The ‘Freedom’ of a city is an honour bestowed by a municipality on an important visitor or resident, usually in the form of a manuscript address contained within a decorated box or casket.

The lid is engraved with the arms of Ponsonby (gules, a chevron between three combs argent) impaling Cavendish (sable, three bucks’ heads cabossed argent) below a ducal coronet; the base with the coat of arms of the city of Dublin, three burning castles.

John Ponsonby (1713–1787) was the second son of Brabazon Ponsonby who was created Earl of Bessborough in 1739. He entered the Irish House of Commons for Newtownards in 1739 and was appointed Speaker in 1756, the same year that he was presented with this freedom box. In 1743 he married Lady Elizabeth Cavendish (1723–1796), daughter of William, 3rd Duke of Devonshire (1698–1755), his older brother William having married Lady Caroline, eldest daughter of the duke in 1739.

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