the women of the town, to grant a man the favour over night and the next day have the impudence to deny it to his face.  But, it is too late to reproach you with any former oversights, which cannot now be rectified.  I know the matters of fact as you relate them are true and fairly represented.  My advice therefore is this.  Get your tenants together as soon as you conveniently can, and make them agree to the following resolutions.

First, That your family and tenants have no dependence upon the said gentleman, further than by the old agreement, which obligeth you to have the same steward, and to regulate your household by such methods as you should both agree to.[79]

Secondly, That you will not carry your goods to the market of his town, unless you please, nor be hindered from carrying them anywhere else.[80]

Thirdly, That the servants you pay wages to shall live at home, or forfeit their places.[81]

Fourthly, That whatever lease you make to a tenant, it shall not be in his power to break it.[82]

If he will agree to these articles, I advise you to contribute as largely as you can to all charges of Parish and County.

I can assure you, several of that gentleman’s ablest tenants and servants are against his severe usage of you, and would be glad of an occasion to convince the rest of their error, if you will not be wanting to yourself.

If the gentleman refuses these just and reasonable offers, pray let me know it, and perhaps I may think of something else that will be more effectual.

  I am,
    Madam,
      Your Ladyship’s, etc.

AN

ANSWER TO A PAPER,

CALLED

“A MEMORIAL

OF THE

POOR INHABITANTS, TRADESMEN, AND LABOURERS OF THE KINGDOM OF IRELAND.”

WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1728.

     NOTE.

This is, perhaps, as trenchant and fine a piece of writing as is to be found in any of those pamphlets Swift wrote for the alleviation of the miserable condition of Ireland.  The author of the “Memorial” to which Swift made this passionate reply was Sir John Browne, and the purport of his writing may be easily gathered from Swift’s animadversions.

* * * * *

The text here given is based on that printed by Faulkner in 1735 in the fourth volume of his collected edition of Swift’s works.  Scott reprints Browne’s “Memorial” and his reply to the present “Answer,” but they are of little importance and in no way assist us in our appreciation of Swift’s work.  The date of Swift’s answer is given by Faulkner as “March 25th, 1728,” which year Scott misprints 1738, evidently a printer’s error, though the arrangement of the order of the pamphlets in his edition leaves much to be desired.

     [T.  S.]