The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume IV | Page 3

in those times, when the discourse first appeared.
"The author, in this letter, personates a Member of Parliament here
[Dublin], to a Member of Parliament in England.
"The Speaker mentioned in this letter was Allen Broderick, afterwards
Chancellor and Lord Middleton; and the prelate was Dr. Lyndsay,
afterwards Lord Primate," [T.S.]]
_The following letter is supposed by some judicious persons to be of
the same author, and, if their conjectures be right, it will be of no
disadvantage to him to have it revived, considering the time when it
was writ, the persons then at the helm, and the designs in agitation,
against which this paper so boldly appeared. I have been assured that
the suspicion which the supposed author lay under for writing this letter,
absolutely ruined him with the late ministry. I have taken leave to omit
about a page which was purely personal, and of no use to the subject._
Dublin, Dec. 4, 1708.
Sir,
I received your letter, wherein you tell me of the strange
representations made of us on your side of the water. The instance you
are pleased to mention is that of the Presbyterian missionary, who,
according to your phrase, hath been lately persecuted at Drogheda for
his religion: But it is easy to observe, how mighty industrious some
people have been for three or four years past, to hand about stories of
the hardships, the merits, the number, and the power of the
Presbyterians in Ireland, to raise formidable ideas of the dangers of
Popery there, and to transmit all for England, improved by great

additions, and with special care to have them inserted with comments
in those infamous weekly papers that infest your coffee-houses. So,
when the clause enacting a Sacramental Test was put in execution, it
was given out in England, that half the justices of peace through this
kingdom had laid down their commissions; whereas upon examination,
the whole number was found to amount only to a dozen or thirteen, and
those generally of the lowest rate in fortune and understanding, and
some of them superannuated. So, when the Earl of Pembroke was in
Ireland and the Parliament sitting, a formal story was very gravely
carried to his Excellency by some zealous members, of a priest newly
arrived from abroad to the north-west parts of Ireland, who had
publicly preached to his people, to fall a-murdering the Protestants;
which, though invented to serve an end they were then upon, and are
still driving at, it was presently handed over, and printed with shrewd
remarks by your worthy scribblers. In like manner, the account of that
person who was lately expelled our university for reflecting on the
memory of King William, what a dust it raised, and how foully it was
related, is fresh enough in memory.[2] Neither would people be
convinced till the university was at the pains of publishing a Latin
paper to justify themselves. And, to mention no more, this story of the
persecution at Drogheda, how it hath been spread and aggravated, what
consequences have been drawn from it, and what reproaches fixed on
those who have least deserved them, we are already informed. Now if
the end of all this proceeding were a secret and mystery, I should not
undertake to give it an interpretation, but sufficient care hath been
taken to give it sufficient explanation.[3] First, by addresses artificially
(if not illegally) procured, to shew the miserable state of the dissenters
in Ireland by reason of the Sacramental Test, and to desire the Queen's
intercession that it might be repealed. Then it is manifest that our
Speaker, when he was last year in England, solicited, in person, several
members of both Houses, to have it repealed by an act there, though it
be a matter purely national, that cannot possibly interfere with the trade
and interest of England, and though he himself appeared formerly the
most zealous of all men against the injustice of binding a nation by
laws to which they do not consent. And lastly, those weekly libellers,
whenever they get a tale by the end relating to Ireland, without ever
troubling their thoughts about the truth, always end it with an

application against the Sacramental Test, and the absolute necessity
there is of repealing it in both kingdoms. I know it may be reckoned a
weakness to say anything of such trifles as are below a serious man's
notice; much less would I disparage the understanding of any party to
think they would choose the vilest and most ignorant among mankind,
to employ them for assertors of a cause. I shall only say, that the
scandalous liberty those wretches take would hardly be allowed, if it
were not mingled with opinions that some men would be glad to
advance. Besides, how insipid soever