a nasty
crew of both sexes; she to preserve order and cleanliness, they to
destroy both; and they generally are conquerors.

_April_ 28. This morning the great fore-door quite open, dancing
backwards and forwards with all its weight upon the lower hinge, which
must have been broken if the Dean had not accidentally come and relieved
it.

A great hole in the floor of the ladies' chamber, every hour hazarding a
broken leg.

Two damnable iron spikes erect on the Dean's bedstead, by which he is in
danger of a broken shin at rising and going to bed.

The ladies' and Dean's servants growing fast into the manners and
thieveries of the natives; the ladies themselves very much corrupted;
the Dean perpetually storming, and in danger of either losing all his
flesh, or sinking into barbarity for the sake of peace.

Mrs. Dingley[47] full of cares for herself, and blunders and negligence
for her friends. Mrs. Johnson sick and helpless. The Dean deaf and
fretting; the lady's maid awkward and clumsy; Robert lazy and forgetful;
William a pragmatical, ignorant, and conceited puppy; Robin and nurse
the two great and only supports of the family.

_Bellum lacteum_: or, The milky battle, fought between the Dean and the
crew of Quilca; the latter insisting on their privilege of not milking
till eleven in the forenoon; whereas Mrs. Johnson wanted milk at eight
for her health. In this battle the Dean got the victory; but the crew of
Quilca begin to rebel again; for it is this day almost ten o'clock, and
Mrs. Johnson hath not got her milk.

A proverb on the laziness and lodgings of the servants: "The worse their
sty--the longer they lie."[48]

Two great holes in the wall of the ladies' bed-chamber, just at the back
of the bed, and one of them directly behind Mrs. Johnson's pillow,
either of which would blow out a candle in the calmest day.

A

Short VIEW

OF THE

STATE

OF

IRELAND.

_DUBLIN_:

Printed by _S. HARDING_, next Door to the _Crown_ in _Copper-Alley_,
1727-8.

NOTE.

This tract, written and published towards the end of the year 1728,
summarizes the disadvantages under which Ireland suffered at the
time, and re-enforces the contention that these were mainly due to
England's jealousy and stupid indifference. Swift, however, does
not lose sight of the fact that the people of Ireland also were
somewhat to blame, though in a much less degree.

In Dublin, w