66 66 ceal the appearance of art. The author speaks of himself as a poor ignorant shopkeeper utterly unskilled in law;" he appears throughout a quiet man startled from his station by the common danger, — 66 as when," he says, a house is attempted to be robbed, it often happens the "weakest in the family runs first to stop the door." The style is plain and simple; the deductions easy and suited to the understandings of all; and the strokes of satire with which it abounds are the more pungent, as seeming not to be designed. So far from leaving any handle to be called a party man, he always refers with much respect to the Ministers, and with no less loyalty to the King, "for we never had one more gracious." The stubborn facts against him are moulded with the highest skill; he attempts to prove, or (what is quite as effectual when a ferment is once raised) he assumes as proved, that the patent itself is iniquitous; that, moreover, its terms have been grossly violated by the patentee; that the halfpence are six parts out of seven base; that Wood will hereafter be able to buy all our goods for eleven parts in twelve under the value." Wood himself from a proprietor of iron works becomes a hardware-man and tinker! His copper is turned into brass! The people are told that they will soon have no meat to feed them, unless they can eat brass as ostriches do iron! "If "Mr. Wood's project should take, it would ruin 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 66 66 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 there"fore 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 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 vo"luntary and willing to receive it will be understood "and applied in their true natural meaning, as commonly "understood by Protestants: for, if a fierce Captain comes to my shop to buy six yards of scarlet cloth, "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 command 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 hardly be brought to think that I am left to my own will. . . . It is probable that the first willing re"ceivers will be those who must receive it, whether they "will or not, under the penalty of losing an office." 66 66 66 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 their ten ants not to take it. It was in the midst of this storm that the new 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 halfpence 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 consultations, Carteret informed the Government that the affair was desperate, and that further perseverance 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 30007. 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 * This lampoon turned upon his motto "Libertas et natale solum. "Fine words! I wonder where you stole 'em! "Serve as a motto on your coach ?" &c. Swift's Works, vol. x. p. 467. "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. 66 66 The sequel is, however, highly honourable to the 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 radiance. 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 Malt Tax, and the violent motion to which they had recourse in 1713. Since that time they had contrived, under various pretences, to evade payment of the duty, to the great envy and indignation of the English country gentlemen; until, in 1724, the subject was brought before the House of Commons by Mr. Brodrick, who proposed that, instead of the duty on * Sir Walter Scott's Life of Swift, p. 304. † See vol. i. p. 38. Malt in Scotland, there should be paid a duty of sixpence on every barrel of ale.* Walpole was by no means inclined to stir this agitating question; but finding the sense of the House against him, he acquiesced, taking care, however, to reduce the duty to three-pence, or one half of what Brodrick proposed. The money, it is said, was wanted partly to defray an allowance of ten guineas weekly, which Walpole used to give to every Scottish member during the Session, in order, as was alleged, to support the charge of their residence in London. These Scottish members were now told by Walpole, when they waited upon him, that they must find or acquiesce in some mode to make up this expense from the Scottish revenue; or else, as he expressed it, they must in future "tie up "their stockings with their own garters!"† But though the Scottish members might have excellent reasons for yielding to this impost, the Scottish people unhappily had none; and its result was a general irritation throughout the country, and a serious riot at Glasgow. The mob assembled in large numbers, shouting "Down with Walpole," and "Up with Seaforth!" they broke open and plundered the house of Mr. Campbell, of Shawfield, member for the City; and his cellar being unfortunately well-stocked, added fresh incitement to their fury. Two companies of foot, under Captain Bushell, had been sent from Edinburgh at the first apprehension of a tumult; these were now surrounded by the mob, and fiercely assailed with stones and other missiles, until the soldiers, being compelled in self-defence to fire, killed nine persons, and wounded many more. Nevertheless, the mob seemed exasperated rather than dismayed; and Captain Bushell was compelled to retire to Dumbarton Castle, still pursued, and pelted by the rabble during a part of the way. Commons' Journals, vol. xx. pp. 359. 374. † Lockhart's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 141., and Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather, third series, vol. ii. p. 150. "Had Mr. Campbell himself been in town," says Lockhart, "they had certainly Dewitted him." (Mem. vol. ii. p. 162.) He coins this new term from the savage murder of the two De Witts by the mob in Holland. Thank God! we have no such English word. |