AMODESTPROPOSAL

FORPREVENTINGTHECHILDRENOFPOORPEOPLEINIRELANDFROMBEINGA
BURDENONTHEIRPARENTSORCOUNTRYANDFORMAKINGTHEMBENEFICIALTO
THEPUBLICK

BYDRJONATHANSWIFT






ITISAMELANCHOLYOBJECTTOTHOSEWHOWALKTHROUGHTHISGREATTOWN
ORTRAVELINTHECOUNTRYWHENTHEYSEETHESTREETSTHEROADSAND
CABBINDOORSCROWDEDWITHBEGGARSOFTHEFEMALESEXFOLLOWEDBYTHREE
FOURORSIXCHILDRENALLINRAGSANDIMPORTUNINGEVERYPASSENGERFOR
ANALMSTHESEMOTHERSINSTEADOFBEINGABLETOWORKFORTHEIRHONEST
LIVELIHOODAREFORCEDTOEMPLOYALLTHEIRTIMEINSTROLINGTOBEG
SUSTENANCEFORTHEIRHELPLESSINFANTSWHOASTHEYGROWUPEITHERTURN
THIEVESFORWANTOFWORKORLEAVETHEIRDEARNATIVECOUNTRYTOFIGHT
FORTHEPRETENDERINSPAINORSELLTHEMSELVESTOTHEBARBADOES

ITHINKITISAGREEDBYALLPARTIESTHATTHISPRODIGIOUSNUMBEROF
CHILDRENINTHEARMSORONTHEBACKSORATTHEHEELSOFTHEIRMOTHERS
ANDFREQUENTLYOFTHEIRFATHERSISINTHEPRESENTDEPLORABLESTATEOF
THEKINGDOMAVERYGREATADDITIONALGRIEVANCEANDTHEREFOREWHOEVER
COULDFINDOUTAFAIRCHEAPANDEASYMETHODOFMAKINGTHESECHILDREN
SOUNDANDUSEFULMEMBERSOFTHECOMMONWEALTHWOULDDESERVESOWELLOF
THEPUBLICKASTOHAVEHISSTATUESETUPFORAPRESERVEROFTHENATION

BUTMYINTENTIONISVERYFARFROMBEINGCONFINEDTOPROVIDEONLYFORTHE
CHILDRENOFPROFESSEDBEGGARSITISOFAMUCHGREATEREXTENTANDSHALL
TAKEINTHEWHOLENUMBEROFINFANTSATACERTAINAGEWHOAREBORNOF
PARENTSINEFFECTASLITTLEABLETOSUPPORTTHEMASTHOSEWHODEMAND
OURCHARITYINTHESTREETS

ASTOMYOWNPARTHAVINGTURNEDMYTHOUGHTSFORMANYYEARSUPONTHIS
IMPORTANTSUBJECTANDMATURELYWEIGHEDTHESEVERALSCHEMESOF
OURPROJECTORSIHAVEALWAYSFOUNDTHEMGROSSLYMISTAKENINTHEIR
COMPUTATIONITISTRUEACHILDJUSTDROPTFROMITSDAMMAYBE
SUPPORTEDBYHERMILKFORASOLARYEARWITHLITTLEOTHERNOURISHMENT
ATMOSTNOTABOVETHEVALUEOFTWOSHILLINGSWHICHTHEMOTHERMAY
CERTAINLYGETORTHEVALUEINSCRAPSBYHERLAWFULOCCUPATIONOF
BEGGINGANDITISEXACTLYATONEYEAROLDTHATIPROPOSETOPROVIDEFOR
THEMINSUCHAMANNERASINSTEADOFBEINGACHARGEUPONTHEIRPARENTS
ORTHEPARISHORWANTINGFOODANDRAIMENTFORTHERESTOFTHEIRLIVES
THEYSHALLONTHECONTRARYCONTRIBUTETOTHEFEEDINGANDPARTLYTO
THECLOATHINGOFMANYTHOUSANDS

