The Colonisation of Ireland (years 1670-1680)
Let the Irish know, That there are, ever were, and will be men discontented with their present Conditions in England, and ready for any Exploit and Change, more than are sufficient to quell any Insurrection they can make and abide by.
Wherefore, declining all Military means of setling and securing Ireland in peace and Plenty, what we offer shall tend to the transmuting one People into the other, and the thorough union of Interests upon natural and lasting Principles [...]
There are among the 600 M. above-mentioned of the poor Irish, not above 20 M. of unmarried marriageable Women; nor would above two thousand per Ann. grow and become such. Wherefore if ½ the said Women were in one year, and ½ the next transported into England, and disposed of one to each Parish, and as many English brought back and married to the Irish, as would improve their Dwelling but to an House and Garden of 3£. value, the whole Work of natural Transmutation and Union would in 4 or 5 years be accomplished.
The charge of making the exchange would not be 20,000 l. per Ann. which is about 6 Weeks Pay of the present or late Armies in Ireland.
Extract from William Petty, Œuvres économiques, Paris, 1905, vol. II, p. 176-177.
The Economic Writings of Sir William Petty Ed. Charles Henry Hull available online courtesy of The Online Library of Liberty : The Political Anatomy of Ireland Chap. V.
