He began in his characteristic way. All the evils that the laws
against the manufactures and agriculture of Ireland brought into
existence are summarized in this "Proposal." His business is not to
attack the laws directly, but to attempt a method by which these
shall be nullified. Since the manufactures of Ireland might not be
exported for sale, let the people of Ireland wear them themselves,
and let them resolve and determine to wear them in preference to
those imported from England. If England had the right to prevent
the importation to it of Irish woollen goods, it was surely only
just that the Irish should exercise then right to wear their own
home-made clothes! The tract was a reasonable and mild statement.
Yet, such was the temper of the governing officials, that a cry was
raised against it and the writer accused of attempting to disunite
the two kingdoms. With consistent foolishness, the printer was
brought to trial, and although the jury acquitted him, yet the Lord
Chief Justice Whitshed, zealous for his employer more than for his
office, refused to accept the verdict and attempted to force the
jury to a conviction. In his letter to Pope, dated January 10th,
1720-21, Swift gives an account of this matter:

"I have written in this kingdom, a discourse, to persuade the
wretched people to wear their own manufactures, instead of those
from England. This treatise soon spread very fast, being agreeable
to the sentiments of the whole nation, except those gentlemen who
had employments, or were expectants. Upon which a person in great
office here immediately took the alarm; he sent in haste for the
chief-justice, and informed him of a seditious, factious, and
virulent pamphlet, lately published, with a design of setting the
two kingdoms at variance; directing, at the same time, that the
printer should be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law. The