THEREISLIKEWISEANOTHERGREATADVANTAGEINMYSCHEMETHATITWILL
PREVENTTHOSEVOLUNTARYABORTIONSANDTHATHORRIDPRACTICEOF
WOMENMURDERINGTHEIRBASTARDCHILDRENALASTOOFREQUENTAMONGUS
SACRIFICINGTHEPOORINNOCENTBABESIDOUBTMORETOAVOIDTHEEXPENCE
THANTHESHAMEWHICHWOULDMOVETEARSANDPITYINTHEMOSTSAVAGEAND
INHUMANBREAST

THENUMBEROFSOULSINTHISKINGDOMBEINGUSUALLYRECKONEDONEMILLION
ANDAHALFOFTHESEICALCULATETHEREMAYBEABOUTTWOHUNDREDTHOUSAND
COUPLEWHOSEWIVESAREBREEDERSFROMWHICHNUMBERISUBTRACTTHIRTY
THOUSANDCOUPLEWHOAREABLETOMAINTAINTHEIROWNCHILDRENALTHOUGH
IAPPREHENDTHERECANNOTBESOMANYUNDERTHEPRESENTDISTRESSESOF
THEKINGDOMBUTTHISBEINGGRANTEDTHEREWILLREMAINANHUNDREDAND
SEVENTYTHOUSANDBREEDERSIAGAINSUBTRACTFIFTYTHOUSANDFORTHOSE
WOMENWHOMISCARRYORWHOSECHILDRENDIEBYACCIDENTORDISEASEWITHIN
THEYEARTHEREONLYREMAINANHUNDREDANDTWENTYTHOUSANDCHILDRENOF
POORPARENTSANNUALLYBORNTHEQUESTIONTHEREFOREISHOWTHISNUMBER
SHALLBEREAREDANDPROVIDEDFORWHICHASIHAVEALREADYSAIDUNDER
THEPRESENTSITUATIONOFAFFAIRSISUTTERLYIMPOSSIBLEBYALLTHE
METHODSHITHERTOPROPOSEDFORWECANNEITHEREMPLOYTHEMINHANDICRAFT
ORAGRICULTUREWENEITHERBUILDHOUSESIMEANINTHECOUNTRYNOR
CULTIVATELANDTHEYCANVERYSELDOMPICKUPALIVELIHOODBYSTEALING
TILLTHEYARRIVEATSIXYEARSOLDEXCEPTWHERETHEYAREOFTOWARDLY
PARTSALTHOUGHICONFESSTHEYLEARNTHERUDIMENTSMUCHEARLIER
DURINGWHICHTIMETHEYCANHOWEVERBEPROPERLYLOOKEDUPONONLYAS
PROBATIONERSASIHAVEBEENINFORMEDBYAPRINCIPALGENTLEMANINTHE
COUNTYOFCAVANWHOPROTESTEDTOMETHATHENEVERKNEWABOVEONEOR
TWOINSTANCESUNDERTHEAGEOFSIXEVENINAPARTOFTHEKINGDOMSO
RENOWNEDFORTHEQUICKESTPROFICIENCYINTHATART

IAMASSUREDBYOURMERCHANTSTHATABOYORAGIRLBEFORETWELVEYEARS
OLDISNOSALEABLECOMMODITYANDEVENWHENTHEYCOMETOTHISAGETHEY
WILLNOTYIELDABOVETHREEPOUNDSORTHREEPOUNDSANDHALFACROWN
ATMOSTONTHEEXCHANGEWHICHCANNOTTURNTOACCOUNTEITHERTOTHE
PARENTSORKINGDOMTHECHARGEOFNUTRIMENTSANDRAGSHAVINGBEENAT
LEASTFOURTIMESTHATVALUE

