Headnote

Composed after February 1733; published 1733; copy text 1733 (see Textual Account).

The death of the incumbent, Swift's friend Alderman Francis Stoyte, in February 1733, dates this brief statement on the desired prerequisites in the Dublin Recorder, and the choice of his successor.

Swift's successful recommendation of Eaton Stannard, a lawyer and ‘patriot’ MP was a deliberate intervention (for Swift's wider support of Stannard, see Introduction, pp. xxxiii, lxxxviii, xci, xcviii). The Recorder's position within Dublin politics was an important one: he was not an MP, and the position was partly honorary, but for Swift the Recorder would nonetheless play an important role in representing the city during a time of considerable political agitation, and the securing of a ‘patriot’ as Recorder was of symbolic and possible political significance, given coming Mayoral and Aldermanic elections (and the possibility of a parliamentary election too).

SOME CONSIDERATIONS HUMBLY OFFERED TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD-MAYOR, THE COURT OF ALDERMEN, AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE HONOURABLE CITY OF DUBLIN, IN THE CHOICE OF A RECORDER.

The Office of Recorder to this City, being vacant by the Death of a very worthy Gentleman, it is said that five or six Persons are solliciting to succeed him in the Employment. I am a Stranger to all their Persons, and to most of their Characters; which latter, I hope, will, at this Time, be canvassed with more Decency, than it sometimes happens upon the like Occasions.

Therefore, as I am wholly impartial, I can with more Freedom deliver my Thoughts, how the several Persons and Parties concerned ought to proceed, in electing a Recorder for this great and antient City.

And, first, as it is a very natural, so I can, by no Means, think it an unreasonable Opinion, that the Sons, or near Relations of Aldermen, and other deserving Citizens, should be duly regarded as proper Competitors for an Employment in the City's Disposal, provided they be equally qualified with other Candidates; and provided, that such Employments require no more than common Abilities, and common Honesty. But in the Choice of a Recorder, the Case is entirely different.