XIII. 1724. "If Mr. Wood's project should take, it would ruin CHAP. " even our beggars! Do you think I will sell you "a yard of tenpenny stuff for twenty of Mr. "Wood's halfpence? No, not under two hundred, "at least; neither will I be at the trouble of counting, but weigh them in a lump." 66 Even so clear a proof as the public assay at the Mint is called impudent and insupportable.-" If I "were to buy a hundred sheep, and the grazier "should bring me one single wether fat and well fleeced, by way of pattern, and expect the same price round for the whole hundred, even for those "that were lean, or shorn, or scabby, I would be "none of his customer. I have heard of a man who "had a mind to sell his house, and therefore carried "a piece of brick in his pocket, which he showed "as a pattern, to encourage purchasers; and this "is directly the case in point with Mr. Wood's 66 assay." It is to be observed that the Government had not used any compulsion with respect to this coin; their orders were only to allow it currency with those who might be willing to receive it. Yet the Drapier takes care to drop an insinuation of force: "I hope the words voluntary and willing to re"ceive it will be understood and applied in their "true natural meaning, as commonly understood by Protestants: for, if a fierce Captain comes VOL. II. Walpole to Townshend, October 26. 1723. H CHAP. "to my shop to buy six yards of scarlet cloth, XIII. 1724. "followed by a porter laden with a sack of Wood's "coin upon his shoulders; if we are agreed upon "the price, and my scarlet lies ready cut upon the "counter; if he then gives me the word of com"mand to receive my money in Wood's coin, and "calls me a disaffected Jacobite dog for refusing "it (though I am as loyal a subject as himself, "and without hire), and thereupon seizes my cloth, 'leaving me the price in this odious copper, and "bids me take my remedy; in this case, I shall 66 66 hardly be brought to think that I am left to my ❝own will. . . . It is probable that the first willing "receivers will be those who must receive it, "whether they will or not, under the penalty of "losing an office." This loyal subject is also full of apprehensions lest the King's ministers should "advise him to "take his revenues here, which are near 400,000l. "a year, in Wood's brass, which will reduce their "value to 50,000l." How it was possible that 400,000l. should be sent over in copper, which was only to be coined to the value of 40,000l., Swift does not explain, nor did his Irish readers inquire. All ranks caught the alarm; all distinctions of party were hushed; and the nation became united as one man. The Drapier, whose real author was soon whispered, was hailed as the Public Deliverer; and, according to the advice contained in one of the Letters, a Declaration was published, signed by many persons of station and property, denouncing Wood's coin, and warning CHAP, their tenants not to take it. XIII. It was in the midst of this storm that the new 1724. Viceroy, Lord Carteret, landed in October. He had instructions to use strong measures, if needful, to assert the authority of. Government; and he wanted neither skill nor spirit to perform them. Perceiving that the Drapier's Letters were the main root of the evil, he issued a proclamation against the last; offered a reward of 300l. for discovering the author; and caused Harding, the printer, to be apprehended. But the grand jury who were required to find a bill against Harding, unanimously threw it out, and were discharged by Chief Justice Whitshed with much passion. A popular lampoon was immediately levelled at the Chief Justice from the same invisible and powerful hand.* The agitation increased; and the next grand jury, so far from finding a bill against Harding, made a presentment against all persons who should, by fraud or otherwise, impose Wood's half-pence upon the people—a presentment which, it appears, had been drawn up by Swift himself. Such a spirit as now appeared in Ireland could neither be broken by force, nor melted by persuasion. After several attempts, and many consult * This lampoon turned upon his motto "Libertas et natale solum. "Fine words! I wonder where you stole'em! "Would nothing but your chief reproach "Serve as a motto on your coach ?" &c. Swift's Works, vol. x. p. 467. CHAP. ations, Carteret informed the Government that the XIII. affair was desperate, and that further perseverance 1724. could end only in rebellion and confusion. The Ministers, however reluctant to compromise the King's authority, had no alternative, and yielded the point by withdrawing the patent, while at the same time the resignation of Lord Midleton was accepted, and a pension of 3000l. granted to Wood, in compensation for his loss. Several modern writers, astonished at the overwhelming and irrational outcry against a beneficial project, have devised another motive to explain it, and suppose that Wood's patent was only the pretext; a peg on which to hang the question of the independence and equality of Ireland. But such a supposition is by no means consistent with the contemporary records. There can be no doubt that Wood's patent was considered a real and enormous grievance in itself; and the question of equality was merely brought on to point a period or to swell a complaint, or rather was provoked by a foolish sally of Wood, implying that Ireland was only a dependent "kingdom." Thus the question came on incidentally; and, when once raised, was keenly discussed. Certainly the cause of liberty in Ireland was promoted, in after years, by the stand successfully made on this occasion; but as it appears to me, there is no evidence to show that this cause was either the original, or at any time the principal, motive with the opponents of Wood. XIII. 1724 The sequel is, however, highly honourable to the CHAP. warm-hearted and generous Irish. Believing, however erroneously, that Swift had delivered them from a great public danger, their gratitude to him knew no bounds, nor ended even with his powers of mind. "The sun of his popularity," says a great poet, "remained unclouded, even "after he was incapable of distinguishing its radi"ance."* The Drapier's Head became a favourite sign; his portrait, we are told, was engraved, woven upon handkerchiefs, and struck upon medals (not of copper I presume). His health was quaffed at every banquet, his presence every where welcomed with blessings by the people. They bore with all the infirmities of genius, all the peevishness of age. In vain did he show contempt and aversion to those who thus revered him: in vain did he deny them even the honour of his birth-place, frequently saying, "I was not dropped in this vile country, but in "England." In vain did he sneer at the "savage "old Irish." No insult on his part could weaken their generous attachment. Even at this day, as I am assured, this grateful feeling still survives; and all parties in Ireland, however estranged on other questions, agree in one common veneration for the memory of SwIFT. Scarcely were the disturbances in Ireland appeased, before others broke out among the Scots. I have elsewhere mentioned the great unwillingness of that nation to bear their proportion of the * Sir Walter Scott's Life of Swift, p. 304. |