American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ASECS)

Jonathan Swift and the Population of Ireland Author(s): Clayton D. Lein Source: Eighteenth-Century Studies, Vol. 8, No. 4 (Summer, 1975), pp. 431-453 Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Sponsor: American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ASECS). Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2737772 . Accessed: 06/10/2013 15:34
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Jonathan andthe Swift Population ofIreland

CLAYTON D. LEIN

(1729): "They havebeenreckoned at a million anda half, whereof a million in all circumstances, at leastare beggars, except thatof for alms" wandering about (XII, 99).2 Thelastpassage is especially for toSwift's belief itstrongly attests in theintegrity valuable, ofthe ofSwift Yet for thestudent andofIrish the economic tally. history, of thiscalculation lies in its enormous interest That inaccuracy.3 us to sketch in a very inaccuracy, however, permits Swift's position
1 The Prose Worksof Jonathan Swift,ed. HerbertDavis, 14 vols. (Oxford, 1939-1968),XII, 110. All subsequent citations fromSwift's worksare fromthis editionand appearin the textwithvolumeand page references. 2 Davis concluded thatSwiftwrotethistractbefore he leftin June1729 for a long visitwiththeAchesons(XII, xvii-xviii). 3 The degree of inaccuracycan be gauged from the work of KennethH. of Ireland's population.In a preliminary Connell, the leading historian essay the initialfruits of his research, in Connellhad includedSwift's disclosing figure a table of estimates("The Populationof Ireland in the Eighteenth Century," EconomicHistory Review, 16 [1946], 113). When Connellrevisedthatessay for inclusionin his book, however, he eliminated Swift'spuzzlingcalculation, thus it fromthe realmof any seriousconsideration quietly removing (The Population of Ireland,1750-1845 [Oxford, 1950], p. 4). 431

Letter & a New One Proposed on Maculla'sProject AboutHalfpence

I calculate these there may be about Twohundred Thousand Couple whoseWivesare Breeders."' The computation itself is notnovel. Swift hadoffered several inthe second the same estimate earlier years oftheDrapier's Letters (1724): "Nowbythelargest Computation (evenbefore thatgrievous of Agriculture, Discouragement which so much hath theSoulsin this lessened ourNumbers) are Kingdom computed to be One Million and a half;which, allowing Six to a and Fifty Thousand makesTwo Hundred Families" Family, (X, 16). Swift had alsousedthefigure he never in a tract published, A

reckoned one THE NUMBER OF SOULS in Ireland beingusually Millionand a half,"musesthepersonaof A ModestProposal,"of

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432

EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY STUDIES

a Ireland's true condition, rather vigorous dispute inthe1720sover perstill moreacutely Swift's dispute which leadsus to appreciate Ireland." ception ofthecondition of"miserable oftheeighteenth century, a numIn the second andthird decades Ireland byamassberofIrish writers reopened thecaseofsuffering related to hereconomy. Theywere ingand analyzing all statistics of taskby an alarming number driven to undertake this enormous back intoEnglandtestifying thatIrelandwas reports streaming a periodof unprecedented prosperity. This opinion experiencing mad. The nauseating absolutely drovethe leadingIrishpatriots between and theuniversal prosperity misery disparity thatfabled in thestreets and hisfriends huddled led Swift to suspect thatthe contrived bytheEnglish in order to cataissuehadbeencunningly conditions. In pultIrelandintoan abyssof evenmorebarbaric Sheridan close friend Thomas "those ragedagainst 1728, Swift's "whoinsinuate and Insulters" of Ireland themselves vileBetrayers with "to knowforwhat of thecountry concluded thedesire trait of our flourishing thisnew Opinion Ends,and by whatPersons, advanced: is cerOne Thing hasoflatebeenso industriously State found their haveeither ownActheAdvancers already tain,that or at leasthavebeenenterorhavebeenheartily promised, count, to those withHopes,by seeingsuchan Opinion tained pleasing Powerto reward" (Intelligencer, pp. 64-65). whohaveit in their wasat leasta decadeold,for Archhowever, That"new Opinion," as farback as 1716 of the William bishop Kinghad complained Britain" which currant without ingreat Con"passes "genrl opinion condition."5 The mountthat Ireland is in a flourishing tradiction, in thelate 1720s,however, of suchremarks can be ingcurrency of Jason:"itis bitter allusion to themyth measured bySheridan's of an upstart Race of People,whohavesudPhrase thecommon Teethamongus, ThatIreland denly sprung up liketheDragon's known to be so richas it is now" (Intelligencer, pp. was never
on Two Papers authorof Considerations 53-54). The anonymous
4

His own distressed porintoFavour,by saying, it is a richNation."4

Dr. Oliver Fergusonfor lending (1716), p. 1. I would like to thankmy mentor of thistract, of thetwoversions whichexistonlyin manuscript me his microfilms (Trinity College Library, Dublin,Lyons Collection, 1806b and MS N.2.15). They in which Swiftwas involved. are invaluablefor the economicdiscussions

5 Some Observations on the Taxes pay'd by Irelandto Supportthe Government

The Intelligencer (1730; rpt.New York, 1967), p. 53.

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SWIFT AND THE POPULATION OF IRELAND

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Lately Published.The first call'd, Seasonable Remarks,&c. And An Essay an Trade in General, And That of IRELAND theOther, in Particular contained in thosetwopapers protested thatthefigures made Ireland'seconomicadvance "threetimesmorethanthe most theRichesof themostflourishing sanguine Computer everasserted in been increasedin that time."6He cauCountry Europe, have tioned the anonymousauthorof the papers, who was Sir John set downin printed Browne, "notto dependalone on whathe finds unlessweighed Books,whichare deceitful; by a soundand discerning Judgment" (Collection,p. 124). Swifthimselfdeliveredthe in A ShortView of attackon all such calculators mostlacerating the State of Ireland,originally publishedin March 1728, and rein theIntelligencer laterthatsame year: published by Sheridan If Ireland be a richand flourishing itsWealth Kingdom; and Prosperity must be owing to certain Causes,thatare yetconcealed from thewhole andthe RaceofMankind; areequally Effects invisible. We need notwonder at Strangers, when they suchParadoxes; deliver buta Native andInhabiofthis whogives thesameVerdict, tant Kingdom, must be either ignorant or a Man-pleaser, at theExpence to Stupidity; ofall Honour, Conscience, andTruth. (XII, 12) The wholeeconomicdisputeunderlying theseremarks is fartoo complexto unravelhere.It is enoughto recognizethatthe matter of thepopulation was onlyone flank of a largepaperwarfare.7 The
6 A Collection the PresentState of Ireland (London, of Tracts,Concerning to thisgroupof writings 1729),p. 111. All further references will be citedin the textas Collection. Anothercuriousindication of the generalbeliefin Ireland's prosperity appearsin the Dedicationto the 1719 editionof Sir William Petty's PoliticalSurveyof Ireland: "The good Effect whichthe Advice of my learned Authorhas had in the Improvement of Ireland in a few Years, may in some how muchany Nation may be advancedin Riches and Repumeasuredetermine some suchlike Rules as are laid down by the same Personat tationby following the End of the Book" ([London, 1719], p. [A31). 7 The best generalaccountof Swift's place in the economicdisputes in Ireland can be foundin OliverW. Ferguson, Jonathan Swiftand Ireland (Urbana, Ill., all earlierdiscussions. 1962), whichsupplants Also see the extensive materialin Louis A. Landa, Swiftand the Churchof Ireland (Oxford,1954), pp. 96-188. The best discussions of Ireland's economyand social conditions, on the other hand,are to be foundin Connell,Populationof Ireland;L. M. Cullen,ed., The Formation of theIrishEconomy (Cork, 1969), and his Anglo-Irish Trade 16601800 (New York, 1968) and EconomicHistoryof Ireland since 1660 (London, 1972); WilliamE. H. Lecky,A History of Ireland in the Eighteenth Century, 5 vols. (London,1892-1896);and GeorgeO'Brien,The EconomicHistory of Ireland in the Eighteenth Century(Dublin, 1918). The revisionist discussions in Cullen's

