TALE OF A TUB, WRITTEN FOR THE UNIVERSAL IMPROVEMENT OF MANKIND, Diu multumque defideratum. To which are added, AN ACCOUNT OF A BATTLE BETWEEN THE ANCIENT AND MODERN BOOKS. In St. James's Library. And a Difcourfe, concerning the Mechanical With the Author's Apology, and Explanatory Notes, BY W. WOTTON, B.D. AND OTHERS. Bafima eacabafa eanaa irraurifta, diarba da caeotaba fobor camelanthi. SEVERAL biographers, and those too of eminence, have prefented to the world Memoirs of the life and writings of the immortal Swift, a man whofe original genius and extraordinary talents have placed him in a rank above competition: but through the different and fometimes diametrically opposite lights in which he has been represented by thofe writers, a diverfity of opinions has been formed by readers, according to their various prepoffeffions, and the degree of candour or prejudice by which they have been influenced. The fources from which this narrative is taken, are the writings of Lord Orrery, Mr. Dean Swift, Dr. Hawkefworth, Dr. Johnfon, and Mr. Sheridan; thefe feveral productions have been attentively revifed, and fuch parts of them felected as feemed to bear the most probable marks of truth, candour and authenticity. To these we have added fome particulars communicated by a Cor refpondent, whofe ancestor had lived in a long habit of intimacy with our author. Jonathan Swift was born in the City of Dublin, on the 30th of November, in the year 1667; and was carried into England foon after his birth by his nurfe, who, being obliged to cross the fea, and having a great affection for the child, conveyed him on fhipboard without the knowledge of his mother or relations, and kept him with her at Whitehaven in Cumberland, during a refi dence of three years at that place. This circumftance, with other incidents, gave rife to an opinion that Swift was born in England; indeed he has been frequently heard to fay, when provoked by the ingratitude of the people of Ireland; "I am not of this "vile country, I am an Englishman." This affertion, although meant figuratively, was often received literally; and the report was ftill further confirmed by Mr. Pope, who in one of his letters has this expreffion. "Though A one |