I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious5 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 present deplorable state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance6; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the common-wealth, would deserve so well of the publick, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation.
But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of professed8 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 those who demand our charity in the streets.
As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years, upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our projectors9, 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 nourishment10: at most not above the value of two shillings, which the mother may certainly get, or the value in scraps11, by her lawful12 occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose 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 likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions13, and that horrid14 practice of women murdering their bastard15 children, alas16! 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 savage17 and inhuman18 breast.
The number of souls in this kingdom being usually reckoned one million and a half, of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couple whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract thirty thousand couple, who are able to maintain their own children, (although I apprehend19 there cannot be so many, under the present distresses20 of the kingdom) but this being granted, there will remain an hundred and seventy thousand breeders. I again subtract fifty thousand, for those women who miscarry, or whose children die by accident or disease within the year. There only remain an hundred and twenty thousand children of poor parents annually21 born. The question therefore is, How this number shall be reared, and provided for? which, as I have already said, under the present situation of affairs, is utterly22 impossible by all the methods hitherto proposed. For we can neither employ them in handicraft or agriculture; we neither build houses, (I mean in the country) nor cultivate land: they can very seldom 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 rudiments23 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 renowned24 for the quickest proficiency25 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 pounds 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.
I shall now therefore humbly26 propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.
I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome27 food, whether stewed28, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust.
I do therefore humbly offer it to publick consideration, that of the hundred and twenty thousand children, already computed29, twenty thousand may be reserved 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 these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages30, therefore, one male will be sufficient to serve 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 plentifully31 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 fore7 or hind33 quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned 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 nursed, encreaseth to 28 pounds.
I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured34 most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.
Infant's flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful32 in March, and a little before and after; for we are told by a grave author, an eminent35 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 glutted36 than usual, because the number of Popish infants, is at least three to one in this kingdom, and therefore it will have one other collateral37 advantage, by lessening38 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, labourers, 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 squire39 will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants40, the mother will have eight shillings neat profit, and be fit for work till she produces another child.
Those who are more thrifty41 (as I must confess the times require) may flea42 the carcass; the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen.
As to our City of Dublin, shambles43 may be appointed for this purpose, 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 dressing44 them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.
点击收听单词发音
1 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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2 importuning | |
v.纠缠,向(某人)不断要求( importune的现在分词 );(妓女)拉(客) | |
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3 livelihood | |
n.生计,谋生之道 | |
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4 sustenance | |
n.食物,粮食;生活资料;生计 | |
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5 prodigious | |
adj.惊人的,奇妙的;异常的;巨大的;庞大的 | |
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6 grievance | |
n.怨愤,气恼,委屈 | |
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7 fore | |
adv.在前面;adj.先前的;在前部的;n.前部 | |
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8 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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9 projectors | |
电影放映机,幻灯机( projector的名词复数 ) | |
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10 nourishment | |
n.食物,营养品;营养情况 | |
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11 scraps | |
油渣 | |
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12 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
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13 abortions | |
n.小产( abortion的名词复数 );小产胎儿;(计划)等中止或夭折;败育 | |
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14 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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15 bastard | |
n.坏蛋,混蛋;私生子 | |
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16 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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17 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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18 inhuman | |
adj.残忍的,不人道的,无人性的 | |
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19 apprehend | |
vt.理解,领悟,逮捕,拘捕,忧虑 | |
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20 distresses | |
n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 );痛苦;贫困;危险 | |
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21 annually | |
adv.一年一次,每年 | |
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22 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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23 rudiments | |
n.基础知识,入门 | |
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24 renowned | |
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的 | |
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25 proficiency | |
n.精通,熟练,精练 | |
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26 humbly | |
adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地 | |
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27 wholesome | |
adj.适合;卫生的;有益健康的;显示身心健康的 | |
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28 stewed | |
adj.焦虑不安的,烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 );煨;思考;担忧 | |
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29 computed | |
adj.[医]计算的,使用计算机的v.计算,估算( compute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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31 plentifully | |
adv. 许多地,丰饶地 | |
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32 plentiful | |
adj.富裕的,丰富的 | |
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33 hind | |
adj.后面的,后部的 | |
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34 devoured | |
吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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35 eminent | |
adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的 | |
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36 glutted | |
v.吃得过多( glut的过去式和过去分词 );(对胃口、欲望等)纵情满足;使厌腻;塞满 | |
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37 collateral | |
adj.平行的;旁系的;n.担保品 | |
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38 lessening | |
减轻,减少,变小 | |
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39 squire | |
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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40 tenants | |
n.房客( tenant的名词复数 );佃户;占用者;占有者 | |
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41 thrifty | |
adj.节俭的;兴旺的;健壮的 | |
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42 flea | |
n.跳蚤 | |
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43 shambles | |
n.混乱之处;废墟 | |
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44 dressing | |
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料 | |
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