None but a Perfon of a finished Character, can be the proper Patron of a Work, which endeavours to Cultivate and Polish Humane Life, by promoting Virtue and Knowledge, and by recommending whatsoever may be either Useful or Ornamental to Society.

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, Candor, Equanimity, a Zeal for the Good of your Country, and the most per

fuafive

you

fuafive 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 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 Juftice.

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.

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Nor is it ftrange

strange that this fhould happen to your Lordship, who could bring into the Service of your Sovereign the Arts and Polieies of Ancient Greece and Rome; as well as the moft exact Knowledge of our own Constitution in particular, and of the Interefts of Europe in general; to which I must also add, a certain Dignity in Yourfelf, that (to say 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 Civil Power, in the Late and Present

Reign,

Reign, has been indebted to your Counfels and Wisdom.

But to enumerate the great Advantages which the Public has received from your Adminiftration, would be a more proper Work for an Hiftory than for an Addrefs of this Nature.

Your Lordship appears as great in your Private Life, as in the most important Offices which You have born. I would therefore rather choose to speak of the Pleafure 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 furprising Influence which is peculiar to You in making

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making every one who converfes with your Lordship prefer You to himself, without thinking the lefs meanly of his own Talents. But if I fhould take notice of all that might be obferved in your Lordship, I should have nothing new to fay upon any other Character of Diftinction.

I am,

My LORD,

Your Lordship's

moft Obedient,

moft Devoted,

Humble Servant,

The SPECTATOR.