[Footnote 4:  This portion in square brackets is not given by Faulkner in his Advertisement. [T.S.]]

The next treatise is called “An Address, &c.”  It is without a date; but seems to be written during the first session of Parliament in Lord Carteret’s government.  The title of this Address is in the usual form, by M.B.  Drapier.  There is but a small part of it that relates to William Wood and his coin:  The rest contains several proposals for the improvement of Ireland, the many discouragements it lies under, and what are the best remedies against them.

By many passages in some of the Drapier’s former letters, but particularly in the following Address, concerning the great drain of money from Ireland by absentees, importation of foreign goods, balance of trade, and the like, it appears that the author had taken much pains, and been well informed in the business of computing; all his reasonings upon that subject, although he does not here descend to particular sums, agreeing generally with the accounts given by others who have since made that enquiry their particular study.  And it is observable, that in this Address, as well as in one of his printed letters, he hath specified several important articles, that have not been taken notice of by others who came after him.

LETTER V.

A LETTER TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR MIDDLETON.[5]

My Lord, I desire you will consider me as a member who comes in at the latter end of a debate; or as a lawyer who speaks to a cause, when the matter hath been almost exhausted by those who spoke before.

[Footnote 5:  Alan Brodrick, Lord Midleton (1660?-1728), came of a Surrey family that had greatly benefited by the forfeitures in Ireland.  Adopting the profession of the law, Brodrick was, in 1695, appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland.  He sat in the Irish House of Commons as the member for Cork, and in 1703 was chosen its Speaker.  His strong opposition to the Sacramental Test Act lost him the favour of the government, and he was removed from his office of Solicitor-General.  In 1707, however, he was appointed Attorney-General for Ireland, and in 1714 made Lord Chancellor.  In the year following he was created Baron Brodrick of Midleton.  His trimming with Walpole and Carteret did not, however, prevent him from opposing the Wood’s patent, though he signed the proclamation against the Drapier.  He thought the letters served to “create jealousies between the King and the people of Ireland.” [T.S.]]

I remember some months ago I was at your house upon a commission, where I am one of the governors:  But I went thither not so much on account of the commission, as to ask you some questions concerning Mr. Wood’s patent to coin halfpence for Ireland; where you very freely told me, in a mixed company, how much you had been always against that wicked project, which raised in me an esteem for you so far, that I went in a few