ISHALLNOWTHEREFOREHUMBLYPROPOSEMYOWNTHOUGHTSWHICHIHOPEWILL
NOTBELIABLETOTHELEASTOBJECTION

IHAVEBEENASSUREDBYAVERYKNOWINGAMERICANOFMYACQUAINTANCEIN
LONDONTHATAYOUNGHEALTHYCHILDWELLNURSEDISATAYEAROLDA
MOSTDELICIOUSNOURISHINGANDWHOLESOMEFOODWHETHERSTEWEDROASTED
BAKEDORBOILEDANDIMAKENODOUBTTHATITWILLEQUALLYSERVEINA
FRICASIEORARAGOUST

IDOTHEREFOREHUMBLYOFFERITTOPUBLICKCONSIDERATIONTHATOFTHE
HUNDREDANDTWENTYTHOUSANDCHILDRENALREADYCOMPUTEDTWENTYTHOUSAND
MAYBERESERVEDFORBREEDWHEREOFONLYONEFOURTHPARTTOBEMALES
WHICHISMORETHANWEALLOWTOSHEEPBLACKCATTLEORSWINEANDMY
REASONISTHATTHESECHILDRENARESELDOMTHEFRUITSOFMARRIAGEA
CIRCUMSTANCENOTMUCHREGARDEDBYOURSAVAGESTHEREFOREONEMALEWILL
BESUFFICIENTTOSERVEFOURFEMALESTHATTHEREMAININGHUNDREDTHOUSAND
MAYATAYEAROLDBEOFFEREDINSALETOTHEPERSONSOFQUALITYAND
FORTUNETHROUGHTHEKINGDOMALWAYSADVISINGTHEMOTHERTOLETTHEM
SUCKPLENTIFULLYINTHELASTMONTHSOASTORENDERTHEMPLUMPANDFAT
FORAGOODTABLEACHILDWILLMAKETWODISHESATANENTERTAINMENTFOR
FRIENDSANDWHENTHEFAMILYDINESALONETHEFOREORHINDQUARTERWILL
MAKEAREASONABLEDISHANDSEASONEDWITHALITTLEPEPPERORSALTWILL
BEVERYGOODBOILEDONTHEFOURTHDAYESPECIALLYINWINTER

IHAVERECKONEDUPONAMEDIUMTHATACHILDJUSTBORNWILLWEIGH
POUNDSANDINASOLARYEARIFTOLERABLYNURSEDENCREASETHTO
POUNDS

IGRANTTHISFOODWILLBESOMEWHATDEARANDTHEREFOREVERYPROPERFOR
LANDLORDSWHOASTHEYHAVEALREADYDEVOUREDMOSTOFTHEPARENTSSEEM
TOHAVETHEBESTTITLETOTHECHILDREN

INFANTSFLESHWILLBEINSEASONTHROUGHOUTTHEYEARBUTMOREPLENTIFUL
INMARCHANDALITTLEBEFOREANDAFTERFORWEARETOLDBYAGRAVE
AUTHORANEMINENTFRENCHPHYSICIANTHATFISHBEINGAPROLIFICKDYET
THEREAREMORECHILDRENBORNINROMANCATHOLICKCOUNTRIESABOUTNINE
MONTHSAFTERLENTTHEMARKETSWILLBEMOREGLUTTEDTHANUSUALBECAUSE
THENUMBEROFPOPISHINFANTSISATLEASTTHREETOONEINTHISKINGDOM
ANDTHEREFOREITWILLHAVEONEOTHERCOLLATERALADVANTAGEBYLESSENING
THENUMBEROFPAPISTSAMONGUS

IHAVEALREADYCOMPUTEDTHECHARGEOFNURSINGABEGGARSCHILDINWHICH
LISTIRECKONALLCOTTAGERSLABOURERSANDFOURFIFTHSOFTHEFARMERS
TOBEABOUTTWOSHILLINGSPERANNUMRAGSINCLUDEDANDIBELIEVENO
GENTLEMANWOULDREPINETOGIVETENSHILLINGSFORTHECARCASSOFAGOOD
FATCHILDWHICHASIHAVESAIDWILLMAKEFOURDISHESOFEXCELLENT
NUTRITIVEMEATWHENHEHATHONLYSOMEPARTICULARFRIENDORHIS
OWNFAMILYTODINEWITHHIMTHUSTHESQUIREWILLLEARNTOBEAGOOD
LANDLORDANDGROWPOPULARAMONGHISTENANTSTHEMOTHERWILLHAVEEIGHT
SHILLINGSNEATPROFITANDBEFITFORWORKTILLSHEPRODUCESANOTHER
CHILD

