the passions which play about the heart; and while he is astonished with the high efforts of genius, is at the same time enabled to observe nature as it really is, and how distant from perfection mankind are in this world, even in the most refined state of humanity.  Such an intellectual feast they enjoy, who peruse the life of this great author, drawn by the masterly and impartial hand of lord Orrery.  We there discern the greatness and weakness of Dean Swift; we discover the patriot, the genius, and the humourist; the peevish master, the ambitious statesman, the implacable enemy, and the warm friend.  His mixed qualities and imperfections are there candidly marked:  His errors and virtues are so strongly represented, that while we reflect upon his virtues, we forget he had so many failings; and when we consider his errors, we are disposed to think he had fewer virtues.  With such candour and impartiality has lord Orrery drawn the portrait of Swift; and, as every biographer ought to do, has shewn us the man as he really was.

Upon this account given by his lordship, is the following chiefly built.  It shall be our business to take notice of the most remarkable passages of the life of Swift; to omit no incidents that can be found concerning him, and as our propos’d bounds will not suffer us to enlarge, we shall endeavour to display, with as much conciseness as possible, those particulars which may be most entertaining to the reader.

He was born in Dublin, November the 30th, 1667, and was carried into England soon after his birth, by his nurse, who being obliged to cross the sea, and having a nurse’s fondness for the child at her breast, convey’d him ship-board without the knowledge of his mother or relations, and kept him with her at Whitehaven in Cumberland, during her residence about three-years in that place.  This extraordinary event made his return seem as if he had been transplanted to Ireland, rather than that he owed his original existence to that soil.  But perhaps he tacitly hoped to inspire different nations with a contention for his birth; at least in his angry moods, when he was peevish and provoked at the ingratitude of Ireland, he was frequently heard to say, ’I am not of this vile country, I am an Englishman.’  Such an assertion tho’ meant figuratively, was often received literally; and the report was still farther propagated by Mr. Pope, who in one of his letters has this expression.  ‘Tho’ one, or two of our friends are gone, since you saw your native country, there remain a few.’  But doctor Swift, in his cooler hours, never denied his country:  On the contrary he frequently mentioned, and pointed out, the house where he was born.