it should, yet upon this occasion, will be of no force.  The king’s revenues here are near four hundred thousand pounds a year, can you think his ministers will advise him to take them in Wood’s brass, which will reduce the value to fifty thousand pounds?  England gets a million sterl. by this nation, which, if this project goes on, will be almost reduc’d to nothing:  and do you think those who live in England upon Irish estates will be content to take an eighth or a tenth part, by being paid in Wood’s dross?

If Wood and his confederates were not convinced of our stupidity, they never would have attempted so audacious an enterprise.  He now sees a spirit hath been raised against him, and he only watches till it begins to flag, he goes about watching when to devour us.  He hopes we shall be weary of contending with him, and at last out of ignorance, or fear, or of being perfectly tired with opposition, we shall be forced to yield.  And therefore I confess it is my chief endeavour to keep up your spirits and resentments.  If I tell you there is a precipice under you, and that if you go forwards you will certainly break your necks—­if I point to it before your eyes, must I be at the trouble of repeating it every morning?  Are our people’s hearts waxed gross?  Are their ears dull of hearing, and have they closed their eyes?  I fear there are some few vipers among us, who, for ten or twenty pounds’ gain, would sell their souls and their country, though at last it would end in their own ruin as well as ours.  Be not like the deaf adder, who refuses to hear the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely.

Though my letter be directed to you, Mr. Harding, yet I intend it for all my countrymen.  I have no interest in this affair but what is common to the public; I can live better than many others, I have some gold and silver by me, and a shop well furnished, and shall be able to make a shift when many of my betters are starving.  But I am grieved to see the coldness and indifference of many people with whom I discourse.  Some are afraid of a proclamation, others shrug up their shoulders, and cry, what would you have us to do?  Some give out, there is no danger at all.  Others are comforted that it will be a common calamity and they shall fare no worse than their neighbours.  Will a man, who hears midnight-robbers at his door, get out of bed, and raise his family for a common defence, and shall a whole kingdom lie in a lethargy, while Mr. Wood comes at the head of his confederates to rob them of all they have, to ruin us and our posterity for ever?  If an high-way-man meets you on the road, you give him your money to save your life; but, God be thanked, Mr. Wood cannot touch a hair of your heads.  You have all the laws of God and man on your side.  When he or his accomplices offer you his dross, it is but saying No, and you are safe.  If a madman should come to my shop with a handful of dirt raked out of the kennel, and offer it in payment for ten yards of stuff, I would pity or laugh at him, or, if his behaviour deserved it, kick him out of my doors.  And if Mr. Wood comes to demand any gold or silver, or commodities for which I have paid my gold and silver, in exchange for his trash, can he deserve or expect better treatment?