OF THE
HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
TO THE REIGN OF HENRY THE SECOND.
The Abstract of the History of England here reprinted
calls for little or no comment. It is but a dry
relation of events with no touch in the recital of
any of those qualities which characterize Swift’s
writings. The facts were evidently obtained from
the old chroniclers. What object Swift had in
writing this Abstract is not known. If the dedication
to the Count de Gyllenborg truly states his intention,
it must be confessed that the “foreigners, and
gentlemen of our own country” had not much upon
which to congratulate themselves. Why Swift should
have chosen the Count de Gyllenborg to whom to address
the dedication must also remain a matter for conjecture.
The Count had been sent out of the British Isles for
instigating a conspiracy for a Jacobite insurrection
in Great Britain. Swift wrote his dedication
three years after the Count’s expulsion.
Knowing that the Count’s master, Charles XII.
of Sweden, had been a party to the plot, he yet writes
in a most amiable tone of friendliness towards both,
with a parenthetical sneer at “his present Britannic
Majesty.” Undoubtedly this dedication might
easily and fairly be taken as strong presumptive evidence
of a leaning on Swift’s part towards the Pretender.
It will, however, be more truly interpreted, if it
be considered as an expression of contempt for the
King of England and the ministry in power.
The text of the present reprint is that given by Deane
Swift from his edition of his kinsman’s works
issued in 1765 and 1768 (4to edit, vols. viii. and
xiii.). Deane Swift thought that the narratives
of Rufus, Henry I. and Stephen, would “appear
to be such a model of English history, as will make
all men of taste, and especially foreigners, regret
that he pursued his plan no further.”
[T.S.]
[Footnote 1: Charles, Count Gyllenborg (1679-1746),
was Swedish Ambassador at London 1710-16. He
then joined in a Jacobite plot, was arrested in January,
1716-7, and expelled the kingdom in August, 1717.
He afterwards filled high offices in his own country.
[W.S.J.]]
Dublin in Ireland, Nov. 2, 1719.
SIR,
It is now about sixteen years since I first entertained
the design of writing a History of England, from the
beginning of William Rufus to the end of Queen Elizabeth;
such a History, I mean, as appears to be most wanted
by foreigners, and gentlemen of our own country; not
a voluminous work, nor properly an abridgement, but
an exact relation of the most important affairs and
events, without any regard to the rest. My intention
