This collection of Gibbon's correspondence, extending as it does
from 1753 to 1794, practically covers the whole of the historian's
life, and contains his observations on society, literature, and
politics during a period which includes such momentous events as the
Seven Years' War, the War of American Independence, and the French
Revolution.
By far the greater number of the letters now appear for the first
time; but portions of the correspondence, marked in this edition with
asterisks, were printed by Lord Sheffield shortly after Gibbon's
death. These published portions were treated by the editor with great
tact and more freedom. Lord Sheffield was giving to the world letters
which discussed recent events and criticised living persons; it was,
therefore, necessary for him to suppress some allusions and conceal
many names. Jealous of his friend's literary reputation, he corrects
errors in spelling or grammar, gives a dignified turn to the more
homely phrases, and omits as trivial the petty details of domestic
life. Sometimes, also, Lord Sheffield's editorial methods pass beyond
the exercise of these more or less legitimate powers. In order to
concentrate the interest of the correspondence, he culls a few lines
from one letter, chooses a sentence from a second, extracts a passage
from a third, and prints his patchwork as a genuine letter from
Gibbon's own hand.
In this edition the letters are printed as they were written. For
the blanks which conceal the identity of persons are substituted the
real names; the suppressed passages are restored; the spelling and
grammar of the original are preserved; the language is left as Gibbon
wrote it. If the Memoirs give us Gibbon in the full dress of a fine
gentleman of letters, the correspondence reveals to us the man as he
was known to his valet and his housekeeper.
The letters have the ease and freshness of conversations with
intimate friends, and, considering the character of the century in
which they were written, they present one feature which deserves
special notice. Only one short sentence has been omitted as too
coarse to be printed. With this solitary exception, the reader knows
the worst as well as the best of Gibbon, and there are scarcely a
dozen phrases, scattered over 800 pages, which will offend good taste
or good feeling.
The notes must speak for themselves. Though some points on which
information is needed remain obscure, it is hoped that, so far as
they go, they may be found useful. In their correction and revision,
valuable aid has been given by Mr. G. H. Holden, Assistant Librarian
at All Souls' College, Oxford.