I have departed from the order given by Faulkner and the earlier editors,[1] and followed by Sir W. Scott in arranging the series of the Drapier’s Letters, by adhering to a more correct chronological sequence.  This letter has always been printed as the sixth Drapier’s letter, but I have printed it here as the fifth, since it was written prior to the letter addressed to Viscount Molesworth, which has hitherto been called the fifth.  The Molesworth letter I print here as “Letter VI.”  As already noted the letter to Midleton was written on the 26th October, 1724, but its first publication in print did not occur until Faulkner included it in the fourth volume of his collected edition of Swift’s works, issued in 1735.  There it is signed “J.S.” and is given as from the “Deanery House.”  All the other letters are printed as “By M.B.  Drapier.”  The Advertisement to the Reader prefixed to the present fifth letter is from Faulkner’s edition.  Probably it was printed by Faulkner under Swift’s direction.

[Footnote 1:  Sheridan, Deane Swift, Hawkesworth and Nichols]

Swift’s acquaintance with Midleton had been of long standing.  The Chancellor had been an avowed opponent of the patent and yet, by his signature to the proclamation, he seemed to be giving the weight of his official position against the popular sentiment.  In addressing him, Swift was endeavouring, apparently, to keep him to his original line of action and to destroy any influence the government party may have had on him, since he was well aware of Carteret’s insinuating charm.  Midleton, however, had always stood firm against the patent.  His signature to the proclamation against the Drapier was justified by him when he said that the Drapier’s letters tended to disturbance.  Carteret had really tried to win him over, but he did not succeed “While he [Midleton] expressed the highest obligation to the Lord Lieutenant,” writes Coxe, “he declared that his duty to his country was paramount to every other consideration, and refused to give any assistance to government, until the patent was absolutely surrendered.”

The text here given of this letter is based on Faulkner’s issue in vol. iv. of the 1735 edition of Swift’s works.  It has been collated with that given in the fifth volume of the “Miscellanies,” printed in London in the same year.

[T.S.]

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER[2]

The former of the two following papers is dated Oct. 6th 1724[3], by which it appears to be written a little after the proclamation against the author of the Drapier’s Fourth Letter.  It is delivered with much caution, because the author confesseth himself to be Dean of St. Patrick’s; and I could discover his name subscribed at the end of the original, although blotted out by some other hand, I can tell no other reason why it was not printed, than what I have heard; that the writer finding how effectually the Drapier had