SWIFT, Jonathan (1667-1745). Autograph letter signed ('Jonath: Swift'), to [George Lyttelton, secretary to Frederick, Prince of Wales], Deanry [sic] House, Dublin, 5 June 1739, 2 pages, 4to, integral leaf removed.
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SWIFT, Jonathan (1667-1745). Autograph letter signed ('Jonath: Swift'), to [George Lyttelton, secretary to Frederick, Prince of Wales], Deanry [sic] House, Dublin, 5 June 1739, 2 pages, 4to, integral leaf removed.

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SWIFT, Jonathan (1667-1745). Autograph letter signed ('Jonath: Swift'), to [George Lyttelton, secretary to Frederick, Prince of Wales], Deanry [sic] House, Dublin, 5 June 1739, 2 pages, 4to, integral leaf removed.

Swift intercedes on behalf of a candidate to represent in Parliament the University of Dublin whose Chancellor was Frederick, Prince of Wales. Swift begins by flattering his correspondent, 'your Character is as well known among us in every Particular, as it is in the Prince Your Master's Court, and indeed all over this poor Kingdom' and adds 'You will find, that I have not altogether forgot my old Court-Politicks'; he refers to a letter he had written to 'Mr Pope' in which 'I desired him to recommend Mr Mac-Aulay to your Favour and Protection' and praises him as 'a most worthy, learned, honest, and deserving Gentleman'; Swift informs his correspondent that some of the Fellows of the University had sent word to the Prince that they were under a prior obligation to 'Mr Tisdal' and had asked the Prince to transfer his support to their candidate.

In 1739 Philip Tisdal, an Irish barrister, was defeated by Alexander Macaulay at a poll to choose a candidate to represent the University of Dublin (Trinity College) in the Irish House of Commons. Macaulay probably owed his return to the influence of Swift. But on petition Tisdal was declared duly elected and he continued to represent the University until 1776. In The Correspondence of Jonathan Swift, ed. Williams, Vol.V, Oxford, 1965, pp.157-9, the text of this letter is taken from the Deane Swift edition.

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