Addrefs of the inhabitants of the Liberty of the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick's, Dublin. W E the inhabitants of the liberty of the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick's, Dublin, and the neighbourhood of the fame, having been inform'd, by universal report, that a certain man of this city hath openly threatened and fworn before many hundred people, as well perfons of quality as others, that he refolves upon the firft opportunity, by the help of feveral ruffians, to murder or maim the Reverend the Dean of St. Patrick's our neighbour, benefactor, and head of the liberty of St. Patrick's, upon a frivolous unproved fufpicion, of the faid Dean's having written. fome lines in verfe reflecting on the faid man: Therefore we the faid inhabitants of the faid liberty, and in the neighbourhood thereof, from our great love and respect to the faid Dean, to whom the whole kingdom hath fo many obligations, as well as we of the liberty, do unanimously declare, that we will endeavour to defend the life and limbs of the faid Dean against the said man, and all his ruffians and murderers, as far as the law will allow; if he or any of them prefume to come into the faid liberty with any wicked malicious intent against the house, or family, or perfon, or goods of the faid Dean. To which we have chearfully, fincerely, and heartily, fet our hands. The Dean being in bed, very much indifpofed, and not able to receive the faid perfons, dictated the following answer. Gentlemen, I receive with great thankfulness these many kind expreffions of your concern for my fafety, as well as your declared refolution to defend me (as far as the laws of God and man will allow) against all murVOL. I. G derers derers and ruffians, who fhall attempt to enter into the liberty with any bloody or wicked defigns, upon my life, my limbs, my houfe, or my goods. Gentlemen, my life is in the hands of God, and whether it may be cut off by treachery or open violence, or by the common way of other men; as long as it continues I fhall ever bear a grateful memory for this favour you have fhewn, beyond my expectation, and almoft exceeding my wifhes. The inhabitants of the liberty as well as thofe of the neighbourhood, have lived with me in great amity for near twenty years; which I am confident will never diminish during my life. I am chiefly forry that by two cruel diforders of deafness and giddinefs, which have purfued me for four months, I am not in a condition either to hear, or to receive you, much lefs to return my moft fincere acknowledgments, which in juftice and gratitude I ought to do." May God blefs you and your families in this world, and make you for ever happy in the next. A An Account of a Battle between the Antient and Modern Books in St. James's Library. Basyma cacabafa eanaa, irraumifta diarbada caëota bafobor camelanthi. Iren. Lib. 1. C. 18. -Juvatque novos decerpere flores, Infignemque meo capiti petere inde coronam, With the Author's Apology; Lucret. And Explanatory Notes, by W. Wotton, B. D, and others, LONDON: Printed for CHARLES BATHURST, in Fleet-Street. MDCCLXVIII. |
