Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 9.djvu/413

Rh company there wanted not men in office, beside one or two expectants; yet I did not observe any of them disposed to return an answer: but the consequences drawn were these; That the great men in power sent hither from the other side, were by no means upon the same foot with his majesty's other subjects of Ireland. They had no common ligament to bind them with us; they suffered not with our sufferings, and if it were possible for us to have any cause of rejoicing, they could not rejoice with us.

Suppose a person, born in this kingdom, shall happen by his services for the English interest to have an employment conferred on him worth four hundred pounds a year; and that he has likewise an estate in land worth four hundred pounds a year more; suppose him to sit in parliament; then, suppose a land tax to be brought in of five shillings a pound for ten years; I tell you how this gentleman will compute. He has four hundred pounds a year in land: the tax he must pay yearly is one hundred pounds; by which, in ten years, he will pay only a thousand pounds. But if he gives his vote against this tax, he will lose four thousand pounds by being turned out of his employment, together with the power and influence he has, by virtue or colour of his employment; and thus the balance will be against him three thousand pounds. I desire, my fellow citizens, you will please to call to mind how many persons you can vouch for among your acquaintance, who have so much virtue and self denial, as to lose four hundred pounds a year for life, together with the smiles and favour of Rh