afterwards minister at Hanover.  He died in 1737. (T.S.)]

[Footnote 4:  It is interesting to note that Swift, who insisted that the word “mob” should never be used for “rabble,” wrote “mob” in the 15th number of “The Examiner,” and in Faulkner’s reprint of 1741 the word was changed to “rabble.”  Scott notes:  “The Dean carried on the war against the word ‘mob’ to the very last.  A lady who died in 1788, and was well known to Swift, used to say that the greatest scrape into which she got with him was by using the word ‘mob.’  ’Why do you say that?’ said he, in a passion; ’never let me hear you say that word again.’  ‘Why, sir,’ said she, ‘what am I to say?’ ’The “rabble,” to be sure,’ answered he.” [T.S.]]