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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$[55] great Source of Theft, picking and filching, the natural Punifhment of at leaft ‘all fmaller Crimi- nals, feéms to be hard Labour for Life, or Years, We fee in France and Spam they man their Gallies this way, andin Sweden and Denmark they employ them in their publick Works, and chiefly about their Shipping and their Docks. No Punifhment cou’d be more terrifying to an Jri/hman, who we generally think is averfe to Labour ; none cou’d be more ufe- ful to our diftrefled Land, where we lofe more People by doing Nothing, than are deftroy’d by the Wars and Conquefts, the Voyages and Traffick of other Kingdoms. On this Account we fhou’d take Care, that Idlers; Beggars and vagabond Strollers, fhon’d be treated with the Sharpeft Rigour, as they do not only deny to aflift. their Country by their honeft En- deavours, but live like Drones on the Spoil of the Induftrious. It fhou’d be a Maxim in every well governed State, but efpecially in Jreland, that Idle- nefs {hou’d be as feverely punifh’d as petty Larceny 5 _and to beg with an Ability to Wozk, fhou’d ‘be re- garded and treated as a Kind of training up Youth for Stealing; (when: they have: learn’d the proper Cant and Tricks of their. Apprenticefhip) and con- fequently to relieve a Vagabond, fhou’d be as faulty ‘and as corrigible as receiving ftolen Goods. The proper Place for the Relief of fturdy Beggars, is a good County Work-houfe, where the Labours of fuch Vagabonds (and indeed of all Criminals till they are Tried and Difcharg’d) fhou’d go to the Maintainance of fuch'Poor, who are utterly incapable. of Won and whofe Parifhes can’t fupport them. E 4 PRIOR.$