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AModestProposalForPreventingtheChildrenofPoorPeopleinIreland,fromBeingaBurdenonTheirParentsorCountry,andforMakingThemBeneficialtothePublickByJonathanSwiftEditedandannotatedbyJackLynchSwiftwasIrish,andthoughhemuchpreferredlivinginEngland,heresentedBritishpoliciestowardtheIrish.InalettertoPopeof1729,hewrote,Imagineanationthetwo-thirdsofwhoserevenuesarespentoutofit,andwhoarenotpermittedtotradewiththeotherthird,andwheretheprideofthewomenwillnotsuffer[allow]themtoweartheirownmanufacturesevenwheretheyexcelwhatcomefromabroad:ThisisthetruestateofIrelandinaveryfewwords.HissupportforIrishcauseshasmadehimarenownedfigureinmodernIreland.Theparagraphnumbershavebeenaddedforthisedition.[1]ItisamelanchollyObjecttothose,whowalkthroughthisgreatTown,1ortravelintheCountry,whentheyseetheStreets,theRoads,andCabbin-Doors,crowdedwithBeggarsofthefemaleSex,followedbythree,four,orsixChildren,allinRags,andimportuningeveryPassengerforanAlms.TheseMothersinsteadofbeingabletoworkfortheirhonestlivelyhood,areforcedtoemployalltheirtimeinStroling,tobegSustenancefortheirhelplessInfants,who,astheygrowupeitherturnThievesforwantofwork,orleavetheirdearnativeCountrytofightforthePretenderinSpain,2orsellthemselvestotheBarbadoes.3[2]IthinkitisagreedbyallParties,thatthisprodigiousnumberofChildren,intheArms,orontheBacks,orattheheelsoftheirMothers,andfrequentlyoftheirFathers,isinthepresentdeplorablestateoftheKingdom,averygreatadditionalgrievance;andthereforewhoevercouldfindoutafair,cheapandeasymethodofmakingtheseChildrensoundandusefulMembersofthecommon-wealthwoulddeservesowellofthepublick,astohavehisStatuesetupforapreserveroftheNation.[3]ButmyIntentionisveryfarfrombeingconfinedtoprovideonlyfortheChildrenofprofessedbeggars,itisofamuchgreaterextent,andshalltakeinthewholenumberofInfantsatacertainAge,whoarebornofParentsineffectaslittleabletosupportthem,asthosewhodemandourCharityintheStreets.[4]Astomyownpart,havingturnedmythoughtsformanyYears,uponthisimportantSubject,andmaturelyweighedtheseveralSchemesofotherProjectors,4Ihavealwaysfoundthemgrosslymistakenintheircomputation.ItistrueaChild,justdroptfromit'sDam,5maybesupportedbyherMilk,foraSolaryearwithlittleotherNourishment,atmostnotabovetheValueoftwoShillings,whichtheMothermaycertainlyget,ortheValueinScraps,byherlawfulOccupationofbegging,anditisexactlyatoneyearOldthatIproposetoprovideforthem,insuchamanner,as,insteadofbeingaChargeupontheirParents,ortheParish,6orwanting7FoodandRaimentfortherestoftheirLives,theyshall,ontheContrary,contributetotheFeedingandpartlytotheCloathingofmanyThousands.[5]ThereislikewiseanothergreatAdvantageinmyScheme,thatitwillpreventthosevoluntaryAbortions,andthathorridpracticeofWomenmurderingtheirBastardChildren,alas!toofrequentamongus,SacrificingthepoorinnocentBabes,Idoubt,8moretoavoidtheExpence,thantheShame,whichwouldmoveTearsandPityinthemostSavageandinhumanbreast.[6]ThenumberofSoulsinthisKingdombeingusuallyreckonedoneMillionandahalf,OftheseIcalculatetheremaybeabouttwohundredthousandCouplewhoseWivesarebreeders,fromwhichnumberISubstractthirtyThousandCouples,whoareabletomaintaintheirownChildren,althoughIapprehend9therecannotbesomany,underthepresentdistressesoftheKingdom,butthisbeinggranted,therewillremainanhundredandseventythousandBreeders.IagainSubtractfiftyThousandforthoseWomenwhomiscarry,orwhoseChildrendyebyaccident,ordiseasewithintheYear.ThereonlyremainanhundredandtwentythousandChildrenofpoorParentsannuallyborn:Thequestionthereforeis,Howthisnumbershallbereared,andprovidedfor,which,asIhavealreadysaid,underthepresentSituationofAffairs,isutterlyimpossiblebyallthemethodshithertoproposed,forwecanneitheremploytheminHandicraft,orAgriculture;weneitherbuildHouses,(ImeanintheCountry)norcultivateLand:10theycanveryseldompickupaLivelyhoodbyStealinguntiltheyarriveatsixyearsOld,exceptwheretheyareoftowardlyparts,11although,IconfesstheylearntheRudimentsmuchearlier;duringwhichtimetheycanhoweverbeproperlylookedupononlyasProbationers,asIhavebeeninformedbyaprincipalGentlemanintheCountyofCavan,whoprotestedtome,thatheneverknewaboveoneortwoInstancesundertheAgeofsix,eveninapartoftheKingdomsorenownedforthequickestproficiencyinthatArt.[7]IamassuredbyourMerchants,thataBoyorGirl,beforetwelveyearsOld,isnosaleableCommodity,andevenwhentheycometothisAge,theywillnotyieldabovethreePounds,orthreePoundsandhalfaCrownatmostontheExchange,whichcannotturntoAccounteithertotheParentsortheKingdom,theChargeofNutrimentsandRagshavingbeenatleastfourtimesthatValue.[8]Ishallnowthereforehumblyproposemyownthoughts,whichIhopewillnotbelyabletotheleastObjection.[9]IhavebeenassuredbyaveryknowingAmericanofmyacquaintanceinLondon,thatayounghealthyChildwellNursedisatayearOld,amostdelicious,nourishing,andwholesomeFood,whetherStewed,Roasted,Baked,orBoyled,andImakenodoubtthatitwillequallyserveinaFricasie,orRagoust.12[10]Idothereforehumblyofferittopublickconsideration,thatofthehundredandtwentythousandChildren,alreadycomputed,twentythousandmaybereservedforBreed,whereofonlyonefourthparttobeMales,whichismorethanweallowtoSheep,blackCattle,orSwine,andmyr