Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 10.djvu/296

288 third of England; I mean in the view of money only.

To compute our want of small change by the number of souls in the kingdom, beside being perplexed, is, I think, by no means just. They have been reckoned at a million and a half: whereof a million at least are beggars in all circumstances except that of wandering about for alms, and that circumstance may arrive soon enough, when it will be time to add another ten thousand pounds in copper. But, without doubt, the families of Ireland, who lie chiefly under the difficulties of wanting small change, cannot be above forty or fifty thousand; which the sum of ten thousand pounds, with the addition of the fairest old halfpence, would tolerably supply: for, if we give too great a loose to any projector to pour in upon us what he pleases, the kingdom will be (how shall I express it under our present circumstances?) more than undone.

And hence appears, in a very strong light, the villany of Wood, who proposed the coinage of one hundred and eighty thousand pounds in copper, for the use of Ireland: whereby every family in the kingdom would be loaded with ten or a dozen shillings, although Wood might not transgress the bounds of his patent, and although no counterfeits, either at home or abroad, were added to the number; the contrary to both which would indubitably have arrived. So ill informed are great men on the other side, who talk of a million with as little ceremony as we do of half a crown!

But, to return to the proposal I have made: suppose ten gentlemen, lovers of their country, should raise 200l. apiece; and, from the time the money is depo-