The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Vol. VII | Page 8

OF
POOR PEOPLE FROM BEING A BURTHEN TO THEIR PARENTS
OR THE COUNTRY, AND FOR MAKING THEM BENEFICIAL TO
THE PUBLIC 201
ANSWER TO THE CRAFTSMAN 217
A VINDICATION OF HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN, LORD
CARTERET 225
A PROPOSAL FOR AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT TO PAY OFF THE
DEBT OF THE NATION WITHOUT TAXING THE SUBJECT 251
A CASE SUBMITTED BY DEAN SWIFT TO MR. LINDSAY,
COUNSELLOR AT LAW 259
AN EXAMINATION OF CERTAIN ABUSES, CORRUPTIONS,
AND ENORMITIES IN THE CITY OF DUBLIN 261
A SERIOUS AND USEFUL SCHEME TO MAKE AN HOSPITAL
FOR INCURABLES 283
THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE FOOTMEN IN AND ABOUT
THE CITY OF DUBLIN 305
ADVICE TO THE FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN IN THE

CHOICE OF A MEMBER TO REPRESENT THEM IN
PARLIAMENT 309
SOME CONSIDERATIONS HUMBLY OFFERED TO THE LORD
MAYOR, THE COURT OF ALDERMEN AND
COMMON-COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN IN THE CHOICE
OF A RECORDER 317
A PROPOSAL FOR GIVING BADGES TO THE BEGGARS IN ALL
THE PARISHES OF DUBLIN 321
CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT MAINTAINING THE POOR 337
ON BARBAROUS DENOMINATIONS IN IRELAND 343
SPEECH DELIVERED ON THE LOWERING OF THE COIN 351
IRISH ELOQUENCE 361
A DIALOGUE IN HIBERNIAN STYLE 362
TO THE PROVOST AND SENIOR FELLOWS OF TRINITY
COLLEGE, DUBLIN 364
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN,
SHERIFFS, AND COMMON-COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORK
366
TO THE HONOURABLE THE SOCIETY OF THE GOVERNOR
AND ASSISTANTS IN LONDON, FOR THE NEW PLANTATION
IN ULSTER 368
CERTIFICATE TO A DISCARDED SERVANT 369
AN EXHORTATION ADDRESSED TO THE SUB-DEAN AND
CHAPTER OF ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN 370
APPENDIX:

A LETTER TO THE WRITER OF THE OCCASIONAL PAPER 375
AN ACCOUNT OF THE COURT AND EMPIRE OF JAPAN 382
THE ANSWER OF THE RIGHT HON. WILLIAM PULTENEY,
ESQ., TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR ROBERT WALPOLE 392
INDEX 401

A LETTER
TO
A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, IN IRELAND,
UPON THE CHOOSING A NEW SPEAKER THERE.
WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1708.

NOTE.
In the note prefixed to the reprint of Swift's "Letter concerning the
Sacramental Test," the circumstances under which this "Letter to a
Member of Parliament in Ireland" was written, are explained (see vol.
iv., pp. 3-4, of present edition). The Godolphin ministry was anxious to
repeal the Test Act in Ireland, as a concession to the Presbyterians who
had made themselves prominent by their expressions of loyalty to
William and the Protestant succession. In this particular year also
(1708), rumours of an invasion gave them another opportunity to send
in loyal addresses. In reality, however, the endeavour to try the repeal
in Ireland, was in the nature of a test, and Swift ridiculed the attempt as
being like to "that of a discreet physician, who first gives a new
medicine to a dog, before he prescribes it to a human creature." It
seems that Swift had been consulted by Somers on the question of the
repeal, and had given his opinion very frankly. The letter to Archbishop
King, revealing this, contains some bitter remarks about "a certain

lawyer of Ireland." The lawyer was Speaker Brodrick, afterwards Lord
Midleton, who was enthusiastic for the repeal. The present letter gives a
very clear idea of what Swift thought should be a Speaker's duties both
as the chairman of the House and as related to this particular measure
of the Test.
* * * * *
The text of the present reprint is based on the original manuscript in
Swift's handwriting; but as this was found to be somewhat illegible, it
has been collated with the text given in vol. viii. of the quarto edition of
Swift's collected works, published in 1765.
[T. S.]

A LETTER TO A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, IN IRELAND,
UPON THE CHOOSING A NEW SPEAKER THERE.
SIR,
You may easily believe I am not at all surprised at what you tell me,
since it is but a confirmation of my own conjecture that I sent you last
week, and made you my reproaches upon it at a venture. It looks
exceeding strange, yet, I believe it to be a great truth, that, in order to
carry a point in your house, the two following circumstances are of
great advantage; first, to have an ill cause; and, secondly, to be a
minority. For both these circumstances are extremely apt to unite men,
to make them assiduous in their attendance, watchful of opportunities,
zealous for gaining over proselytes, and often successful; which is not
to be wondered at, when favour and interest are on the side of their
opinion. Whereas, on the contrary, a majority with a good cause are
negligent and supine. They think it sufficient to declare themselves
upon occasion in favour of their party, but, sailing against the tide of
favour and preferment, they are easily scattered and driven