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population issuemanagesto revealquite clearly, however, the economicbases upon whichSwiftand his friends acted and the principleswhichdetermined their moralpositions. To sketch thematter out quickly, I shallset out theproblems of determining thepopulation in Swift's time,compareit withmodernestimates, and then evaluate the significance of the discrepancy. "If there are difficulties in determining thepopulation of England in theperiodbeforethefirst Census,"confesses G. Talbot Griffith, "thosedifficulties are verymuch greater in the case of Ireland."8 The scienceof statistical was stillsuffering birth demography pangs in Swift's age, and thosezealous "politicalprojectors" who strove to grapplewithIreland'seconomyscientifically had to cope with data even more fragmentary than that of theirEnglish counterBut since a certainamountof information was commonly parts.9 shared and bandied about which helped to shape the economic of theperiod,we need to recognize the sourcesthese philosophies them. thinkers reliedupon and how theyemployed statistics on IrelandforEnglishas well as All initialpopulation thewritings of Sir WilliamPetty. Irishspeculators stemfrom Petty been asked to composea treatise on the stateof Irehad evidently the compiler of The PresentState land by Edward Chamberlayne, with Political The of England.10 Pettyresponded Anatomyof Irebooks are the most valuable recentwork I have read. Two articleswhich also on the background to Swift'seconomicprininformation providemuch essential ELH, 10 EconomicViews and Mercantilism," ciplesare Louis A. Landa, "Swift's MP, 40 (1942), 161(1943), 310-35, and "A ModestProposaland Populousness," to the largerspecific to introduction economicbackground 70. For an excellent "Swift'sModest Proposal: The A Modest Proposal, see George Wittkowsky, JHI, 4 (1943), 75-104. Pamphlet," of an EarlyGeorgian Biography 8 Population 2nd ed. (London,1967),p. 45. Problems of theAge of Malthus, in Swift's timesee: Connell,Population in thestateof demography 9 For studies PopulationProblems;JamesBonar, Theoriesof Population of Ireland; Griffith, fromRaleigh to ArthurYoung (1931; rpt. London, 1966); Charles E. StangeDoctrinesof Population(1904; rpt.New York, 1966); and land, Pre-Malthusian ed., Populationin essays in D. V. Glass and D. E. C. Eversley, the pertinent History:Essays in HistoricalDemography(London, 1965), and in Lancelot A Symposium of PopulationStudies(London, Hogben,ed., PoliticalArithmetic: 1938). 10 The EconomicWritings ed. CharlesHenryHull, 2 vols. Petty, of Sir William to Pettyare to this edition.I references (Cambridge,1899), I, 122. All future workswith the originaleditionsin Swift'stime.In have checkedall of Petty's I would especially like to thankMr. JohnM. Houkes and Mr. thisconnection, for the Krannert for theiraid LibraryCollections, RichardDaubert,librarians of theircollections. resources in usingthe excellent

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SWIFT AND THE POPULATION OF IRELAND

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in 1671,butwhich to havecomposed he seems land,1672,which the explored his death.Petty until1691, after was notpublished comquite thoroughly, tract this in oftheIrish problem population thefollowing foras farback as 1641. He ventured figures puting for that period: 1641-1,466,000; 1652-850,000; estimates his wrote I, 149, 141). But whenPetty 1672-1,100,000 (Petty, 1690),he until (notpublished years later four Arithmetick Political I, 272). Petty's (Petty, for1672 to 1,200,000 hisreckoning revised forthe becamethemost quotedcalculations widely measurements economic pointforall serious and thestarting nexthalfcentury to wrestle In thelate 1690s,a CaptainSouthtried discussions." his and published fortheRoyalSociety problem thethorny with ofthetime. All writers bytheleading cited onesI havediscovered of are Ireland studies by modern provided calculations theother bylaterauthorities.'3 supplied on estimates founded with Swift's we haveto compare After figures thenearest Petty, 1736. 1721 and between tracts of composed a variety comefrom that do notharmonize they is thefact makes them interesting What in thesecondDrapier's declared claims. WhenSwift with Swift's was "bythelargest of 1,500,000 that histotal example, for Letter, of Agrithatgrievous Discouragement (evenbefore Computation for thetruth, that he was twisting haveknown culture )," he must and equallyoutspoken a Dublinbanker opponent David Bindon, ofIreland, that"theInhabitants asserting to Wood,was justthen earlier Whenweexamine ofSouls."''4 at TwoMillions arecomputed
11 O'Brien (Economic Historyof Ireland, p. 9) mentions a census of 1659 to but I have not seen thatcensusreferred whichmay have been knownto Petty, comments. I, 142n,forfurther of theperiod.See Petty, by anyIrishwriter 12 On South see Connell,Populationof Ireland,p. 259. For Swift'sdetailed see MarjorieNicolsonand Nora M. Transactions, of thePhilosophical knowledge of Swift's'Voyage to Laputa,'" Annals of Background Mohler,"The Scientific Science,2 (1937), 299-334. we find 13 Even Arthur did not tabulatethe figures Dobbs, withone exception, for the estimates to him in all modern works. He merelyoffered attributed of Irish history Later students returns. numberof houses,based on hearth-tax the and provided the calculations and Sadler finished such as Thom,Newenham, so widelyquoted today (Connell,Populationof Ireland,p. 4). numbers 14 Some Reasons Shewingthe Necessity the People of Ireland are under for to refuseMr. Wood's Coinage,in The HibernianPatriot (Printedat continuing and Sold by A. Moor, 1730), p. 215. Dublin. London: Reprinted

of at a figure He arrived results in thePhilosophicalTransactions. aretheonly andPetty's theyear1695.12His figures for 1,034,102

