I am very sensible that such a work as I have undertaken might have worthily employed a much better pen.  But when a house is attempted to be robbed it often happens that the weakest in the family runs first to stop the door.  All the assistance I had were some informations from an eminent person,[23] whereof I am afraid I have spoiled a few by endeavouring to make them of a piece with my own productions, and the rest I was not able to manage:  I was in the case of David who could not move in the armour of Saul, and therefore I rather chose to attack this “uncircumcised Philistine (Wood I mean) with a sling and a stone.”  And I may say for Wood’s honour as well as my own, that he resembles Goliath in many circumstances, very applicable to the present purpose; For Goliath had “a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass, and he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.”  In short he was like Mr. Wood, all over brass; And “he defied the armies of the living God.”  Goliath’s condition of combat were likewise the same with those of Wood.  “If he prevail against us, then shall we be his servants:”  But if it happens that I prevail over him, I renounce the other part of the condition, he shall never be a servant of mine, for I do not think him fit to be trusted in any honest man’s shop.

[Footnote 23:  Mr. Robert Lindsay, a Dublin lawyer, assisted Swift on the legal points raised in the Drapier’s letters.  This is the Mr. Lindsay, counsellor-at-law, to whom Swift submitted a case concerning a Mr. Gorman (see Scott’s edit., vol. xix., p. 294).  Mr. Lindsay is supposed to be the author of two letters addressed to Chief Justice Whitshed on the matter of his conduct towards the grand jury which discharged Harding the printer (see Scott’s edit., vol. vi., p. 467). [T.S.]]

I will conclude with my humble desire and request which I made in my second letter; That your lordships and worships would please to order a declaration to be drawn up expressing, in the strongest terms, your firm resolutions never to receive or utter any of Wood’s halfpence or farthings, and forbidding your tenants to receive them.  That the said declaration may be signed by as many persons as possible who have estates in this kingdom, and be sent down to your several tenants aforesaid.[24]

[Footnote 24:  A Declaration, pursuant to this request, was signed soon after by the most considerable persons of the kingdom, which was universally spread and of great use. [F.]

“The humble petition of the lord-mayor, sheriffs, commons, and citizens of the city of Dublin, in Common Council assembled,” was issued as a broadside on 8th September, 1724.  See also Appendix IX. [T.S.]]

And if the dread of Wood’s halfpence should continue till next quarter-sessions (which I hope it will not) the gentlemen of every county will then have a fair opportunity of declaring against them with unanimity and zeal.