THOSEWHOAREMORETHRIFTYASIMUSTCONFESSTHETIMESREQUIREMAY
FLEATHECARCASSTHESKINOFWHICHARTIFICIALLYDRESSEDWILLMAKE
ADMIRABLEGLOVESFORLADIESANDSUMMERBOOTSFORFINEGENTLEMEN

ASTOOURCITYOFDUBLINSHAMBLESMAYBEAPPOINTEDFORTHISPURPOSEIN
THEMOSTCONVENIENTPARTSOFITANDBUTCHERSWEMAYBEASSUREDWILLNOT
BEWANTINGALTHOUGHIRATHERRECOMMENDBUYINGTHECHILDRENALIVEAND
DRESSINGTHEMHOTFROMTHEKNIFEASWEDOROASTINGPIGS

AVERYWORTHYPERSONATRUELOVEROFHISCOUNTRYANDWHOSEVIRTUES
IHIGHLYESTEEMWASLATELYPLEASEDINDISCOURSINGONTHISMATTERTO
OFFERAREFINEMENTUPONMYSCHEMEHESAIDTHATMANYGENTLEMENOFTHIS
KINGDOMHAVINGOFLATEDESTROYEDTHEIRDEERHECONCEIVEDTHATTHE
WANTOFVENISONMIGHTBEWELLSUPPLYDBYTHEBODIESOFYOUNGLADSAND
MAIDENSNOTEXCEEDINGFOURTEENYEARSOFAGENORUNDERTWELVESOGREAT
ANUMBEROFBOTHSEXESINEVERYCOUNTRYBEINGNOWREADYTOSTARVEFOR
WANTOFWORKANDSERVICEANDTHESETOBEDISPOSEDOFBYTHEIRPARENTS
IFALIVEOROTHERWISEBYTHEIRNEARESTRELATIONSBUTWITHDUE
DEFERENCETOSOEXCELLENTAFRIENDANDSODESERVINGAPATRIOTI
CANNOTBEALTOGETHERINHISSENTIMENTSFORASTOTHEMALESMYAMERICAN
ACQUAINTANCEASSUREDMEFROMFREQUENTEXPERIENCETHATTHEIRFLESHWAS
GENERALLYTOUGHANDLEANLIKETHATOFOURSCHOOLBOYSBYCONTINUAL
EXERCISEANDTHEIRTASTEDISAGREEABLEANDTOFATTENTHEMWOULDNOT
ANSWERTHECHARGETHENASTOTHEFEMALESITWOULDITHINKWITH
HUMBLESUBMISSIONBEALOSSTOTHEPUBLICKBECAUSETHEYSOONWOULD
BECOMEBREEDERSTHEMSELVESANDBESIDESITISNOTIMPROBABLETHATSOME
SCRUPULOUSPEOPLEMIGHTBEAPTTOCENSURESUCHAPRACTICEALTHOUGH
INDEEDVERYUNJUSTLYASALITTLEBORDERINGUPONCRUELTYWHICHI
CONFESSHATHALWAYSBEENWITHMETHESTRONGESTOBJECTIONAGAINSTANY
PROJECTHOWWELLSOEVERINTENDED

