Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 9.djvu/380



AM very well pleased with the good opinion you express of me; and wish it were any way in my power to answer your expectations, for the service of my country. I have carefully read your several schemes and proposals, which you think should be offered to the parliament. In answer, I will assure you, that in another place, I have known very good proposals rejected with contempt by publick assemblies, merely because they were offered from without doors; and yours perhaps might have the same fate, especially if handed to the publick by me, who am not acquainted with three members, nor have the least interest with one. My printers have been twice prosecuted, to my great expense, on account of discourses I writ for the publick service, without the least reflection on parties or persons; and the success I had in those of the drapier, was not owing to my abilities, but to a lucky juncture, when the fuel was ready for the first