A MODEST
PROPOSAL
For preventing the children of poor
营业毛利people in Ireland,
from being a burden on their parents or
country,
and for making them beneficial to the
publick.
by Dr. Jonathan Swift
1729
It is a melancholy object to tho, who walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they
e the streets, the roads and cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female x, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every pasnger for an alms. The mothers instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in stroling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants who, as they grow up, either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or ll themlves to the Barbadoes.
I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the prent deplorable state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making the children sound and uful members of the common-wealth, would derve so well of the publick, as to have his statue t up for a prerver of the nation.
宝宝几个月长牙齿
But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of profesd beggars: it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age, who are born of parents in effect as little able to support them, as tho who demand our charity in the streets.
昔有愚人
As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years, upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the veral schemes of our projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation. It is true, a child just dropt from its
dam, may be supported by her milk, for a solar year, with little other nourishment: at most not above the value of two shillings, which the mother may certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propo to provide for them in such a manner, as, instead of being a charge upon their parents, or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall, on the contrary, contribute to the feeding, and partly to the cloathing of many thousands.
There is likewi another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent tho voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us, sacrificing the poor innocent babes, I doubt, more to avoid the expence than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast.
The number of souls in this kingdom being usually reckoned one million and a half, of the I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couple who wives are breeders; from which n
umber I subtract thirty thousand couple, who are able to maintain their own children, (although I apprehend there cannot be so many, under the prent distress of the kingdom) but this being granted, there will remain an hundred and venty thousand breeders. I again subtract fifty thousand, for tho women who miscarry, or who children die by accident or dia within the year. There only remain an hundred and twenty thousand children of poor parents annually born. The question therefore is, How this number shall be reared, and provided for? which, as I have already said, under the prent situation of affairs, is utterly impossible by all the methods hitherto propod. For we can neither employ them in handicraft or agriculture; they neither build hous, (I mean in the country) nor cultivate land: they can very ldom pick up a livelihood by stealing till they arrive at six years old; except where they are of towardly parts, although I confess they learn the rudiments much earlier; during which time they can however be properly looked upon only as probationers: As I have been informed by a principal gentleman in the county of Cavan, who protested to me, that he never knew above one or two instances under the age of six, even in a part of the kingdom so renowned for the quickest proficiency in that art.
I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or a girl before twelve years old, is no saleable commodity, and even when they come to this age, they will not yield above three pounds, or three po
unds and half a crown at most, on the exchange; which cannot turn to account either to the parents or kingdom, the charge of nutriments and rags having been at least four times that value.
short的比较级和最高级I shall now therefore humbly propo my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.
关于传统文化的作文>祝祖国I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nurd, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally rve in a fricasie, or a ragoust.
I do therefore humbly offer it to publick consideration, that of the hundred and twenty thousand children, already computed, twenty thousand may be rerved for breed, whereof only one fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle, or swine, and my reason is, that the children are ldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore, one male will be sufficient to rve four females. That the remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in sale to the persons of quality and fortune, through the kingdom, always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them
plump, and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and asoned with a little pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter.
I have reckoned upon a medium, that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in
a solar year, if tolerably nurd, encreath to 28 pounds.
I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, em to have the best title to the children.
Infant's flesh will be in ason throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after; for we are told by a grave author, an eminent French physician, that fish being a prolifick dyet, there are more children born in Roman Catholick countries about nine months after Lent, the markets will be more glutted than usual, becau the number of Popish infants, is at least three to one in this kingdom, and therefore it will have one other collateral advantage, by lesning the number of Papists among us.
I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar's child (in which list I reckon all cottagers, la
bourers, and four-fifths of the farmers) to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend, or his own family to dine with him. Thus the squire will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants, the mother will have eight shillings neat profit, and be fit for work till she produces another child.
狐狸狗Tho who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flea the carcass; the skin of which, artificially dresd, will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen.
As to our City of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpo, in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.
A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and who virtues I highly esteem, was lately plead, in discoursing on this matter, to offer a refinement upon my scheme. He said, that many gentlemen of this kingdom, having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the want of veniso
n might be well supply'd by the bodies of young lads and maidens, not exceeding fourteen years of age, nor under twelve; so great a number of both xes in every country being now ready to starve for want of work and rvice: And the to be dispod of by their parents if alive, or otherwi by their nearest relations. But with due deference to so excellent a friend, and so derving a patriot, I cannot be altogether in his ntiments; for as to the males, my American acquaintance assured me from frequent experience, that their flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our school-boys, by continual exerci, and their taste disagreeable, and to fatten them would not answer the charge. Then as to the females, it would, I think, with humble submission, be a loss to the publick, becau they soon would become breeders themlves: And besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice, (although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon cruelty, which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection against any project, how well soever intended.