BUTINORDERTOJUSTIFYMYFRIENDHECONFESSEDTHATTHISEXPEDIENT
WASPUTINTOHISHEADBYTHEFAMOUSSALMANAAZORANATIVEOFTHEISLAND
FORMOSAWHOCAMEFROMTHENCETOLONDONABOVETWENTYYEARSAGOANDIN
CONVERSATIONTOLDMYFRIENDTHATINHISCOUNTRYWHENANYYOUNGPERSON
HAPPENEDTOBEPUTTODEATHTHEEXECUTIONERSOLDTHECARCASSTOPERSONS
OFQUALITYASAPRIMEDAINTYANDTHATINHISTIMETHEBODYOFA
PLUMPGIRLOFFIFTEENWHOWASCRUCIFIEDFORANATTEMPTTOPOISONTHE
EMPERORWASSOLDTOHISIMPERIALMAJESTYSPRIMEMINISTEROFSTATEAND
OTHERGREATMANDARINSOFTHECOURTINJOINTSFROMTHEGIBBETATFOUR
HUNDREDCROWNSNEITHERINDEEDCANIDENYTHATIFTHESAMEUSEWERE
MADEOFSEVERALPLUMPYOUNGGIRLSINTHISTOWNWHOWITHOUTONESINGLE
GROATTOTHEIRFORTUNESCANNOTSTIRABROADWITHOUTACHAIRANDAPPEAR
ATAPLAYHOUSEANDASSEMBLIESINFOREIGNFINERIESWHICHTHEYNEVERWILL
PAYFORTHEKINGDOMWOULDNOTBETHEWORSE

SOMEPERSONSOFADESPONDINGSPIRITAREINGREATCONCERNABOUTTHATVAST
NUMBEROFPOORPEOPLEWHOAREAGEDDISEASEDORMAIMEDANDIHAVE
BEENDESIREDTOEMPLOYMYTHOUGHTSWHATCOURSEMAYBETAKENTOEASE
THENATIONOFSOGRIEVOUSANINCUMBRANCEBUTIAMNOTINTHELEASTPAIN
UPONTHATMATTERBECAUSEITISVERYWELLKNOWNTHATTHEYAREEVERYDAY
DYINGANDROTTINGBYCOLDANDFAMINEANDFILTHANDVERMINASFAST
ASCANBEREASONABLYEXPECTEDANDASTOTHEYOUNGLABOURERSTHEY
ARENOWINALMOSTASHOPEFULACONDITIONTHEYCANNOTGETWORKAND
CONSEQUENTLYPINEAWAYFROMWANTOFNOURISHMENTTOADEGREETHATIF
ATANYTIMETHEYAREACCIDENTALLYHIREDTOCOMMONLABOURTHEYHAVENOT
STRENGTHTOPERFORMITANDTHUSTHECOUNTRYANDTHEMSELVESAREHAPPILY
DELIVEREDFROMTHEEVILSTOCOME

IHAVETOOLONGDIGRESSEDANDTHEREFORESHALLRETURNTOMYSUBJECTI
THINKTHEADVANTAGESBYTHEPROPOSALWHICHIHAVEMADEAREOBVIOUSAND
MANYASWELLASOFTHEHIGHESTIMPORTANCE

FORFIRSTASIHAVEALREADYOBSERVEDITWOULDGREATLYLESSENTHE
NUMBEROFPAPISTSWITHWHOMWEAREYEARLYOVERRUNBEINGTHEPRINCIPAL
BREEDERSOFTHENATIONASWELLASOURMOSTDANGEROUSENEMIESANDWHO
STAYATHOMEONPURPOSEWITHADESIGNTODELIVERTHEKINGDOMTOTHE
PRETENDERHOPINGTOTAKETHEIRADVANTAGEBYTHEABSENCEOFSOMANYGOOD
PROTESTANTSWHOHAVECHOSENRATHERTOLEAVETHEIRCOUNTRYTHANSTAYAT
HOMEANDPAYTITHESAGAINSTTHEIRCONSCIENCETOANEPISCOPALCURATE

SECONDLYTHEPOORERTENANTSWILLHAVESOMETHINGVALUABLEOFTHEIROWN
WHICHBYLAWMAYBEMADELIABLETOADISTRESSANDHELPTOPAYTHEIR
LANDLORDSRENTTHEIRCORNANDCATTLEBEINGALREADYSEIZEDANDMONEYA
THINGUNKNOWN

