Headnote

For this, the ‘genuine’ counterpart to Swift's 1722 hoax The Last Speech and Dying Words of Ebenezor Ellison, see Headnote to that work. The text is taken from the sole printing, a half-sheet printed in double columns on one side only, bearing the imprint ‘DUBLIN: Printed by John Harding in Molesworth’s-Court in Fish-shamble Street. For Elizabeth Sadlier in School-House Lane near Highstreet’.

THE LAST FAREWELL OF EBENEZOR ELLISTON TO THIS TRANSITORY WORLD.

It is an accustomary Thing for those who unfortunately end their Lives like me, to relate something of their past Life and Actions before they leave the World, and appear before the great GOD, who is the Searcher and Judge of our Actions whether Good or Evil; and as I am a dying Man, and expect in a few Moments to meet my Creator in the Face, where the Book of Remembrance will be laid open before me, wherein all my Sins is Recorded, but I trust the Blood of the immaculate Lamb my Saviour being innocently shed for my Sins will wash them away, the which I rely and depend on; and as I am now a Dying Man, what I have to Relate shall be nothing but the Truth. I was Born in the City of Dublin on or about the 10th of July, 1690, my Parents when living were so well-known in this City, that I need not give any further Account of them, only that they discharged their Duty to me whilst living, and their Death by their honest Endeavours left me a very handsome fortune, which with the Blessing of God, I and my family might have lived to the End of my Days very happy and contented; but for want of the Grace of God in the Year 1719 I unfortunately became acquainted with some young Men who had no other Way of Living but by Robbing and Plundering in and about the City of Dublin, some of whom are now living, and others Executed for their just Deserts on or about the 12th of March 1720.