The Works of J. S.

TH

Advertisement.

HE firft Collection of this Author's Writings were published near thirty Years ago, under the Title of Mifcellanies in Verfe and Profe. Several Years after, there appeared three Volumes of Mifcellanies, with a Preface to the firft, figned J. Swift and A. Pope. In these the Verfes, with great Additions, were printed in a Volume by themselves. But in each Volume were mixed many Poems and Treatifes, writ by the fuppofed Author's Friends, which we have laid afide; our Intention being only to publish the Works of one Writer. The following Poetical Volume is enlarged by above a third Part, which was never collected before, although fome of them were occafionally printed in London in fingle Sheets. The reft were procured from the fuppofed Author's Friends, who at their earnest Request were permitted to take Copies.

The following Poems chiefly confift either of Humour or Satyr, and very often of both together. What Merit they may have, we confess ourselves to be no Fudges of in the leaft; but out of due Regard to a Writer, from whofe Works we hope to receive fome Benefit, we cannot conceal what we have heard from feveral Perfons of great Judgment; that the Author never was known either in Verfe or Profe to borrow any Thought, Simile, Epithet, or particular

Manner

Manner of Style; but whatever he writ, whether good, bad, or indifferent, is an Original in itself.

Although we are very fenfible, that in fome of the following Poems, the Ladies may refent certain fatyrical Touches against the mistaken Conduct in fome of the fair Sex: And that, fome warm Perfons on the prevailing Side, may cenfure this Author, whoever be be, for not thinking in publick Matters exactly like themselves: Yet we have been affured by feveral judicious and learned Gentlemen, that what the Author bath here writ, on either of thofe two Subjects, had no other Aim than to reform the Errors of both Sexes. If the Publick be right in its Conjectures of the Author, nothing is better known in London, than that while he had Credit at the Court of Queen Anne, he employed fo much of it in favour of Whigs in both Kingdoms, that the Miniftry used to railly him as the Advocate of that Party, for feveral of whom be got Employments, and preferved others from losing what they had: Of which fome Inftances remain even in this Kingdom. Befides, he then writ and declared against the Pretender, with equal Zeal, though not with equal Fury, as any of our modern Whigs; of which Party be always profeffed himself to be as to Politicks, as the Reader will find in many Parts of his Works.

1

Our Intentions were to print the Poems according to the Time they were writ in; but we could not do it fo exactly as we defired, because we could never get the leaft Satisfaction in that or many other Circumftances from the fuppofed Author. THE

THE

S

CONTENTS.

T

HE bumble Petition of Frances Harris.

A Ballad in Lady Betty Berkeley.

Verfes wrote on a Lady's Ivory Table Book.

The Defcription of a Salamander.