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.
[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.
