able to mix in fashionable society in London. Swift was introduced to them by
Sir Andrew Fountaine early in 1708, but evidently Stella did not make their
acquaintance, nor indeed hear much, if anything, of them until the time of the
Journal.

Swift's visit to London in 1707-9 had for its object the obtaining for the
Irish Church of the surrender by the Crown of the First-Fruits and Twentieths,
which brought in about 2500 pounds a year. Nothing came of Swift's interviews
with the Whig statesmen, and after many disappointments he returned to Laracor
(June 1709), and conversed with none but Stella and her card-playing friends,
and Addison, now secretary to Lord Wharton.[4] Next year came the fall of the
Whigs, and a request to Swift from the Irish bishops that he would renew the
application for the First-Fruits, in the hope that there would be greater
success with the Tories. Swift reached London in September 1710, and began
the series of letters, giving details of the events of each day, which now
form the Journal to Stella. "I will write something every day to MD," he
says, "and make it a sort of journal; and when it is full I will send it,
whether MD writes or no; and so that will be pretty; and I shall always be in
conversation with MD, and MD with Presto." It is interesting to note that by
way of caution these letters were usually addressed to Mrs. Dingley, and not
to Stella.

The story of Swift's growing intimacy with the Tory leaders, of the success of
his mission, of the increasing coolness towards older acquaintances, and of
his services to the Government, can best be read in the Journal itself. In
the meantime the intimacy with the Vanhomrighs grew rapidly. They were near
neighbours of Swift's, and in a few weeks after his arrival in town we find
frequent allusions to the dinners at their house (where he kept his best gown
and periwig), sometimes with the explanation that he went there "out of mere
listlessness," or because it was wet, or because another engagement had broken