A Meditation Upon a Broom-Stick

Summary

Headnote

Published 1710; copy text 1735 (see Textual Account).

The earliest account of the origins of ‘A Meditation upon a Broom-stick’ comes from George Faulkner's ‘Some Further Account of Dr. Swift’, printed in 1762 in vol. XI of his Works, and reprinted with commentary by Barry Slepian:

When Lord Berkely, one of the Lords Justices of Ireland, was in that Kingdom, to whom Dr. Swift was Chaplain, Lady Betty Berkely his Daughter, was very fond of reading the great Mr. Boyle's Meditations, and frequently desired Mr. Swift to read to her; but, being one Time interrupted by Company, he stopped, and my Lady desired him to fold down the Leaf where he left off: Next Day her Ladyship requested him to read to her again, when he began with the Meditation on a Broomstick, which pleased her so extremely well, that she ran on in the highest Raptures on Mr. Boyle, who could write so religiously on a Broomstick. But, Lady Betty opening the Book some Time after, found the Meditation on the Broomstick, in Mr. Swift's Hand Writing, and stuck in at the Place where he had been reading. This had the desired Effect, asMr. Swift never was called upon again to read to her Ladyship.

A more elaborate account was given by Thomas Sheridan in his edition of the Works; and although lengthy, it is worth quoting in full:

In the yearly visits which he made to London, during his stay there, he passed much of his time at Lord Berkeley’s, officiating as Chaplain to the family, and attending Lady Berkeley in her private devotions. The Countess had at this time taken a great liking to Mr. Boyle's Meditations, and was determined to go through them in that manner; but as Swift had by no means the same relish for that kind of writing which her Ladyship had, he soon grew weary of the task; and a whim coming into his head, resolved to get rid of it in a way which might occasion some sport in the family; for which they had as high a relish as himself.