The Accomplishment of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff ’s Predictions

Summary

Headnote

Published 1708; copy text 1708 (see Textual Account).

Bickerstaff had claimed, in Predictions, that John Partridge would die on 29 March 1708. Swift follows up his prediction with what purports to be an independent third-party account of Partridge's death (see Headnote to Predictions; see also Textual Accounts of Predictions and Accomplishment).

THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE F I R S T OF MR. BICKERSTAFF ‘ S PREDICTIONS.

BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF MR. PARTRIGE, THE ALMANACK-MAKER, Upon the 29th Instant.

In a Letter to a Person of Honour.

My LORD,

In Obedience to your Lordship's Commands, as well as to satisfie my own Curiosity, I have for some Days past enquired constantly after Partrige, the Almanack-maker, of whom it was foretold inMr. Bickerstaff 's Predictions, publish’d about a Month ago, that he should die the 29th Instant about 11 at Night, of a Raging Fever. I had some sort of Knowledge of him when I was employ’d in the Revenue, because he used every Year to present me with his Almanack, as he did other Gentlemen, upon the Score of some little Gratuity we gave him: I saw him accidentally once or twice about 10 Days before he died, and observed he began very much to Droop and Languish, tho’ I hear his Friends did not seem to apprehend him in any Danger. About Two or Three Days ago he grew Ill, was confin’d first to his Chamber, and in a few Hours after to his Bed, where Dr. Case and Mrs. Kirleus were sent for to Visit and to Prescribe to him. Upon this Intelligence I sent thrice every Day one Servant or other to enquire after his Health; and yesterday, about Four in the Afternoon, Word was brought me that he was past Hopes; upon which I prevailed with my self to go and see him, partly out of Commiseration, and, I confess, partly out of Curiosity. He knew me very well, seem’d surprized at my Condescention, and made me Complements upon it as well as he could in the Condition he was. The People about him said he had been for some Hours delirious; but when I saw him he had his Understanding as well as ever I knew, and spoke Strong and Hearty, without any seeming Uneasiness or Constraint.