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A Modest Proposal
by Jonathan Swift
A Modest Proposal for preventing the children of poor 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 those； who walk through this great
town； or travel in the country； when they see the streets； the
roads and cabbin…doors crowded with beggars of the female sex；
followed by three； four； or six children； all in rags； and
importuning every passenger for an alms。 These 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 sell themselves 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 present
deplorable state of the kingdom； a very great additional
grievance； 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 professed 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 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 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 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 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 apprehend there cannot
be so many； under the present distresses 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 annually 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 utterly
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 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 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 humbly 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 wholesome food； whether
stewed； 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 computed；
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 savages； 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
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 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 devoured 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
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； because the number of Popish
infants； is at leas