arose thus. Archbishop Boulter had, for a long time, been much
concerned about the want of small silver in Ireland. The subject
seemed to weigh on him greatly, since he refers to it again and
again in his correspondence with Carteret, Newcastle, Dorset, and
Walpole. On May 25th, 1736, he wrote to Walpole to inform him that
the Lord Lieutenant had taken with him to England "an application
from the government for lowering the gold made current here, by
proclamation, and raising the foreign silver." Silver, being
scarce, bankers and tradesmen were accustomed to charge a premium
for the changing of gold, as much as sixpence and sevenpence in the
pound sterling being obtained. (See Boulter's "Letters," vol. ii.,
p. 122. Dublin, 1770.)
There was no question about the benefit of Boulter's scheme in the
minds of the two Houses of Commons and Lords: Swift, however,
opposed it vehemently, because he thought the advantage to be
obtained by this lowering of the gold would accrue to the
absentees. In 1687 James had issued a proclamation by which an
English shilling was made the equivalent of thirteen pence in
Ireland, and an English guinea to twenty-four shillings. Primate
Boulter's object (gained by the proclamation of the order on
September 29th, 1737) was to reduce the value of the guinea from
twenty-three shillings (at which it then stood) to _£1 2s. 9d._
Swift, thinks Monck Mason, considered the absentees would benefit
by this "from the circumstances of the reserved rents, being
expressed in the imaginary coin, called a pound, but actually paid
in guineas, when the value of guineas was lowered, it required a
proportionately greater number to make up a specific sum" ("History
of St. Patrick's," p. 401, note c.)
Swift, as he wrote to Sheridan, "battled in vain with the duke and
his clan." He thought it "just a kind of settlement upon England of
£25,000 a year for ever; yet some of my friends," he goes on to
say, "differ from me, though all agree that the absentees will be
just so much gainers." (Letter of date May 22nd, 1737.)
In a note to Boulter's letter to the Duke of Newcastle (September
29th, 1737) the editor of those letters (Ambrose Phillips) remarks:
"Such a spirit of opposition had been raised on this occasion by
Dean Swift and the bankers, that it was thought proper to lodge at
the Primate's house, an extraordinary guard of soldiers." This,
probably, was after the open exchange of words between Boulter and
Swift. The Primate had accused Swift of inflaming the minds of the
people, and hinted broadly that he might incur the displeasure of
the government. "I inflame them!" retorted Swift, "had I but lifted
my finger, they would have torn you to pieces." The day of the
proclaiming of the order for the lowering of the gold was marked by
Swift with the display of a black flag from the steeple of St.
Patrick's, and the tolling of muffled bells, a piece of conduct
which Boulter called an insult to the government.
It is _à propos_ to record here the revenge Swift took on Boulter
for the accusation of inflaming the people. The incident was put by
him into the following verse:
"At Dublin's high feast sat primate and dean,
Both dressed like divines, with hand and face clean:
Quoth Hugh of Armagh, 'the mob is grown bold.'
'Ay, ay,' quoth the Dean, 'the cause is old gold.'
'No, no,' quoth the primate, 'if causes we sift,
The mischief arises from witty Dean Swift.'
The smart one replies, 'There's no wit in the case;
And nothing of that ever troubled your grace.
Though with your state sieve your own motions you s--t,
A Boulter by name is no bolter of wit.
It's matter of weight, and a mere money job;
But the lower the coin, the higher the mob.
Go to tell your friend Bob and the other great folk,
That sinking the coin is a dangerous joke.
The Irish dear joys have enough common sense,
To treat gold reduced like Wood's copper pence.
It's pity a prelate should die without law;
But if I say the word--take care of Armagh!"
With the lowering of the gold the Primate imported £2,000 worth of
copper money for Irish consumption. Swift was most indignant at
this, and his protest, printed by Faulkner, brought that publisher
before the Council, and gave Swift a fit of "nerves." (MS. Letter,
March 31st, 1737, to Lord Orrery, quoted by Craik in Swift's
"Life," vol. ii., p. 160.) Swift's objection against the copper was
due to the fact that it was not minted in Ireland. "I quarrel not
with the coin, but with the indignity of its not being coined
here." (Same MS. Letter.)
Among the pamphlets in the Halliday collection in the Royal Irish
Academy, Dublin, is a tract with the following title:
"Reasons why we should not lower the Coins now Current in this
Kingdom ... Dublin: Printed and Sold by E. Waters in Dame-street."
