Headnote

Probably composed 1734; published 1734 (advertised from October 1733); copy text 1734 (see Textual Account).

The Irish poetMary Barber is mentioned frequently in Swift's correspondence in the early 1730s: he attempted to help her gain patronage, gave her contacts, letters of introduction and potential subscribers in England, and generally encouraged her work (seeWoolley, Corr., vol. III, p. 278; Ehrenpreis, vol. III, p. 759), above all in this letter to the Earl of Orrery. This formed the preface to her Poems on Several Occasions, which appeared in 1734, printed by Samuel Richardson.The volume was reprinted in 1735 and 1736, and Barber's poetry had some currency in the century, being anthologised in Poems by Eminent Ladies, London, 1755, and elsewhere.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOHN, EARL OF ORRERY.

My LORD,

I Lately receiv’d a Letter fromMrs. Barber; wherein she desires my Opinion about dedicating her Poems to your Lordship; and seems in Pain to know how far she may be allow’d to draw your Character, which is a Right claim’d by all Dedicators. And she thinks this the more incumbent on her, from the surprizing Instances of your Generosity and Favour that she hath already receiv’d, and which she hath been so unfashionable to publish where-ever she goes. This makes her apprehend, that all she can say to your Lordship's Advantage, will be interpreted as the mere Effect of Flattery, under the Style and Title of Gratitude.

I sent her Word, that I could be of no Service to her upon this Article: Yet I confess, my Lord, that all those who are thoroughly acquainted with her, will impute her Encomiums to a sincere, but overflowing Spirit of Thankfulness, as well as to the humble Opinion she hath of herself. Altho’ the World in general may possibly continue in its usual Sentiments, and list her in the common Herd of Dedicators.

Therefore, upon the most mature Deliberation, I concluded that the Office of setting out your Lordship's Character, will not come properly from her Pen, for her own Reasons: I mean the great Favours you have already conferr’d on her. And God forbid, that your Character should not have a much stronger Support.