THIRDLYWHEREASTHEMAINTAINANCEOFANHUNDREDTHOUSANDCHILDREN
FROMTWOYEARSOLDANDUPWARDSCANNOTBECOMPUTEDATLESSTHAN
TENSHILLINGSAPIECEPERANNUMTHENATIONSSTOCKWILLBETHEREBY
ENCREASEDFIFTYTHOUSANDPOUNDSPERANNUMBESIDESTHEPROFITOFA
NEWDISHINTRODUCEDTOTHETABLESOFALLGENTLEMENOFFORTUNEINTHE
KINGDOMWHOHAVEANYREFINEMENTINTASTEANDTHEMONEYWILLCIRCULATE
AMONGOURSELVESTHEGOODSBEINGENTIRELYOFOUROWNGROWTHAND
MANUFACTURE

FOURTHLYTHECONSTANTBREEDERSBESIDESTHEGAINOFEIGHTSHILLINGS
STERLINGPERANNUMBYTHESALEOFTHEIRCHILDRENWILLBERIDOFTHE
CHARGEOFMAINTAININGTHEMAFTERTHEFIRSTYEAR

FIFTHLYTHISFOODWOULDLIKEWISEBRINGGREATCUSTOMTOTAVERNS
WHERETHEVINTNERSWILLCERTAINLYBESOPRUDENTASTOPROCURETHEBEST
RECEIPTSFORDRESSINGITTOPERFECTIONANDCONSEQUENTLYHAVETHEIR
HOUSESFREQUENTEDBYALLTHEFINEGENTLEMENWHOJUSTLYVALUETHEMSELVES
UPONTHEIRKNOWLEDGEINGOODEATINGANDASKILFULCOOKWHOUNDERSTANDS
HOWTOOBLIGEHISGUESTSWILLCONTRIVETOMAKEITASEXPENSIVEASTHEY
PLEASE

SIXTHLYTHISWOULDBEAGREATINDUCEMENTTOMARRIAGEWHICHALLWISE
NATIONSHAVEEITHERENCOURAGEDBYREWARDSORENFORCEDBYLAWSAND
PENALTIESITWOULDENCREASETHECAREANDTENDERNESSOFMOTHERSTOWARDS
THEIRCHILDRENWHENTHEYWERESUREOFASETTLEMENTFORLIFETOTHE
POORBABESPROVIDEDINSOMESORTBYTHEPUBLICKTOTHEIRANNUALPROFIT
INSTEADOFEXPENCEWESHOULDSOONSEEANHONESTEMULATIONAMONGTHE
MARRIEDWOMENWHICHOFTHEMCOULDBRINGTHEFATTESTCHILDTOTHE
MARKETMENWOULDBECOMEASFONDOFTHEIRWIVESDURINGTHETIMEOF
THEIRPREGNANCYASTHEYARENOWOFTHEIRMARESINFOALTHEIRCOWSIN
CALFORSOWWHENTHEYAREREADYTOFARROWNOROFFERTOBEATORKICK
THEMASISTOOFREQUENTAPRACTICEFORFEAROFAMISCARRIAGE

MANYOTHERADVANTAGESMIGHTBEENUMERATEDFORINSTANCETHEADDITION
OFSOMETHOUSANDCARCASSESINOUREXPORTATIONOFBARRELDBEEFTHE
PROPAGATIONOFSWINESFLESHANDIMPROVEMENTINTHEARTOFMAKINGGOOD
BACONSOMUCHWANTEDAMONGUSBYTHEGREATDESTRUCTIONOFPIGS
TOOFREQUENTATOURTABLESWHICHARENOWAYCOMPARABLEINTASTEOR
MAGNIFICENCETOAWELLGROWNFATYEARLYCHILDWHICHROASTEDWHOLEWILL
MAKEACONSIDERABLEFIGUREATALORDMAYORSFEASTORANYOTHERPUBLICK
ENTERTAINMENTBUTTHISANDMANYOTHERSIOMITBEINGSTUDIOUSOF
BREVITY

