In that year, and in the two subsequent ones, the Presbyterians fought very strenuously for a mitigation of the laws against them; and the literature which has been handed down to us of that fight is by no means insignificant.  The tracts which we know to be of Swift’s authorship are:  “The Presbyterians’ Plea of Merit” (1731); “A Narrative of the several Attempts which the Dissenters of Ireland have made for a repeal of the Sacramental Test” (1731); “The Advantages proposed by Repealing the Sacramental Test impartially considered” (1732); “Queries Relating to the Sacramental Test” (1732); “Reasons humbly offered to the Parliament of Ireland for Repealing the Test in favour of Roman Catholics” (1733); “Some Few Thoughts Concerning the Test;” and, according to Sir Walter Scott, “Ten Reasons for Repealing the Test Act.”

Monck Mason, in his elaborate note on this particular literature of the period (see “History of St. Patrick’s Cathedral,” pp. 387, 388, notes), gives a list of sixteen pamphlets, many of which he considers to be so well written that they would have done no discredit to Swift himself.  The list is here transcribed for the benefit of the student: 

(i.) “Nature and Consequences of the Sacramental Test considered; with Remarks humbly offered for the Repeal of it.” 1732.

(ii.) “Remarks on a Pamphlet, entitled, ’The Nature and Consequences of the Sacramental Test Considered.’” Dublin, 1732, 12mo.

(iii.) “The History of the Test Act:  in which the Mistakes in some Writings against it are Rectified, and the Importance of it to the Church explained.”  Printed at London and Dublin:  and reprinted by George Faulkner. 1733, 12mo.

(iv.) “Plain Reasons against the Repeal of the Test Act; humbly offered to publick Consideration.”  Dublin:  printed by George Faulkner. 1733, 12mo.

(v.) “The Test Act Examined by the Test of Reason.”  Dublin, 1733, 12mo.

(vi.) “The Case of the Episcopal Dissenters in Scotland, and that of the Dissenters in Ireland Compared; with Relation to Toleration, and a Capacity for Civil Offices.  In a Letter to a Member of Parliament.”  Dublin, 1733, 8vo.

¶ This tract refers to another entitled:  “The Tables Turned against the Presbyterians; or, Reasons against the Sacramental Test, by a General Assembly of Scotland.”

(vii.) “The Case of the Test Considered, with respect to Ireland.”  Dublin, Faulkner, 1733.

(viii) “The natural Impossibilities of better Uniting Protestants &c. by Repealing the Test.”  Dublin:  Printed by George Faulkner, 1733.

(ix.) “Ten Reasons for Repealing the Test Act.”

¶ Scott reprints this as Swift’s from the broadside original.

(x-xi.) “A Vindication of the Protestant Dissenters from the Aspersions Cast upon them in a late Pamphlet, entitled, ’The Presbyterians ’Plea of Merit &c.,’ with some Remarks on a Paper called ‘The Correspondent,’ giving a pretended Narrative, &c.”