Letter 20.
1 By the Act 9 Anne, cap. 23, the number of hackney coaches was increased to
800, and it was provided that they were to go a mile and a half for one
shilling, two miles for one shilling and sixpence, and so on.
2 See Letter 11, note 39.
3 In a letter to Swift, of March 17, 1711, King said that it might have been
thought that Guiscard's attack would have convinced the world that Harley was
not in the French interest; but it did not have that effect with all, for some
whispered the case of Fenius Rufus and Scevinus in the 15th book of Tacitus:
"Accensis indicibus ad prodendum Fenium Rufum, quem eundem conscium et
inquisitorem non tolerabant." Next month Swift told King that it was reported
that the Archbishop had applied this passage in a speech made to his clergy,
and explained at some length the steps he had taken to prevent the story being
published in the Postboy. King thanked Swift for this action, explaining that
he had been arguing on Harley's behalf when someone instanced the story of
Rufus.
4 A Tory paper, published thrice weekly by Abel Roper.
5 Sir Charles Duncombe, banker, died on April 9, 1711. The first wife of the
Duke of Argyle (see Letter 11, note 57) was Duncombe's niece, Mary Browne,
daughter of Ursula Duncombe and Thomas Browne, of St. Margaret's, Westminster.
Duncombe was elected Lord Mayor in 1700, and was the richest commoner in
England.
6 The Rev. Dillon Ashe (see Letter 12, note 23).
7 John, fourth Baron Poulett, was created Earl Poulett in 17O6, after serving
as one of the Commissioners for the Treaty of Union with Scotland. From
August 1710 to May 1711 he was First Lord of the Treasury, and from June 1711
to August 1714 he was Lord Steward of the Household.
8 Lost or stupid person.
9 Sir William Read, a quack who advertised largely in the Tatler and other
papers. He was satirised in No. 547 of the Spectator. In 17O5 he was
knighted for his services in curing many seamen and soldiers of blindness
gratis, and he was appointed Oculist in Ordinary to the Queen. Read died in
1715, but his business was continued by his widow.
10 General John Webb was not on good terms with Marlborough. He was a Tory,
and had gained distinction in the war at Wynendale (17O8), though the Duke's
secretary gave the credit, in the despatch, to Cadogan. There is a well-known
account of Webb in Thackeray's Esmond. He was severely wounded at Malplaquet
in 17O9, and in 1710 was given the governorship of the Isle of Wight. He died
in 1724.
11 Henry Campion, M.P. for Penryn, is mentioned in the Political State for
February 1712 as one of the leading men of the October Club. Campion seems to
have been Member, not for Penryn, but for Bossiney.
12 See Letter 3, note 32.
13 Sir George Beaumont, Bart., M.P. for Leicester, and an acquaintance of
Swift's mother, was made a Commissioner of the Privy Seal in 1712, and one of
the Lords of the Admiralty in 1714. He died in 1737.
14 Heneage Finch, afterwards second Earl of Aylesford, was the son of Heneage
Finch, the chief counsel for the seven bishops, who was created Baron Guernsey
in 1703, and Earl of Aylesford in 1714.
15 James, Lord Compton, afterwards fifth Earl of Northampton, was the eldest
son of George, the fourth Earl. He was summoned to the House of Lords in
December 1711, and died in 1754.
16 See Letter 11, note 12.
