The malevolent dullness of bigotry alone could have inspired Blackmore with these sentiments. The fact is, that the _Tale of a Tub_ is a continued panegyrick on the Church of England, and a bitter satire on Popery, Calvinism, and every sect of dissenters. At the same time I am persuaded, that every reader of taste and discernment will perceive in many parts of Swift's other writings strong internal proofs of that style which characterises the _Tale of a Tub_; especially in the _Publick Spirit of the Whigs_. It is well known, that he affected simplicity, and studiously avoided any display of learning, except where the subject made it absolutely necessary. Temporary, local, and political topicks compose too great a part of his works; but in a treatise that admitted "more thinking, more knowledge," &c. he naturally exerted all his powers.--Let us hear the author himself on this point. "The greatest part of that book was finished above thirteen years since, (1696) which is eight years before it was published. The author was then young, his invention at the height, and his reading fresh in his head." And again: "Men should be more cautious in losing their time, if they did but consider, that to answer a book effectually requireth more pains and skill, more wit, learning and judgement, than were employed in writing it.--And the author assureth those gentlemen, who have given themselves that trouble with him, that his discourse is the product of the study, the observation, and the invention of _several years_; that he often blotted out more than he left; and if his papers had not been a long time out of his possession, they must still have undergone more severe corrections." _An Apology for the Tale of a Tub._--With respect to this work being the production of Swift, see his letter to the printer, Mr. Benjamin Tooke, dated Dublin, June 29, 1710, and Tooke's Answer on the publication of _the Apology_ and a new edition of the _Tale of a Tub_. Hawkesworth's edition of Swift's Works, 8vo. vol. xvi. p. 145. Doctor Hawkesworth mentions, in his preface, that the edition of _A Tale of a Tub_, printed in 1710, was revised and corrected by the Dean a short time before his understanding was impaired, and that the corrected copy was, in the year 1760, in the hands of his kinsman, Mr. Deane Swift. [24] _Johnson._ "I would tell truth of the two Georges, or of that _scoundrel_, King William." Boswell's _Tour to the Hebrides_, p. 312. [25] See his letter to Lord Thurlow, in which he seems to approve of the application (though he was not previously consulted), thanks his Lordship for having made it, and even expresses some degree of surprize and resentment on the proposed addition to his pension being refused.