To the RIGHT HONOURABLE

JOHN LORD SOMMERS,

BARON- of EVESHAM.

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MY LORD,
SHOULD not act the part of an impartial Spec-

tator, if I dedicated the following papers to one who is not of the most consunimate and most ac-* knowledged merit.

a fioris None but a perfon of a finished character, can be the proper patron of a work, which endeavours to cultivate and polifh human life, but promoting virtue and knowledge, and by recommending whatsoever may

be either useful or ornamental to fociocry.

I know that the homage I now pay You, offer ing a kind of violence to one who is

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 che

good of your country, and the most perfuasive eloquence in bringing over others to it, are valuable diftinctions, You are not to expeet that the publick will fo far comply with your inclinati. ons, as to forbear celebrating such extraordinary qualities. It is in vain that you have endeavoured Vol. I,

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to conceal your share of merit, in the many national services which you have effected. Do what you will, the present age will be talking of your virtues, though posterity alone will do them juftice.

Other men pass thro' 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 strange 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 constitution in particular, and of the interests of Europe in general; to which I must also add, a certain dignity in yourfelf, that (to say the least 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 late and present reiger, has been indebted to your counsels and wif: doin.

But to enumerate the great advantages which the: public has received from your administration,

. would be a more proper work for an history than. for an address of this nature.

• Your Lordfhip appears as great in your private life, as in the most important offices which you have borne. I would therefore rather chuse to speak of the pleasure you afford all who are admitted into your conversation, of your elegant tafte in all the polite parts of learning, of your great humanity and complacency of manners, and of the surprifing influence which is peculiar to You in making every one who converses with your Lordship prefer You to himself, without thinking the less meanly of his own talents. But if I should take notice of all that might be obferved in your Lordship, I fhould have nothing new to say upon any other character of distinction.

I am,

My LORD,

Your Lordship's

Most obedient,

most devoted,

humble Servant;

The SPECTATOR,