This letter from ‘Andrew Trueman’ and ‘Patrick Layfield’, sent to Swift in April or May 1729, then printed in the Dublin Weekly Journal by its pseudonymous author or authors, is the origin of Swift's An Answer to Several Letters from Unknown Persons (above, pp. 108–18); the correspondents appear to be differently named versions of ‘Andrew Dealer’ and ‘Patrick Pennyless’, whose previous writings to Swift, which have not survived, inspired the writing of Intelligencer 19.

Sir,

The following is from a Country Farmer as you may observe by its plainness; its View seems intended as a Warning to remove the Cause of the Things complained of, which is hardly wished for by all true Lovers of their Country. Your inserting it in your Paper will be grateful to several, and in particular to

A Letter from some Farmers in the Country to a Gentleman in Dublin, shewing their Reasons for removing to the British Plantations in America, with other remarks & c.

SIR,

We receiv’d your Letter, wherein you desired to know the Cause why so many are grown fond of transporting themselves to America:2 in Obedience to your Commands we made Enquiry, and here send you as many of the Reasons as we could discover in the Country where we live, and hope you will pardon our Freedom, in expressing ourselves in the plain Terms and Language of the people.

About fifteen Years ago, many of our Friends and Acquaintance went with their Families to Pensilvania, from whom we have received many inviting Letters, which gave a fair Description of that Country, and much the same with a Book Entituled, An Account of the British Empire in America. Printed at London in the Year, 1708.3 These Letters fraught with Invitations and Encomiums on that happy Settlement, assure us of the abundance of all Necessaries, and Conveniences of Life, and that without the Dread of the Racking Landlord, and Griping Tythmaster. The Tenures of land are to them and their Posterity for ever; so that there are no vexatious Covenants in Leases, No: mina penas, Heriots, Duties, or such base Impositions.