TO THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

JOHN LORD SOMMERS,

BARON OF EVESHAM.

MY LORD,

I SHOULD not act the part of an impartial Spectator, if I dedicated the following papers to one who is not of the moft confummate and most acknowledged

merit.

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A

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None but a person of a finished character, can be the proper patron of a work, which endeavours to cultivate and polish human life, by promoting virtue and knowledge, and by recommending whatsoever may be either useful or ornamental to fociety.

I know that the homage I now pay You, is offering a kind of violence to one who is as folicitous to shun applause, as he is affiduous to deferve it. But, my Lord, this is perhaps the only particular in which your prudence will be always difappointed.

While justice, candour, equanimity, a zeal for the good of country, and the most persuafive eloquence in bringing over

your

others to it, are valuable diftinc-
tions, You are not to expect
that the Public will fo far com-
ply with
your inclinations as to
forbear celebrating fuch extra-
ordinary qualities. It is in vain
that You have endeavoured to
conceal your share of merit, in
the many national services which
You have effected. Do what
You will, the present age will
be talking of your virtues,
though pofterity alone will do
them juftice.

Other men pass through oppofitions and contending interests in the ways of ambition; but your great abilities have been invited to power, and importuned to accept of advancement. Nor is it

ftrange that this should happen to your Lordship, who could bring into the service of your Sovereign the arts and policies of ancient GREECE and ROME; as well as the most exact knowledge of our own constitution in particular, and of the interests of EUROPE in general; to which I must also add, a certain dignity in Yourself, that (to say the least of it) has been always equal to thofe great honours which have been conferred upon You.

It is very well known how much the Church owed to You, in the most dangerous day it ever faw, that of the arraignment of its prelates; and how far the