But in order to justify my friend, he confesd, that this expedient was put into his head by the famous Salmanaazor, a native of the island Formosa, who came from thence to London, above twenty years ago, and in conversation told my friend, that in his country, when any young person happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to persons of quality, as a prime daint
y; and that, in his time, the body of a plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison the Emperor, was sold to his imperial majesty's prime minister of state, and other great mandarins of the court in joints from the gibbet, at four hundred crowns. Neither indeed can I deny, that if the same u were made of veral plump young girls in this town, who without one single groat to their fortunes, cannot stir abroad without a chair, and appear at a play-hou and asmblies in foreign fineries which they never will pay for; the kingdom would not be the wor.
Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diad, or maimed; and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what cour may be taken, to ea the nation of so grievous an incumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, becau it is very well known, that they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And as to the young labourers, they are now in almost as hopeful a condition. They cannot get work, and conquently pine away from want of nourishment, to a degree, that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labour, they have not strength to perform it, and thus the country and themlves are happily delivered from the evils to come.
I have too long digresd, and therefore shall return to my subject. I think the advantages by the pro
posal which I have made are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance.
For first, as I have already obrved, it would greatly lesn the number of Papists, with whom we are yearly over-run, being the principal breeders of the nation, as well as our most dangerous enemies, and who stay at home on purpo with a design to deliver the kingdom to the Pretender, hoping to take their advantage by the abnce of so many good Protestants, who have chon rather to leave their country, than stay at home and pay tithes against their conscience to an episcopal curate.
Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to a distress, and help to pay their landlord's rent, their corn and cattle being already ized, and money a thing unknown.
Thirdly, Whereas the maintainance of an hundred thousand children, from two years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby encread fifty thousand pounds per annum, besides the profit of a new dish, introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the kingdom, who have any refinement in taste. And the money will circulate among our lves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and manufacture.
Fourthly, The constant breeders, besides the gain of eight shillings sterling per annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year.
Fifthly, This food would likewi bring great custom to taverns, where the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best receipts for dressing it to perfection; and conquently have their hous frequented by all the fine gentlemen, who justly value themlves upon their knowledge in good eating; and a skilful cook, who understands how to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as expensive as they plea.
Sixthly, This would be a great inducement to marriage, which all wi nations have either encouraged by rewards, or enforced by laws and penalties. It would encrea the care and tenderness of mothers towards their children, when they were sure of a ttlement for life to the poor babes, provided in some sort by the publick, to their annual profit instead of expence. We should soon e an honest emulation among the married women, which of them could bring the fattest child to the market. Men would become as fond of their wives, during the time of their pregnancy, as they are now of their mares in foal, their cows in calf, or sow when they are ready to farrow; nor offer to beat or kick them (as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a miscarriage.
Many other advantages might be enumerated. For instance, the addition of some thousand carcass in our exportation of barrel'd beef: the propagation of swine's flesh, and improvement in the art of making good bacon, so much wanted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too frequent at our tables; which are no way comparable in taste or magnificence to a well grown, fat yearly child, which roasted whole will make a considerable figure at a Lord Mayor's feast, or any other publick entertainment. But this, and many others, I omit, being studious of brevity.
Supposing that one thousand families in this city, would be constant customers for infants flesh, besides others who might have it at merry meetings, particularly at weddings and christenings, I compute that Dublin would take off annually about twenty thousand carcass; and the rest of the kingdom (where probably they will be sold somewhat cheaper) the remaining eighty thousand.
耳朵的英文怎么读I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raid against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lesned in the kingdom. This I freely own, and 'twas indeed one principal design in offering it to the world. I desire the reader will obrve, that I calculate my remedy for this one individual Kingdom of Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be upon Earth. Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our abntees at five shillings a pound: Of using neither cloaths, nor houshold furniture, except what is o
f our own growth and manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence and temperance: Of learning to love our country, wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the inhabitants of Topinamboo: Of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken: Of being a little cautious not to ll our country and consciences for nothing: Of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy towards their tenants. Lastly, of putting a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shop-keepers, who, if a resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure, and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it.
Therefore I repeat, let no man talk to me of the and the like expedients, 'till he hath at least some glymp of hope, that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice.
But, as to my lf, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal, which, as it is wholly new, so it hath something solid and real, of no expence and little trouble, full in our own po
wer, and whereby we can incur no danger in disobliging England. For this kind of commodity will not bear exportation, and flesh
