ty; in diminution to that credit and dignity
wherewith we have supported our station, as we always did, in the _worst
of times_.[183] And we further beg leave to remark, that this was
manifestly done with a seditious design, to render us less capable of
serving the public in any great employments, as several of our
Fraternity, as well as our ancestors have done.

We do therefore humbly implore your Honours, to give necessary orders
for our relief, in this present exigency, and your Petitioners (as in
duty bound) shall ever pray, &c.

Dublin, 1733.

ADVICE

TO THE

FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN,

IN THE CHOICE OF A MEMBER TO REPRESENT THEM IN PARLIAMENT.

WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1733.

NOTE.

Swift here argues that a holder of an office under the government
cannot, of necessity, be an honest representative of the people.
There were two candidates before the freemen for the suffrages of
the City, one, Lord Mayor French, and the other Mr. John Macarrell.
The latter was an office-holder; he was Register to the Barracks,
and received his salary from the government. It was not to be
expected that he would vote against his employer, be he never so
honest a man. Swift openly informs the freemen that the Drapier is
against this man. The Lord Mayor was elected.

* * * * *

The text of this "Advice" is based on that given in the eighth
volume of Swift's Collected Works, issued in 1746. The Forster
Collection contains a made-up booklet of pp. 196-205, taken from a
volume of one of the collected editions.

[T. S.]

ADVICE TO THE FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN, IN THE CHOICE OF A MEMBER
TO REPRESENT THEM IN PARLIAMENT.

Those few writers, who, since the death of Alderman Burton, have
employed their pens in giving advice to our citizens, how they should
proceed in electing a new representative for the next sessions, having
laid aside their pens, I have reason to hope, that all true lovers of
their country in general, and particularly those who have any regard for
the privileges and liberties of this great and ancient city, will think
a second, and a third time, before they come to a final determination
upon what person they resolve to fix their choice.

I am told, there are only two persons who set up for candidates; one is
the present Lord Mayor,[184] and the other, a gentleman of good estee