CONTENTS OF VOLUME FIRST.

MEMOIRS OF JONATHAN SWIFT, D.D.

ADVERTISEMENT,

SECT. I.-Swift's Parentage and Birth. His Life at College. His

first Residence with Sir William Temple. Visits Oxford. He

takes Orders, and obtains the Living of Kilroot. Resigns that

Living in favour of a Friend, and returns to England. His second

Residence with Sir William Temple. The Battle of the Books,

and Tale of a Tub. Verses on the Burning of Whitehall. Swift's

Correspondence with Miss Waryng. He becomes acquainted

with Stella. Sir William Temple dies, and bequeaths his Works

to Swift. Swift's views of Promotion at the Court are disappointed,

SECT. II.-Swift goes to Ireland with Lord Berkeley. His Differences

with that Nobleman. Obtains the Living of Laracor. He is dis-

pleased with his Sister's Marriage. His mode of Life at Laracor.

Mrs. Dingley and Stella come to Ireland. Tisdal makes Proposals

of Marriage to Stella. Swift embarks in Politics. His opinion of

the affairs of Church and State. Tale of a Tub,

SECT. III.-Swift's Journey to England, in 1710. His Quarrel with

the Whigs, and Union with Harley and the Administration. He

writes the Examiner, the Character of Lord Wharton, and other

Political Tracts. Obtains the First-Fruits and Twentieth-Parts

for the Irish Clergy. His Correspondence with Archbishop King.

His intimacy with the Ministers. The Services which he renders

to them. Project for improving the English Language. His pro-

tection of Literary Characters. Difficulties attending his Church

preferment. He is made Dean of St. Patrick's, and returns to

Ireland,

SECT. IV.-Swift takes possession of his Deanery. Is recalled to

England to reconcile Harley and St. John. Increases in favour

with Oxford. Engages again in Political Controversy. Writes

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the Public Spirit of the Whigs. A reward offered for discovery of

the Author. The Dissensions of the Ministers increase. Swift

retires to the Country. Writes Thoughts on the Present State of

Affairs. Writes to Lord Oxford on his being displaced. And

retires to Ireland on the Queen's Death. His Reception. His

Society. The interest he displayed in the Misfortunes of his

Friends,

SECT. V.-Swift's first Acquaintance with Miss Vanhomrigh. She

follows him to Ireland. Swift's Marriage with Stella. Death of

Miss Vanhomrigh. Poem of Cadenus and Vanessa. Swift's

Studies during his retirement from 1714 to 1720. His System of

Life and Amusements. Engages in Irish Politics. His Proposal

for Encouragement of Irish Manufactures, and other Tracts.

Drapier's Letters. Swift's subsequent Popularity,

SECT. VI.-Swift retires to Quilca. His Friendship for Sheridan. He

visits England. Has an Audience of Walpole. Becomes known

at the Prince of Wales's Court. Returns to Ireland, and publishes

Gulliver's Travels. He revisits England, and is recalled by Stella's

Indisposition. Her Death. Swift breaks with the Court and

Minister. His Writings on Irish Affairs. He quarrels with Lord

Allen. Is intimate with Carteret. A Letter is forged in his name

to the Queen. His Miscellaneous Prose Writings about this

period. His Poems. His Residence at Gossford with Sir Arthur

Acheson, and the Verses which were written there,

SECT. VII.-Swift's Conduct as a dignified Clergyman. His Contro-

versies with the Dissenters, and with the Bishops of Ireland.

Verses on his own Death.. Faulkner's Edition of his Works. His

Quarrel with Bettesworth. Satire on Quadrille. Legion Club.

Controversy concerning the Lowering of the Gold Coin. History

of Queen Anne's Reign. Swift's private Life at this period. He

disposes of his Fortune to found an Hospital. He sinks into In-

capacity. His Death,

His

CONCLUSION.-Person, Habits, and Private Character of Swift.

Conversation. His Reading. Apparent Inconsistencies in his

Character. His Charity. His Talents for Criticism. Character

of the Dean as a Poet. As a Prose Author,

APPENDIX TO MEMOIRS OF JONATHAN SWIFT,

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ADVERTISEMENT.

O Author in the British language has enjoyed the extensive popularity of the celebrated Dean of St. Patrick's.

Neither the local and temporary nature of the subjects on which his pen was frequently engaged, nor other objections of a more positive nature, have affected the brilliancy of his reputation. In spite of the antiquated and unpopular nature of his politics,-in spite of the misanthropical and indelicate tone of some of his writings, and the trifling character of others,-the vivid and original power of his genius has supported him in the general opinion, to an extent only equalled by his friend Pope, and far surpassing any other of those geniuses who flourished in the Augustan age of Queen Anne.

Yet, of all authors, perhaps, who ever wrote, Swift appears to have been the most inattentive

to literary reputation, and to have flung from him his numerous productions, with the least interest in their future fate. The valuable and laborious edition of Mr. Nicol, was the first which presented to the public anything resembling a complete collection of Swift's works; and, unquestionably, those who peruse it must admire the labour and accuracy of the editor. It has nevertheless been generally understood, that fugitive pieces of the Dean of St. Patrick's, letters and anecdotes throwing light on his remarkable history and character, still remain excluded from this ample collection; and, above all, that a distinct and combined account of his life, selected from the various sources afforded by his contradictory biographers and commentators, continued to be a desideratum.

The attempt to fill up such a blank by a more complete edition of Swift's works, can only be justified by stating the various advantages which have been afforded to the present Editor, and of which, if he has not been able to avail himself, the blame undoubtedly rests with himself, and not with those friends whose liberality has furnished him with such copious materials.

The present edition of this incomparable English

Classic, is offered to the public with the advantage of possessing considerably upwards of a hundred original Letters, Essays, and Poems, by Dean Swift, which have not hitherto been printed with his works. These have been recovered from the following authentic sources:-First, The most liberal communications have been made by Theophilus Swift, Esq., Dublin, son of the learned Deane Swift, the near kinsman and biographer of the celebrated Dean of St. Patrick's. Secondly, A collection of Manuscripts, of various descriptions, concerning Swift and his affairs, which remained in the hands of Dr. Lyons, the gentleman under whose charge Swift was placed during the last sad period of his existence. To the use of these materials the Editor has been admitted by the favour of Thomas Steele, Esq., the nephew of Dr. Lyons. Thirdly, Fourteen original Letters from Dean Swift, never before published, two of which are addressed to Mr. Addison, and the others to Mr. Tickell the poet. This interesting communication the Editor owes to the liberality and kindness of Major Tickell, the descendant of the ingenious friend of Swift and Addison. Fourthly, Several unpublished pieces, from the originals in Swift's hand-writing, in the possession of Leonard Macnally, Esq., barrister-at-law. Fifthly, The unwearied friendship of Matthew