At the end of this tract is printed Swift's speech to "an Assembly
of above one Hundred and fifty eminent persons who met at the Guild
Hall, on Saturday the 24th April, 1736, in order to draw up their
Petition, and present it to his grace the Lord Lieutenant against
lowering said Coin." It is from this tract that the present text
has been taken. The editor is obliged to Sir Henry Craik's "Life of
Swift" for drawing attention to this hitherto uncollected piece.
[T. S.]
SPEECH DELIVERED ON THE LOWERING OF THE COIN.
I beg you will consider and very well weigh in your hearts, what I am
going to say and what I have often said before. There are several bodies
of men, among whom the power of this kingdom is divided--1st, The
Lord-Lieutenant, Lords Justices and Council; next to these, my Lords the
Bishops; there is likewise my Lord Chancellor, and my Lords the Judges
of the land--with other eminent persons in the land, who have
employments and great salaries annexed. To these must be added the
Commissioners of the Revenue, with all their under officers: and lastly,
their honours of the Army, of all degrees.
Now, Gentlemen, I beg you again to consider that none of these persons
above named, can ever suffer the loss of one farthing by all the
miseries under which the kingdom groans at present. For, first, until
the kingdom be entirely ruined, the Lord-Lieutenant and Lords Justices
must have their salaries. My Lords the Bishops, whose lands are set at a
fourth part value, will be sure of their rents and their fines. My Lords
the Judges and those of other employments in the country must likewise
have their salaries. The gentlemen of the revenue will pay themselves,
and as to the officers of the army, the consequence of not paying them
is obvious enough. Nay, so far will those persons I have already
mentioned be from suffering, that, on the contrary, their revenues being
no way lessened by the fall of money, and the price of all commodities
considerably sunk thereby, they must be great gainers. Therefore,
Gentlemen, I do entreat you that as long as you live, you will look on
all persons who are for lowering the gold, or any other coin, as no
friends to this poor kingdom, but such, who find their private account
in what will be detrimental to Ireland. And as the absentees are, in
the strongest view, our greatest enemies, first by consuming above
one-half of the rents of this nation abroad, and secondly by turning the
weight, by their absence, so much on the Popish side, by weakening the
Protestant interest, can there be a greater folly than to pave a bridge
of gold at your own expense, to support them in their luxury and vanity
abroad, while hundreds of thousands are starving at home for want of
employment.
MISCELLANEOUS PIECES.
IRISH ELOQUENCE.[196]
I hope you will come and take a drink of my ale. I always brew with my
own bear. I was at your large Toun's house, in the county of Fermanegh.
He has planted a great many oak trees, and elm trees round his lough:
And a good warrent he had, it is kind father for him, I stayd with him a
week. At breakfast we had sometimes sowins, and sometimes stirrabout,
and sometimes fraughauns and milk; but his cows would hardly give a drop
of milk. For his head had lost the pachaun. His neighbour Squire Dolt is
a meer buddaugh. I'd give a cow in Conaught you could see him. He keeps
none but garrauns, and he rides on a soogaun with nothing for his bridle
but gadd. In that, he is a meer spaulpeen, and a perfect Monaghan, and a
Munster Croch to the bargain. Without you saw him on Sunday you would
take him for a Brogadeer and a spaned to a carl did not know had to draw
butter. We drank balcan and whisky out of madders. And the devil a
niglugam had but a caddao. I wonder your cozen does na learn him better
manners. Your cousin desires you will buy him some cheney cups. I
remember he had a great many; I wonder what is gone with them. I
coshered on him for a week. He has a fine staggard of corn. His dedy has
been very unwell. I was sorry that anything ayl her father's child.
Firing is very dear thereabout. The turf is drawn tuo near in Kislers;
and they send new rounds from the mines, nothing comes in the Cleeves
but stock. We had a sereroar of beef, and once a runy for dinner.
A DIALOGUE IN HIBERNIAN STYLE BETWEEN A. AND B.[197]
A. Them aples is very good.
B. I cam _again_ you in that.
A. Lord I was bodderd t'other day with that prating fool, Tom.
B. Pray, how does he _get_ his health?
A. He's often very _unwell_.
B. [I] hear he was a great pet of yours.
A. Where does he live?
B. Opposite the red Lyon.
A. I think he behaved very ill the last sessions.
B. That's true, but I cannot forbear loving his father's child: Will you
take a glass of my ale?
A. No, I thank you, I took a drink of small beer at home before I came
here.
