I HERE prefent the world with the Life of Dri Swift: a man, whofe original genius, and uncommon talents, have raised him, in the general estimation, above all the Writers of the age. But, from causes to be hereafter explained, his character as a man, has hitherto been very problematical j nor fhall I find it easy, notwithstanding the most convincing proofs, to perfuade mankind, that one who flourished in the beginning of this century, in times of great corruption, fhould afford in himself a pattern of fuch perfect virtue, as was rarely to be found in the annals of the ancient Republic of Rome, when virtue was the mode. Yet if it can be fhewn that even at this day, when corruption seems to have arrived at its utmost pitch, when proftitution is openly avowed, and public fpirit turned into a jeft: if in fuch times as thefe, in face Romuli, there lives a man fully equal to Swift in all the moral virtues attributed to him; the improbability of the existence of fuch a character at a former period, will be much leffened. In the following history SWIFT has been reprefented as a man of the most difinterested principles, regardless of felf, and constantly employed in doing good to others. In acts of charity and liberality, in proportion to his means, perhaps without an equal, in his days. A warm champion in the cause of liberty, and fupport of the English Constitution. 1 A firm Patriot, in withstanding all attempts against his country, either by oppreffion, or corruption; and indefatigable in pointing out, and encouraging the means to render her ftate more flourishing. Of incorruptible integrity, inviolable truth, and fteadinefs in friendhip. Utterly free from vice, and living in the conftant discharge of all Moral and Christian duties. If, in thefe times, there fhould be found a man refembling him in all these points, it is fit the memorial of him, together with that of his immortal compeer, fhould be handed down to lateft pofterity: and that fuch a one does exist, will be acknowledged by all who have ever heard the univerfally revered name of Sir GEORGE SAVILE. To him, therefore, is the following Life of a congenial Patriot infcribed by its Author; who has. long admired his character, and been well acquainted with his worth, though a stranger to his perfon. POST SCRIP T. THE above was committed to the Prefs fome weeks before the much-lamented death of the excellent man, to whom it was addreffed; but the publication has by fome accidents been deferred 'till now. That the Author had no interested view in his choice of a Patron (though he must ever regret the occasion) he has now an opportunity of fhewing, by letting the above Dedication remain in it's original state, and thus confecrating to the memory of the dead, that tribute of praife, fo justly due to the living. INTRODUCTION. OTWITHSTANDING the feveral attempts to gratify the curiofity of the world, in delineating the Life and Character of the immortal Swift, yet hitherto little fatisfactory has been produced on that fubject. The different, and often oppofite lights in which he has been fhewn by the feveral Writers, have occafioned an equal diversity of judgments in their several readers, according to their various prepoffeffions; and even the most candid are too often left in a state of doubt, through the want of having the truth laid before them fupported by fufficient proofs. } Perhaps there never was a man whofe true character has been fo little known, or whose conduc at all times, even from his first setting out in life, has been fo mifreprefented to the world, as his. This was owing to several causes which will be laid open in the following Work. But the chief source of all the erroneous opinions entertained of him, arofe from Swift himself, on account of fome fingularities in his character, which at all times exposed him to the fhafts of envy and malice, while he employed no other shield in his defence, but that of confcious integrity. He had, early in life, from caufes to be hereafter explained, imbibed fuch a strong hatred to hypocrify, that he fell into the oppofite extreme; and no mortal ever took more pains to difplay his good quali |