nity of publishing the Gratitude I owe You, for the Place You allow me in your Friendship and Familiarity. I will not acknowledge to You that I have often had had You in my Thoughts, when I have endeavoured to Draw, in fome Parts of these Difcourfes, the Character of a Good-natur'd, Honest and Accomplish'd Gentleman. But fuch Reprefentations give my Reader an Idea of a Perfon blameless only, or only laudable for fuch Perfections as extend no farther than to his own private Advantage and Reputation. BUT when I speak of You, I Celebrate One who has had the Happiness of poffeffing also thofe Qualities which make a Man useful to Society, and of having had Opportunities of Exerting erting them in the most Confpicuous Manner, THE Great Part You had, as British Ambaffador, in Procuring and Cultivating the Advantageous Commerce between the Courts of England and Portugal, has purchased You the lafting Esteem of all who understand the Intereft of either Nation. THOSE Perfonal Excellencies which are over-rated by the ordinary World, and too much neglected by Wife Men, You have applied with the justest Skill and Judgment. The most graceful Address in Horfeman fhip, hip, in the Use of the Sword, and in Dancing, has been employed by You as lower Arts, and as they have occafionally ferved to cover, or introduce the Talents of a skilful Minister. BUT your Abilities have not appear'd only in one Nation. When it was your Province to Act as Her Majefty's Minister at the Court of Savoy, at that time encamped, You accompanied that Gallant Prince thro' all the Viciffitudes of his Fortune, and shared, by his Side, the Dangers of that Glorious Day in which he recovered his Capital. As far as it regards Perfonal |