Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 10.djvu/288

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[ 280 ]

A


LETTER


ON


MR. McCULLA'S PROJECT


ABOUT


HALFPENCE,


AND A NEW ONE PROPOSED.


IN A LETTER TO DR. DELANY.


WRITTEN IN 1729.


SIR,


YOU desire to know my opinion concerning Mr. McCulla's project, of circulating notes, stamped on copper, that shall pass for the value of halfpence and pence. I have some knowledge of the man; and, about a month ago, he brought me his book, with a couple of his halfpenny notes: but I was then out of order, and he could not be admitted. Since that time, I called at his house, where I discoursed the whole affair with him as thoroughly as I could. I am altogether a stranger to his character. He talked to me in the usual style, with a great profession of zeal for the publick good; which is the common cant of all projectors in their bills, from a first minister of state down

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