A dialogue between Dean Swift and Tho. Prior, Esq. in the isles of St. Patrick's Church, Dublin, on that memorable day, October 9th, 1753 / By a friend to the peace and prosperity of Ireland.

Date:
1753
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dialogue between Dean Swift and Tho. Prior, Esq. in the isles of St. Patrick's Church, Dublin, on that memorable day, October 9th, 1753 / By a friend to the peace and prosperity of Ireland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    eee [104 ] Crew, but who fhou’d ftop the Leaks and ply the Pumps fafteft ; but we mind every Thing but our fafety, which we facrifice toour ardour for Noife and Wrangling, and prefer our Refentments to our Lives. If our great Partifans of both Sides, difputed, who fhou’d ferve their Country moft effentially, or who fhou’d promote the Tillage or Manufactures of the Kingdom in the beft Manner, it wou’d make us: the the happieft of Nations, This wou’d be as noble a Contention of our Demagogues,.as that of the Ho- ratti and Curiatii, for the Grandeur and Glory of Rome — and Alba, and wou’d end like that in Reconcilement and Peace. If any Thing cou’d calm or unite us, the fingle Reflection wou’d do it, that if the joint force and weight of the Nation, was employ’d in pufhing on its true Interéfts, (whenever they came to be debated) nothing cou’d withftand or endanger them, But.we break our Strength, by crumbling in- to mean Divifions, petty Interefts and private Views’, and while every one’s Charity begins at home, the Publick is beggar’d and no one relieves it; The gene- ral Welfare is quite over-look’d, while low-minded Wretches are taking Care of their particular Advan- tages; andI have ever obferv’d that when Places and Penfions and Preferments were fettled, the real Bufi- nefs of the Nation and its Parties, was thought to be as providentially adjufted, as that of a Match between two Families, when the Portion and Jointures, and Provifions for younger Children were agreed on, In. fhort, Tom, the Mifery:of our Cafe is, that the good of our Country, like the Happinefs of: another Life, is oftner talk’d of for fhew, than purfued in reality. -
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