Deanery House, Dublin,
August 15, 1737.
GENTLEMEN,
I received from you, some weeks ago, the honour of my freedom, in a
silver box, by the hands of Mr. Stannard; but it was not delivered to
me in as many weeks more; because, I suppose, he was too full of more
important business. Since that time, I have been wholly confined by
sickness, so that I was not able to return you my acknowledgment; and
it is with much difficulty I do it now, my head continuing in great
disorder. Mr. Faulkner will be the bearer of my letter, who sets out
this morning for Cork.
I could have wished, as I am a private man, that, in the instrument
of my freedom, you had pleased to assign your reasons for making choice
of me. I know it is a usual compliment to bestow the freedom of the
city on an archbishop, or lord-chancellor, and other persons of great
titles, merely on account of their stations or power: but a private
man, and a perfect stranger, without power or grandeur, may justly
expect to find the motives assigned in the instrument of his freedom,
on what account he is thus distinguished. And yet I cannot discover, in
the whole parchment scrip, any one reason offered. Next, as to the
silver box, there is not so much as my name upon it, nor any one
syllable to show it was a present from your city. Therefore I have, by
the advice of friends, agreeable with my opinion, sent back the box and
instrument of freedom by Mr. Faulkner, to be returned to you; leaving
to your choice whether to insert the reasons for which you were pleased
to give me my freedom, or bestow the box upon some more worthy person
whom you may have an intention to honour, because it will equally fit
everybody.
I am, with true esteem and gratitude,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and obliged servant,
JON. SWIFT.