A Modest Proposal | Page 7

name a country, which
would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it.
After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion, as to reject
any offer, proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally
innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual. But before something of that kind
shall be advanced in contradiction to my scheme, and offering a better,
I desire the author or authors will be pleased maturely to consider two
points. First, As things now stand, how they will be able to find food
and raiment for a hundred thousand useless mouths and backs. And
secondly, There being a round million of creatures in humane figure
throughout this kingdom, whose whole subsistence put into a common
stock, would leave them in debt two million of pounds sterling, adding
those who are beggars by profession, to the bulk of farmers, cottagers
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 cloaths to cover them from
the inclemencies of the weather, and the most inevitable prospect of
intailing 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 publick 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.

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