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Updated: June 16, 2025
"CONTENT: "Whereas a wicked and malicious pamphlet, intituled A Letter to the whole people of Ireland, by M.B. Drapier, author of the Letter to the Shop-keepers, etc., printed by John Harding, in Molesworth's Court, in Fishamble Street, Dublin, in which are contained several seditious and scandalous paragraphs highly reflecting upon his Majesty and his Ministers, tending to alienate the affections of his good subjects of England and Ireland from each other, and to promote sedition among the people, hath been lately printed and published in this kingdom: We, the Lord-Lieutenant and Council do hereby publish and declare that, in order to discover the author of the said seditious pamphlet, we will give the necessary orders for the payment of three hundred pounds sterling, to such person or persons as shall within the specified six months from this date hereof, discover the author of the said pamphlet, so as he be apprehended and convicted thereby.
And as to reputation, certainly no man of worth and learning, would employ his pen upon so transitory a subject, and in so obscure a corner of the world, to distinguish himself as an author. So that I look upon myself, the Drapier, and my numerous brethren, to be all true patriots in our several degrees.
Swift never bothered himself about what his servants would say with regard to the authorship of the Letters. The text of the present reprint is based on that given by Sir Walter Scott, collated with the original edition and with that reprinted in "Fraud Detected" . Faulkner's text of 1735 has also been consulted. By M.B. Drapier. AUTHOR of the LETTER to the SHOP-KEEPERS, &c.
As to profit, I am assured by persons of credit, that the best ballad upon Mr. Wood will not yield above a groat to the author; and the unfortunate adventurer Harding, declares he never made the Drapier any present, except one pair of scissors. As to favour, whoever thinks to make his court by opposing Mr. Wood is not very deep in politics.
And this we shall continue to wish, when we dare no longer express our wishes; although there were no such mortal as a Drapier in the world.
He was from this important year the oracle of the traders, and the idol of the rabble, and by consequence was feared and courted by all to whom the kindness of the traders or the populace was necessary. The Drapier was a sign; the Drapier was a health; and which way soever the eye or the ear was turned, some tokens were found of the nation's gratitude to the Drapier.
To the Right Honourable the *Lord Viscount Molesworth.* By M.B. Drapier, Author of the Letter to the Shop-keepers, &c. They compassed me about also with Words of Deceit, and fought against me without a Cause. For my Love they are my Adversaries, but I give my self unto Prayer. And they have rewarded me Evil for Good, and Hatred for my Love. Psalm 109. v. 3, 4, 5.
His signature to the proclamation against the Drapier was justified by him when he said that the Drapier's letters tended to disturbance. The text here given of this letter is based on Faulkner's issue in vol. iv. of the 1735 edition of Swift's works. It has been collated with that given in the fifth volume of the "Miscellanies," printed in London in the same year.
I cannot say I was sorry to be disappointed in my search, because it is certain, I could be contented to depend only upon God and my prince and the laws of my own country, after the manner of other nations. But since my betters are of a different opinion, and desire further dependencies, I shall readily submit, not insisting on the exception I made of M.B. Drapier.
The text of this third letter is based on Sir W. Scott's, collated with the first edition and that given by Faulkner in "Fraud Detected." It has also been read with Faulkner's text given in the fourth volume of his edition of Swift's Works, published in 1735. Upon a PAPER, Call'd, The By. M.B. Drapier. AUTHOR of the LETTER to the SHOP-KEEPERS, &c.
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