You may observe, that I have very superficially touched the subject I began with, and with the utmost caution: for I know how criminal the least complaint hath been thought, however seasonable or just, or honestly intended, which hath forced me to offer up my daily prayers, that it may never, at least in my time, be interpreted by innuendoes as a false scandalous, seditious, and disaffected action, for a man to roar under an acute fit of the gout, which beside the loss and the danger, would be very inconvenient to one of my age, so severely afflicted with that distemper. I wish you good success, but I can promise you little, in an ungrateful office you have taken up, without the least view, either to reputation or profit. Perhaps your comfort is, that none but villains, and betrayers of their country, can be your enemies. Upon which, I have little to say, having not the honour, to be acquainted with many of that sort, and therefore, as you easily may believe, am compelled to lead a very retired life. I am Sir, Your most obedient, Humble servant, A. NORTH. County of Down, Dec. 2d. 1728. [Footnote 1: See title for this in note above to No. 1, p. 313. [T.S.]] [Footnote 2: No. 19 of "The Intelligencer" is a reprint of a tract which I have not been able to find. It appeared again in 1736 under the title: "A Letter from the Revd. J.S.D.S.P.D. to a Country Gentleman in the North of Ireland."[T.S.]] [Footnote 3: "Apud Donati Vitam," 17: "Thus do ye sheep grow fleeces for others."--W.F.H. KING. [T.S.]] [Footnote 4: Writing to Dr. Sheridan, under date September 18th, 1728, Swift says: "I think the sufferings of the country for want of silver deserves a paper, since the remedy is so easy, and those in power so negligent" (Scott, xvii. 204). [T.S.]] [Footnote 5: The price of the pistole in Ireland was fixed at 18_s_. 6_d_., the double pistole at _£_1 17_s_., and the moidore _£_1 10_s_. These prices were fixed by order of the Lords Justices, July 30th, 1712. In 1737 the moidore was reduced to _£_1 9_s_. 3_d_. [T.S.]] [Footnote 6: "A Letter," etc., referred to in note on preceding page, has: "They consider not the dead weight upon every beneficial branch of our trade; that half our revenues are annually sent to England; with many other grievances peculiar to this unhappy kingdom; which keep us," etc. [T.S.]] [Footnote 7: The 1736 edition of "A Letter," etc., has "is so urging." [T.S.]] [Footnote 8: The 1736 edition of "A Letter," etc., has "tamely." [T.S.]] [Footnote 9: John Carteret (1690-1763) succeeded his father as second Baron Carteret in 1695, and his mother as Earl Granville in 1744. He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1724 to 1730. See Swift's "Vindication of ... Lord Carteret" in vol. vi. of present edition. [T.S.]] [Footnote 10: "A Letter," etc. (1736 edition), has "being made easy upon this article." [T.S.]]