thoughts, when I have endeavoured to draw, in fome parts of thefe difcourfes, the character of a good-natured, honeft, and accomplished Gentleman. But fuch representations give my reader an idea of a perfon blameless only, or only laudable for fuch perfec'tions as extend no farther than to his own private advantage and reputation. But when I fpeak of You, I celebrate one who has had the happiness of poffeffing alfo those qualities which make a man useful to fociety, and of having had opportunities of exerting them in the most confpicuous manner. The The great part You had, as British ambassador, in procuring and cultivating the advantageous commerce between the courts of England and Portugal, has purchafed You the lafting efteem 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 jufteft skill and judgment. The moft graceful addrefs in horfemanship, in the use of the fword, and in dancing, has been employed by You as lower arts, and as they have A 2 occa occafionally ferved to cover, or introduce the talents of a skilful minifter. But your abilities have peared only in one nation. it was your province to her not ap When act as Majefty's minifter at the court of Savoy, at that time incamped, You accompanied that gallant Prince through all the viciffitudes of of his his fortune, and fhared, by his fide, the dangers of that glorious day in which he recovered his capital. As far as it regards perfonal qualities, You attained, in that one hour, the highest military reputation. The behaviour of our minifter minifter in the action, and the good offices done the vanquished in the name of the Queen of England, gave both the conqueror and the captive the most lively examples of the courage and generofity of the nation he represented. Your friends and companions in your abfence frequently talk these things of You, and You cannot hide from us, (by the most discreet filence in any thing which regards yourself) that the frank entertainment we have at your table, your eafy condefcenfion in little incidents of mirth and diverfion, and general compla |