[39] See “A Short View of the State of Ireland,” p. 86. [T.  S.]

[40] Lecky refers to a remarkable letter written by an Irish peer in the March of 1702, and preserved in the “Southwell Correspondence” in the British Museum, in which the writer complains that the money of the country is almost gone, and the poverty of the towns so great that it was feared the Court mourning for the death of William would be the final blow. (Lecky, vol. i., p. 181, 1892 ed.). [T.  S.]

[41] Those of Charles II. and James II. in which, for political reasons on the part of the Crown, Ireland was peculiarly favoured. [S.]

[42] This was Dr. Nicholas Barbou, the friend of John Asgill and author of two works on trade and money.  After the Great Fire of London he speculated largely in building, and greatly assisted in making city improvements.  He was the founder of fire insurance in England and was active in land and bank speculations.  He died in 1698, leaving a will directing that none of his debts should be paid. [T.  S.]

[43] The beggars of Ireland are spoken of by Bishop Berkeley.  But Arthur Dobbs, in the second part of his “Essay on Trade,” published in 1731, gives a descriptive picture of the gangs who travelled over Ireland as professional paupers.  In the 2,295 parishes, there was in each an average of at least ten beggars carrying on their trade the whole year round; the total number of these wandering paupers he puts down at over 34,000.  Computing 30,000 of them able to work, and assuming that each beggar could earn 4d. a day in a working year of 284 days, he calculates that their idleness is a loss to the nation of L142,000. (Pp. 444-445 of Thom’s reprint; Dublin, 1861) [T.  S.]

[44] See Swift’s terrible satire on the “Modest Proposal for preventing Children of Poor People from being a burthen.” [T.  S.]

[45] A small country village about seven miles from Kells. [T.  S.]

[46] Esther Johnson. [T.  S.]

[47] Stella’s companion and Swift’s housekeeper. [T.  S.]

[48] See Swift’s “Directions to Servants.” [T.  S.]

[49] By Acts 18 Charles II c. 2, and 32 Charles II c. 2, enacted in 1665 and 1680, the importation into England from Ireland of all cattle, sheep, swine, beef, pork, bacon, mutton, cheese and butter, was absolutely prohibited.  The land of Ireland being largely pasture land and England being the chief and nearest market, these laws practically destroyed the farming industry.  The pernicious acts were passed on complaint from English land proprietors that the competition from Irish cattle had lowered their rents in England.  “In this manner,” says Lecky, “the chief source of Irish prosperity was annihilated at a single blow.” [T.  S.]