Question

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 fricassee or a ragout.
You can find it aout in the essay of :"a modest proposal" by jonathan swift here http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html

Answer 1

what does this mean?

Answer 2

This proposal, where he suggests that the Irish eat their own children, is one of his most drastic pieces. He devoted much of his writing to the struggle for Ireland against the English hegemony.
But basically, he wrote it to prevent the children of poor people in Ireland
from being a burden to their parents or country, and to make them beneficial to the public.
It's really tragic, but it has some really interesting and thought-provoking points.

Answer 3

Hegemony: leadership; predominance.