From that period, for many years, not wishing to trouble the publick with any more last words of Dr. Swift, I contented myself with noting in the margin of my own books such particulars as occurred, relative to the Dean or to his Writings.

Thus matters rested till 1801, when, at the request of the London Booksellers, many of whom had given large sums for the purchase of shares in the Dean's Works, I undertook to incorporate the various scattered articles which I had collected, and to make a complete arrangement of the whole Work, which was accordingly completed in Nineteen 8vo volumes; re-printed in Twenty-four small volumes in 1804; and again in Nineteen octavo volumes in 1808; in which latter edition I was much indebted to the friendship of Mr. Malone, who, besides many useful hints, obtained for me a valuable "Essay on the earlier part of the Life of Swift," by the Rev. Dr. John Barrett, Vice-Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, with numerous articles written by the Dean in early life, and then first printed. From Mr. Malone, also, I received a drawing of the very excellent likeness of the Dean, taken after his death, which appears in the Edition of 1808; and an original Letter to Dr. Jenny, on the state of Ireland in 1736, from the original, in the possession of Lord Cremorne; and a second Letter to Dr. Jenny, which came too late for that Edition, but was first printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for January 1826, p. 3.

Here ends my own Literary History as Editor of the Works of the far-famed Dean of St. Patrick's; for, about that period, the great Magician of the North, [not then Unknown,] having made a solid breakfast on John Dryden, conceived the idea of a pleasant dinner and supper on Jonathan Swift; which, from the entertainment I had prepared, he found a task of no great difficulty. Laying his potent wand on my humble labours, he very soon, by a neat shuffling of

the cards, and by abridging my tedious annotations, (turning lead to gold *,) he presented to the Booksellers of Edinburgh an Edition somewhat similar to mine, and consisting of the same number of volumes; condescending, however, to honour me with this brief compliment:

"The valuable and laborious Edition of Mr. Nicol [the misnomer is of no consequence] was the first which presented to the publick any thing resembling a complete collection of Swift's Works; and unquestionably those who peruse it, must admire the labour and accuracy of the Editor."

It would be unjust to the talents of Sir Walter Scott, were I not to add that he has, by condensing the various Memoirs of the Dean which had been given by preceding Writers, exerted his usual ability in an elegant Life of Swift; and that he was fortunate enough to obtain some useful contributions from Theophilus Swift, Esq. of Dublin, son of Deane Swift, the near kinsman and biographer of the celebrated Dean of St. Patrick's-from Thomas Steele, Esq. some valuable MSS. which remained in the hands of his uncle Dr. Lyons-from Major Tickell, fourteen original Letters from Swift to Addison and Tickell-from Leonard Macnally, Esq. some original pieces in the hand-writing of Swiftfrom Matthew Weld Hartstonge, Esq. and the Rev. Mr. Berwick (so well known to the Literary world) much useful information.

But no thanks are offered to Dr. Barrett, whose liberal communications to my Edition of 1808, are silently transplanted into an Appendix to the First Volume of the Edinburgh Edition of 1814.

*The pecuniary remuneration to Sir Walter Scott was precisely thirty times as much as I had received, or expected, for Three Editions.

+ Mr. Nicol is elsewhere thanked for having preserved some Letters from Mr. Pilkington to Mr. Bowyer.

By whom Sir Walter was in 1819 very ably defended against the attacks of the Edinburgh Reviewers.

The IRISH Branch of the Family of JEBB.

The Rev. JOHN JEBB to Mr. NICHOLS.

"SIR, Abington Glebe, Limerick, May 17, 1819. Though a stranger to your person, I have derived too much pleasure and information from your Writings, to feel myself a stranger to your character: and therefore it is, that I presume to intrude, for a little while, on time so well and so fully occupied, without any apprehension of being accounted a troublesome intruder.

"In your very interesting Literary Anecdotes,' are interspersed many notices of the JBBB Family. It is the chief object of this communication to direct your attention particularly to vol. VIII. p. 366. Richard Jebb is there properly mentioned as the eldest son of Samuel Jebb, of Mansfield. Your correspondent says, "Richard Jebb, it is thought, settled in Ireland." Now, as a grandson of that Richard, I beg permission to state a few particulars.

"At the beginning of the last century, my grandfather settled in Drogheda; where, as a Merchant, he established, and through life maintained, a high character, both for integrity, and commercial knowledge and ability. He lived to an advanced age, and had the following children:

"1. John, of whom hereafter.

"2. Elizabeth, who married Joseph Sotheby, Esq. of Marley, co. of Louth, and died without issue.

"3. Mary, who married Robert M'Cormick, Esq. of Rosshever, in the County of Down; from this marriage there were several children, all of whom died unmarried except one son, Joseph. He took holy orders, and was, successively, Vicar of Kilbroney, and of Aghderg, in the Diocese of Dromore, to which he was presented by his friend, Bishop Percy. He married Elizabeth Jebb, his own first cousin, and sister of your present correspondent; and died in the year 1815, leaving behind him three sons and five daughters.