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theBankproposal with those dealing especially writings, economic Bank, the Onepaper supporting vindicated. Bindon of1721,wefind " 'tis theacidcomment: toitwith objections dismisses for example, to therest Rabbleas he makes tothink suchan inconsiderable hard had they People, of 2,000,000 destroy and to devour able can be be, as CANIBALLS" (IX, xx). andas goodStomacks Cruelty, as much we discover when perplexing statement becomes evenmore Swift's to Swift attributed Bank tracts Bindon's sumin twoanonymous "N.B. postscript: thefollowing contained example, andQuality, for Frenchbesides inIreland, andChildren TheTotalofMen,Women Acres16,800000. Men,is 2,000000.TotaloftheLand ofIreland Bank, a BANK,&c.)" (IX, 290).In TheSwearers for (VideReasons that by Geographers hand,we read: "It's computed on theother which there Number of Two Millions in Kingdom, are this there Souls"(IX, 295).15 ofswearing be saidtobe a Million may also finds support Bindon's figure to thisevidence, In addition conducted the1730s.A 1731 census written in tracts throughout for HouseofLords theIrish clergy bytheestablished independently Andalthough a member of then at 2,010,219.16 setthepopulation at less toa friend in a letter putthepopulation Parliament theIrish influenced by a tract 1733,perhaps than2,000,000in November theAbstract I discuss Dobbswhich oftheNumber later, byArthur Ireland's in 1736,calculated popupublished ofIreland, Provinces ofinhabitants."'7 neartwomillions Puttoin 1732 at "very lation
that thereis "no evidence"thatSwifthad anything 15 Davis, while admitting evidenceto suggest Bank and thatthereis even stylistic to do withThe Swearers to Swiftand his it amongBank tracts"attributed it is not by him at all, prints IX, xix-xx).Fergusonassertsthat The SwearersBank is friends" (Prose Works, not by him" (Swiftand Ireland,p. 70), but acceptsSubscribers, "almostcertainly
16 Connell,Populationof Ireland,p. 258. As one findsrepeatedly in dealing Connell sourcesdisagreeon this figure. of the Irish population, with estimates A View of the Natural,Political, in the textto Newenham's the figure attributes however,gives the of Ireland (1809). Griffith, and CommercialCircumstances figure 2,010,321, citing an Irish Census Report (Population Problems, pp. 45-46). O'Brien,on the otherhand, gives 2,010,221,citingNicholl'sHistoryof I have not been able to see the original the Irish Poor Laws as his authority. document. 3rd Century, of Englandin the Eighteenth 17WilliamE. H. Lecky,A History and Treatises of Tracts ed., rev.,8 vols. (London,1883-90),II, 255n; A Collection and the Politicaland Social State Antiquities, of theNaturalHistory, Illustrative of Ireland,2 vols. (Dublin, 1860-61),II, 536.

to TheirOrder totheBankPlac'd according himself. The Subscribers

and Popish Families in the Several Counties and of Protestant

. . . resembles Swift's work" (p. 71). which he finds "stylistically

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SWIFT AND THE POPULATION OF IRELAND

437

on thegeneral a rather steady agreement sources show gether, these Swift's figure is indicate that populace and clearly sizeofIreland's deceptive. volitionally strangely lowandsurely werecan be Yet howtotally all thesespeculations inadequate andseveral recent ofIreland modem histories gauged byexamining According the prefamine period. studies Irish population in ofthe was around thatthepopulation to J. C. Beckett, "it seemslikely at thebeginning thatit had ofthecentury, two-and-a-half million by the risento three million by the 1750's and to fourmillion study of theIrishpopulation in hisexhaustive Connell, 1780's,.'18 revisestimate quiteradically, every traditional problem, adjusted a 1712 estimate to 2,791,000, to 2,167,000, ingthe 1687 figure to3,018,andthe1732projection a 1726calculation to3,031,000, a problem. Ifhewrote thus tobe quite Swift's computation proves tohim, hetooonceheldthe larger general the Banktracts attributed of Ireland's buthad forsomereasonrevised population, estimate ofit bythetime where he of theDrapier's Letters, hisconception but shrunken one, however, figure, offered a new considerably as we can see he seemsto haveconsidered quiteaccurate which hisrepeated use ofit. On theother from hand,ifhe didnotcomhis we find himstill more outoftune with early tracts, posethose and deliberately the issue in claiming obscuring contemporaries of 1,500,000 hisfigure evermade.In either was thebroadest that is off an estimate which by,at evaluating case,we are facedwith by morethana people,and perhaps thevery least,one million a full100 percent, andthis in thefaceofalteranda half, million to thetruth. closer natecalculations at thispointthatSwift's is not We needto recognize estimate of in the literature his time. Archbishop King's totally unsupported "SomeObservations on theTaxes,"mentioned tract, unpublished a majorpiece of corroborating opinion. King's earlier, preserves he ofthis work draft datesfrom version 1716,butin that original the measurements. Whenhe revised did notoffer anypopulation he incorporated statistical around detailed treatise 1721,however, aboutall facets of Ireland's some information including economy,
The Makingof ModernIreland,1603-1923 (New York, 1966), p. 173. now supplantthe lower 19Connell,Populationof Ireland,p. 25. His figures and O'Brien. calculations of bothGriffith
18

000.19

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than Swift's still liessignificantly below which figure though higher received themore figure.23 of interesting a number These conflicting reports suggest patstands outthat all ofthelarger estimates comefrom Thefact terns.
20Some Observations on King's drafts (1721), pp. 16-17. For information Swiftand Ireland,pp. 187-88; R. Dudley Edwards, see Ferguson, of thistract, 8 T.C.D.," AnalectaHibernica, in the Clarke Collection, "The King Manuscripts (1938), 5-6. 21 2 vols. (Dublin, 1729-1731),II, 9. On the association of Swiftand Dobbs, Dobbs, Esquire, which beganwhenDobbs was a child,see DesmondClarke,Arthur 1689-1765 (Chapel Hill,N.C., 1957). 22 The variancein the figure is owingto Dobbs's silenceover the 1691 figure, larger it is a million(as he calculatesin Part II, p. 11), or the slightly whether to South (Part II, p. 11). The estimate is figure of 1,040,000whichhe attributed did not reflect withSwift'ssince Swiftnotedthathis figure consonant especially a decreasewhich of agriculture, the recentdecreasesdue to the discouragement Dobbs may be measuring. 23 (Dublin, 1729),p. 44. On Prior'sfriendship withSwift, whichis verythinly see Desmond Clarke,Thomas Prior,1681-1751 (Dublin, 1951). documented,

on Coin in General,a of 1,800,000 in his Observations estimate

of Ireland's comprehensive analysis economy whichappeared in twoparts in 1729 and 1731. As Connell andIrish historians note, in thesecond Dobbsincluded partan estimate oftheIrish populain 1725, a figure tionas being1,669,644 muchcloserto Swift's Bindon's.2' No critic than orhistorian hasyet noticed tomyknowlthat Dobbs had also included an offhand edge,however, estimate ofa discussion in hisfirst In themiddle on imports there part. and that"ourNumbers sincetheReduction he remarked of exports, Ireland PartI, p. 31). Since in 1691 areincreas'd about'/3" (Essay, and South's with Dobbs accepted some Petty's statistics, although this wouldmeanthat ofSwift's he at thetime hesitation, proposal as being between and ofthepopulation himself thought 1,300,000 ofSwift with those andKing.22 a figure 1,400,000, quiteconsonant of Swift's, Thomas offered friend an Also in 1729, another Prior,

is notedforhis Essay on the Trade and Improvement of Ireland,a

important pieceof support comesfrom Arthur Dobbs,a friend of Swift's andpossibly oneofhissources for suchinformation. Dobbs

People in Ireland to be increased1/2, thatis 500000."92O Another

computations on thenumber ofpeople. At thetime oftheRevolution, he ventured, "I Suppose thepeopleofIreland .. ., notwithstanding thedestruction Made of them in theWarremight be a Million." He then projected that we might "suppose theNumber of

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SWIFT AND THE POPULATION OF IRELAND