SUPPOSINGTHATONETHOUSANDFAMILIESINTHISCITYWOULDBECONSTANT
CUSTOMERSFORINFANTSFLESHBESIDESOTHERSWHOMIGHTHAVEITATMERRY
MEETINGSPARTICULARLYATWEDDINGSANDCHRISTENINGSICOMPUTETHAT
DUBLINWOULDTAKEOFFANNUALLYABOUTTWENTYTHOUSANDCARCASSESANDTHE
RESTOFTHEKINGDOMWHEREPROBABLYTHEYWILLBESOLDSOMEWHATCHEAPER
THEREMAININGEIGHTYTHOUSAND

ICANTHINKOFNOONEOBJECTIONTHATWILLPOSSIBLYBERAISEDAGAINST
THISPROPOSALUNLESSITSHOULDBEURGEDTHATTHENUMBEROFPEOPLEWILL
BETHEREBYMUCHLESSENEDINTHEKINGDOMTHISIFREELYOWNANDTWAS
INDEEDONEPRINCIPALDESIGNINOFFERINGITTOTHEWORLDIDESIRETHE
READERWILLOBSERVETHATICALCULATEMYREMEDYFORTHISONEINDIVIDUAL
KINGDOMOFIRELANDANDFORNOOTHERTHATEVERWASISORITHINK
EVERCANBEUPONEARTHTHEREFORELETNOMANTALKTOMEOFOTHER
EXPEDIENTSOFTAXINGOURABSENTEESATFIVESHILLINGSAPOUNDOFUSING
NEITHERCLOATHSNORHOUSHOLDFURNITUREEXCEPTWHATISOFOUR
OWNGROWTHANDMANUFACTUREOFUTTERLYREJECTINGTHEMATERIALSAND
INSTRUMENTSTHATPROMOTEFOREIGNLUXURYOFCURINGTHEEXPENSIVENESSOF
PRIDEVANITYIDLENESSANDGAMINGINOURWOMENOFINTRODUCINGAVEIN
OFPARSIMONYPRUDENCEANDTEMPERANCEOFLEARNINGTOLOVEOUR
COUNTRYWHEREINWEDIFFEREVENFROMLAPLANDERSANDTHEINHABITANTS
OFTOPINAMBOOOFQUITTINGOURANIMOSITIESANDFACTIONSNORACTINGANY
LONGERLIKETHEJEWSWHOWEREMURDERINGONEANOTHERATTHEVERYMOMENT
THEIRCITYWASTAKENOFBEINGALITTLECAUTIOUSNOTTOSELLOURCOUNTRY
ANDCONSCIENCESFORNOTHINGOFTEACHINGLANDLORDSTOHAVEATLEASTONE
DEGREEOFMERCYTOWARDSTHEIRTENANTSLASTLYOFPUTTINGASPIRITOF
HONESTYINDUSTRYANDSKILLINTOOURSHOPKEEPERSWHOIFARESOLUTION
COULDNOWBETAKENTOBUYONLYOURNATIVEGOODSWOULDIMMEDIATELYUNITE
TOCHEATANDEXACTUPONUSINTHEPRICETHEMEASUREANDTHEGOODNESS
NORCOULDEVERYETBEBROUGHTTOMAKEONEFAIRPROPOSALOFJUSTDEALING
THOUGHOFTENANDEARNESTLYINVITEDTOIT

THEREFOREIREPEATLETNOMANTALKTOMEOFTHESEANDTHELIKE
EXPEDIENTSTILLHEHATHATLEASTSOMEGLYMPSEOFHOPETHATTHEREWILL
EVERBESOMEHEARTYANDSINCEREATTEMPTTOPUTTHEMINTOPRACTICE

