interest, which is directly contrary in England. In the queen's time I did often press the lord-treasurer Oxford, and others of the ministry, upon this very subject; but the answer was, "We must not offend the Dutch;" who at that very time were opposing us in all our steps toward a peace. I laughed to see the zeal that ministry had about the fishing at Newfoundland, (I think,) while no care was taken against the Dutch fishing just at our doors. As to my native country, I happened indeed by a perfect accident to be born here, my mother being left here from returning to her house at Leicester, and I was a year old before I was sent to England; and thus I am a Teague, or an Irishman, or what people please, although the best part of my life was in England. What I did for this country was from perfect hatred to tyranny and oppression, for which I had a proclamation against me of 3007., which my old friend, my lord Carteret, was forced to consent to the very first or second night of his arrival hither. The crime was that of writing against a project of one Wood, an ironmonger, to coin 100,0007. in half-pence not worth a sixth part of the money, which was laid before the people in so plain a manner that they all refused it and so the nation was preserved from immediate ruin. I have done some small services to this kingdom, but I can do no more. I have too many years upon me, and have too much sickness. I am out of favor at court, where I was well received, during two summers, six or seven years ago. The governing people here do not love me. For, as corrupt as England is, it is a habitation of saints in comparison of Ireland. We are sl-s and kns, and fools; and all, but bishops and people in employments, beggars. The cash of Ireland does not amount to 200,0007.: the few honest men among us are dead-hearted, poor, and out of favor and power. : I talked to two or three gentlemen of this house of commons now sitting here and mentioning your scheme, showed how very advantageous it would be to Ireland. They agreed with me; but said that, if such a thing were proposed, the members would all go out, as at a thing they had no concern in. I believe the people of Lapland or the Hottentots are not so miserable a people as we; for oppression, supported by power, will infallibly introduce slavish principles. I am afraid that, even in England, your proposal will come to nothing. There is not virtue enough by sickness and years, yet I have little reason to apprehend any danger from that man; and those who seem to have most regard for my safety are no more apprehensive than myself, especially such as best know his character; for his very enemies, and even his ridiculers, who are of the two by far the greater number, allow him to be a peaceable man in all things except his words, his rhetorical actions, his looks, and his hatred to the clergy; which however are all known by abundance of experience to be perfectly harmless, and particularly as to the clergy. I do not doubt but, if he will be so good to continue steadfast in his principles and practices, he may at proper junctures contribute very much to the honor and interests of that reverend body, as well as employ and improve the wit of many young gentlemen in the city, the university, and the rest of the kingdom. What I have said to your grace is only meant as a poor endeavor to preserve myself in your good opinion and in the continuance of your favor. I am, with the highest respect, &c. TO FRANCIS GRANT, ESQ. Dublin, March 23, 1734. SIR, I return you my hearty thanks for your letter and discourse upon the fishery; you discover in both a true love of your country, and (excepting your civilities to me) a very good judgment, good wishes to this ruined kingdom, and a perfect knowledge in the subject you treat. But you are more temperate than I, and consequently much wiser: for corruptions are apt to make me impatient and give offence, which you prudently avoid. Ever since I began to think, I was enraged at the folly of England in suffering the Dutch to have almost the whole advantage of our fishery just under our noses. The last lord Wemyss told me he was governor of a castle in Scotland, near which the Dutch used to fish; he sent to them, in a civil manner, to desire they would send him some fish, which they brutishly refused; whereupon he ordered three or four cannon to be discharged from the castle, (for their boats were in reach of the shot,) and immediately they sent him more than he wanted. The Dutch are like a knot of sharpers among a parcel of honest gentlemen, who think they understand play, and are bubbled of their money. I love them for the love they have to their country; interest, which is directly contrary in England. In the queen's time I did often press the lord-treasurer Oxford, and others of the ministry, upon this very subject; but the answer was, "We must not offend the Dutch;" who at that very time were opposing us in all our steps toward a peace. I laughed to see the zeal that ministry had about the fishing at Newfoundland, (I think,) while no care was taken against the Dutch fishing just at our doors. As to my native country, I happened indeed by a perfect accident to be born here, my mother being left here from returning to her house at Leicester, and I was a year old before I was sent to England; and thus I am a Teague, or an Irishman, or what people. please, although the best part of my life was in England. What I did for this country was from perfect hatred to tyranny and oppression, for which I had a proclamation against me of 3007., which my old friend, my lord Carteret, was forced to consent to the very first or second night of his arrival hither. The crime was that of writing against a project of one Wood, an ironmonger, to coin 100,0007. in half-pence not worth a sixth part of the money, which was laid before the people in so plain a manner that they all refused it and so the nation