The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21).
Volume IX. From Steele and Addison to Pope and Swift.
§ 10. Swift retires to Dublin
At last, in April, 1713, he was given the vacant deanery of St. Patrick’s—a somewhat disappointing end to his hopes, inasmuch as it involved banishment to Ireland, and the payment of heavy expenses on the deanery. His health was bad; he was subject to attacks of giddiness; and his reception in Dublin was anything but friendly. In October, Swift returned to London. Peace [char] been secured, and the question before the country was that of the succession to the crown. Oxford was not above suspicion; St. John (now Viscount Bolingbroke) was involved in Jacobite plots. Swift was not aware of these schemings, although there was widespread suspicion which led to much uneasiness in the country. The queen was in ill-health, and it was known that her life was very precarious.
Swift’s efforts to repair the growing breach between Oxford and Bolingbroke came to nothing. In many respects, his sympathies were with Bolingbroke; but his friendship for Oxford made it impossible for him to desert that minister. He refused, therefore, to join with the men now in power. Oxford was deprived of office on 27 July, 1714; but Bolingbroke’s triumph was short-lived, for, on 1 August, queen Anne died. Swift retired to Dublin, where he lived “in the corner of a vast unfurnished house.”