TO THE

RIGHT. HONOURABLE

JOHN LORD SOMMERS,

BARON OF EVESHAM.

MY LORD,

I SHOULD not act the part of an impartial Spectator, if I dedicated the following papers to one who is not of the moft consummate and most acknowledged

merit.

-VOL. I.

A

chas B. Mc Intosh 263 1742 vi-b

None but a perfon 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 ufeful 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 applause, 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, candour, equanimity, a zeal for the good of your country, and the most persua

five 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 present age will be talking of your virtues, though pofterity alone will do them justice.

Other men pass 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 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 constitution in particular, and of the interests 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 thofe 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