Published in 1728, and the impetus behind Swift's An Answer to a Paper,Called AMemorial (above, pp. 27–39).

THE MEMORIAL Of the Poor INHABITANTS, TRADESMEN, and LABOURERS of the Kingdom of IRELAND.

Most Humbly sheweth,

That last Year, 1727, there was a very great Scarcity of Bread Corn That the Grainerys were exhausted; and were it not for the Supplys from Great- Britain, many of the Poor would have perished for want of Bread, which was so Dear in most Places, that Multitudes have sunk themselves so far in Debt for the support of their Familys, that they are now reduced to Beggary.

A Famine among the Poor, has often been the Occasion of Pestilential and contagious Distempers, whereby the Rich have become sharers in the general Calamity, as it happened of late in some of the Danish and Swedish Dominions, and other Places.

When Provisions fail, Trade and Industry ceases, Lands become waste; thus Landlords and Rich Men may soon be on the Level with the Poor Tennants and Cottiers.

People in Extremity often Robb, Plunder and Steal, rather than Starve; so that few will Escape it's dismal Effects.

Many were forced last Year to fall too soon upon their early Corn and Potatoes; and it is certain, that by the Wetness of the Season, heavy Rains, and other Accidents, a great part of the last Year's Crop of Corn was so hungary and Weak, that there is more than a third Part wanting of the usual Product as in other Years; and it is fear’d, that encouraging Tillage for the time to come, will not relieve the present Necessities of the Poor; and that the Merchants will not of themselves Import in due time, such Quantities of Grain, as may be Sufficient.

That the Price of Corn is risen so high in Great-Britain, that there is no hopes of Relief from thence as formerly; and we will need many more, than was last Year imported.

There is a good Premium offered for Exportation of Corn out of Great- Britain, and there is something allowed to that Purpose in this Kingdom, in favour of Tillage, when Corn is very Cheap.