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men and sourcesfully independent of Swift's circle(and therefore probablymore representative of the generalopinion). All of the supportive evidence, on the otherhand, though comingfromleading Irish spokesmen, also comes fromknownassociatesof Swift. We seemto discover here,then,a definite partisaneffort involving Swift whichwas actively with concerned establishing a muchlower of Ireland'shumanresources. estimate This theoryfindsfull confirmation in the vigorousstatistical battlewaged againstthesecalculations of Swiftand his friends by Sir JohnBrowne,a challenge largely overlooked by previousSwift scholarsand evidently unknown to Connell. Very littleis known about Browne,and the littlewe have managed to unearthstems almostentirely fromhis collisionwithSwiftover the problemsof the Irish economyat precisely thistime.24 Browne apparently reveredSwift, and laterbecameone of theDean's mostzealous idolawere sailingon irreconcilable tors;but in the 1720s he and Swift courses.Brownehad thrown a seriesof tracts, himself intowriting publishedanonymously, which tried to trace Ireland's economic since Petty'stime as accurately as possible.He was development committed to relieving Ireland'smiseries as Swift as fully himself, ofhiscalculations buttheresults madehimodiousto theDean, who who publiclycondemned him as a signal example of Englishmen glutted Irelandforpetty advancements. in fact, countered almosteverything and hisfriends, Swift actively Browne Professor has demonstrated published. Ferguson thatSwift's A ShortView of theState of Ireland (1728) was an instantaneous replyto Browne'sSeasonable Remarkson Trade, bent on morally theeconomicpicture Brownehad sketched.25 invalidating Browne, in turn, withA Letterto theAuthorof the Short repliedto Swift Viewof theStateofIreland,following thiswithAn Essay on Trade encombatant in General.At thispoint,another but anonymous teredtheringwithConsiderations of Two PapersLatelyPublished, a thoroughbut heavy-handed repudiationof Browne's calcula24 All theinformation on Brownecan be foundin Ferguson, we have recovered Davis (Oxand Ireland, B, and The Drapier'sLetters, Appendix ed. Herbert Swift to dovetailwith Swift'sfor ford,1935), pp. 226-28. Browne'scareercontinued I plan to deal with it has neverbeen discussed. some time afterthis,although paper. him in a future 25 Ferguson, Swiftand Ireland,pp. 189, 146-47.

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broadsideof his own entitled An Appeal to the ReverendDean Swift on SeasonableRemarks. By WayofReplyto theObserver But

tions.26 Browne quickly to thissalvo witha brilliant responded in turn, was answered bytheanonymous author's A Letter in this,

andpublished as a unit, thus tidily incorporating thewhole struggle between one setof covers. The exchanges in thequarrel which becomepertinent hereresultfrom attackon the statistical frontal Browne's information offered The author of Considerations by his antagonist. on Two Papers with Browne's hadbeenopenly distraught particufindings, larly onthe wealth ofthe Browne's estimates kingdom. "Atpresent," himto consider, "I shallonlydesire thatno Nation he asserted, in Riches couldeverincrease with that he has madeIreVelocity a proportional increase of Cash, and of People" land, without observation later that with the p. 112),andhe pursued (Collection, was that "Sir William infonnation Pe1tty says,theCash ofIreland At this ourCash is at time 400,0001.andthePeople,1,100,000. Thisis in truth most a con600,0001.and ourPeople1,500,000. theCircumstances ofourAffairs ... siderable Increase, considering to theimaginary butit is no DegreeofProportion Increase of our as laiddownbymyAuthor" Wealth, p. 121). Browne (Collection, to this contention in hisAppeal: replied quite warmly
a Person that in theAffairs Givemeleave,Sir,to wonder so wellversed in itsCause,should ourNumber ofourCountry, andso sanguine disguise
26 The authorship and thesubsequent by thesame anonymous of thistract reply ascribedto Dobbs. authoris reallyquite undecided, although theyare commonly This attribution seemsto stemfromHenryR. Wagnerin IrishEconomics:1700providing 1783 (London, 1907),whereWagnerassignsthe tractto Dobbs without attribution (Swiftand any supportive evidence(p. 31). Ferguson acceptsWagner's in thelistof his collection (The Economic Ireland, p. 190),as did JacobHollander Library of JacobH. Hollander, Ph.D., comp.Elsie A. G. Marsh[Baltimore, 1937], seems that"theinternal evidence rejects it,stating p. 80). L. W. Hanson,however, Printed SourcesforBritish theattribution" and to me to be against (Contemporary Irish Economic History[Cambridge, 1963], p. 405). I agree with Hanson and if it is by Dobbs, moreevidencecertainly needsto be brought think forward that, it. to demonstrate

Little to the Purpose,on A Paper Less to the Purpose.In 1729, Brownehad fiveof thesepapers-the Seasonable Remarks,Essay on Trade,Considerations on Two Papers,An Appeal to theReverendDean Swift, and A Letter inAnswer toa Paper-bound together

Browne, evidently indefatigable, replied thistime with Reflections

Answer An Appeal to theReverend to a Paper,Intitl'd, Dean Swift.

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sideof ourNeighbours is a Wealth which thet'other of Inhabitants; that athomearepoor, us; for we whostay theWater willingly takefrom won't were returned bytheHearth-money after.... There andnotworth seeking in theYear ending Lady Day 1726, 374,286 Housespaying Collectors Hospitals and BarHouses,Colleges, Quit-rent overand abovecertify'd ofsixSoulsto a House,maybe equivalent racks, which at an Allowance ofHouses inthis Number Calculation to42,381Houses, andthat makes the House,our a Medium of6 Soulsto the inall416,667;towhich ifwe allow Contheprolifick be about2,500,000;and considering Inhabitants must andthe they intermarry, early Ageatwhich stitutions ofourCountry Folks, with me that sixto a Houseis notan I am very Sir,youwillagree sure, pp. 130-31) Allowance. (Collection, extravagant Browne'sassailant, however, was not about to grantsuch a conclurehearsed sion. His reply, A Letterin Answerto a Paper, minutely the in computing of Petty Browne's"miscalculation" and "mis-use" exalso returned amountof Ireland'sarable land and wealth.He and themelancholy pressly to thequestionof Ireland'spopulation, thedespairof all menof Swift's ofhisremarks conveys undoubtedly party: of thattheNumber And herelet me barely touchon yourAssertion, Acres than more three that is very little is 2,500,000, Peoplein Ireland, Ireland I fear, ofprofitable Landtoevery Kingdom; a Condition, Soulinthe But, will to inanhundred PeaceandHealth. Yearsofcontinued notarrive Gentlewill as this Point be more handled andingenious bya learned fully not I tookmyComputation whom of thePeopleof Ireland, man,from he saysonthat I must refer Head,which youtowhat exceeding 1,500,000. Reader. will pp. 140I amconfident (Collection, satisfy every unprejudiced 41) I have beenunableto discover by his final intends whomtheauthor comments. It maywell be Arthur collected Dobbs who assiduously returns in orderto obtain accuratepopulationestihearth-money of slightly as notedabove, a figure matesand who held at thistime, who announced below 1,500,000.But it mayalso be ThomasPrior, in A ListoftheAbsentees he had beengatherofIreland(1729) that thesummer before. inghis statistics When we compareDobbs's laterfigures withBrowne's,in fact, some suggestive detailsemerge.Brownemusthave been relatively well informed, figure of 374,286 houses is forhis basic working in fact,is even largerstrikingly close to Dobbs's whose figure, Dobbs 377,339 (Essay, Part II, p. 8). At the same time,though,

