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For Meffrs. Payne, Rivington, Davis, Longman, Dodfley, White, Law, Robfon, Crowder, H. Baldwin, Johnfon, Nichols, Dilly, Robinson, Cadell, Stuart, Sewell, Murray, Flexney, R. Baldwin, Faulder, Goldsmith, Knox, Otridge, Hayes, Piguinet, M'Queen, Newbery, Lowndes, Edwards, and Stalker.

1789.

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TO

CHARLES, LORD HALIFAX*.

MY LORD,

SIMIL

IMILITUDE of manners and ftudies is ufually mentioned as one of the strongest motives to affection and efteem; but the paffionate veneration I have for your Lordship, I

* CHARLES MONTAGUE, grandfon to an Earl of MANCHESTER, was taken much notice of at Cambridge, for his "City and Country Moufe," a fatire on DRYDEN. Being brought to Court at the Revolution, he was conftituted one of the Lords Commiffioners of the Treafury, March 2, 1691-2; Chancellor of the Exchequer, in May 1694. The coin being exceedingly debafed and diminished, he formed the defign of calling in the money, and re-coining it, in 1695; which was effected in two years: to fupply the immediate want of cash, he projected the iffuing of Exchequer bills. For this fervice, he had the thanks of the houfe of Commons in 1697. He was next year appointed Firft Lord Commiffioner of the Treafury; and, refigning that poft in June 1700, obtained a grant of the office of Auditor of the receipt of the Exchequer; and the fame year, Dec. 13, was created Baron Halifax. On the acceffion of GEORGE I. he was a member of the regency; was appointed Firft Lord Commiffioner of the Treafury, Oct. 5, 1714; created Vifcount SUNBURY and Earl of HALIFAX, Oct. 15; and died May 15, 1715" ADDISON has celebrated this Lord in "his Account of the greatest English Poets. STEELE has "drawn his character in the fecond volume of the Spectator, "and in the fourth of the Tatler; but POPE, in the por"trait of Bufo, in the Epiftle to Arbuthnot, has returned "the ridicule which his Lordship, in conjunction with Prior, "had heaped on Dryden's Hind and Panther." Walpole's Catalogue, vol. II. p. 116.

VOL. II.

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think,

think, flows from an admiration of qualities in you, of which, in the whole course of these Papers, I have acknowledged myself incapable. While I bufy myself as a stranger upon earth, and can pretend to no other than being a looker-on, you are confpicuous in the bufy and polite world, both in the world of men, and that of letters. While I am filent and unobferved in public meetings, you are admired by all that approach you as the life and genius of the converfation. What an happy conjunction of different talents meets in him whofe whole difcourfe is at once animated by the ftrength and force of reafon, and adorned with all the graces and embellishments of wit! When learning irradiates common life, it is then in its highest use and perfection; and it is to fuch as your Lordship, that the Sciences owe the eftcem which they have with the active part of mankind. Knowledge of books in reclufe men, is like that fort of lantern, which hides him who carries it, and ferves only to pass through fecret and gloomy paths of his own; but, in the poffeffion of a man of business, it is, as a torch in the hand of one who is willing and able to fhew those who were bewildered, the way which leads to their profperity and welfare. A generous concern for your country, and a paffon for every thing which is truly great and

noble,

To JOHN, LORD SOMERS*,

BARON OF EVESHAM.

MY LORD,

SHOULD not act the part of an impartial Spectator, if I dedicated the following Papers to one who is not of the moft confummate and most acknowledged merit.

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 useful 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 applaufe, as he is affiduous to deferve it. But, my Lord, this is perhaps the only particular in which your prudence will be always difappointed.

While juftice, candour, equanimity, a zeal for the good of your country, and the moft perfuafive eloquence in bringing over others to it,

• This diftinguished Lawyer was born at Worcester in 1652. He was firft taken notice of at the trial of the Seven Bithops, for whom he was one of the counfel. See p. ii.

VOL. I.

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