was preserved from immediate ruin. I have done some small services to this kingdom, but I can do no more. I have too many years upon me, and have too much sickness. I am out of favor at court, where I was well received, during two summers, six or seven years ago. The governing people here do not love me. For, as corrupt as England is, it is a habitation of saints in comparison of Ireland. We are sls and kn—s, and fools; and all, but bishops and people in employments, beggars. The cash of Ireland does not amount to 200,0007.: the few honest men among us are dead-hearted, poor, and out of favor and power. I talked to two or three gentlemen of this house of commons now sitting here and mentioning your scheme, showed how very advantageous it would be to Ireland. They agreed with me; but said that, if such a thing were proposed, the members would all go out, as at a thing they had no concern in. I believe the people of Lapland or the Hottentots are not so miserable a people as we; for oppression, supported by power, will infallibly introduce slavish principles. I am afraid that, even in England, your proposal will come to nothing. There is not virtue act, it will become a job; your sanguine temper will cool: rwill be the only gainers. Party and faction will intermingle and defeat the most essential parts of the whole design. Standing armies in times of peace, projects of excise, and bribings at elections, are all you are like to be employed in, not forgetting septennial parliaments, directly against the old Whig principles, which always have been mine. A gentleman of this kingdom, about three years ago, joined with some others in a fishery here in the northern parts: they advanced 2007. by way of trial: they got men from Orkney to cure their fish, who understood it well. But the vulgar folks of Ireland are so lazy and so knavish that it turned to no account, nor would anybody join with them; and so the matter fell, and they lost twothirds of their money. Oppressed beggars are always knaves; and I believe there hardly are any other among us. They had rather gain a shilling by knavery than five pounds by honest dealing. They lost 30,000l. a-year for ever in the time of the plague at Marseilles, when the Spaniards would have bought all their linen from Ireland, but the merchants and the weavers sent over such abominable linen that it was all returned back or sold for a fourth part of the value. This is our condition, which you may please to pity, but never can mend. I wish you good success with all my heart. I have always loved good projects, but have always found them to miscarry. I am, sir, with true esteem for your good intentions, your most obedient servant. P. S. If I can be of any service to you in this kingdom, I shall be glad you will employ me. TO MISS HOADLY. [Daughter of the archbishop of Dublin.] June 4, 1734. MADAM,-When I lived in England, once every year I issued out an edict, commanding that all ladies of wit, sense, merit, and quality, who had an ambition to be acquainted with me, should make the first advances at their peril; which edict, you may believe, was universally obeyed. When (much against my will) I came to live in this kingdom, I published the same edict; only, the harvest here being not altogether so plentiful, I confined myself to a smaller compass. This made me often wonder how you came so long to neglect your duty; for, if you pretend ignorance, I may produce I have heard of a judge bribed with a pig, but it was discovered by the squeaking; and therefore, you have been so politic as to send me a dead one, which can tell no tales. Your present of butter was made with the same design, as a known court practice, to grease my fist that I might keep silence. These are great offences, contrived on purpose to corrupt my integrity. And besides, I apprehend, that if I should wait on you to return my thanks, you will deny that the pig and butter were any advances at all on your side, and give out that I made them first; by which I may endanger the fundamental privilege that I have kept so many years in two kingdoms, at least make it a point of controversy. However, I have two ways to be revenged; first, I will let all the ladies of my acquaintance know, that you, the sole daughter and child of his grace of Dublin, are so mean as to descend to understand housewifery; which every girl of this town, who can afford sixpence a-month for a chair would scorn to be thought to have the least knowledge in; and this will give you as ill a reputation as if you had been caught in the fact of reading a history, or handling a needle, or working in a field at Tallagh. My other revenge shall be this: when my lord's gentleman delivered his message, after I put him some questions, he drew out a paper containing your directions, and in your hand; I said it properly belonged to me; and when I had read it, I put it in my pocket, and am ready to swear, when lawfully called, that it is written in a fair hand, rightly spelt, and good plain sense. You now may see I have you at mercy; for upon the least offence given, I will show the paper to every female scrawler I meet, who will soon spread about the town that your writing and spelling are ungenteel and unfashionable, more like a parson than a lady. I suppose by this time you are willing to submit, and therefore I desire you may stint me to two china bowls of butter a-week; for my breakfast is that of a sickly man, rice gruel; and I am wholly a stranger to tea and coffee, and the companions of bread and butter. I received my third bowl last night, and I think my second is almost entire. I hope and believe my lord archbishop will teach his neighboring tenants and farmers a little English country management; and I lay it upon you, madam, to bring housewifery in fashion. among our ladies; that, by your example, they may no longer pride themselves on their natural or affected ignorance. I am, with |