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couldestimate thepopulation in 1725 as having been 1,669,664. He remained a bithesitant overthis figure, confessing that "I don't insist uponthis as a justcomputation, I amapttobelieve itis rather within theTruth" (Essay, PartII, p. 9). He nevertheless arrived at thetremendously lower figure byclaiming that thetrue number of persons perhousewas4.36 rather than thefigure of6 employed by Browne. He selected this unprecedented figure as theresult ofpopulation surveys inAntrim, where hehadestates. Modemscholarship hasdemonstrated, however, that he probably erred as much on the lowsideas Browne didon thehigh side.For theparticular controversy here, what is intriguing is that Browne hadaccepted thetraditional statistic for thenumber ofpeople perhouse while Dobbshad deviated from thetradition. Yet Browne was theone attacked. In anycase,whether Dobbs is theperson intended by theauthor of theConsiderations or not,or is eventheauthor of thetract, the economic warfare between Browne andhisantagonist placesSwift's contains thatextheonlypublished reference I have discovered actly supports Swift's claim. is the Yet justas important of thedispute forthetotalpicture fact that norconvinced Browne himself was neither intimidated by
his opponent. In A Schemeof theMoney-Matters of Ireland,pubNumberof Souls inhabiting . . . [Ireland] may be about 2,500,remark in the Modest Proposal in a new light,especiallysince it

of his calculations lished laterin 1729,he reaffirmed thevalidity "as I haveobserv'd in myEssayon Trade... the byinsisting that,

stubborn affirmation was in turnsilently 000. s27 But Browne's in Observations of1,800,000 countered Prior's estimate byThomas on Coin,published soonafter Browne's tract.28
27 (Dublin, 1729), pp. 15-16. Brownehad also reaffirmed of his the integrity Littleto the Purpose (Dublin, 1729). There,in fact,he figure in his Reflections thatI made that Matterso plain in my declaredthat"I reallythought sharply was no roomto doubtof our being2500000 Souls" (p. 31). Reply,thatthere 28 There are several additional of the Irish population estimates unpublished eitherSwiftor public opinion,but which add to our which did not influence disciple, mostdistinguished Gregory King,Petty's of variousprojectors. knowledge upon the State and Conclusions composedhis Naturaland PoliticalObservations England'spopulationthen at of England about 1696, calculating and Condition one-sixth of that,or about 916,667 (I have 5,500,000,and Ireland'sas roughly [Baltimore, 1936],pp. editedby GeorgeE. Barnett of King'stract used thereprint in addition, Edward MacLysaght, 18-19, and have suppliedthe exact figure). censusof Irelandfrom1706 whichset Ireland'stotalpopulacites a manuscript AfterCromwell[LonCentury: tion at 1,620,901(Irish Life in the Seventeenth

don, 1939], pp. 187-88).

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Browne'saccountsthusfortunately provideus some intriguing information, fortheyreveal one of Swift's contemporaries largely anticipating and defending our own generalestimates of Ireland's population.The veryfact that Browne directedhis replyto his challengerto Swift,moreover, establishesthat Swiftwas firmly identified withthe economicpositiontakenin thattract.The rebuttalto Browne,on the otherhand, providesus withthe only major clues I have discovered to the rationalebehindthe partisan effort. Whycouldn'tthe Irishpatriots accept Browne'sfigures? I have notfounda scrapof evidence to suggest thatwe shouldquestion the fact thatBrowne'sfigure genuinely appeared absurdto them,another product by"thoseweakwiseheads,whoproceedupongeneral Maxims,... without understanding the Constitution of the Kingdom" (XII, 79). As theydeclared (and assumingPetty'sfigures correct), therateof growth Browneadvancedwas astounding, possible perhapsonlyunderexceptionally stable and peacefulconditions.But Ireland'scoursein theearlyyearsof the eighteenth centuryhad been anything but that.Betweenthe turnof the century and the disputein question, threeperiods Irelandhad experienced of severefamineresulting fromcrop failures:1708-1710, 17181721, and one which had beguntheyearbefore A ModestProposal and wouldlastuntil1730.29 Huge numbers perished in thesefamines as every Irishman who survived could testify. Certainly theselosses, to thepatriots, musthave morethanequaled thenumberof births augmenting thepopulation. But of moreimmediate concernat the time was the problemof emigration. Not only had the natural courseof Ireland'spopulation growth been cruelly clippedby famof thousands ine, it had been heavilystunted of virile by theflight Irishmen and womento moresecureor acceptablesurroundings. Swift addressed himself to thisproblemseveraltimesduring the periodof thedispute. In a letter to Sheridan's Intelligencer in 1728 underthepseudonym of "A. North," he openlylamented theexcessive emigration in which"some thousand Familiesare gone or goto go from ing,or preparing in Amerhence,and settle themselves ica" (Intelligencer, pp. 246-47). In A Modest Proposal he
29M. W. Flinn,British PopulationGrowth, 1700-1850 (London, 1970), p. 41. According to R. J. Dickson,from1715 to 1720 Irelandwas afflicted witha severe drought and exceptionally severeepidemics, especially smallpox(UlsterEmigration to Colonial America,1718-1775 [London, 1966], pp. 28-29).

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specifically noted theemigration to Spainand theBarbadoes (XII, 109). Thisdrain had beenemptying Ireland sincetheturn of the century, butit escalated dramatically in thedecadepreceding A Modest Proposal.0 On 20 May 1718Bishop Evanswrote to Archbishop Wake in England that"I hear 1000 of Protestants go to America, becausetheir Landlords wherebear hardupon every them."3' Confirmation oftheremark comes in thecomplaint ofthe LordJustices that yearto theLordLieutenant: "We havehad accounts from most partsof theKingdom, especially theNorth, of verygreatnumbers of Protestants, withtheir families, shipping themselves off for NewEngland andother parts ofthe West Indies."32 Swift's ally, Archbishop King, complained ofthis bitterly emigration the following year.33 Soonafter this the numbers Irish offleeing seem tohavedeclined butthemigrations sharply, recommenced seriously in 1724 and accelerated alarmingly in thefamine of 1728-1730. TheLordJustices to LordCarteret 1728 reported on 23 November tumn of1729atthe latest.84 In a letter dated13 February 1728/29,
30Swiftnoted with chagrinin severaltractsthe loss of thousandsof skilled workers in wool as theresult of benighted English policies(Landa, "Populousness," p. 167,and Prose Works, XII, 89). 31Landa, Church, p. 156. 32 Quoted by LawrenceH. Gipson, The British EmpireBefore the American Revolution, 5 vols. (Caldwell,Idaho and New York, 1936-1942),I, 257. The Lord Justices claimedthatover 1,200had gonefromtwoNorthern portsalone,and that fromothers. manyhad embarked Gipsonnotesthat"so anxiousweremanyto get of the to Americathattheysold theirservices for a termof years in payment in 1718 ocean passage" (I, 258). A Thomas Lechmerewroteto JohnWinthrop the arrivalof twenty withtheircongregations in the thathe "expected ministers of 1719" (Dickson,Ulster spring Emigration, p. 22). 33 CharlesS. King,A GreatArchbishop of Dublin: WilliamKing,D.D., 16501729 (London, 1906), pp. 301-2. We should note in supportof theseremarks thatthe authorof A Letterto the Gentlemen in Ireland of the Landed Interest thatmanyof theIrishwho Relatingto a Bank (Dublin, 1721) mentioned a rumor at thistimewere returning fromNew England.He bluntly deniedit, emigrated saying few,ifany,everreturned (p. 8). 34 Dickson, UlsterEmigration, p. 32; Landa, Church,p. 156. Carteret passed thereport on to the EnglishPrivyCouncil so theycould realize the huge disruptions in Ireland caused by the severefamines(Dickson, UlsterEmigration, pp. 186-89). It is reallyquitedifficult to knowprecisely how manyIrishemigrated to Americain theseyears.For a recentsurveyof the problem, see Dickson,ibid., esp. pp. 19-47. But also see Gipson, BritishEmpire,I, 257. An indication of what Swiftand the Irish mighthave believedto be occurring, however, can be foundin the Lord Justices' and in a letter report by a Thomas Whitney dated 27 July1728 in whichWhitney claims that40,000 people had emigrated just from the areas of Ulsterand Sligo since 1720 (quoted by Dickson, UlsterEmigration, p. 33).

