TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES LORD HALIFA X. MY LORD, IMILITUDE of manners and studies is ufu Sally mentioned as one of the strongest motives to affection and esteem; but the paffionate veneration I have for your Lordship, I think, flows from an admiration of qualities in you, of which, in the whole courfe of these papers, I have acknowledged myself incapable. While I bufy myself as a stranger upon earth, and can pretend to no other than being a looker-on, you are confpicuous in the busy and polite world, both in the world of men and that of letters. While I am filent and VOL. II. unobferved unobferved in public meetings, you are admired by all that approach you as the life and genius of the conversation. What an happy conjunction of different talents meets in him. whose whole difcourfe is at once animated by the strength and force of reason, and adorned with all the graces and embellishments of wit? When learning irradiates common life it is then in its heigheft ufe and perfection; and it is to fuch as your Lordship, that the sciences owe the esteem which they have with the active part of mankind. Knowledge of books in reclufe men, is like that fort of lanthorn which hides him who carries it, and ferves only to pass through secret and gloomy paths of his own; but in the poffeffion of a man of business, it is as a torch in the hand of one who is willing and able to fhew thofe, who are bewildered, the way which leads to their profperity and welfare. A generous concern for your country, and a passion for every thing which is truly great and noble, are what actuate all your life and actions; and I hope you will forgive me that I have an ambition this book may be placed in the library of fo good a judge of what is valuable, in that library where the choice is fuch, that that it will not be a disparagement to be the meanest author in it. Forgive me, my Lord, for taking this occafion of telling all the world how ardently I love and honour you; and that I am, with the utmoft gratitude for all your favours, My LORD, Your Lordship's Moft obliged, Moft obedient, and Moft humble fervant, THE SPECTATOR. |