B. I always brew with my own bear: You have a country-house: Are you [a]
planter.
A. Yes, I have planted a great many oak trees and ash trees, and some
elm trees round a lough.
B. And so a good warrant you have: It is kind father for you.
A. And what breakfast do you take in the country?
B. Sometimes stirabout, and in sumer we have the best frauhaurg in all
the county.
A. What kind of man is your neighbour Squire Dolt?
B. Why, a meer Buddogh. He sometimes coshers with me; and once a month I
take a pipe with him, and we shot it about for an hour together.
A. I hear he keeps good horses.
B. None but garrauns, and I have seen him often riding on a sougawn. In
short, he is no better than a spawlpien; a perfect Marcghen. When I was
there last, we had nothing but a medder to drink out of; and the devil a
nighigam but a caddao. Will you go see him when you come unto our
quarter?
A. Not _without_ you go with me.
B. Will you lend me your snuff-box?
A. Do you make good cheese and butter?
B. Yes, when we can get milk; but our cows will never keep a drop of
milk without a Puckaun.
TO THE PROVOST AND SENIOR FELLOWS OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.
Deanery House,
July 5, 1736.
REV. AND WORTHY SIRS,
As I had the honour of receiving some part of my education in your
university, and the good fortune to be of some service to it while I had
a share of credit at court, as well as since, when I had very little or
none, I may hope to be excused for laying a case before you, and
offering my opinion upon it.
Mr. Dunkin,[198] whom you all know, sent me some time ago a memorial
intended to be laid before you, which perhaps he hath already done. His
request is, that you would be pleased to enlarge his annuity at present,
and that he may have the same right, in his turn, to the first church
preferment, vacant in your gift, as if he had been made a fellow,
according to the scheme of his aunt's will; because the absurdity of the
condition in it ought to be imputed to the old woman's ignorance,
although her intention be very manifest; and the intention of the
testator in all wills is chiefly regarded by the law. What I would
therefore propose is this, that you would increase his pension to one
hundred pounds a-year, and make him a firm promise of the first church
living in your disposal, to the value of two hundred pounds a-year, or
somewhat more. This I take to be a reasonable medium between what he
hath proposed in his memorial, and what you allow him at present.
I am almost a perfect stranger to Mr. Dunkin, having never seen him
above twice, and then in mixed company, nor should I know his person if
I met him in the streets.
But I know he is a man of wit and parts; which if applied properly to
the business of his function, instead of poetry, (wherein it must be
owned he sometimes excels,) might be of great use and service to him.
I hope you will please to remember, that, since your body hath received
no inconsiderable benefaction from the aunt, it will much increase your
reputation, rather to err on the generous side toward the nephew.
These are my thoughts, after frequently reflecting on the case under all
its circumstances; and so I leave it to your wiser judgments.
I am, with true respect and esteem, reverend and worthy Sirs,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
JON. SWIFT.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN, SHERIFFS, AND
COMMON-COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORK.
Deanery House, Dublin,
August 15, 1737.
GENTLEMEN,
I received from you, some weeks ago, the honour of my freedom, in a
silver box, by the hands of Mr. Stannard; but it was not delivered to me
in as many weeks more; because, I suppose, he was too full of more
important business. Since that time, I have been wholly confined by
sickness, so that I was not able to return you my acknowledgment; and it
is with much difficulty I do it now, my head continuing in great
disorder. Mr. Faulkner will be the bearer of my letter, who sets out
this morning for Cork.
I could have wished, as I am a private man, that, in the instrument of
my freedom, you had pleased to assign your reasons for making choice of
me. I know it is a usual compliment to bestow the freedom of the city on
an archbishop, or lord-chancellor, and other persons of great titles,
merely on account of their stations or power: but a private man, and a
perfect stranger, without power or grandeur, may justly expect to find
the motives assigned in the instrument of his freedom, on what account
he is thus distinguished. And yet I cannot discover, in the whole
parchment scrip, any one reason offered. Next, as to the silver box,
there is not so much as my name upon it, nor any one syllable to show it
was a present from your city. Therefore I have, by the advice of
friends, agreeable with my opinion, sent back the box and instrument of
freedom by Mr. Faulkner, to be returned to you; leaving to your choice
whether to insert the reasons for which you were pleased to give me my
freedom, or bestow the box upon some more worthy person whom you may
have an intention to honour, because it will equally fit everybody.
I am, with true esteem and gratitude,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and obliged servant,
JON. SWIFT.
