I very often dined indeed with the treasurer and secretary; but, in those days, that was not reckoned a bribe, whatever it may have been at any time since.

I absolutely refused to be chaplain to the Lord Treasurer; because I thought it would ill become me to be in a state of dependence.
[Footnote 3: "The Public Spirit of the Whigs." [D.S.]] I say this, to shew that I had no other bias than my own opinion of persons and affairs.

I preserved several of the opposite party in their employments, who were persons of wit and learning, particularly Mr.
Addison and Mr.Congreve, neither of whom were ever in any danger from the treasurer, who much esteemed them both; and, by his lordship's commands, I brought the latter to dine with him.

Mr.Steele might have been safe enough, if his continually repeated indiscretions, and a zeal mingled with scurrilities, had not forfeited all title to lenity.[4] [Footnote 4: A full account of the severance of the friendly relations between Swift and Steele is given in the fifth volume of the present edition (see pp.

276-282).