AModestProposalforpreventingthechildrenofpoorpeopleinIreland，frombeingaburdenontheirparentsorcountry，andformakingthembeneficialtothepublick。
byDr。JonathanSwift。1729
Itisamelancholyobjecttothose，whowalkthroughthisgreattown，ortravelinthecountry，whentheyseethestreets，theroadsandcabbin-doorscrowdedwithbeggarsofthefemalesex，followedbythree，four，orsixchildren，allinrags，andimportuningeverypassengerforanalms。Thesemothersinsteadofbeingabletoworkfortheirhonestlivelihood，areforcedtoemployalltheirtimeinstrolingtobegsustenancefortheirhelplessinfantswho，astheygrowup，eitherturnthievesforwantofwork，orleavetheirdearnativecountry，tofightforthePretenderinSpain，orsellthemselvestotheBarbadoes。
Ithinkitisagreedbyallparties，thatthisprodigiousnumberofchildreninthearms，oronthebacks，orattheheelsoftheirmothers，andfrequentlyoftheirfathers，isinthepresentdeplorablestateofthekingdom，averygreatadditionalgrievance；andthereforewhoevercouldfindoutafair，cheapandeasymethodofmakingthesechildrensoundandusefulmembersofthecommon-wealth，woulddeservesowellofthepublick，astohavehisstatuesetupforapreserverofthenation。
Butmyintentionisveryfarfrombeingconfinedtoprovideonlyforthechildrenofprofessedbeggars：itisofamuchgreaterextent，andshalltakeinthewholenumberofinfantsatacertainage，whoarebornofparentsineffectaslittleabletosupportthem，asthosewhodemandourcharityinthestreets。
Astomyownpart，havingturnedmythoughtsformanyyears，uponthisimportantsubject，andmaturelyweighedtheseveralschemesofourprojectors，Ihavealwaysfoundthemgrosslymistakenintheircomputation。Itistrue，achildjustdroptfromitsdam，maybesupportedbyhermilk，forasolaryear，withlittleothernourishment：atmostnotabovethevalueoftwoshillings，whichthemothermaycertainlyget，orthevalueinscraps，byherlawfuloccupationofbegging；anditisexactlyatoneyearoldthatIproposetoprovidefortheminsuchamanner，as，insteadofbeingachargeupontheirparents，ortheparish，orwantingfoodandraimentfortherestoftheirlives，theyshall，onthecontrary，contributetothefeeding，andpartlytothecloathingofmanythousands。
Thereislikewiseanothergreatadvantageinmyscheme，thatitwillpreventthosevoluntaryabortions，andthathorridpracticeofwomenmurderingtheirbastardchildren，alas！toofrequentamongus，sacrificingthepoorinnocentbabes，Idoubt，moretoavoidtheexpencethantheshame，whichwouldmovetearsandpityinthemostsavageandinhumanbreast。
Thenumberofsoulsinthiskingdombeingusuallyreckonedonemillionandahalf，oftheseIcalculatetheremaybeabouttwohundredthousandcouplewhosewivesarebreeders；fromwhichnumberIsubtractthirtythousandcouple，whoareabletomaintaintheirownchildren，（althoughIapprehendtherecannotbesomany，underthepresentdistressesofthekingdom）butthisbeinggranted，therewillremainanhundredandseventythousandbreeders。Iagainsubtractfiftythousand，forthosewomenwhomiscarry，orwhosechildrendiebyaccidentordiseasewithintheyear。Thereonlyremainanhundredandtwentythousandchildrenofpoorparentsannuallyborn。Thequestionthereforeis，Howthisnumbershallbereared，andprovidedfor？which，asIhavealreadysaid，underthepresentsituationofaffairs，isutterlyimpossiblebyallthemethodshithertoproposed。Forwecanneitheremploytheminhandicraftoragriculture；weneitherbuildhouses，（Imeaninthecountry）norcultivateland：theycanveryseldompickupalivelihoodbystealingtilltheyarriveatsixyearsold；exceptwheretheyareoftowardlyparts，althoughIconfesstheylearntherudimentsmuchearlier；duringwhichtimetheycanhoweverbeproperlylookedupononlyasprobationers：AsIhavebeeninformedbyaprincipalgentlemaninthecountyofCavan，whoprotestedtome，thatheneverknewaboveoneortwoinstancesundertheageofsix，eveninapartofthekingdomsorenownedforthequickestproficiencyinthatart。
