freedom box / John Philpott Curran, 1795

Freedom box, silver, by Edward Rice, Dublin 1795. Presented to John Philpott Curran in 1795. In the form of a book. Engraved on front: RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY THAT THIS CORPORATION BEING ESSENTIALLY INTERESTED IN THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS DO PRESENT ITS FREEDOM TO JNO PHILPOT CURRAN ESQ. IN TESTIMONY OF THE HIGH VALUE WHICH THEY SET UPON HIS FREQUENT AND BRILLIANT EXERTIONS IN ITS SUPPORT AS WELL AS IN THAT OF GENERAL LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT. Engraved on the back: 6th JANY. 1795 CORPORATION OF CUTLERS PAINTER-STAINERS & STATIONERS OR GUILD OF ST. LUKE, DUBLIN with the arms of the Corporation and ADAM SOMERVILLE, MASTER, SIMON STROKER, GEORGE BURNET, WARDENS.;