The Speech^2.1 of ADAM LOFTUS to the MAIOR AND ALDERMEN of DUBLIN, touching the Erection of an University soon after the Quarter Sessions of St. John the Baptist.

MR. MAIOR,

The aboundant joy which and yo $^{\mbox{\tiny r}}$worthy brethren expressed vpon the representacon I lately gave of her highness most gratiouse Intencon to erect an Vniversity of good Litterature in this Kingdome, assures me that what I have now to say vtno you will raise a Jubilee of rejoyceing in every of our affections.

What I have represented vnto you formerly you apprehended as y $^{\mbox{\tiny e}}$ happinesse of an equall communicacon in a Comon Benefitt: but what I am now to impart vnto you is that which speakes her highnesse designe to give you a particular advantage in participateing much more largely than others of that Comon benefitt intended to the nation by placeing the Seate of that Vuniversity within the neighbourhood of this her beloved Citty.

What advantage a Vniversity of Learning and other Comon Societyes and generall assemblyes Ordinarily bring to the place where in or nigh wherevnto they are scituated, is apparent in the grouth of prosperity in y $^{\mbox{\tiny e}}$Citty of Oxford, and towne of Cambridge, proporconable to the augmented number of Colledges and multiplicacon of Students therein.

And to argue from your owne experience, is it not cleere on the contrary that the late dissolution of Societyes hath occasioned a too sensible decay of Comerce in this Citty, and consequently hath diminished the wealth and grouth thereof though fully recompenced in another kinde by the blessing of a happy and glorious reformacon in religeon thereupon introduced.

Yow are alsoe sensible of the greate benefitt you receave by the constant residency of the Cheife authority and state of this Kingdome amongst you, in soe honourable a representation of Majesty and of Royall presence maintained by her highness bounty in a Port of splendour and magnificence.

Yow may further consider that the inhabitants of this Citty are in a greate measure maintained and releived by the holding four Tearmes in the yeare for the adminstracon of Justice in this place, whereunto resorte greate multitudes of people for the determinacon of causes and controversyes. And I know you are soe considerative as to apprehend how vnhappy this Citty would be were the Tribunals for the generall administracon of Justice removed hence into the remote partes of the Kingdome as it was once for the space of seven yeares in England from London to Yorke.

More over it might serve for an argument to convince you of the benefitt of Generall Assemblyes and publique Societies, if you will consider that the greate and generall Convencon of all the State of this Land the high Court of Parliament doth draw vnto this Citty, when here assembled, an extraordinary accesse of noble persons and others to the enriching of the Citty.

I haveing thus spread before you the large advantages accrueing to the Places where Vniversityes are founded, where the Seate of the State is established, the Tribunall of Justice setled, and Parliaments held, I hope you will accompt if noe extravagancy but a branch of naturall amplification to minde you of a thankfull acknowledgement to her Highnesse by whose Royall favour you have or may hope to enjoy every one of these benefitts. And it is my hearty desire that you would expresse yours and the Citties thankefullnesse to he Majestie in an act of soe much piety, as the free granting of a fitting Place whereon to found a Colledge, and the conveneiencyes that necessaryly belong vnto such a Society neere this Citty, whereby your memoryes will shine to posterity in the long lasting good worke you will thereby leave behind you: for a monument of this kind erected in parchment may be as durable as an Inscripcon graven in marble, you will thereby receave honour from the world; thankes from your Soveraigne Lady the Queene; approbation from your Enemies, and applause from your friends for that act; which will be rewarded with farr more then proporconable advantages of gaine to your selves, to your successors in their politique capacityes, and to yo $^{\mbox{\tiny r}}$posterity in the line of naturall propagation. Nay you will in this tyme of Reformacon dazle the eyes of the Papists with the Lustre of well doeing.