that I have often had you in my Thoughts, when I have endeavoured to Draw, in fome Parts of these Dis courfes, the Character of a Good-natured, Honest, and Accomplished 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 those Qualities which make a Man useful to Society, and of having had Opportunities of Exerting them in the most confpicuous Manner.

The great Part You had, as British Embassador, in Procuring and Cultivating the advantageous Commerce between the Courts of England and Por•

tugal,

tugal, has purchased you the lasting Efteem of all who understand the Intereft of either Nation.

Thofe 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 Addrefs in Horfemanfhip, 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 appeared only in one Nation. When it was your Province to act as Her Majesty's Minifter 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, A 2

the

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 Minister in the Action, and the good Offices done the Vanquifhed 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 Absence frequently talk these Things of You, and You cannot hide from us, (by the most discreet Silence in any Thing which regards your felf) that the frank Entertainment we have at your Table, your eafie Condefcention in little Incidents of Mirth and Diverfion, and general Complacency

of

of Manners, are far from being the greatest Obligations we have to you. I do affure You there is not one of your Friends has a Greater Senfe of your Merit in general, and of the Favours You every Day do us, than,