I desire you will send the enclosed letter, directed “To my Lord Viscount Molesworth at his house at Brackdenstown near Swords;” but I would have it sent printed for the convenience of his Lordship’s reading, because this counterfeit hand of my ’prentice is not very legible.  And if you think fit to publish it, I would have you first get it read over carefully by some notable lawyer:  I am assured you will find enough of them who are friends to the Drapier, and will do it without a fee, which I am afraid you can ill afford after all your expenses.  For although I have taken so much care, that I think it impossible to find a topic out of the following papers for sending you again to prison; Yet I will not venture to be your guarantee.

This ensuing letter contains only a short account of myself, and an humble apology for my former pamphlets, especially the last, with little mention of Mr. Wood or his halfpence, because I have already said enough upon that subject, until occasion shall be given for new fears; and in that case you may perhaps hear from me again.

I am,
  Your Friend
    and Servant,
               M.B.

From my shop in
St. Francis-street
Dec. 14. 1724.

P.S. For want of intercourse between you and me, which I never will suffer, your people are apt to make very gross errors in the press, which I desire you will provide against.

LETTER VI

A LETTER TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD VISCOUNT MOLESWORTH, AT HIS HOUSE AT BRACKDENSTOWN NEAR SWORDS.[6]

My Lord, I reflect too late on the maxim of common observers, that “those who meddle in matters out of their calling, will have reason to repent;” which is now verified in me:  For by engaging in the trade of a writer, I have drawn upon myself the displeasure of the government, signified by a proclamation promising a reward of three hundred pounds to the first faithful subject who shall be able and inclined to inform against me.  To which I may add the laudable zeal and industry of my Lord Chief Justice [Whitshed] in his endeavours to discover so dangerous a person.  Therefore whether I repent or no, I have certainly cause to do so, and the common observation still stands good.

[Footnote 6:  Robert, Viscount Molesworth (1656-1725), born in Dublin and educated at the University there, was a prominent adherent of the Prince of Orange during the Revolution of 1688.  In 1692 William sent him to Denmark as envoy-extraordinary to the Court at Copenhagen; but he left abruptly because of the offence he gave there.  Retiring to Flanders, Molesworth revenged himself by writing, “An Account of Denmark as it was in 1692,” in which he described that country as no fit place for those who held their liberties dearly.  Molesworth had been strongly imbued with the republican teachings of Algernon Sidney, and his book affords ample proof of the influence.  Its