The Life of Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin

tion and illustration to be found in the first volume, the story of Swift could not have been completed in less space. But whether so long a biography is either wanted, or necessary to make the picture clear and true, may well be doubted. It is impossible, in any consecutive narrative, to state, to discuss, to adopt, or to repudiate, each opposing view: or to refer in detail to the mass of miscellaneous trifles which have crowded about the name of Swift, and have been made to do duty in his biography. We are embarrassed with the mass of such material, and it becomes a first necessity, in order to bring the narrative within fair compass, and even to give to it clearness and consistency, to strip off much of the redundant matter, to lay aside much of the endless miscellaneous gossip, and to arrange, in their due proportions, the greater and the lesser actions of Swift's life.

The present biography is therefore confined to one volume : and where possible, the controversial matter has been relegated to Appendices, so as to prevent the interruption of the narrative by argument too much detailed. However doubtful we may continue to be as to some points, it is as much for the advantage of biography as of the State, that there should be some "end of litigation," and that we should, sooner or later, strike a balance between contending views, as fairly as we may.

In my task I have had the advantage of access to all the important material gathered by Mr. Forster, including what is now in South Kensington Museum, and the unpublished letters from Swift to Archdeacon Walls, belonging to Mr. Murray. The kindness of others has enabled me to add to this. In the first place, I have been entrusted by the Earl of Cork with the MSS. belonging to him, as left by Lord Orrery. These

include not only several unpublished letters from Swift to Lord Orrery during the later years of his life, but also the commonplace books of Lord Orrery containing his own memoranda on Swift, and careful transcripts of several letters from Deane Swift relating to the closing years of the Dean. Mr. Frederick Locker has given me access to certain MSS. in his possession, which were in Scott's hands, but the importance of one of which, at least, he overlooked. From Major Stopford, I have obtained letters from Swift to Dr. Stopford: and through Mr. Elwin, I have obtained transcripts of some letters now at Longleat. The Sundon and Suffolk MSS. in the British Museum have thrown some light on Swift's later life, and have enabled me to correct some mistakes arising from errors in the printed copies. To Mr. Reynell I owe transcripts of certain letters from the Records at Armagh and the Historical MSS. Commissioners have recently published some letters that help us to facts of Swift's life.

I have to thank others for assistance of a different kind: and, first and chiefly, Mr. Elwin, whose learning, great as it is, is not greater than the generosity with which he comes to the help of others working in the same field. Not only has he placed at my disposal results of his own research, but he has given me invaluable advice and aid in regard to some of the most serious difficulties of Swift's life. My thanks are also due to Dr. Ingram, Librarian of Trinity College, Dublin, and to others amongst the Fellows of that Society for assistance during my visits to their Library: to Dr. Norman Moore, for the help he has afforded me from a large knowledge at once of Irish affairs and of literature: to those in charge of the Forster and Dyce collection at South Kensington; and to the officials of the Royal Irish Academy, for assistance in consulting the rich

collection of pamphlets, on Irish affairs, there stored. In the attempt to realize as far as possible the actual surroundings of Swift, I have visited most of the localities connected with his name. In Dublin, I had the advantage of the wide local lore. of the Reverend Mr. Carroll, of S. Bride's, to whom so many visitors to Dublin are indebted for a knowledge of its historic spots, and who has also supplied me with copies of some documents of interest. And at places so widely apart as Kilkenny, and Mullingar: Trim, Laracor, and St. Patrick's: Celbridge and Howth: Goodrich and Moor Park, I have had but one experience, that of ready and kindly help.

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