After the following pages were in type, however, I have had the opportunity, through the kindness of Dr. Bernard, the Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, of examining the original copy in the Marsh Library at Dublin.  Assisted by the Rev. Newport J.D.  White, the librarian of the Marsh Library, I have been able to correct several of Mr. Percy Fitzgerald’s transcripts, and to add some “remarks” omitted both by him and Scott.

Mr. White, in an article in “Hermathena” (No. xxvii., 1901), suggests that the successive perusals by Swift account “for the fact that some of the notes are in ink, though most are in pencil; while in one or two cases Swift seems to have retraced in ink a remark originally in pencil.”  Although Swift finished his fourth reading of the “History” in 1741, it is undoubted that he had already annotated the volumes at a much earlier date.  The copy of the “History,” now in the Marsh Library, was presented to it by Archbishop King, though the exact date of this presentation can only be guessed.  “In the register of benefactions,” writes Mr. White in “Hermathena,” “the first list, which was evidently written at one time and by one hand, contains the names of all books presented by King.  Two of these were published as late as 1723.  The next entry is dated April 12th, 1726.  It is probable, therefore, that these volumes came into their present abode between 1723 and 1726.  As Dean of St. Patrick’s, Swift was one of the governors of the library, and in that capacity attended many of the annual visitations between 1718 and 1736.  It is natural to suppose that he was a constant reader.”  It follows, therefore, that Swift borrowed the volumes from the library for his re-perusal; and perhaps retraced his annotations at that time and added new ones.

It is worth while to reprint a sentence from Scott’s note on these “Remarks” of Swift’s, if only to continue a record of retort against Swift’s intemperance of feeling against the Scottish nation:  “The ludicrous virulence of his execrations against the Scottish nation, go a great way to remove the effect of his censure; and a native of Scotland may be justified in retaining them, were it but for that reason.”

[T.S.]

  REMARKS ON CLARENDON’S
  HISTORY OF THE
  REBELLION.

VOL.  I.

On the first board:  Finished the 4th time, April 18, 1741.  Judicium de authore.[1]

[Footnote:  1 The note “Finished the 4th time April 18, 1741,” which Scott and Fitzgerald record as written on the first board of vol. i., is not now to be traced, the volume having been rebound since their transcripts were made.]

The cursed, hellish villainy, treachery, treasons of the Scots, were the chief grounds and causes of that execrable rebellion.—­Swift.

“The word of a king.”  This phrase is repeated some hundred times; but is ever foolish, and too often false.—­Swift.

PREFACE.