THE WORKS O F Dr JONATHAN SWIFT, DEAN of ST PATRICK'S, DUBLIN. IN THIRTEEN VOLUMES. VOLUME I. EDINBURGH: Printed for JOHN DONADLSON, Corner of Arundel Street, Strand, London. MDCCLXXIV. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. T THE Works of Dr. JONATHAN SWIFT have been univerfally admired, and have paffed through many editions, both in England and Ireland. How they have been received in Scotland, appears from the quick fale of four Scotch editions fince the year 1752. A fifth 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 complete, and illuftrated with a far greater number of notes, than any that hath yet appeared in England; we think it neceffary to give an account of the method used in conducting it. As to the arrangement of particular pieces in each clafs, there were only three things that feemed to deferve attention, or that could direct the choice; that the verfe and profe fhould be kept feparate; that the posthumous and doubtful pieces fhould not be mingled with those which the Dean is known to have publifhed himself, and that thofe tracts, which are parts of a regular feries, and illuftrate each other,, fhould be ranged in fuccef a 3 fucceffion, without the intervention of other matter. Such are the Drapier's Letters, and fome other papers published upon the fame occafion, which have not only in the Irish edition, but in every other, been fo mixed, as to mifrepresent fome facts, and obfcure others. Such also are the tracts on the Sacramental teft; which are now put together in a regular order, as they fhould always be read, by those who would fee their whole ftrength and propriety. As to the arrangement of the different pieces, we have claffed them in the order which appeared the, most natural, according to the plan pointed out by the Earl of Orrery, and, as near as can be, in chronological order. The first ten volumes contain what were published in the author's lifetime, the 11th. 12th, and 13th volumes are a selection from what is called The Pofthumous Works, containing all that the original editor, Mr. Falconer, has thought worthy of publication. As to the Notes, this edition will be found to contain double the number that is inferted in any London edition. Moft 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. Dean Swift's Effay on the fame fubject, and Warburton's edition of Pope's Works. A few notes of reference, reference, and fome hiftorical remarks, are inferted by the editor. To fome of the large extracts from Orrery and Swift, we have given the title of Criticifms; which are to be found in the 1ft, 7th, and 9th volumes. And care has been taken not to omit any remark of importance contained in the writings of these authors upon any piece of Swift's works. Dr. Hawkesworth's edition of this celebrated author, has been juftly esteemed; yet, upon comparison, this one will be found to contain feveral pieces, both in verse and profe, not inferted in his; befides other advantages of Indexes, &c. 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 miftakes, which, if they had ftill been tradi tional and oral, would ftill have been believed. Several little incidents, which fhewed the peculiarities of his converfation and domeftic life, were related by Mrs. Pilkington,. in her memoirs; though thefe could be believed only in proportion as they verified themselves. Lord Orrery's letters contained many of the principal events, intermingled with many characteristic incidents, fupported in general upon better authority; but fometimes founded upon false information. Some of these mistakes were detected by a volume of letters figned J. R. in which were alfo fome new materials; and the account fince publified |