The 1733 broadsheet that produced Swift's Observations Occasion’d by Reading a Paper (above pp. 288–92).

The CASE of the Woolen Manufacturers of the City of Dublin, and Liberties thereunto adjoyning, truly stated.

To the Nobility, and Gentlemen, and other Well-wishers to the Happiness and Prosperity of this Kingdom.

Nothing ismore apparent, at the first View, than that the Employment of theHands of the Poor, in any Nation, in some usefulManufacture, is highly conducive to theWelfare and Happiness of that Nation: There is an Interest attends it, which diffuses itself through the whole Community; because, by this Means, the remitting of several Sums of Money to other Countries, in order to be furnished with Conveniencies, is prevented; which helps to keep the Ballance of Trade as it should be.

Whereas, if the Imports of aNation bemore than its Exports, the Ballance of Trade must be consequently against it; which, in Time, will consume its Vitals, as it drains, by Degrees, its Substance from it.

Nothing is also more apparent, than that the greater the Encouragement is, which is given to the Consumption of any Manufacture, the greater Improvement will be made in that Manufacture; Poverty, and the Consequence of this, the Want of sufficient Materials, being grand Impediments in theWay of any Business.

This, your late Experience has fully proved to be true, since you were pleased to enter into that noble Agreement to countenance our Undertakings, and encourage the Industry of your own Poor.

Every Thing was going on successfully with us, and we thought ourselves extremely happy in your Benevolence; but there is a Storm now rising, which, we are greatly afraid, will turn all that Happiness we proposed to our selves into Misery; our Sun will soon set in Darkness, unless we can perswade you to interpose in our Behalf, and hinder our impending Ruin.

No doubt, ye are surprized at this, and cannot imagine what can alarm us now: But, the Custom-House Entries will soon discover the Occasion of it.

There it will appear, that too many make their own particular Interest the Measure of all their Actions, and care not how many starve, and perish, so they can but fill their own Pockets, and compleat their mercenary Projects.