The House of Commons in England have frequently endeavoured to limit the number of members, who should be allowed to have employments under the Crown.  Several acts have been made to that purpose, which many wise men think are not yet effectual enough, and many of them are rendered ineffectual by leaving the power of re-election.  Our House of Commons consists, I think, of about three hundred members; if one hundred of these should happen to be made up of persons already provided for, joined with expecters, compliers easy to be persuaded, such as will give a vote for a friend who is in hopes to get something; if they be merry companions, without suspicion, of a natural bashfulness, not apt or able to look forwards; if good words, smiles, and caresses, have any power over them, the larger part of a second hundred may be very easily brought in at a most reasonable rate.

There is an Englishman[186] of no long standing among us, but in an employment of great trust, power, and profit.  This excellent person did lately publish, at his own expense, a pamphlet printed in England by authority, to justify the bill for a general excise or inland duty, in order to introduce that blessed scheme among us.  What a tender care must such an English patriot for Ireland have of our interest, if he should condescend to sit in our Parliament!  I will bridle my indignation.  However, methinks I long to see that mortal, who would with pleasure blow us all up at a blast:  but he duly receives his thousand pounds a year; makes his progresses like a king; is received in pomp at every town and village where he travels,[187] and shines in the English newspapers.

I will now apply what I have said to you, my brethren and fellow-citizens.  Count upon it, as a truth next to your creed, that no one person in office, of which he is not master for life, whether born here or in England, will ever hazard that office for the good of this country.  One of your candidates is of this kind, and I believe him to be an honest gentleman, as the word honest is generally understood.  But he loves his employment better than he doth you, or his country, or all the countries upon earth.  Will you contribute and give him city security to pay him the value of his employment, if it should be taken from him, during his life, for voting on all occasions with the honest country party in the House?—­although I must question, whether he would do it even upon that condition.

Wherefore, since there are but two candidates, I entreat you will fix on the present Lord Mayor.  He hath shewn more virtue, more activity, more skill, in one year’s government of the city, than a hundred years can equal.  He hath endeavoured, with great success, to banish frauds, corruptions, and all other abuses from amongst you.