BUTASTOMYSELFHAVINGBEENWEARIEDOUTFORMANYYEARSWITHOFFERING
VAINIDLEVISIONARYTHOUGHTSANDATLENGTHUTTERLYDESPAIRINGOF
SUCCESSIFORTUNATELYFELLUPONTHISPROPOSALWHICHASITISWHOLLY
NEWSOITHATHSOMETHINGSOLIDANDREALOFNOEXPENCEANDLITTLE
TROUBLEFULLINOUROWNPOWERANDWHEREBYWECANINCURNODANGER
INDISOBLIGINGENGLANDFORTHISKINDOFCOMMODITYWILLNOTBEAR
EXPORTATIONANDFLESHBEINGOFTOOTENDERACONSISTENCETOADMITA
LONGCONTINUANCEINSALTALTHOUGHPERHAPSICOULDNAMEACOUNTRYWHICH
WOULDBEGLADTOEATUPOURWHOLENATIONWITHOUTIT

AFTERALLIAMNOTSOVIOLENTLYBENTUPONMYOWNOPINIONASTOREJECT
ANYOFFERPROPOSEDBYWISEMENWHICHSHALLBEFOUNDEQUALLYINNOCENT
CHEAPEASYANDEFFECTUALBUTBEFORESOMETHINGOFTHATKINDSHALLBE
ADVANCEDINCONTRADICTIONTOMYSCHEMEANDOFFERINGABETTERIDESIRE
THEAUTHORORAUTHORSWILLBEPLEASEDMATURELYTOCONSIDERTWOPOINTS
FIRSTASTHINGSNOWSTANDHOWTHEYWILLBEABLETOFINDFOODAND
RAIMENTFORAHUNDREDTHOUSANDUSELESSMOUTHSANDBACKSANDSECONDLY
THEREBEINGAROUNDMILLIONOFCREATURESINHUMANEFIGURETHROUGHOUT
THISKINGDOMWHOSEWHOLESUBSISTENCEPUTINTOACOMMONSTOCKWOULD
LEAVETHEMINDEBTTWOMILLIONOFPOUNDSSTERLINGADDINGTHOSEWHOARE
BEGGARSBYPROFESSIONTOTHEBULKOFFARMERSCOTTAGERSANDLABOURERS
WITHTHEIRWIVESANDCHILDRENWHOAREBEGGARSINEFFECTIDESIRE
THOSEPOLITICIANSWHODISLIKEMYOVERTUREANDMAYPERHAPSBESOBOLD
TOATTEMPTANANSWERTHATTHEYWILLFIRSTASKTHEPARENTSOFTHESE
MORTALSWHETHERTHEYWOULDNOTATTHISDAYTHINKITAGREATHAPPINESS
TOHAVEBEENSOLDFORFOODATAYEAROLDINTHEMANNERIPRESCRIBEAND
THEREBYHAVEAVOIDEDSUCHAPERPETUALSCENEOFMISFORTUNESASTHEYHAVE
SINCEGONETHROUGHBYTHEOPPRESSIONOFLANDLORDSTHEIMPOSSIBILITYOF
PAYINGRENTWITHOUTMONEYORTRADETHEWANTOFCOMMONSUSTENANCEWITH
NEITHERHOUSENORCLOATHSTOCOVERTHEMFROMTHEINCLEMENCIESOFTHE
WEATHERANDTHEMOSTINEVITABLEPROSPECTOFINTAILINGTHELIKEOR
GREATERMISERIESUPONTHEIRBREEDFOREVER

IPROFESSINTHESINCERITYOFMYHEARTTHATIHAVENOTTHELEAST
PERSONALINTERESTINENDEAVOURINGTOPROMOTETHISNECESSARYWORKHAVING
NOOTHERMOTIVETHANTHEPUBLICKGOODOFMYCOUNTRYBYADVANCING
OURTRADEPROVIDINGFORINFANTSRELIEVINGTHEPOORANDGIVINGSOME
PLEASURETOTHERICHIHAVENOCHILDRENBYWHICHICANPROPOSETO
GETASINGLEPENNYTHEYOUNGESTBEINGNINEYEARSOLDANDMYWIFEPAST
CHILDBEARING