The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 8/Advertisement For the Honour of Ireland
THIS is to inform the publick, that a gentleman of long study, observation, and experience, hath employed himself for several years in making collections of facts, relating to the conduct of divines, physicians, lawyers, soldiers, merchants, traders, and squires, containing an historical account of the most remarkable corruptions, frauds, oppressions, knaveries, and perjuries; wherein the names of the persons concerned shall be inserted at full length, with some account of their families and stations.
But whereas the said gentleman cannot complete his history without some assistance from the publick, he humbly desires, that all persons, who have any memoirs, or accounts, relating to themselves, their families, their friends, or acquaintance, which are well attested, and fit to enrich the work, will please to send them to the printer of this advertisement: and if any of the said persons, who are disposed to send materials, happen to live in the country, it is desired their letters may be either franked, or the post paid.
This collection is to commence with the year 1700, and be continued to the present year 1738. The work is to be entitled, "The Author's Critical History of his own Times."
It is intended to be printed by subscription, in a large octavo; each volume to contain five hundred facts, and to be sold for a British crown; the author proposeth that the whole work (which will take in the period of thirty-eight years) shall be contained in eighteen volumes.
Whoever shall send the author any accounts of persons, who have performed any acts of justice, charity, publick spirit, gratitude, fidelity, or the like, attested by indubitable witnesses within the same period; the said facts shall be printed by way of appendix at the end of each volume, and no addition to the price of the work demanded. But, lest such persons may apprehend that the relating of these facts may be injurious to their reputations, their names shall not be set down without particular direction.
N. B. There will be a small number printed on royal paper for the curious, at only two British crowns. There will also be the effigies of the most eminent persons mentioned in this work, prefixed to each volume, curiously engraved by Mr. Hogarth.
Subscriptions are taken in by the printer hereof, and by the booksellers of London and Dublin.