The works of Jonathan Swift, containing additional letters, tracts, and poems, with notes, and a life of the author, by W. Scott

poor wretches, who think themselves blest, if they can obtain a hut worse than the 'squire's dog-kennel, and an acre of ground for a potatoe plantation, on condition of being as very slaves as any in America. What can be more deplorable, than to behold wretches starving in the midst of plenty.

We are apt to charge the Irish with laziness, because we seldom find them employed, but then we don't consider they have nothing to do. Sir William Temple, in his excellent remarks on the United Provinces, inquires why Holland, which has the fewest and worse ports and commodities of any nation in Europe, should abound in trade, and Ireland, which has the most and best of both, should have none? This great man attributes this surprizing accident to the natural aversion man has for labour, who will not be promoted to toil and fatigue himself for the superfluities of life, throughout the week, when he may provide himself with all necessary subsistence by the labour of a day or two. But with due submission to Sir William's profound judg ment, the want of trade with us is rather owing to the cruel restraints we lie under, than to any disqualification whatsoever in our inhabitants.

I have not, sir, for these thirty years past, since I was concerned in trade, the greatest part of which time distresses have been flowing in upon us, ever observed them to swell so suddenly to such a height, as they have done within these few months. Our present calamities are not to be represented; you can have no notion of them, without beholding them. Numbers of miserable objects crowd our doors, begging us to take their wares at any price, to prevent their families from immediate starving. We cannot part with our money to them, both because we know not when we shall have vent for their goods; and as there are no debts paid, we are afraid of reducing ourselves to their lamentable circumstances. The dismal time of trade we had during Marr's Troubles in Scotland are looked upon as happy days when compared with the present.

I need not tell you, sir, that this griping want, this dismal poverty, this additional woe, must be put to the accursed stocks, which have desolated our country more effectually than England. Stockjobbing was a kind of traffic we were

utterly unacquainted with. We went late to the South Sea market, and bore a great share in the losses of it, without having tasted any of its profits.

If many in England have been ruined by stocks, some have been advanced. The English have a free and open trade to repair their losses; but above all, a wise, vigilant, and uncorrupted parliament and ministry, strenuously endeavouring to restore public trade to its former happy state. Whilst we, having lost the greatest part of our cash, without any probability of its returning, must despair of retrieving our losses by trade, and have before our eyes the dismal prospect of universal poverty and desolation.

I believe, Sir, you are by this time heartily tired with this indigested letter, and are firmly persuaded of the truth of what I said in the beginning of it, that you had much better have imposed this task on some of our citizens of greater abilities. But perhaps, sir, such a letter as this may be, for the singularity of it, entertaining to you who correspond with the politest and most learned men in Europe. But I am satisfied you will excuse its want of exactness and perspicuity, when you consider my education, my being unaccustomed to writings of this nature, and, above all, those calamitous objects which constantly surround us, sufficient to disturb the clearest imagination, and the soundest judgment. Whatever cause I have given you by this letter to think worse of my sense and judgment, I fancy I have given you a manifest proof that I am,-Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

J. S.

APPENDIX, No. VII.

TEN REASONS FOR REPEALING THE TEST

АСТ.

[This Tract is from a rare broadside copy. It appears to be written by the Dean, and the arguments correspond with those he uses elsewhere.]

1. BECAUSE the presbyterians are people of such great interest in this kingdom, that there are not above ten of their persuasion in the House of Commons; and but one in the House of Lords: Though they are not obliged to take the sacrament in the established church, to qualify them to be members of either house.

2. Because those of the established church of this kingdom are so disaffected to the king, that not one of them worth mentioning (except the late Duke of Ormond) has been concerned in the rebellion; and that our Parliament, though there be so few presbyterians, has upon all occasions proved its loyalty to King George, and has readily agreed to, and enacted what might support his government.

3. Because very few of the presbyterians have lost an employment worth L. 20 per ann. for not qualifying themselves according to the test act; nor will they accept of a militia commission, though they do of one in the army.

4. Because if they are not in the militia, and other places of trust, the Pretender and his adherents will destroy us; when he has no one to support him but the King of Spain; when King George is at a good understanding with Sweden, Prussia, and Denmark; and when he has made the best alliances in Christendom, when the emperor, King of Great Britain, the French king, the King of Sardinia, are all in the quadruple alliance against the Spaniard, his upstart cardinal, and the Pretender; when bloody plots against Great Britain and France are blown up; when the Spanish fleet is quite dispersed; when the French army is overrunning Spain; and when the rebels in Scotland are cut off.

5. The Test clause should be repealed, because it is a defence against the Reformation the presbyterians long since promised the churches of England and Ireland, (viz.) We noblemen, barons, knights, gentlemen, citizens, burgesses, ministers of the gospel, commons of all sorts in the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland, &c.* each one of us for himself, with our hands lifted up to the most high God, do swear, first, that we shall sincerely, really and constantly, through the grace of God, endeavour, in our several

Vide Confession of Faith, p. 304, 305.

places and callings, the preservation of the reformed religion in the church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government. Secondly, That we shall in like manner, without respect of persons, endeavour the extirpation of popery, prelacy; that is church government by archbishops, their chancellors, and commissaries, deans, deacons and chapters, archdeacons, and all other ecclesiastical officers depending on that hierarchy.

6. Because the presbyterian church government may be independent of the state. The Lord Jesus is King and head of his church;* hath therein appointed a government, in the hands of church-officers, distinct from the civil magistrate. As magistrates may lawfully call a synod of ministers to consult and advise with about matters of religion; so if magistrates be open enemies to the church, the ministers of Christ of themselves, by virtue of their office, or they with other fit persons, upon delegation from their churches, may, meet together in such assemblies. †

7. Because they have not the free use of their religion, when they disdain a toleration..

8. Because they have so much charity for Episcopacy, as to account it iniquitous. The address of the General Assembly to the Duke of Queensberry in the late reign, says, that to tolerate the Episcopal clergy in Scotland, would be to establish iniquity by a law.

9. Because repealing the test clause will probably disoblige ten of his majesty's good subjects, for one it can oblige.

10. Because if the test clause be repealed, the presbyterians may with the better grace get into employments, and the easier worm out those of the established church.

• Confession of Faith, p. 87.

+ Confession of Faith, p. 88, 99,

VOL. I.

APPENDIX No. VIII.

LIST OF FRIENDS,
Ungrateful-Grateful-Indifferent-and Doubtful.

[Swift has classed the friends whom he had served in these several divisions, adopted probably in a moment of spleen and suspicion. For it cannot be doubted, that for many of those degraded into the class of ungrateful he retained a sincere value, inconsistent with their meriting that odious epithet.]

Archbishop of Dublin (Dr

King),

Mr Read,