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In the early months of 1714, the battle between Swift and Steele over the issue of the Succession entered its major phase.

The preliminaries ended with the publication of Steele's Crisis on January 19, and from that point on the fight proceeded at a rapid pace.

In answer to The Crisis, Swift produced The Publick Spirit Of The Whigs, his most extensive and bitter attack on his old friend.

By this time, as we shall see, the Tories were already planning to `` punish '' Steele for his political writing by expelling him from the House of Commons.

Despite his defense of himself in the final paper of the Englishman and in his speech before the House, their efforts were successful.

Steele lost his seat in Parliament, and his personal quarrel with Swift, by now a public issue, thus reached its climax.