Feb. 18, 1729.
ADVERTISEMENT BY DR. SWIFT, IN HIS DEFENCE AGAINST JOSHUA, LORD
ALLEN.[112]
“Whereas Dr. Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, hath
been credibly informed, that, on Friday the 13th of this instant
February, a certain person did, in a public place, and in the hearing
of a great number, apply himself to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor
of this city, and some of his brethren, in the following reproachful
manner: 'My lord, you and your city can squander away the public money,
in giving a gold box to a fellow who hath libelled the government!' or
words to that effect.
“Now, if the said words, or words to the like effect, were intended
against him the said Dean, and as a reflection on the Right Hon. the
Lord Mayor, aldermen, and commons, for their decreeing unanimously, and
in full assembly, the freedom of this city to the said Dean, in an
honourable manner, on account of an opinion they had conceived of some
services done by him the said Dean to this city, and to the kingdom in
general,—the said Dean doth declare, That the said words, or words to
the like effect, are insolent, false, scandalous, malicious, and, in a
particular manner, perfidious; the said person, who is reported to have
spoken the said or the like words, having, for some years past, and
even within some few days, professed a great friendship for the said
Dean; and, what is hardly credible, sending a common friend of the Dean
and himself, not many hours after the said or the like words had been
spoken, to renew his profession of friendship to the said Dean, but
concealing the oratory; whereof the said Dean had no account till the
following day, and then told it to all his friends.”