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IT was perfectly in compliance to some persons for whose opinion I have great deference[1], that I so long withheld the publication of the following papers. They seemed to think, that the freedom of some passages in these memoirs might give offence to several who were still alive; and whose part in those affairs which are here related, could not be transmitted to posterity with any advantage to their reputation. But whether this objection be in itself of much weight, may perhaps be disputed, at least
- ↑ One of these was undoubtedly the lady Gifford, sir William's sister; who took this publication so ill at Dr. Swift's hands, that she published an advertisement against it. In the preface to the second part of Sir William's Letters (printed in 1703) it appears those were the last papers of any kind about which Dr. Swift had sir William's particular commands; it is therefore not to be wondered, that lady Gifford should dislike this third Part being published without her consent. This lady died in 1722, at the age of 84. She was companion to sir William in all his foreign embassies.
it
