TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOHN LORD SOMMERS,, BARON OF EVESHAM. I MY LORD, SHOULD not act the part of an impartial! Spectator, if I dedicated the following pa-pers to one who is not of the most confum-mate and most acknowledged merit. 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 ufe-ful 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 fhun applaufe, as he is affiduous to deserve it. But, my Lord, this is perhaps VOL. I.. t: a 2 the the only particular in which your prudence will be always difappointed. While juftice, candour, equanimity, a zeal for the good of your country, and the most perfuafive eloquence in bringing over others to it, are valuable diftinctions, you are not to expect that the public will fo far comply with your inclinations, as to forbear celebrating. ⚫ fuch extraordinary qualities. It is in vain that you have endeavoured to conceal your share of merit, in the many national fervices which you have effected. Do what you will, the prefent age will be talking of your virtues, though pofterity alone will do them justice. Other men pafs 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 hap pen to your Lordship, who could bring into the fervice of your fovereign, the arts and policies of ancient Greece and Rome; as well as the most exact knowledge of our own conftitution in particular, and of the interefts of Europe in general; to which I must also add, a certain dignity in yourself, that (to fay the leaft of it) has been always equal to those great great honours which have been conferred up on 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 civil power, in the late and prefent reign, has been indebted to your counfels and wisdom.. But to enumerate the great advantages which the public has received from your administration, would be a more proper work for an history than for an address of this na ture.. Your Lordship appears as great in your private life, as in the most important offices which you have borne. I would therefore ra ther chuse to speak of the pleasure you afford all who are admitted into your converfation, of your elegant tafte in all the polite parts of learning, of your great humanity and com placency of manners, and of the furprising influence which is peculiar to you in making every one who converses with your Lordship prefer you to himself, without thinking the lefs meanly of his own talents. But if I fhould take notice of all that might be observ ed |