rs and labourers
with their wives and children, who are beggars in effect. I desire those
politicians, who dislike my overture, and may perhaps be so bold to
attempt an answer, that they will first ask the parents of these
mortals, whether they would not at this day think it a great happiness
to have been sold for food at a year old, in the manner I prescribe, and
thereby have avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes, as they have
since gone through, by the oppression of landlords, the impossibility of
paying rent without money or trade, the want of common sustenance, with
neither house nor clothes to cover them from the inclemencies of the
weather, and the most inevitable prospect of entailing the like, or
greater miseries upon their breed for ever.

I profess in the sincerity of my heart that I have not the least
personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work, having
no other motive than the _public good of my country, by advancing our
trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some
pleasure to the rich_. I have no children, by which I can propose to get
a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past
child-bearing.

ANSWER TO THE CRAFTSMAN.

NOTE.

This "Answer" forms an excellent continuation of the "Modest
Proposal." It is in an entirely different vein, but is, in its own
way, an admirable example of Swift's strength in handling a public
question. The English government had been offering every facility
to French officers for recruiting their army from Ireland. The
"Craftsman" made some strong remarks on this, and Primate Boulter,
in his letter to the Duke of Newcastle, under date October 14th,
1730, told his Grace, "that after consulting with the Lords
Justices on the subject he found that they apprehend there will be
greater difficulties in this affair than at first offered." He
enters into the difficulties to be overcome in order to act in
consonance with the wishes of his Majesty, and promises that
"effectual care shall be taken that none of the officers who are
come hither, suffer on this account" (Letter, pp. 26-27, vol. ii.,
Dublin, edit. 1770). Swift uses the matter for his own purposes and
ironically welcomes this chance for the depopulation of Ireland.
"When our island is a desert, we will send all our raw material to
England, and rec