"4. Amelia, who died unmarried.

"John Jebb, succeeded his father in Drogheda, of which city he was an Alderman. He married, 1. Miss Forbes, by whom he had no issue; 2. Alicia Forster, by whom he had issue, hereafter to be mentioned. In the year 1777, he retired from Drogheda ; and, in the year 1796, he died at Rosshever, aged 77 years. surviving children, are two sons, and three daughters.

His

* See the several passages referred to in the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VII. pp. 196, 601.

"1. Richard, whom Sir Richard Jebb left his heir, while a student of Lincoln's Inn. In the year 1789, he was called to the Irish Bar; and, after having acted several years as one of his Majesty's Counsel, was successively appointed third, and second Serjeant, and, in December 1918, fourth Justice of the Court of King's Bench, in Ireland. He married Jane Louisa, eldest daughter of John Finlay, Esq. before the Union, Representative in several Parliaments for the County of Dublin; and has issue six children: five sons and one daughter:

"2. John (the writer of this letter), at present Rector of Abington, in the diocese of Cashel; and unmarried.

"1. Deborah; unmarried.

"2. Elizabeth; married, as above stated.

"3. Maria; married to Rowley Heyland, Esq. Deputy Prothonotary of the Court of King's Bench, in Ireland. They have issue three children, all daughters.

"The Supplemental Work to the "Literary Anecdotes" now in progress, has not yet reached this retirement; I cannot, therefore form a judgment how far it may consist with the plan, or the arrangement, of that work, to introduce into it a further notice of the Jebb family. Could this be done with propriety, I own it would give me pleasure that some slight memorial of the eldest and Irish branch, should exist in your pages; and, with your permission, I should be happy to send for insertion a few paragraphs of that description. Some additional particulars, also, of my English relations I might be able to furnish, as, by the kindness of my brother, I have at present under my care, the papers and correspondence of Dr. Samuel Jebb.

I

"And now, Sir, if it be not trespassing too far on your kindness, may I intreat the favour of a short reply to this letter? should, also, be particularly gratified by your indicating any means of obtaining further information respecting the Jebb family, especially in its earlier members. In Disney's Memoirs of Dr. John Jebb, it is mentioned that, 'The family of Jebb were formerly settled at Woodborough in Nottinghamshire, and had continued there some time, but the inheritance was sold about four generations ago. Qu. Are there any probable means of tracing how long the inheritance alluded to was possessed by the Jebbs? by whom it was sold, and what was its extent? In the same Work we read, 'The arms of the family, are said to have been in the windows of the Church of Woodborough, though no mention is made of the family or their armorial bearings by Thoroton in his Antiquities of Nottinghamshire." Qu. Is there any prior, or subsequent History of that County, which makes any such mention ?

"In the Literary Anecdotes,' vol. VIII. p. 366, the Will of Robert Jebb, of Woodborough, is said to have been proved at

York in 1649: Qu. In what way, or to what quarter, should application be made for a Copy of that Will? Or can any channel be suggested, through which I might collect further particulars of Robert Jebb? If, without breach of confidence, the name and address of your Correspondent J. H. vol. VIII. p. 367. could be disclosed, he might, perhaps, be induced to favour me with some information.

"I know, Sir, that I have need to apologize for the liberty I have thus taken; but it is said, 'Literary Anecdotes,' vol. VIII. p. 366, that 'Few families have produced more persons connected with the Literary History of the last Century than the Jebbs' and I feel assured that the Literary Historian of that Century, will tolerate the natural wish of a member of that family, that its eldest branch, (some of whom at present are, and many of whom, it is hoped, hereafter will be, not altogether indifferent to, or inconversant with, literary pursuits,) may obtain a niche in the edifice which you are raising.

"I have the honour to be, Sir,

"Your very faithful and obedient servant,

JOHN JEBB."

To the Rev. Mr. JEBB.

"REVEREND SIR, Worthing, June 12, 1819. "Your favour of May 17, by a circuitous route, has reached me at a little retreat near the sea at a distance of fifty-six miles from home and from my books; and I now write merely that you may not think me wholly inattentive to the very handsome manner in which you are pleased to mention my literary labours. On my return to town, I will give you the best answer I can to all your queries *. In the mean time it may be proper to say that the Wills in the Province of York are preserved in the City of York, in a regular Prerogative Office; and, doubtless, a letter to the Registrar, or other proper Officer of the Court, would be duly answered. There is no earlier or later History of Nottinghamshire than Thoroton's, which has lately been re-printed, but not with much improvement.

"With great respect, I am, Rev. Sir,

Your very obedient servant,

J. NICHOLS."

I am sorry to say that I bave no copy of my second Letter; and that I have not since been favoured by any further communication respecting this very interesting Family.