The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Vol. VII | Page 7

we question if Swift were not himself
surprised at their effect. He knew his power later when he threatened
the Archbishop of Armagh, but he, no doubt, credited the result to his
own arguments, and not to the passions he had aroused. His sense of
justice was the strongest, and it was through that sense that the
condition of the people of Ireland appealed to him. He forgot, or he did
not see that the very passion in himself was of prime importance, since
it was really to it that his own efforts were due. The fine flower of
imagination never blossomed in Swift. He was neither prophet nor poet;
but he was a great leader, a splendid captain, a logical statesman. It is to
this lack of imagination that we must look for the real root of his
cynical humour and satirical temper. A more imaginative man than
Swift with much less power would have better appreciated the
weaknesses of humanity and made allowances for them. He would
never have held them up to ridicule and contempt, but would rather
have laid stress on those instincts of honour and nobility which the
most ignorant and least reasoning possess in some degree.
Looking back on the work Swift did, and comparing its effect at the
time with the current esteem in which he is held in the present day, we
shall find that his reputation has altogether changed. In his own day,
and especially during his life in Ireland, his work was special, and
brought him a special repute. He was a party's advocate and the
people's friend. His literary output, distinguished though it was, was of
secondary importance compared with the purpose for which it was
accomplished. He was the friend of Harley, the champion of the
Protestant Church, the Irish patriot, the enemy of Whiggism, the
opponent of Nonconformity. To-day all these phrases mean little or
nothing to those who know of Swift as the author of "A Tale of a Tub,"

and "Gulliver's Travels." Swift is now accepted as a great satirist, and
admired for the wonderful knowledge he shows of the failings and
weaknesses of human nature. He is admired but never loved. The
particular occasions in his life-time which urged him to rouse passions
mean nothing to us; they have lost the aroma of his just indignation and
are become historical events. What is left of him for us is the result of
cold analysis and almost heartless contempt. How different would it
have been had Swift allied his great gift as a writer to such a spirit as
breathes in the Sermon on the Mount! But to wish this is perhaps as
foolish as to expect dates to grow on thistles. We must accept what is
given us, and see that we, at any rate, steer clear of the dangers mapped
out for us by the travellers of the past.
* * * * *
The editor takes this opportunity to thank Mr. G. Ravenscroft Dennis
and Mr. W. Spencer Jackson for much valuable assistance in the
reading of proofs and the collation of texts.
TEMPLE SCOTT.
NEW YORK,
May 18, 1905.

CONTENTS PAGE
A LETTER TO A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, IN IRELAND,
UPON THE CHOOSING A NEW SPEAKER THERE 1
A PROPOSAL FOR THE UNIVERSAL USE OF IRISH
MANUFACTURE 11
AN ESSAY ON ENGLISH BUBBLES. BY THOMAS HOPE, ESQ.
31
THE SWEARER'S BANK 37

A LETTER TO THE KING AT ARMS 47
THE LAST SPEECH AND DYING WORDS OF EBENEZER
ELLISTON 55
THE TRUTH OF SOME MAXIMS IN STATE AND GOVERNMENT,
EXAMINED WITH REFERENCE TO IRELAND 63
THE BLUNDERS, DEFICIENCIES, DISTRESSES, AND
MISFORTUNES OF QUILCA 73
A SHORT VIEW OF THE STATE OF IRELAND 79
THE STORY OF THE INJURED LADY. WRITTEN BY HERSELF
93
THE ANSWER TO THE INJURED LADY 104
AN ANSWER TO A PAPER CALLED "A MEMORIAL OF THE
POOR INHABITANTS, TRADESMEN, AND LABOURERS OF
THE KINGDOM OF IRELAND" 107
ANSWER TO SEVERAL LETTERS FROM UNKNOWN PERSONS
117
AN ANSWER TO SEVERAL LETTERS SENT ME FROM
UNKNOWN HANDS 127
A LETTER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN CONCERNING
THE WEAVERS 135
OBSERVATIONS OCCASIONED BY READING A PAPER
ENTITLED "THE CASE OF THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES
OF DUBLIN," ETC. 145
THE PRESENT MISERABLE STATE OF IRELAND 151
THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT WAS SAID BY THE DEAN OF ST.
PATRICK'S TO THE LORD MAYOR AND SOME OF THE

ALDERMEN WHEN HIS LORDSHIP CAME TO PRESENT THE
SAID DEAN WITH HIS FREEDOM IN A GOLD BOX 167
ADVERTISEMENT BY DR. SWIFT IN HIS DEFENCE AGAINST
JOSHUA, LORD ALLEN 173
A LETTER ON MR. M'CULLA'S PROJECT ABOUT HALFPENCE,
AND A NEW ONE PROPOSED 177
A PROPOSAL THAT ALL THE LADIES AND WOMEN OF
IRELAND SHOULD APPEAR CONSTANTLY IN IRISH
MANUFACTURES 191
A MODEST PROPOSAL FOR PREVENTING THE CHILDREN