that20,000 people had indicatedtheywould emigrate by the au-

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Archbishop Boulter outlined thefrantic efforts of thegovernment andclergy to supply cornfor theNorth, for "we think this willput somestopto the greatdesertion we have been threatened with there."35 Buthe complained on 13 Marchthat "thehumour ofgoingto America, stillcontinues, and thescarcity of provisions certainly makes many quitus: there arenowseven ships atBelfastthat arecarrying off about1000passengers thither" (Letters, I, 230-31). Andtothis American weneedtoaddthemany migration thousands who abandoned IrelandforFrance,Spain,theWestIndies,and evenEngland.86 To understand theposition of Swift and hiscompatriots, then, weneedto recognize notthehistorical inaccuracy of their estimates on population and emigration buttheshared conviction bymembers ofall parties that Ireland's bloodhadbeenconletbymassive ofemigration tinuously spurts for over forty years. As important totheIrish themselves as these waves ofdepartures, wastherelation to theissueof however, ofthepopulation problem tillage. of theIrish Despitethesteady and outspoken opposition party tothe Irish landlords seemed tobe insatiable enclosure ofland, areasfortheir in their desire tillable landintograzing to convert wascriminal, for there was andsheep.37 To Swift. suchaction cattle
85 Letters D.D.... to SeveralMinisters HughBoulter, Written byHis Excellency 2 vols. (Dublin,1770),I, 224. and Some Others, of Statein England, 36 We have no reliablestatistics for thesemigrations, nor are theyconsidered in any recentstudiesof Irish populationthat I have read. They must,however, of Irish Catholicmen In 1691 alone, thousands have reachedlarge proportions. way to France to forman armythere(J. G. Simms,"Irelandin the made their ed. Tribute, Swift, 1667-1967: A Dublin Tercentenary in Jonathan Age of Swift," to Swift Roger McHughand PhilipEdwards [Dublin, 1967], p. 159). In a letter in one of theseIrish dated 27 February1732/33,Sir CharlesWogan,an officer years"had joined theseforty claimedthat"above 120,000men,within brigades, (The Worksof the Irish ranksin France and Spain "to get rid of oppression" Jonathan Swift, ed. Sir WalterScott,2nd ed., 19 vols. [London,1883-84], XVII, by Scott,fullof detailson Irishmen who first printed letter, 423). This invaluable since and seems to be littleknown. chose a military exile,has not been reprinted to France. on theIrishflight Empire, I, 200, forremarks Also see Gipson,British was large enoughto cause a to the West Indies,meanwhile, TIheIrishmigration p. 35). The authorof the there(Dickson, UlsterEmigration, greatdeal of unrest that"it is not disasserted notedabove, meanwhile, to the Landed Interest letter and wander Countrey, putedbut thatthepoor People of thisKingdomleave their abroad to theveryIndies,to seekforLand to Improveand Plantand workupon" (p. 8). Boulterclaimedin the fall of 1728 that "above 4200 men,women,and childrenhave been shippedoff fromhence for the West Indies withinthree and of theseabove 3100 thislast summer" I, 210). For the migra(Letters, years, p. 44. tionto England,see Dickson,UlsterEmigration, 37 On the tillageproblemsee: Ferguson, Landa, Swiftand Ireland,pp. 151ff.; pp. 46ff. p. 12, and EconomicHistory, and Cullen,Formation, Church, pp. 142ff.;

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"notan olderor moreuncontroverted in thepolitics maxim of all wisenations, than that ofencouraging agriculture" (XII, 89). What wearelikely inthe tomiss protests against enclosure, however, is the relationship many oftheage assumed between a stable agricultural andpopulousness. economy ThatSwift relied on sucha supposition canbe seeninhiscomment in A Short ViewoftheState ofIreland (1728), that"theSeventh [Cause of a Kingdom's is, by thriving] ofLand,Encouragement Improvement ofAgriculture, andthereby encreasing theNumber oftheir People"(XII, 6). Manyeconomists of Swift's timeaffirmed a similar causal relationship. Alexander Macaulay stated flatly onesuch"direct relationship between tillage andemigration: encouragement oftheonediscourages theother."38 As far backas Captain John Graunt, moreover, disparities hadbeen computed between the relative fertility ratesof urbanand rural areas.39 Critics in fact, frequently, considered cities to be "barren." Sir Charles Davenant calculated that"Londonwouldevenhave decreased by abouttwothousand per annum had it notbeenfor newcomers."40 Economists assumed that populousness resulted, as Davenant "a regular putit,from and thiswas not wayof living," tobe found inurban, trading butin stable communities, agricultural ones.Thedisruption ofIreland's agricultural economy byenclosure and famine, of population then, had brutal in terms consequences Not onlyhad these theory. driven masses of native developments Irish butbyuprooting away, those that didremain, depriving them oftheir and throwing them intourbanareas,natural steady labor, had been severely The agricultural blunted.4' fertility disasters of andenclosure famine couldonly meanthedisintegration ofa population. or a maniaccouldenvision Onlya blindman,a traitor, a of in the fact all "facts." increase these vigorous realities lies behindthe Far morethaneven thesedepressing
38Landa, Church, p. 157. 39Stangeland, Pre-Malthusian Doctrines, pp. 140-43, 159-61; R. R. Kuczynski, on Fertility," in PoliticalArithmetic, ed. Hogben, "British Demographers' Opinions pp. 291-92, 310-11, 312-17. 40Stangeland, Pre-Malthusian Doctrines, p. 159. 41 "All agreedthatsteadyphysical labour and a simpleuncomplicated manner of lifepromote "British reproduction" (Kuczynski, Demographers," p. 296). Conversely, urban life,withits emphasison trade,disrupted fertility patterns. "The and full of businessthenin the mindsof men in London are more thoughtfull Grauntnoted,and this meant,in the words of RobertWallace, that Country," was necessarily "frommorenecessary labour" (Kuczynski, their attention diverted ibid., pp. 313, 310).

