go off with his pack, and then see the money in silver and gold in my possession before I cut or measure my cloth.  But if a common soldier drinks his pot first, and then offers payment in Wood’s halfpence, the landlady may be under some difficulty; For if she complains to his captain or ensign, they are likewise officers, included in this general order for encouraging these halfpence to pass as current money.  If she goes to a justice of peace, he is also an officer, to whom this general order is directed.  I do therefore advise her to follow my practice, which I have already begun, and be paid for her goods before she parts with them.  However I should have been content, for some reasons, that the military gentlemen had been excepted by name, because I have heard it said, that their discipline is best confined within their own district.

His Majesty in the conclusion of his answer to the address of the House of Lords against Wood’s coin, is pleased to say that “he will do everything in his power for the satisfaction of his people.”  It should seem therefore, that the recalling the patent is not to be understood as a thing in his power.  But however since the law does not oblige us to receive this coin, and consequently the patent leaves it to our voluntary choice, there is nothing remaining to preserve us from rain but that the whole kingdom should continue in a firm determinate resolution never to receive or utter this fatal coin:[20]

[Footnote 20:  So ready was the response to this suggestion of Swift’s, that it was found necessary for tradesmen to take precautions to have it publicly known that they were in no way connected with Wood and his money, The following is a copy of an advertisement which illustrates this: 

“Whereas several persons in this kingdom suspect that John Molyneux of Meath Street, ironmonger, and his brother Daniel Molyneux, of Essex Street, ironmonger, are interested in the patent obtained by William Wood for coining of halfpence and farthings for this kingdom.

“Now we the said John Molyneux and Daniel Molyneux, in order to satisfy the public, do hereby declare, that we are in no way concerned with the said Wood in relation to his said patent; And that we never were possessed of any of the said halfpence or farthings, except one halfpence and one farthing, which I the said John Molyneux received in a post-letter, and which I immediately afterwards delivered to one of the Lords-Justices of Ireland.

“And we do further declare, that we will not directly or indirectly, be anyways concerned with the said Wood’s halfpence or farthings; but on the contrary, act to the great advantage and satisfaction of this kingdom, as good, loving and faithful subjects ought to do.  And we do further declare, that to the best of our knowledge, the said William Wood is not in this kingdom.

“Given under our hands in Dublin this 22d. day of August 1724.

“JOHN MOLYNEUX