Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 9.djvu/333

Rh them so many other concessions; particularly with relations to the flag and [w:Santa Lucia|Santa Lucia]]; which, I think, are sufficient to make them comply with all our demands, without expecting any farther favours, and even supererogation of friendship.

Perhaps my adversaries (if they have any conceit) may take an opportunity of ridiculing me for writing in this strain; but, as it sometimes serves their turn to make me a great man, and to argue against me as such, I will for once suppose myself so; and methinks, if I had the honour of being but half an hour in that station, I could reason against such an order, for the good of my king and my country, in the following manner:

1. These troops have always been made use of, whenever there has been any attempt in favour of the pretender; and indeed they are, upon many accounts, the fittest for this purpose. They are our fellow subjects; they speak our language; are acquainted with our manners; and do not raise that aversion in the people, which they naturally conceive against other foreign troops, who understand neither. I am afraid I may add, that they are kept up, for this purpose, in entire regiments, without suffering them to be mixed with the troops of any other nation. It is well known at least, that they supplied the late king James with a nursery of soldiers, who were always ready for his service, whenever any opportunity offered itself for his restoration; and that at this time, the pretender is always the bait made use of by their officers to raise recruits. They never mention the king of France, or the king of Spain, upon these occasions; but list the poor wretches under an assurance, that they are entered Rh