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strenuous attackson Browne,however,and we gain a still finer whenwe examappreciation of theresistance of theIrishpartisans ine theirpopulationestimatesand realize the political implications. Since, in mercantilist theory, people were money,"every Treasure," the Birth," as one writer putit,"beingas so muchcertain strangulation of a population'sgrowth was a grievouseconomic and his allies fauxpas.42 Assuming Petty's figure to be correct, Swift by only wereclaiming thatthepopulation of Irelandhad increased 200,000-600,000 in over half a century, perhaps"a considerable but a rate Increase,considering theCircumstances of our Affairs," abysmally below thatof Englandherself, even below thatof many How slow thisgrowth could be condespoticEuropean countries. struedbecomes more apparentwhen we realize that Pettyhad speculated in 1672 that"it is naturally possiblein about 25 Years to double the Inhabitants of GreatBritainand Ireland" (Petty, II, Origination of 604).43Sir Matthew Hale asserted in The Primitive in thirty-five Mankind(1677) that"a population may double itself years."44 We come closerto Swift, however, in the calculationsof Women" Arthur Dobbs. Assuming thateach of 200,000 "breeding in Irelandmight have a child"once in twoYears,"Dobbs speculated that"by thisComputation the Nation mightdouble in 16 Years, fromabroad." "After tho therewere no Accessionof Inhabitants 1 in 5 onlytobearonce thesameManner," he continued, "supposing be doubledin 42 Years" (Essay, in twoYears, theNumbers might of theIrishparty PartII, p. 1 1).45 The implications of theestimates werethusharshand inescapable.The naturalcourseofIrishgrowth had been stifled, and stifled-thegreatunspokentruth-by England. No greater objectiveevidencecould have been advanced to exhibitto England her blind betrayalof her own self-interested so devascould have documented mercantilist policy.No statistic thereality of British tatingly tyranny. in Swift's of the populationcontroversy One further dimension
42 CharlesDavenant, An Essay upon theProbableMethodsof Makinga People Gainersin theBallance of Trade (London,1699),p. 35. 43 He repeatedthe remarkin his Treatiseof Ireland (Connell, Populationof pp. 259-60). Ireland, p. 148. Doctrines, 44Stangeland, Pre-Malthusian 45 Dobbs's note that his calculationdoes not depend upon immigrations is to docuthe Irish were attempting how thoroughly and demonstrates significant Since Dobbs calculatedfrom1691, his fortynaturalfertility. menta frustrated cycle would end in 1733. two-year

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forged thespeculators liesin therelationship agewehaveforgotten Davenant for example, 1699, liberty. and In populousness between maybe laid downas ofa Nation, theLiberties "Securing declared, of itsPeople. . . For theNumbers forincreasing a Fundamental (An Essay,pp. 32, 26). "Almost Procreation" encourages Liberty he havebeenmoreor lessPopulous," in theWorld all Countries well havebeenthere and Property "as Liberty elsewhere, affirmed on comments extensive p. 25). Davenant's (An Essay, orillsecur'd" which we might moreover, ofthetopic, issuereveal dimensions this theissue howsubtly example, for reveal, His observations overlook. partof thediscussion formed (ifsilently) ultimately of emigration "ifit has beeneverseen,that rights: constitutional overIreland's (Chinaexcepted, Freedom where is most there most Men abound of the the exercise and where excellsall others, whoseClimate time will in that People follow, is mildand easie)it must Tyranny ifthose Liberties, is their bestFlower whose Countries those desert Precariousor in Danger" (An Essay, p. 29). are thought Liberties of others, Temper of some,and theMercenary "If theAmbition and to give our to alter Constitution, us at time any should bring ourNumbers "weshallfind he prophesied, Rights," up ourancient andfast" (p. 26).46 visibly diminish determined thestrategy selected byArthur Davenant's philosophy therelative A Modest Comparing after Proposal. Dobbstwoyears DobbsexofEngland andIreland, ofthepopulations rates growth observing between them, out thevastdiscrepancy singled pressly as twice to itsNumbers "in proportion had increased that England hasdonein thelast inthelast35 Yearsfrom 1690,as Ireland much that PartII, p. 14), insisting 1712 to 1725" (Essay, 13 Yearsfrom owingto her political the stunning Englishgain was primarily Numbers oftheir since, Increase [England's] "Thegreat freedom:
on this associationbetweenlibertyand population, 413For more information p. 310. A passage fromJohnArbuthnot's "British Demographers," see Kuczynski, thatfortheAugusMeasuresindicates Roman,and Jewish Tables of theGrecian, processof ruin: "Thus in thatgreat was part of the historical tans,thismatter Empire Corruptionbegat Slavery,Slavery produc'd worthlessand rapacious Favourites,those begat Oppressionand Poverty;Povertyand OppressionDeand fromall in thosethatremain'd, and want of Zeal and Affection population, Empire"(quoted of thismighty thefinaldestruction thesecausesat last proceeded and Satirist[Cambridge, Mathematician by LesterM. Beattie,JohnArbuthnot: 1935],p. 353).

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proceedsfromthe Establishment of theirLibertiesCivil and Religious,and the Increase of theirTrade and Commerceupon it: This drewin Numbersfrommanypartsof Europe; and theirIncrease at home proceededfrom the Peace, Plentyand satisfaction, whichsince thattimehas happen'dto mostRanks and degreesof Men" (Essay, Part II, p. 12). It was thusnot onlythe evidenceof theireyes thatled Swiftand othermembers of the Irish partyto denyBrowne'sestimates, but thesymbolic role of theirstatistics as well. The standon the population is intimately relatedto the cries fortheneed to grantIrelandhernaturalfreedom.47 Such thwarted as Irelandsuffered would occurinevitably growth whenever a people were denied"the commonrights and liberties of humankind." all Irish economistsagreed that the restoration Nonetheless, of Irishliberty couldreverse Dobbs's theprocess.But at thesametime, calculations revealthebitter melancholic huesof thereply thatIreland mightonly reach Browne'sfantastic plateau "in an hundred Years of continued Peace and Health." ofthepopulaOne moretwist from thematter needsto be wrung beforeits fullsignificance tion,however, emerges-its role in the If we browseforlong in Irishwritings of the taxation controversy. period,we are forcedto note a paranoiac fearof greater taxation from England.Archbishop King was stirred by thisfearto compile on theTaxes in 1716. According to King,"'Tis a his Observations and passes currant without Contradicgen opinionin greatBritain thatwhileEngland tion,thatIrelandis in a flourishing condition, has bin oppressed and deeplySunk in debtby excessivetaxes,Ireland has bin at ease, contributed nothingto the Supportof the in debt"(Observations, and is notone Shilling Government 1716, p. to counterthatview,ultiinformation 1). King amassedextensive thatBritainhad neverpaid the same amountpromately claiming in taxes as Irelandhad. But the intensity of the Irish portionately fearis mostmemorably capturedin an anecdoteon Swift, which, of thepervading nonetheless if apocryphal, superbly captures spirit in themiddle runstheanecdote, theIrishat thistime.One evening, of a conversation, Lady Carteret suddenly exclaimed,"The air of thiscountry is so good!" Swift droppedto his kneesin an instant,
47 On Swift'sconcernfor Irish liberty, see Ferguson, Swiftand Ireland,esp. pp. 139ff.

