TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE

THE LORD MAYOR,

THE WORSHIP FUL

THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN,

THE SHERIF S,

COMMONS AND CITIZENS

Of the Hon. the City of DUBLIN.

MY LORD and GENTLEMEN!

OON after Leave was given, by the House

So

of Commons, to bring in Heads of a Bill for the better Regulation of the feveral Trades, Arts and Manufactures, and for the better fecuring the Freedom and Rights of this city; I observed Numbers fuch utter Strangers, and some fo intirely averse, to our Freedom and Rights, that I found myself under the disagreeable Neceffity of making a hafty and incorrect Publication of the following little Tract; in order to furnish the Friends of the City with proper Arguments to fupport the Bill, and to filence the Clamors of our Opponents.

1 am now happy in finding, it has, in fore Measure, answered both these defirable Ends.

And as the quick Sale of the firft has caufed a Demand for a second Impreffion; I have taken the Advantage of the Leifure given me by the Recefs of Parlement to give a more correct Edition, and to add fome further Quotations of Law Cafes and Obfervations, in order to put our Demand in a still stronger and clearer Light, and to leave our Opponents no juft Cause of Complaint or even Sufpicion of any unjuft or unkind Difpofitions or Intentions towards them.

If there be any thing praise-worthy or meritorious in this little Performance, or in any other poor Effort of mine to ferve my King or Country; You have an undoubted Right to clame it as yours, while the Demerits are mine alone.

As good Masters may generally make good Servants; fo good Conftituents can never fail of making good Reprefentatives. It is with unfpeakable Gratitude and Refpect I do, and ever shall, remember the free, difinterefted and conftitutional manner, in which You invested me with that great and important Truft of your Representative in Parlement, and the generous Support You have ever fince afforded me, by the most fingularly honorable Teftimonies of your Approbation of my Political Conduct, the higheft Reward, a Public

Spirited

Spirited Man can receive, the only Reward, I ever did, or ever fhall, feek, on Earth.

To You then, MY GOOD LORD MAYOR, and WORTHY FELLOW-CITIZENS and FRIENDS, my Political Labors properly belong; to You, by juft Right, they are infcribed and dedicated, as a Public Teftimony of that invariable Duty and Affection, with which,

LIBERTIES AND CUSTOMS

O F

DUBLIN

Afferted and Demonftrated, &c.

A

S Cities are the Strength and Glory of every Na

tion, the Nurseries of Literature, Polity and Arts, the Seminaries of Commerce, and the Bulwarks of Liberty; it has been judged good Policy, in all Countries, whether barbarous or civilifed, to found and adorn Cities, and to distinguish the Citizens with peculiar Privileges, Liberties and Immunities.

The more refined the Policy of Nations, and the higher their Senfe and Eftimation of Freedom are found, the greater has their Solicitude ever proved to build, extend, ftrengthen and adorn Cities; and in order to induce Men to inhabit, to cultivate, to improve, and to defend them, it has ever been found neceffary to indue a certain Society of Men with certain Franchifes, Privileges, Immunities and Pre-eminencies, fuperior to Foregners or extern Men, to invest them with Powers, distinct from the ordinary Subjects, particularly with a Property in the Soil, and the local Government of the City, and fometimes with an ex clufive Right to Trade.

Without fuch Property, fuch diftinct and peculiar Rights and Privileges, with Power to govern, there could be no Inducement to form, to populate or defend a City.