TO THE HONOURABLE THE SOCIETY OF THE
GOVERNOR AND ASSISTANTS, LONDON,
FOR THE NEW PLANTATION IN ULSTER, WITHIN THE REALM OF IRELAND,
AT THE CHAMBER IN GUILDHALL, LONDON.
April 19, 1739.
WORTHY GENTLEMEN,
I heartily recommend to your very Worshipful Society, the Reverend Mr.
William Dunkin,[199] for the living of Colrane, vacant by the death of
Dr. Squire. Mr. Dunkin is a gentleman of great learning and wit, true
religion, and excellent morals. It is only for these qualifications that
I recommend him to your patronage; and I am confident that you will
never repent the choice of such a man, who will be ready at any time to
obey your commands. You have my best wishes, and all my endeavours for
your prosperity: and I shall, during my life, continue to be, with the
truest respect and highest esteem,
Worthy Sirs,
Your most obedient, and most humble servant,
JON. SWIFT.
CERTIFICATE TO A DISCARDED SERVANT.
Deanery-house,
Jan. 9, 1739-40
Whereas the bearer served me the space of one year, during which time he
was an idler and a drunkard, I then discharged him as such; but how far
his having been five years at sea may have mended his manners, I leave
to the penetration of those who may hereafter choose to employ him.
JON. SWIFT.
AN EXHORTATION ADDRESSED TO THE
SUB-DEAN AND CHAPTER OF ST.
PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN.
January 28, 1741.
Whereas my infirmities of age and ill-health have prevented me to
preside in the chapters held for the good order and government of my
cathedral church of St. Patrick, Dublin, in person: I have, by a legal
commission, made and appointed the very reverend Doctor John Wynne,
præcentor of the said cathedral, to be sub-dean in my stead and absence.
I do hereby ratify and confirm all the powers delegated to the said Dr.
Wynne in the said Commission.
And I do hereby require and request the very reverend sub-dean not to
permit any of the vicars-choral, choristers, or organists, to attend or
assist at any public musical performances, without my consent, or his
consent, with the consent of the chapter first obtained.
And whereas it hath been reported, that I gave a licence to certain
vicars to assist at a club of fiddlers in Fishamble Street, I do hereby
declare that I remember no such licence to have been ever signed or
sealed by me; and that if ever such pretended licence should be
produced, I do hereby annul and vacate the said licence. Intreating my
said sub-dean and chapter to punish such vicars as shall ever appear
there, as songsters, fiddlers, pipers, trumpeters, drummers,
drum-majors, or in any sonal quality, according to the flagitious
aggravations of their respective disobedience, rebellion, perfidy, and
ingratitude.
I require my said sub-dean to proceed to the extremity of expulsion, if
the said vicars should be found ungovernable, impenitent, or
self-sufficient, especially Taberner, Phipps, and Church, who, as I am
informed, have, in violation of my sub-dean's and chapter's order in
December last, at the instance of some obscure persons unknown, presumed
to sing and fiddle at the club above mentioned.
My resolution is to preserve the dignity of my station, and the honour
of my chapter; and, gentlemen, it is incumbent upon you to aid me, and
to show who and what the Dean and Chapter of Saint Patrick's are.
Signed by me,
JONATHAN SWIFT
Dean of St. Patrick's.
Witnesses present,
JAMES KING,
FRANCIS WILSON.
To the very Reverend Doctor John Wynne, sub-dean of the Cathedral church
of Saint Patrick, Dublin, and to the reverend dignitaries and
prebendaries of the same.
APPENDIX.
A LETTER TO THE WRITER OF THE OCCASIONAL PAPER.
NOTE.
In April, 1727, Swift paid his last visit to England. The visit
paid by him to Walpole, already referred to, resulted in nothing,
though it cannot, on that account, be argued that Swift's open
friendship for, and even support of, Pulteney and Bolingbroke was
owing to his failure with Walpole. Swift pleaded with Walpole for
Ireland and Ireland only, as his letter to Peterborough amply
testifies. It had nothing to do with the political situation in
England. The explanation for this sympathy is most likely found in
Sir Henry Craik's suggestion that Swift humoured the pretences of
his friends that they were of the party that maintained the
national virtues, resisted corruption, and defended liberty against
arbitrary power. To Pulteney Swift always wrote reminding him that
the country looked to him as its saviour, and he wrote in a similar
vein to Bolingbroke and Pope. The "Craftsman" had been founded by
Pulteney and Bolingbroke (a curious companionship when one
remembers the past lives of these two men) for the express purpose
of bringing low Walpole's political power. It began by exposing the
tricks of "Robin" and continued to lay bare the cunning and wiles
of the "Craftsman" at the head of the government of the country.
