Deane Swift


Life
1707-1783; author, cousin of Jonathan; ed. Oxford, BA 1736; published An Essay Upon the Life, Writings, and Character of Dr. Jonathan Swift interspersed with some Animadversions upon the Remarks of a late critical author [the Earl of Orrery] (1755); he was responsible for vols. xv, xvi, xxi, xxii, and xxiii of the octavo edn. of Swift’s Works (ed. John Hawkesworth 1769 Edn.), containing the bulk of Swift’s letters; also adding as an appendix forty letters of the Journal to Stella, received from his mother’s family (he was the son of two cousins of Swift), of which the manuscripts are now lost; he name Deane being derived from his g-gf. Admiral Richard Deane. ODNB

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Works
An Essay upon the Life, Writings, and Character, of Dr. Jonathan Swift: Interspersed with some occasional animadversions upon the Remarks of a late critical author, and upon the Observations of an anonymous writer on those Remarks / By Deane Swift. To which is added, that sketch of Dr. Swift's life, written by the Doctor himself (London: printed for Charles Bathurst 1755), [4], 375, [1]; 53, [1]p,., 8o.

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Quotations
Essay on
[...] Swift (1755): ‘I have been assured that Miss Vanhomrigh was, in her general Converse with the World, as far from encouraging any Stile of Address inconsistent with the Rules of Honour and Good-breeding as any Woman alive. Neither can it be said, if any Conclusions can be drawn from her Appearance and Behaviour in ireland, that she was either a vain Woman or fond of Dress ... Her only Misfortune was that she had a Passion for Dr. Swift. Thus died at Celbridge, worthy of a happer Fate, the celebrated Mrs Esther Vanhomrigh, a Martyr to Love and Constancy.’ (Quoted in Sybil Le Brocquy, Cadenus, Dublin: Dolmen Press 1962, p.1.)

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