SWIFT. They need not be told, (though however if I was alive I would tell them of it) that if it cost us 20000 _l._ more, the Design well deserves it; and if it took a much larger Sum, it wou'd be a cheap Purchase of 60000 _l._ _per Annum_ saved to _Ireland_, which will be unquestionably the Case in a few Years. After having been such Spendthrifts so long, it looks like Impudence for us to talk of saving; but as Sickness is sometimes the Cause of Health, so Misfortunes and Misconduct may force us to be happy. It seems impossible, that either our Canal, or our Collieries, can any longer be delayed or neglected, and much less left in utter Danger of miscarrying, as I know it was for some Time; but I must say, it is a Grief to every Friend of _Ireland_, and a Satire on our Understandings, as well as our public Spirit, that we were so long in discovering such a Leak, and afterwards so tedious in stopping it up. If we were not a Nation as much made for Plunder, as smaller Animals are for Prey, we should long since have remedied this and many other Evils; but 'tis our peculiar Lot, to starve, like our old Friend _Tantalus_, with the Meat at our Mouths, to want Bread with the richest Fields in _Europe_ under our Feet, and to want Fire with the noblest Mountains of Coals before our Eyes. PRIOR. To see our Errors is one good Step to remove them; and if once our Legislature sets vigorously about proper Methods and Remedies for all our Distresses, there is Hope that their Zeal may make Things take a happier Turn, for this poor Kingdom.