s task on some
of our citizens of greater abilities. But perhaps, sir, such a letter as
this may be, for the singularity of it, entertaining to you, who
correspond with the politest and most learned men in Europe. But I am
satisfied you will excuse its want of exactness and perspicuity, when
you consider my education, my being unaccustomed to writings of this
nature, and, above all, those calamitous objects which constantly
surround us, sufficient to disturb the cleanest imagination, and the
soundest judgment.

Whatever cause I have given you, by this letter, to think worse of my
sense and judgment, I fancy I have given you a manifest proof that I am,
sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

J. S.

THE SUBSTANCE

OF WHAT WAS SAID BY

THE DEAN OF ST. PATRICK'S

TO

THE LORD MAYOR AND SOME OF THE ALDERMEN,

WHEN HIS LORDSHIP CAME TO PRESENT THE SAID

DEAN WITH HIS FREEDOM IN A GOLD BOX.

NOTE.

It was only proper and fitting that the citizens and freemen of the
City of Dublin should express their sense of the high appreciation
in which they held the writer of the "Drapier's Letters," and the
man who had fought and was still fighting for an alleviation of the
grievances under which their country suffered. The Dublin
Corporation, in 1729, presented Swift with the freedom of the city,
an honour rarely bestowed, and only on men in high position and
power. To Swift the honour was welcome. It was a public act of
justification of what he had done, and it came gratefully to the
man who had at one time been abused and reviled by the people of
the very city which was now honouring him. Furthermore, such a
confirmation of his acts set the seal of public authority which was
desirable, even if not necessary, to a man of Swift's temper. He
could save himself much trouble by merely pointing to the gold box
which was presented to him with the freedom. Even in this last
moment, however, of public recognition, he was not allowed to
receive it without a snarl from one of the crowd of the many
slanderers who found it safer to backbite him. Lord Allen may have
been wrong in his head, or ill-advised, or foolishly over-zealous,
but his ill-tempered upbraiding of the Dublin Corporation for what
he called their trea