Iamassuredbyourmerchants，thataboyoragirlbeforetwelveyearsold，isnosaleablecommodity，andevenwhentheycometothisage，theywillnotyieldabovethreepounds，orthreepoundsandhalfacrownatmost，ontheexchange；whichcannotturntoaccounteithertotheparentsorkingdom，thechargeofnutrimentsandragshavingbeenatleastfourtimesthatvalue。
Ishallnowthereforehumblyproposemyownthoughts，whichI
hopewillnotbeliabletotheleastobjection。
IhavebeenassuredbyaveryknowingAmericanofmyacquaintanceinLondon，thatayounghealthychildwellnursed，is，atayearold，amostdeliciousnourishingandwholesomefood，whetherstewed，roasted，baked，orboiled；andImakenodoubtthatitwillequallyserveinafricasie，oraragoust。
Idothereforehumblyofferittopublickconsideration，thatofthehundredandtwentythousandchildren，alreadycomputed，twentythousandmaybereservedforbreed，whereofonlyonefourthparttobemales；whichismorethanweallowtosheep，blackcattle，orswine，andmyreasonis，thatthesechildrenareseldomthefruitsofmarriage，acircumstancenotmuchregardedbyoursavages，therefore，onemalewillbesufficienttoservefourfemales。Thattheremaininghundredthousandmay，atayearold，beofferedinsaletothepersonsofqualityandfortune，throughthekingdom，alwaysadvisingthemothertoletthemsuckplentifullyinthelastmonth，soastorenderthemplump，andfatforagoodtable。Achildwillmaketwodishesatanentertainmentforfriends，andwhenthefamilydinesalone，theforeorhindquarterwillmakeareasonabledish，andseasonedwithalittlepepperorsalt，willbeverygoodboiledonthefourthday，especiallyinwinter。
Ihavereckoneduponamedium，thatachildjustbornwillweigh12pounds，andinasolaryear，iftolerablynursed，encreasethto28pounds。
Igrantthisfoodwillbesomewhatdear，andthereforeveryproperforlandlords，who，astheyhavealreadydevouredmostoftheparents，seemtohavethebesttitletothechildren。
Infant\'sfleshwillbeinseasonthroughouttheyear，butmoreplentifulinMarch，andalittlebeforeandafter；forwearetoldbyagraveauthor，aneminentFrenchphysician，thatfishbeingaprolifickdyet，therearemorechildrenborninRomanCatholickcountriesaboutninemonthsafterLent，themarketswillbemoregluttedthanusual，becausethenumberofPopishinfants，isatleastthreetooneinthiskingdom，andthereforeitwillhaveoneothercollateraladvantage，bylesseningthenumberofPapistsamongus。
Ihavealreadycomputedthechargeofnursingabeggar\'schild（inwhichlistIreckonallcottagers，labourers，andfour-fifthsofthefarmers）tobeabouttwoshillingsperannum，ragsincluded；andIbelievenogentlemanwouldrepinetogivetenshillingsforthecarcassofagoodfatchild，which，asIhavesaid，willmakefourdishesofexcellentnutritivemeat，whenhehathonlysomeparticularfriend，orhisownfamilytodinewithhim。Thusthesquirewilllearntobeagoodlandlord，andgrowpopularamonghistenants，themotherwillhaveeightshillingsneatprofit，andbefitforworktillsheproducesanotherchild。
Thosewhoaremorethrifty（asImustconfessthetimesrequire）
mayfleathecarcass；theskinofwhich，artificiallydressed，willmakeadmirableglovesforladies，andsummerbootsforfinegentlemen。
AstoourCityofDublin，shamblesmaybeappointedforthispurpose，inthemostconvenientpartsofit，andbutcherswemaybeassuredwillnotbewanting；althoughIratherrecommendbuyingthechildrenalive，anddressingthemhotfromtheknife，aswedoroastingpigs。