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Ad 2.3 Pro & at 3

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THOMAS Earl of WHARTON.

My LORD,

T

HE Author of the Spectator having prefixed before each of his Volumes the Name of some great Person to whom he has particular Obligations, lays his Claim to Your Lordship's Patronage upon the same Account. I must confess, my Lord, had not I already receiv'd great Instances of Your Favour, I should have been afraid of submitting a Work of this Nature to Your Perusal You are so throughly acquainted with the Characters of Men, and all the Parts of Humane Life, that it is impossible for the least Mis representation of them to escape Your Notice. It is Your Lordship's particular Distinction, that You are Master of the whole Compass of Business, and have signalized Your Self in all the different Scenes of it, We admire some for the Dignity, others for the Popu larity of their Behaviour; some for their Clearness of Judgment, others for their Happiness of Expression; some for the laying of Schemes, and others for the putting of them in Execution: It is Your Lordship only who enjoys these several Talents united, and that too in as great Perfection as others possess them singly. Your Enemies acknowledge this great Extent in Your Lordship's Character, at the same Time that they use their utmost Industry and Invention to derogate from it. But it is for Your Honour that those who are now Your Enemies were always so, You have acted in so much Consistency with Your Self, and promoted the Interests of Your Country in so uniform a Manner, that even those who would mis represent Your generous Designs for the Publick Good, cannot but approve the Steadiness and Intrepidity with

III 166

* A

which

which you pursue them. It is a most sensible Pleasure to me that I have this Opportunity of professing my self one of Your great Admirers, and, in a very particular, Manner,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's most Obliged,

and most Obedient, Humble Servant, THE SPECTATOR

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