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entreating, "ForGod'ssake,Madam, don't sayso in England; they willcertainly taxit!"48 In fact, oncewe comprehend theintensity of theIrishfearand to British opposition schemes fortaxation, it seems impossible not to feelthat themajor economic documents oftheperiod wereconsciously coordinated efforts on thepartof theIrishparty to stave off theBritish interest bydocumenting in exhaustive detail thetrue of their poverty country through studies of theabsentees (Prior), thepopulation (Dobbs),and thecoinage (Macullaand Prior). Unwe have little fortunately, information on theintellectual lifein Dublinat thistimeand cannoteasilydetermine how likely this coordination was.49 The very rhetoric ofthetracts, however, leads one evenmoreto suspect an articulate underground effort. Prior wailsat onepoint, "I believe, there is not, inHistory, an Instance of Tribute to another," anyoneCountry paying so largea yearly and has parted with all its Substance, and reduc'd that"Ireland later,

themoral "From theseObinhisEssay, that thesametune urging Britain be higher servations maysee thatwe cannotreasonably we areincouraged ourNumbers taxed, unless byTradeto increase andgivethem full PartII, p. 39). employment" (Essay, In light ofthis consistent wecanonly thehorror position, imagine haveexperienced in seeing Browne andanger menmust these pronotonly a superb location that Ireland nounce possessed geographic a populous to "inur'd fortrade, excellent harbors, constituency, and able uponpoorFare to run Wantand Labour,easyto feed, "the dealofWork," a great butalsothat through PeopleareincumfewTaxes."5'Sucha publicstatement had catasberedwith very If Englandsniffed forgreater trophic potential. any opportunity
48 George Birkbeck Letters of Dean Swift(New York, Hill, ed., Unpublished p. 302n. n.d.), p. 200. The anecdoteis also relatedby King, Great Archbishop, Neither givesthe source. Swiftand King,for can stillbe discerned. 49 A few tracesof thiscollaboration theirefforts several times on major issues, example,seem to have coordinated and Ireland, pp. 187Swift (Ferguson, saw and used King'sObservations and Swift note"statesthatPriorhad too (p. 187), thata "contemporary notes, 88). Ferguson a fact which in preparing his List of the Absentees, use of King's Observations forcommonpurposes. coterie and sharing of materials impliesa distinct of Ireland(Dublin, 1730),pp. 20, 63. These remarks 50 A List of theAbsentees like thoseof King. sounduncannily 51Quotedby Ferguson, and Ireland, pp. 146-47. Swift

Dobbs fingered itself to thegreatest to enrichEngland."50 Poverty,

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results? As Browne's theabysmal taxation, whocoulddarepredict increased bluntly observed, "Ifwe arethus in anonymous opponent tobe proportionably that ourTaxesought Riches, doesitnotfollow, my Author aimsat" is nottheConclusion increased? Which, I hope, havebeencerebrally ignoring oneofthebasic AndBrowne must genuine inability socialrealities insisted uponbyall observers-the anygreater taxation at ofvastnumbers tenants to support ofIrish ofa Land in 1717 ofhis"apprehension all. Kingwrote to a friend Quit-Rents, CrownTax which couldnotbear;their theKingdom Moneyin (thesamewith yourChimney Rents, & Hearth-Money "The greatest partof upontheLand."52 England) beingso heavy Boulter wrote in the occupiers of the land here,"Archbishop stroke of 8 or 10 L. an extraordinary 1728/29, "areso poor,that I, 234). So poor ruin to them" (Letters, falling on them, is certain food, that they couldnotevenafford weremany farmers, in fact, have should and in their need"haveeatentheoatsthey desperate willhavethegood andexcept thelandlords sowed their landwith; with seed,a great deal oflandwilllyewaste sense to furnish them I, 229-30).53 The Dublin WeeklyJournalof 5 thisyear" (Letters, of the landlesspoor descriptions July1729 carriedgruesome andinfinite numbers scarce abletowalk, "crowded along theroads, nakedness."54 of and starved in every in dirt, the midst rags, ditch to had seenfit It wasin themidst ofthese Browne conditions that andan additional announce that Irish taxes hadminimal the teeming is almost unmillion to tax.His economic on thismatter naivete
(Collection, p. 111).

of InhabiourNumber anyone "should disguise astonishment that sideofthe which thet'other is a Wealth ourNeighbours tants; that Waterwon'twillingly takefrom us," he exposedan unexpected oftheneweconomic order. ofoneoftheterrible axioms ignorance stated in his Treatise whom had read,clearly Browne of As Petty, and a ofpeople, is realpoverty; "Fewness Taxes& Contributions: wherein areEightMillions ofpeople, are morethen twice Nation
to America, thatit would be cruel to stop it, "as mostof them confessed gration nor workat home" (Letters, I, 231). can neither get victuals p. 44. 54Dickson, UlsterEmigration,
52 King,GreatArchbishop, p. 207. in fact,thatBoulter, even though opposedto emi53 So great was thepoverty,

his Dean Swift in hisAppeal to theReverend bearable.In admitting

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I, arebutFour"(Petty, as nch as thesamescopeofLand wherein "poor, are words, in people, those Browne's that 34). No matter they theory, to mercantilist according after"; seeking andnotworth twice almost was right, and,if Browne wealth, created inherently wealth twice as much publicly, admitted as theIrish wealth as much be taxed. could that the true underestimated grossly and his friends ThoughSwift economic from topreserve labored they kingdom ofthat population truth whose onemaxim intheir apologetics didderive they collapse, aptnessnotto saygrotesque, bitter, with us today strike should the usedto prove "There is notoneArgument volley, Swift's biting Povofits Demonstration is nota logical ofIreland, which Riches population by a stunted evinced (XII, 11). If theoppression erty" we of despair, intoparoxysms and hisfriends Swift drove growth the at experienced have would they thehorror can onlyenvision byourpresent suggested poverty rampant savage, tragic, more still ulnordid they little; as it was,helped protests, Their knowledge. least, Butat thevery would. hopethey I think, havemuch timately, brandof themost pernicious menhopedto smother I think, these statistics mangled which (tothem) variety that discussion, economic itself. in thefaceof poverty prosperity of trumpeting to thepoint draas nation forcefully, of the dismal the plight set forth They "the that as they complaining repeatedly could, poignantly matically, havealready Kingdom, the all over ofTenants andracking screwing "havealready given tobe had-the people wasno money there that Stockings, their Shoes,their their Butter, flesh, bread,their their Landand Housesto pay their housefurniture beds,their their canbe gotfrom them, See howanymore andTaxes,I cannot lords and orflay them andbuttermilk potatoes we takeawaytheir except a evinced these with they But protests, Skins."55 along Sell their on of the counterattacks As the author realism. gloomy tough, with one another, in their "AllNations Dealings confessed, Browne
of this remarkfooled (1716), p. 17. The savage vituperation 55Observations Dickson into believingthat it was by Swift (p. 30). But it is the concluding of its invective The intensity of King's 1716 drafton Irish taxation. statement in his age as aciditywas not as uncommon thatSwift's particular demonstrates imagine. we often

thanthePeasants People to a WorseCondition themiserable reduced and Poland" (IX, 21), insisting in France,or theVassalsin Germany

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SWIFT AND THE POPULATION OF IRELAND

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everreadyto maybe said to be as it werein a Stateof Nature; themto aggrandize thatmayoffer, lay holdof anyOpportunity the voicing observed, p. 109). Or, as Sheridan (Collection, selves" reports to his "IftheBayliff ofhisparty, dreadofall those lurking itcan hardly in Reality when theOx is fatandstrong, that Master, willbe that Command tothink, itsownLegs,is itnotnatural carry Load tobe putupon it?"(Intelligencer, for a greater given, p. 65).
PurdueUniversity

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