Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 18.djvu/228

214 guided by conscience or honour, their business being only to gratify a prevailing interest.

"HUMBLY SHOWETH,

"That your petitioners have served their time to the trade of writing pamphlets and weekly papers, in defence of the whigs, against the church of England, and the christian religion, and her majesty's prerogative, and her title to the crown: That, since the late change of ministry, and meeting of this parliament, the said trade is mightily fallen off, and the call for the said pamphlets and papers much less than formerly; and it is feared, to our farther prejudice, that the Examiner may discontinue waiting, whereby some of your petitioners will be brought to utter distress, forasmuch as, through false quotations, noted absurdities, and other legal abuses, many of your petitioners, to their great comfort and support, were enabled to pick up a weekly subsistance out of the said Examiner.

"That your said poor petitioners did humbly ofter your honours to write in defence of the late change of ministry and parliament, much cheaper than they did for your predecessors; which your honours were pleased to refuse.

"Notwithstanding which offer, your petitioners are under daily apprehension, that your honours will forbid them to follow the said trade any longer; by which your petitioners, to the " ber