n almost
every street; whether any decipherer would make the least doubt or
hesitation to explain it as I have done; whether any other Protestant
country would endure so public an instance of treason in the capital
city from such vulgar conspirators; and, lastly, whether Papists and
Jacobites of great fortunes and quality may not probably stand behind
the curtain in this dangerous, open, and avowed design against the
government. But I have performed my duty; and leave the reforming of
these abuses to the wisdom, the vigilance, the loyalty, and activity of
my superiors.][179]

A SERIOUS AND USEFUL SCHEME

TO MAKE AN

HOSPITAL FOR INCURABLES.

NOTE.

This piece, included by Sir Walter Scott for the first time among
Swift's writings, was, in the opinion of that editor, indisputably
the work of the Dean of St. Patrick's. The present editor sees no
reason to disagree with this judgement, and it is therefore
reprinted here. The original issue of 1733, printed by Faulkner
contained also Swift's "Petition of the Footmen in and about
Dublin," and had a lengthy advertisement of the Complete Works of
Swift which Faulkner was, at that time, projecting. It is
difficult, however, to understand why the tract was not included in
later editions of Swift's complete works. Sir Walter Scott puts
forward an explanation suggested by Dr. Barrett, who believed the
reason to have been, that this "_jeu d'esprit_ might be interpreted
as casting a slur on an hospital erected upon Lazors-Hill, now on
the Donny-Brook road near Dublin, for the reception of persons
afflicted with incurable maladies." The reason seems a poor one,
though it may have been as Dr. Barrett states. A better argument
might be found from the style and subject matter of the tract
itself. The style is strongly Swift's, and the subject of such an
hospital must certainly have occupied Swift's thoughts at this
time, since he left his fortune for the erection of a similar
building.

* * * * *

The text of the present edition is based on that of the volume
issued by Faulkner in 1733, compared with the Dublin reprint of the
following year.

[T. S.]

A

SERIOUS and USEFUL

SCHEME,

To make an

Hospital for Incurables,

OF

Universal Benefit to all His Majesty's Subjects.

*