Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 10.djvu/117

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[ 109 ]

A


SERMON


ON


THE CAUSES


OF THE


WRETCHED CONDITION OF IRELAND[1].


PSALM cxliv, 13, 14.


That there be no complaining in our streets. Happy is the people that is in such a case.


IT is a very melancholy reflection, that such a country as ours, which is capable of producing all things necessary, and most things convenient for life, sufficient for the support of four times the number of its inhabitants, should yet lie under the heaviest load of misery and want our streets crowded with beggars, so many of our lower sort of tradesmen, labourers, and artificers, not able to find clothes and food for their families.

I think it may therefore be of some use to lay

  1. This is not very properly styled a sermon; but, considered as a political dissertation, it has great merit, and it is highly worthy of the subject, and the author.
before