will sufficiently distinguish the peculiarities of his character and manners, and transmit a knowledge of him to pofterity, of the same kind, if not in the fame degree, as was obtained by those among his conteinporaries, who were admitted to his conversation and friendship.

In the account of Dr. Swift's Life, several anecdotes, and different relations of particular incidents, are thrown into notes; and some critical remarks on his character, taken from Lord Orrery and Mr. Swift, are now added. An abridgment of Mrs. Pilkington's account is annexed. In the eighth volume, inmediately after the Dean's Will, are two letters defcribing his furiofity. After which is given Lord Orrery's account of Swift's death, and his Lordship's dissertation on lunacy and idiotism, occafioned by the melancholy situation of the Dean's understanding, some years before his death ; not inserted in any London edition,

In works of great extent, the utility of indexes is obvious to every reader, and the want is genesally complained of: Yet none of the London editions bave any index. Therefore, to supply so material a defect, three indexes are annexed. The first is of the titles of the pieces in profe; the second, of those of the poetry; and the third is of the principal matters.

Care has been taken to print this edition as cor. rectly as possible; and it is hoped, that, in point of accuracy, it will not be found inferiour to any former one. In fhort, no pains or expence have been fpared to render this a complete and correct edition of the works of the celebrated Dean of St. Patrick's.

Lord Orrery tells us, that Dr. Swift left behind him few manujcripts; not one of any consequence, except an account of the peace of Utrecht, which be called An history of the four last Years of 2. Anne. The ticle of an history (adds his Lordship) is too

1

pompous for such a performance. In the historicat stile, it wants dignity and candour: But as a pamphlet, it will appear the best defence of Lord Oxford's administration, and the clearest account of the treaty of Utrecht. His Lordship further tells us, that in some of his leisure-hours, he had begun an history of England, and had pursued it through two or three reigns from William the Conqueror; but that the contempt he conceived of the ancient monarchs, made him him foon lay the design aside ; and that his averfion to kings was invincible.

Besides the letters contained in the eighth volume, Dr. Swift wrote a great many to Stella and Miss Vanhomrigh. Extracts from some of the former have been inserted in Mr. Swift's Effay, but none of the latter have yet appeared. From the letters to Stella are taken several occurrences in his life that could not otherwise have been known ; particularly those relating to his political conduct during the four last years of the reign of Q. Anne, which is univerfally owned to have been one of the most confiderable periods of his life, and in which his merit as a writer was moft diftinguifhed.

N. B. In the references to be found in the Life, D. S. stands for Mr. Deane Swift's Effay on the Life, Writings, and Character of Dr. Jonathan Swift; O. for Orrery's remarks on the Life and Writings of Dr. Jonathan Swift ; 7. R. for J. Ri's observations on Lord Orrery's Remarks, generally fuppofed to have been written by Dr. Delany; Sketch, for a fragment, intitled, The family of Swift, written by the Dean himself, immediately hereafter inferted; and Letter to S. Letters from the Dean to Stella, mentioned by Mr. Swift, but not published. The other references relate to the volumes of this edition.

THE

etters to fe that cularly he four niver fideras a

D and

ife, he an d 's

for his political knowledge, was descended
from a very ancient family, and born on the
zoth of November 1667: His grandfather,
Mr. Thomas Swift, was vicar of Goodrich in
Herefordshire, and married Mrs. Elizabeth
Dryden, aunt of Dryden the poet; by whom
he had six fons, Godwin, Thomas, Dryden,
William, Jonathan, and Adam. Thomas
was bred at Oxford, but died young; God-
win was a barrister of Gray's-Inn; and Wil.
liam, Dryden, Jonathan, and Adam, were
attornies. Godwin having married a rela-
'

. tion of the old Marchionels of Ormond, the old Duke of Ormond made him his attorney.

b

general general in the palatinate of Tipperary in Ireland. Ireland was at this time almost with. out lawyers, the rebellion having converted men of all conditions into foldiers. Godwin therefore determined to attempt the acquisition of a fortune in that kingdom, and the fame motive induced his four brothers to go with him. Jonathan, at the age of about twenty-three, and before he went into Ireland, married Mrs. Abigail Erick, a gentlewoman of Leicestershire; and about two years after left her a widow with one child, a daughter, and pregnant with another, having no means of subfiftence but an annuity of 20 l. which her husband had purchased for her in England, immediately after his marriage. In this distress she was taken into the family of Godwin, her husband's eldest brother; and there, about feven months after his death, delivered of a son, whom she called Jonathan, in remembrance of his father, and who was afterwards the celebrated Dean of St. Patrick's.

It happened, by whatever accident, that Jonathan was not fuckled by his mother, but by a nurse, who was a native of Whitehaven; and when he was about a year old, her affection for hiin was become so strong, that finding it necessary to visit a fick relation there, she carried him with her, without the knowledge of his mother or uncle. At this place he continued about three years; for, when the matter was discovered, his mother fent

a

orders not to hazard a second voyage, till he should be better able to bear it. Mrs. Swift, about two years after her hushand's death, quitted the family of Mr. Godwin Swift in Ireland, and retired to Leicester, the place of her nativity; but her son was again carried to Ireland by his nurse, and replaced. under the protection of his uncle Godwin. It has been generally believed, that Swift was born in England; and, when the people of Ireland dipleased him, he has been heard to say, “I am not of this vile country, I am an

Englishman :" but this account of his birth is taken from that which he left behind him in his own hand-writing. Some have also thought, that he was a natural son of Sir Wil, Jiam Temple, because Sir William expressed a particular regard for him : but that was impossible ; for Sir William was resident abroad in a public character from the year 1665, to 1670; and his mother, who was never out of the British dominions, brought him into the world in 1667.

At about six years of age he was sent to the fchool of Kilkenny, and having continued there eight years, he was admitted a student of Trinity.college in Dublin. Here applying himself to books of history and poetry, to the neglect of academic learning, he was, at the end of four years, refused his degree of bachelor of arts for insufficiency; and was at last admitted speciali gratia, which is there

considered

B 2