But, it happens very unluckily, that, for some time past, all endeavours or proposals from private persons, to advance the public service; however honestly and innocently designed, have been called flying in the King’s face: And this, to my knowledge, hath been the style of some persons, whose ancestors, (I mean those among them who had any) and themselves, have been flying in princes’ faces these fourscore years; and from their own inclinations would do so still, if their interest did not lead them rather to fly in the face of a kingdom; which hath given them wings to enable them for such a flight.

Thus, about four years ago, when a discourse was published, endeavouring to persuade our people to wear their own woollen manufactures,[8] full of the most dutiful expressions to the King, and without the least party hint; it was termed “flying in the King’s face;” the printer was prosecuted in the manner we all remember; (and, I hope, it will somewhere be remembered further) the jury kept eleven hours, and sent back nine times, till they were under the necessity of leaving the prisoner to the mercy of the court, by a special verdict.  The judge on the bench invoking God for his witness, when he asserted, that the author’s design was to bring in the Pretender.[9]

[Footnote 8:  This was Swift’s pamphlet entitled, “A Proposal for the Universal Use of Irish Manufactures.” [T.S.]]

[Footnote 9:  The action and language of Justice Whitshed. [T.S.]]

And thus also, my own poor endeavours to prevent the ruin of my country, by the admission of Wood’s coin, was called by the same persons, “flying in the King’s face;” which I directly deny:  For I cannot allow that vile representation of the royal countenance in William Wood’s adulterate copper, to be his Sacred Majesty’s face; or if it were, my flying was not against the impression, but the baseness of the metal; because I well remembered; that the image which Nebuchadnezzar “commanded to be set up, for all men to fall down and worship it,” was not of copper, but pure gold.  And I am heartily sorry, we have so few royal images of that metal among us; the sight whereof, although it could hardly increase our veneration for His Majesty, which is already so great; yet would very much enliven it with a mixture of comfort and satisfaction.

Alexander the Great, would suffer no statuary, except Phidias, to carve his image in stone or metal.  How must he have treated such an operator as Wood, who goes about with sackfuls of dross; odiously misrepresenting his Prince’s countenance; and would force them, by thousands, upon every one of us, at above six times the value.