qualifications, whom, for that very reason, I had the more pride in taking under my direction, and enabling him, by some means or other, to carry on the work I was before engaged in.  Lest he should grow too vain upon this encouragement, I to this day keep him under due mortification.  I seldom reside with him when any of his friends are at leisure to receive me, by whose hands, however, he is duly supplied.  As I have passed through many scenes of life, and a long series of years, I choose to be considered in the character of an old fellow, and take care that those under my influence should speak consonantly to it.  This account, I presume, will give no small consolation to Sylvia, who may rest assured, that Isaac Bickerstaff is to be seen in more forms than she dreamt of; out of which variety she may choose what is most agreeable to her fancy.  On Tuesdays, he is sometimes a black, proper, young gentleman, with a mole on his left cheek.  On Thursdays, a decent well-looking man, of a middle stature, long flaxen hair, and a florid complexion.  On Saturdays, he is somewhat of the shortest, and may be known from others of that size by talking in a low voice, and passing through the streets without much precipitation.

[Footnote 1:  No. 28 in the reprint of “The Tatler,” vol. v. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 2:  Metamorphoses, xv. 158-161.

  “Nor dies the spirit, but new life repeats
  In other forms, and only changes seats. 
    Ev’n I, who these mysterious truths declare,
  Was once Euphorbus in the Trojan war.”

J. DRYDEN.
[T.S.]]

[Footnote 3:  I.e. 1710-11. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 4:  Swift. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 5:  Steele. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 6:  Harrison. [T.S.]]

* * * * * *

CONTRIBUTIONS TO “THE EXAMINER.”

NOTE.

The new ministry, which came into power on the fall of the able administration of Godolphin in 1710, was the famous Oxford ministry headed by Harley and St. John.  The new leaders were well aware that they would have to use all the means in their power not only to justify themselves to the English nation, but successfully to defeat the strong opposition which had such a man as Marlborough for its moving spirit.  The address to Queen Anne from the Commons, showing undoubted evidences of St. John’s hand, was the first employment of a means by which this ministry hoped to appeal to the public.  But this remarkable literary effort had already been preceded by the establishment of a weekly political paper, entitled “The Examiner,” a few weeks before Godolphin’s fall.  During the months of August, September, and October, in which were issued twelve papers, Dr. Freind, Atterbury, Prior and St. John, were the men employed to arouse the nation to a necessary condition of discontent.  Now that the ministry was in power, the necessity for continuing these public appeals was felt to be all the stronger; and Harley’s shrewdness in selecting Swift to take this important matter in hand shows his ability as a party leader.