Bishop Burnet's History of His Own Time - Vol I

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THE History of his Own Time by bishop Burnet lays claim to our regard IS in original work containing a relation of public transactions, in which either the author or his connexions mere engaged. Jk will therefore never lose its importance but will contilue to furnish materials for other historians, nrd to be read by those, who wish to derive their knowledge of facts from the first sources of information. The accuracy indeed of the authors narrative has been attacked with vehemence, and often, it must be confessed, with success bnt not so often, as to overthrow the general credit of his work. On the contrary, it has in many instances been satisfactorily defended, and tirne has already evinced the truth of certain accounts, which rested on this single authority. It has also had the rare fortune of being illustrated by the notes of three pelsons of high rank, possessing in consequence a of their situations means of information open to few others. That their observations on this history are now at length suhinitted to the pubiic eye, is owing to the following fortunate incident. I. A resolution having been taker by the delegates of the Clarendon press to reprint the work, the present lord bishop of Oxford espresscd his rcadi ncss to coxrrunicnte to them a copy of it, in which his lordship had transcribed the marginal notes written by his ancestor the first earl of Darrlnlouth. The offer was gratefully accepted, and the notes ordered to be printed with the text. Soon after, on an application to the earl of Onslow, made through the late Jaines Boswell esquire, of the Inner Temple, his lordship was pleased to confirm to the delegates speaker Onslovs copy of Burnets history in which are contained the speakers observntions on this work, written in his own hand. Besides these remarks, there appear in the Onslow copy, in consequence of the permission of the second earl of Hardrvicke, not oldy this noblemans notes on the second folio volume, but also the numerous passages, which were omitted in the first volume by the original editors. The notes likewise of dean Swift are there transcribed, taken from his own copy of the history, which had come into the possession of the first marquis of Lansdowne, and afterwards into that of Henry Janes Broolre, esquire, F.R. S. It has since perished by fire. We shall now lay before the reader, for his greater satisfaction, a note pre- fixed to the Onslorv copy by Georgc late earl of Onslow, the son of the speaker. The notes in these two volumes marked H. were the notes in the present earl of Hardwickes copy of this work written by himself, and which he permitted me to copy into this. The earl is tbc sorh and heir of that great man the chancellor. The others in the same hand-writing I had also C from him, and they are what are left out in the printed history, but are in the cc manuscript. All the rest of the notes are my fathers own. Geo. Onslow, 1775.