It is now fit to apologize for some errors, which the judicious must discover upon a perusal of this work.  It is for this, among other reasons, much to be lamented, that this History was not published under the author’s own inspection.  It is next to impossible to copy or print any work without faults, and most so where the author’s eye is wanting.

It is not to be imagined, that even our author, however accurate, however great, was yet strictly and perfectly correct in his writings.  Yet, where some seeming inaccuracies in style or expression have been discovered, the deference due to the author made any alteration too presumptuous a task for the editor.  These are, therefore, left to the amending hand of every sensible and polite reader; while the editor hopes it will suffice, that he should point out some of those errors, which are to be ascribed either to transcribers or the press, and which may be rectified in the manner following, in reading the work.[4]

[Footnote 4:  Here follows list of errata. (These errors have been corrected in the present edition.)]

And thus; with these and perhaps some few such like corrections, it is hoped this work will be found completely correct.

THE AUTHOR’S PREFACE.[1]

[Footnote 1:  The time when it was written does not appear; but it was probably many years after the Queen’s death. [N.] First published in 1765. [W.S.J.]]

Having written the following History at Windsor, in the happy reign of Her Majesty Queen Anne, of ever glorious, blessed, and immortal memory; I resolved to publish it, for the satisfaction of my fellow-subjects, in the year 1713; but, being under a necessity of going to Ireland, to take possession of the deanery of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, I left the original with the ministers; and having stayed in that kingdom not above a fortnight, I found, at my return, that my Lord Treasurer Oxford, and the secretary my Lord Bolingbroke, who were then unhappily upon very ill terms with each other, could not agree upon publishing it, without some alterations which I would not submit to.  Whereupon I kept it by me until Her Majesty’s death, which happened about a year after.

I have ever since preserved the original very safely; too well knowing what a turn the world would take upon the German family’s succeeding to the crown; which indeed was their undoubted right, having been established solemnly by the act of an undisputed Parliament, brought into the House of Commons by Mr. Harley, who was then Speaker.

But, as I have said in another discourse,[2] it was very well understood, some years before Her Majesty’s death, how the new King would act, immediately upon his entrance, in the choice of those (and those alone) whom he resolved to trust; and consequently what reports would industriously be raised, as well as spread, to expose the proceedings of Her Majesty herself, as well as of her servants; who have been ever since blasted as enemies to the present establishment, by the most ignorant and malicious among mankind.