FOOTNOTES.

“— 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.

“Argyle, the State’s whole thunder born to wield, And shake alike the senate and the field.”

In a note to Macky’s Memoirs, Swift describes the Duke as an “ambitious, covetous, cunning Scot, who had no principle but his own interests and greatness.”

“Alma novem genuit celebres Rhedycina poetas, Bubb, Stubb, Grubb, Crabb, Trapp, Young, Carey, Tickell, Evans.”

Trapp wrote a tragedy in 1704, and in 1708 was chosen the first Professor of Poetry at Oxford. In 1710 he published pamphlets on behalf of Sacheverell, and in 1712 Swift secured for him the post of chaplain to Bolingbroke. During his latter years he held several good livings. Elsewhere Swift calls him a “coxcomb.”

“The small-coal man was heard with cadence deep, Till drowned in shriller notes of chimney-sweep;”

and Gay (Trivia, ii. 35),

“When small-coal murmurs in the hoarser throat, From smutty dangers guard thy threatened coat.”

“Broad plump face, pert eyes, and ruddy skin, Which showed the stupid joke which lurked within.”

Disney was a French Huguenot refugee, and his real name was Desaulnais. He commanded an Irish regiment, and took part in General Hill’s expedition to Canada in 1711 (Kingsford’s Canada, ii. 465). By his will (Wentworth Papers, 109) he “left nothing to his poor relations, but very handsome to his bottle companions.”

“Took proper principles to thrive, And so might every dunce alive.”

“gravely try to read the lines Writ underneath the country signs.”

“When daily howd’y’s come of course, And servants answer, ‘Worse and worse!’”

Cf. Steele (Tatler, No. 109), “After so many howdies, you proceed to visit or not, as you like the run of each other’s reputation or fortune,” and (Spectator, No. 143), “the howd’ye servants of our women.”

“An orator dismal of Nottinghamshire, Who had forty years let out his conscience for hire.”

“And Midas now neglected stands, With asses’ ears and dirty hands.”

“Who has not heard the Scowrers’ midnight fame? Who has not trembled at the Mohocks’ name?”

Lady Wentworth (Wentworth Papers, 277) says: “They put an old woman into a hogshead, and rolled her down a hill; they cut off some noses, others’ hands, and several barbarous tricks, without any provocation. They are said to be young gentlemen; they never take any money from any.” See also the Spectator, Nos. 324, 332, and 347 (where Budgell alludes to “the late panic fear”), and Defoe’s Review for March 15, 1712. Swift was in considerable alarm about the Mohocks throughout March, and said that they were all Whigs. The reports that numbers of persons, including men of figure, had joined together to commit assaults in the streets, made many fear to leave their houses at night. A proclamation was issued for the suppressing of riots and the discovery of those guilty of the late outrages; but it seems probable that the disorders were not more frequent than might be expected from time to time in a great city.

“Villiers, for wisdom and deep judgment famed, Of a high race, victorious beauty brings To grace our Courts, and captivate our Kings.”

The “beauty” seems a poetic licence; Swift says the lady squinted “like a dragon.”

“To Dulness Ridpath is as dear as Mist.”

He edited the Flying Post for some years, and also wrote for the Medley in 1712. In September William Hurt and Ridpath were arrested for libellous and seditious articles, but were released on bail. On October 23 they appeared before the Court of Queen’s Bench, and were continued on their recognizances. In February 1713 Ridpath was tried and, in spite of an able defence by leading Whig lawyers, was convicted. Sentence was postponed, and when Ridpath failed to appear, as ordered, in April, his recognizances were escheated, and a reward offered for his discovery; but he had fled to Scotland, and from thence to Holland.