The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume IX | Page 4

the soil. Whigs and Tories may dispute
as they will among themselves as to the best side from which to defend
the country; but the men of the true party are the men of the National
party--they "whose principles in Church and State, are what I have
above related; whose actions are derived from thence, and who have no
attachment to any set of ministers, further than as these are friends to
the Constitution in all its parts; but will do their utmost to save their
Prince and Country, whoever be at the Helm".[1]
In this spirit and in such wise did Swift temper his time and champion
the cause of those men who had chosen him. This was a kind of
"examining" to which neither the Whigs nor the Tories had been
accustomed. It shed quite a new light on matters, which the country at
large was not slow to appreciate. Throughout the length and breadth of
the kingdom "The Examiner" was welcomed and its appeals responded
to. Its success was notable, even magnificent; but it was not a lasting
success. It did the work that the ministry had intended it to do, and did
it unmistakably; but the principles of this National party were for men
of a sterner mould than either Harley or St. John. Swift had laid a
burden on their shoulders heavier than they could carry, and they fell
when they were bereft of his support. But the work Swift did bears
witness to-day to a very unusual combination of qualities in the genius
of this man, whose personality stands out even above his work. It was
ever his fate to serve and never his happiness to command; but then he

had himself accepted servitude when he donned the robe of the priest.
It is deserving of repeated record to note that Dr. Johnson in admitting
that Swift, in "The Examiner," had the advantage in argument, adds
that "with regard to wit, I am afraid none of Swift's papers will be
found equal to those by which Addison opposed him." To which
Monck Mason pertinently remarks: "The Doctor should have told us
what these papers were which Addison wrote in opposition to Swift's
'Examiner;' for the last 'Whig Examiner,' written by Addison, was
published October 12th, 1710, and Swift's first 'Examiner' on the 2nd
November following."[2]
* * * * *
In this volume have been collected those writings of Swift which form
his contributions to the periodicals of his time. Care has been taken to
give the best text and to admit nothing that Swift did not write. In the
preparation of the volume the editor has received such assistance from
Mr. W. Spencer Jackson that it might with stricter justice be said that
he had edited it. He collated the texts, revised the proofs, and supplied
most of the notes. Without his assistance the volume must inevitably
have been further delayed, and the editor gladly takes this occasion to
acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. Jackson and to thank him for his
help.
His further indebtedness must be acknowledged to the researches of
those writers already named in the previously published volumes of this
edition, and also cited in the notes to the present volume.
TEMPLE SCOTT.
GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A.
April 8, 1902.
[Footnote 1: "Examiner," No. 44, p. 290.]
[Footnote 2: "Hist. St. Patrick's Cathedral," p. 257, note g.]

CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE TATLER" Introductory Note No. 32,
June 23, 1709 35, " 30, " 59, Aug. 25, " 65, Sept. 3, " 66, " 10, " 67, "
13, " 68, " 15, " 70, " 22, " 71, " 22, " 230, Sept. 28, 1710 258, Dec. 2, "

Note to Harrison's "Tatler" No. 1 (of vol. v.), Jan. 13, 1710-11 2 ( " ), "
16, " 5 ( " ), " 27, " No. 298 (vol. v., No. 20), March 6, 1710-11 302
(vol. v., No. 24), " 15 " 306 (vol. v., No. 28), " 24 "
CONTRIBUTIONS TO "THE EXAMINER" Introductory Note No. 14
(13), Nov. 2, 1710 15 (14), " 9, " 16 (15), " 16, " 17 (16), " 23, " 18 (17),
" 30, " 19 (18), Dec. 7, " 20 (19), " 14, " 21 (20), " 21, " 22 (21), " 28, "
23 (22), Jan. 4, 1710-11 24 (23), " 11, " 25 (24), " 18, " 26 (25), " 25, "
27 (26), Feb. 1, " 28 (27), " 8, " 29 (28), Feb 15, 1710 11 30 (29), " 22,
" 31 (30), March 1, " 32 (31), " 8, " 33 (32), " 15, " 34 (33), " 22, " 35
(34), " 29, 1711 36 (35), April 5, " 37 (36), " 12, " 38 (37),