some alteration had been made. On examining, I find that in the originals, now in the British Museum, beside a few corrections which appear to have been by the Dean at the time of writing them, there are some obliterations, and many whole sentences omitted. It is true, they relate principally to private matters. But how far there is a propriety in making such corrections, the reader will best determine, on a perusal of the passages here restored; many of which he will plainly perceive to have arisen from the carelessness of a transcriber, who frequently omitted what he could not read.
"The characters extracted from the Dean's MS 'Notes on Macky[1]' are sufficiently authenticated; and the 'Biographical Anecdotes[2]' and 'Epistolary Correspondence' cannot fail of being acceptable.
"It may perhaps be objected against some of the articles which will be found throughout Swift's works, that they are too trifling, and were never intended by the author for the eye of the publick. But it was thought it would be an agreeable entertainment to the curious, to see how oddly a man of his great wit and humour could now and then descend to amuse himself with his particular friends. 'His bagatelles,' lord Chesterfield tells us, 'are much more valuable than other people's;' an observation which will fully justify the publication of his 'Remarks on Dr. Gibbs's Psalms[3].'
"The editor returns thanks to those respectable gentlemen who have so liberally honoured him with
- ↑ See these in vol. XVIII, p. 218.
- ↑ These formed a valuable article at the time; but are now in a great measure superseded by Mr. Sheridan's life of the Dean.
- ↑ See vol. XVI, p. 359.
