Ireland in the Days of Dean Swift (Irish Tracts, 1720 to 1734)Swift, Jonathan
History
Ireland in the Days of Dean Swift (Irish Tracts, 1720 to 1734)
Swift, Jonathan
Ireland -- History -- 18th century; Swift, Jonathan, 1667-1745
And if this encouragement were owing to a pamphlet written, giving an
account of the country of Pennsylvania, to tempt people to go thither, I
do declare that those who were tempted, by such a narrative, to such a
journey, were fools, and the author a most impudent knave; at least, if it
be the same pamphlet I saw when it first came out, which is about
twenty-five years ago, dedicated to William Penn (whom by a mistake you
call "Sir William Penn,") and styling him, by authority of the Scripture,
"Most noble Governor." For I was very well acquainted with Penn, and did,
some years after, talk with him upon that pamphlet, and the impudence of
the author, who spoke so many things in praise of the soil and climate,
which Penn himself did absolutely contradict. For he did assure me, "That
this country wanted the shelter of mountains, which left it open to the
northern winds from Hudson's Bay and the Frozen Sea, which destroyed all
plantations of trees, and was even pernicious to all common vegetables."
But, indeed, New York, Virginia, and other parts less northward, or more
defended by mountains, are described as excellent countries; but upon what
conditions of advantage foreigners go thither, I am yet to seek. What
evils our people avoid by running from hence, is easier to be determined.
They conceive themselves to live under the tyranny of most cruel exacting
landlords, who have no views farther than increasing their rent-rolls.
Secondly, you complain of the want of trade, whereof you seem not to know
the reason. Thirdly, you lament most justly the money spent by absentees
in England. Fourthly, you complain that your linen manufacture declines.
Fifthly, that your tithe collectors oppress you. Sixthly, that your
children have no hopes of preferment in the church, the revenue, or the
army; to which you might have added the law, and all civil employments
whatsoever. Seventhly, you are undone for want of silver, and want all
other money.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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