Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 10.djvu/211

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A


LETTER


TO A


MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT


IN


IRELAND,


UPON CHOOSING A NEW SPEAKER THERE.


WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1708.


SIR,


YOU may easily believe I am not at all surprised at what you tell me, since it is but a confirmation of my own conjecture that I sent you last week, and made you my reproaches upon at a venture. It looks exceedingly strange, yet I believe it to be a great truth, that in order to carry a point in your house, the two following circumstances are of great advantage: first, to have an ill cause; and, secondly, to be a minority. For both these circumstances, are extremely apt to invite men, to make them assiduous in their attendance, watchful of opportunities, zealous for gaining over proselytes, and often successful;

which