The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21).
Volume IX. From Steele and Addison to Pope and Swift.
§ 8. Swift and The Examiner; The Conduct of the Allies and Some Remarks on the Barrier Treaty
In the following month, he took in charge a weekly paper, The Examiner, which had just been started by St. John, and he wrote for it regularly until June, 1711. St. John afterwards said, “We were determined to have you: you were the only one we were afraid of.”
An attempt to assassinate Harley, in March, 1711, greatly increased the popularity of that minister. Swift was much alarmed while Harley’s life was in danger. He had, Swift said, always treated him with the tenderness of a parent, and never refused him any favour as a friend. The efforts of the party were now devoted to bringing the war with France to an end. Harley was created earl of Oxford, and became lord treasurer. The whigs, opposed to a peace, formed an alliance with Nottingham, previously an extreme tory. Swift, who had given up his connection with The Examiner, composed, in November and December, 1711, two pamphlets in favour of peace: The Conduct of the Allies and of the late Ministry in beginning and carrying on the present war, and Some Remarks on the Barrier Treaty. He also attacked the duchess of Somerset in The W—ds—r Prophecy, and assisted the government by A Letter to the October Club, which consisted of the more extreme tories. The danger threatening the government from the House of Lords was removed, in December, by the creation of twelve new peers, and by the dismissal of the duke of Marlborough from his employments.