Both Pulteney and Bolingbroke wrote regularly, and the former
displayed a journalistic power quite extraordinary.
The letter which follows was written by Swift when in London on the
occasion of his last visit; but a note in Craik's "Life of Swift"
(vol. ii., pp. 166-167) is very interesting as showing that Swift
did certainly give hints for some of the subjects for discussion. I
take the liberty to transcribe this note in full. Sir Henry Craik
thinks it more than likely that Swift may have suggested, during
his last visit to London, some of the lines on which Bolingbroke
and Pulteney worked. In the note he adds:
"This finds some confirmation, from the following heads of a Tract,
which I have found in a memorandum in Swift's handwriting. The
memorandum belongs to Mr. Frederick Locker [now dead], who kindly
permitted me to use his papers, the same which came from Theophilus
Swift into Scott's possession. But the interest of this memorandum
escaped Scott's notice."
"PROPOSAL FOR VIRTUE."
"Every little fellow who has a vote now corrupted.
"An arithmetical computation, how much spent in election of
Commons, and pensions and foreign courts: how then can our debts be
paid?
"No fear that gentlemen will not stand and serve without Pensions,
and that they will let the Kingdom be invaded for want of fleets
and armies, or bring in Pretender, etc.
"How K(ing) will ensure his own interest as well as the Publick: he
is now forced to keep himself bare, etc., at least, late King was.
"Perpetual expedients, stop-gaps, etc., at long run must terminate
in something fatal, as it does in private estates.
"There may be probably 10,000 landed men in England fit for
Parliament. This would reduce Parliament to consist of real landed
men, which is full as necessary for Senates as for Juries. What do
the other 9,000 do for want of pensions?
" ... In private life, virtue may be difficult, by passions,
infirmities, temptations, want of pence, strong opposition, etc.
But not in public administration: there it makes all things easy.
"Form the Scheme. Suppose a King of England would resolve to give
no pension for party, etc., and call a Parliament, perfectly free,
as he could.
"What can a K. reasonably ask that a Parliament will refuse? When
they are resty, it is by corrupt ministers, who have designs
dangerous to the State, and must therefore support themselves by
bribing, etc.
"Open, fair dealing the best.
"A contemptuous character of Court art. How different from true
politics. For, comparing the talents of two professions that are
very different, I cannot but think, that in the present sense of
the word Politician, a common sharper or pickpocket, has every
quality that can be required in the other, and accordingly I have
personally known more than half a dozen in their hour esteemed
equally to excell in both."
* * * * *
The present text is based on that given in the eighth volume of the
quarto issue of Swift's Works published in 1765.
[T. S.]
A LETTER TO THE WRITER OF
THE OCCASIONAL PAPER.[200]
[VIDE THE CRAFTSMAN, 1727.]
SIR,
Although, in one of your papers, you declare an intention of turning
them, during the dead season of the year, into accounts of domestic and
foreign intelligence; yet I think we, your correspondents, should not
understand your meaning so literally, as if you intended to reject
inserting any other paper, which might probably be useful for the
public. Neither, indeed, am I fully convinced that this new course you
resolve to take will render you more secure than your former laudable
practice, of inserting such speculations as were sent you by several
well-wishers to the good of the kingdom; however grating such notices
might be to some, who wanted neither power nor inclination to resent
them at your cost. For, since there is a direct law against spreading
false news, if you should venture to tell us in one of the Craftsmen
that the Dey of Algiers had got the toothache, or the King of Bantam had
taken a purge, and the facts should be contradicted in succeeding
packets; I do not see what plea you could offer to avoid the utmost
penalty of the law, because you are not supposed to be very gracious
among those who are most able to hurt you.
Besides, as I take your intentions to be sincerely meant for the public
service, so your original method of entertaining and instructing us will
be more general and more useful in this season of the year, when people
are retired to amusements more cool, more innocent, and much more
reasonable than those they have left; when their passions are subsided
or suspended; when they have no occasions of inflaming themselves, or
each other; where they will have opportunities of hearing common sense,
every day in the week, from their tenants or neighbouring farmers, and
thereby be qualified, in hours of rain or leisure, to read and consider
the advice or information you shall send them.