19 In The History of Vanbrugh’s House, Swift described everyone as hunting for it up and down the river banks, and unable to find it, until at length they—­

     “—­in the rubbish spy
      A thing resembling a goose pie.”

Sir John Vanbrugh was more successful as a dramatist than as an architect, though his work at Blenheim and elsewhere has many merits.

20 For the successes of the last campaign.

21 John Sheffield, third Earl of Mulgrave, was created Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 17O3, and died in 1721.  On Queen Anne’s accession he became Lord Privy Seal, and on the return of the Tories to power in 1710 he was Lord Steward, and afterward (June 1710) Lord President of the Council.  The Duke was a poet, as well as a soldier and statesman, his best known work being the Essay on Poetry.  He was Dryden’s patron, and Pope prepared a collected edition of his works.

22 Laurence Hyde, created Earl of Rochester in 1682, died in 1711.  He was the Hushai of Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel, “the friend of David in distress.”  In 1684 he was made Lord President of the Council, and on the accession of James ii., Lord Treasurer; he was, however, dismissed in 1687.  Under William iii.  Rochester was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, an office he resigned in 17O3; and in September 1710 he again became Lord President.  His imperious temper always stood in the way of popularity or real success.

23 Sir Thomas Osborne, Charles ii.’s famous Minister, was elevated to the peerage in 1673, and afterwards was made successively Earl of Danby, Marquis of Caermarthen, and Duke of Leeds.  On Nov. 29, 1710, a few days after this reference to him, the Duke was granted a pension of 3500 pounds a year out of the Post Office revenues.  He died in July 1712, aged eighty-one, and soon afterwards his grandson married Lord Oxford’s daughter.

24 This is, of course, a joke; Swift was never introduced at Court.

25 Captain Delaval (see Letter 5, note 6).

26 Admiral Sir Charles Wager (1666-1743) served in the West Indies from 17O7 to 17O9, and gained great wealth from the prizes he took.  Under George I. he was Comptroller of the Navy, and in 1733 he became First Lord of the Admiralty, a post which he held until 1742.

27 See Letter 7, note 27.

28 See Letter 5, note 13.

29 Isaac Bickerstaff’s “valentine” sent him a nightcap, finely wrought by a maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth (Tatler, No. 141).  The “nightcap” was a periwig with a short tie and small round head, and embroidered nightcaps were worn chiefly by members of the graver professions.

30 Tatler, No. 237.

31 Tatler, No. 23O.

32 “Returning home at night, you’ll find the sink
    Strike your offended sense with double stink.” 
    ("Description of a City Shower, 11. 5, 6.)

33 Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.