Papers to one who is not of the most confummate and most acknowledged Merit.

None but a Perfon of a finished Character, can be the proper Patron of à Work, which endeavours to Cultivate and Polifh Human Life, by promo-. ting Virtue and Knowledge, and by recommending whatsoever may be ei ther Useful or Ornamen

tal to Society.

I know that the Homage I now pay You, is offering a kind of Violence to one who is as follicitous to fhun Applaufe, as he is affiduous to deserve it. But, my Lord, this is perhaps the only Particular in which your Prudence will be always disappointed.

While Justice, Candor, Equanimity, a Zeal for the Good of your Country, and the most perfuafive Eloquence in bringing over others to it, are valua

ble Distinctions, You are not to expect that the Publick 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 Services which you have effected. Do what you will, the prefent Age will be talking of your Virtues, tho' Pofterity alone will do them Justice.

Other

Other Men pass through Oppofitions and contending Interests in the Ways of Ambition; but Your Great Abilities have been invited to Power, and im

portuned to accept of

Advancement. Nor is it

ftrange that this fhould

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 A 4

Con

Conftitution in particular, and of the Interefts of Europe in general; to which I must also add a certain Dignity in Your felf, that (to say the leaft of it) has been always equal to those 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 Civil Power, in the

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