THE

EDITOR'S PREFACE. T

HE Works of Dr. JONATHAN SWIFT have been universally admired, and have paffed

through many editions both in England and Ireland. How they have been received in Scotland, appears from the quick sale of three Scotch editions since the year 1752. A fourth one is now offered to the public, which it is hoped will meet with a favourable reception. As this edition is partly upon a different plan, more comple c, and illustrated with a far greater number of notes, than any that hath yet appeared in England; we judge it necessary to give an account of the method. used in conducting it.

In the edition which is no v offered to the public, the Tale of a Tub, of which the Dean's corrections sufficiently prove him to have been the author, the Battle of the Books, and the Fragment, make the first volume; the second is Gulliver's Travels; he Miscellanies will be found in the third, fourth, fifth, fixth, and feventh; and the con tents of the other volumes are divided into two classes, as relating to England or Ireland.

As to the arrangement of particular pieces in each class, there were only three things that seemed to deserve attention, or that could direct the choice : that the verse and profe should be kept fepara e; that the posthumous and doubtful pie es thould not be mingled with thofė whi h the Dean is known to have published himself; and that those tracts, which are parts of a regular series, and illustrate cach other, should be ran ed in succession without the intervention of other matter. Such ime the VOL. I.

Dropier's

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Drapier's Letters, and some other papers published upon the fame occasion, which have not only in the Irish edition, but in every other, been so mixed, as to misrepresent fome facts, and obscure thers. Such also are the tracts on the Sacramental Teft; which are now put together in a regular order, as they should always be read, by those who would see their whole strength and propriety.

As to the arrangement of the different pieces, we have clafled them in the order which appeared to us the most natural, and by which we could most conveniently complete the work in eight volumes, of a fize near equal.

The first volume contains the Tale of a Tub, the Battle of the Books, the Fragment, fome tracts relating to religion, and the posthumous fermons. In the second are part of the miscellanies relating to politics. The Drapier's Letters, the tracts converning the Sacramental Test, and Irish Affairs, will be found in the third. Gulliver's Travels, and fome humorous and political pieces, compose the fourth. The fifth consists of those tracts which Dr. Swift wrote, in conjunction with Dr. Arbuihnot, Mr. Pope, and Mr. Gay), which are now collected in one volume. The fixth and seventh contain the miscellanies in verse. In the seventh is likewise a part of the miscellanies in prose, with Polite Conversation, and Directions to Servants. The eighth and last contain a complete collection of all the Letters to and from the Dean, with a variety of Posthumous Pieces, and his Last Will.

As to the Notes, this edition will be found to contain double the number that is inserted in any London edition. Most part of those notes to which no name is annexed, are taken from the Dublin and other editions. The greatest part of the other notes are taken from the Earl of Orrery's remarks on the life and writings of Dr, Swift, Mr. Deanc Swifi's Estay on the fame fubjcct, and War

burton's

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burton's edition of Pope's Works. A few notes of reference, and some historical remarks, are inferted by the editor. To fome of the large extracts from Orrery and Swift, we have given the title of Criticisms, as at the beginning of the ist, 6th, and 8th volumes. And care has been taken not to 0mit any remark of importance contained in the writings of these authors upon any piece of Swife's works.

Several pieces, both in prose and verse, do now make their first appearance in Dr. Swift's works. Among the profe, the most considerable are, Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus, in vol. 5. and the letters 1. 90. 91. 92. and 93. with the add!ess of the inhabitants of the liberty of St. Patrick's, &c. in vol. 8. Among the poetry are the following: Stella to Dr. Swift on his birthday; Toland's invitation to Difinal; Mrs. Pilkington to Dr. Swift on his birthday; An epitaph on the Dean's dog ; Swift's letter to the Athenian fociety; A dialogue between Dr. Swift and a lawyer, &c. Those pieces are noftly taken from Orrery's letters, and Mr. Deane Swift's el.ay.

And that this edition is more complete than any preceding one, will be evident to every person, who Thall take the trouble to compare them. However, we shall here point out several pieces contained in this edition, besides those mentioned in the foregoing paragraph *.

Io vol. 1. The 5th sermon; and, A proposal for preventing the growih of Popery.

In vol. The last fix Examiners.

In vol. 3. Considerations about paffing Wood's brass money; the Drapier demolithed; and the Intelligencer, No. 15.

In vol. 6. p. 245. A letter from Dr. Swift to Dr. Sheridan.

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None of which are to b: found in thit of Mr. Hawko worth, though it is more complete ihan any that preceded it,

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In vol. 7. The preface to the beasts confeffion to the priest; verses upon stealing a crown when the Dean was asleep, by Dr. Sheridan; the Dean's anfwer; Probatur aliter; Tom's metamorphosis into a poet and spaniel; and, The life and character of Dr. Swift,

In vol. 8. Besides the Letters already mentioned, all those from No. 2. to No. 89.; a Letter from Dr. Swift to Mr. Kendall; a Defence of the lady's drefling-room, &c.

As to the difference betwixt the present, and the Scotch edition in 1752, which was printed from the Dublin one, and on the same plan, with the addition of a ninth and a tenth volume, it is unnecessary to defcend to particulars. Upon a minute comparison, it will be found that this edition contains upwards of one hundred pieces more than it.

As to the Life of Dr. Swift, many accounts have been published of it. These have mutually reflected light upon each other, ascertained controverted facts, and rectified mistakes, which, if they had still been traditional and oral, would still have been believed. Several little incidents, which Thewed the peculiarities of his conversation and do. mestic life, were related by Mrs. Pilkington memoirs ; though these could be believed only in proportion as they verified themselves. Lord Orrey's letters contained many of the principal events, iniermingled with many characteristic incidents, supported in general upon better authority; but sometimes founded upon false information. Some of these mistakes were detected by a voluine of letters signed J. R. in which were also some new materials; and the account finie published by Mr. Swift, with an imperfect sketch by the Dean himself, has furnished yet more. It was not thought necessary (fays he) co relate every trifling particular that has been recorded, but only to select such as: