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

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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$[ 36] livening the Arts, by Feeding the Hungry, by giving Feet and Hands to the Lame and Lazy, Eyes to the Blind or dim-fighted, and raifing the aa and the Droufy, to oe and Activity. - Swirr. Goon, dear Tom, go on, with your Rap- tures and Enthufiaftical Reveries,; but pray’ allow me to afk you one plain Queftion, what (if all you affirm be true) cou’d poflibly hinder, this neceffary, and in- deed this important Enlargement’of their Fund. ~ Prior. Why really, Mr. Dean, I cannot anfwer your Enquiry, without throwing one of the heavieft Imputations ona Nation, which I wou’d have Died to ferve effectually, and which I {pent my Life in Jabour- ing to ferve, in too narrow and ftinted a Manner, It muft be confeft, too few of our Nobility or Gentry, fhew’d that Generofity of Soul to encreafe the annual | Income of the Society, by their Contributions, as might have been expected, from the Numbers of worthy Men among us, who do us real Honour. It is certain his Majefty fet the Nation a noble Example, ' by Affigning them a Charter, and allowing them an handfome annual Revenue out of his Treafury ; and what fhou’d hinder Crowds of our worthieft Noblemen and Gentlemen, of large Fortunes and Minds pro- portioned to them, to Subfcribe Ten or ‘T'wenty Pounds a Year, to fo noble and fo fuccefsful a Scheme, is hard and perhaps painful to fay: I am the more amaz’d at it, as they cou’d not but fay, it wou’d have railed /reland from \dlenefs to Induftry, from Ignorance to Knowledge, from Contempt and Difregard, to Honour and Credit ; and wou’d not have left us in fifty$