found unvalued Repofitories of Learning in the Lining of Bandboxes. I look upon these Pasteboard Edifices, adorned with the Fragments of the Ingenious, with the fame Veneration as Antiquaries upon ruined Buildings, whofe Walls preferve divers Infcriptions and Names, which are no where else to be found in the World. This Morning, when one of Lady Lizard's Daughters was looking over fome Hoods and Ribbands, brought by her Tirewoman, with great Care and Diligence, I employ'd no lefs in examining the Box which contained them; it was lined with certain Scenes of a Tragedy, written (as appeared by part of the Title there extant) by one of the Fair Sex. What was moft legible was the Dedication; which by reafon of the Largeness of the Characters, was leaft defaced by thofe Gothick Ornaments of Flourishes and Foliage, wherewith the Compilers of these fort of Structures do often industriously obscure the Works of the Learned. As much of it as I could read with any Ease, I fhall communicate to the Reader, as follows.

‹ *** THOUGH it is a kind of Profanation to approach your Grace with fo poor an Offering, yet when I reflect how acceptable a Sacrifice of Firft-Fruits was to Heaven, in the earliest and pureft Ages of Religion, that they were honour'd with folemn Feafts, and confecrated to Altars by a Divine Command, *** upon that Confideration, as an Argument of particular Zeal, I dedicate ***

.

'Tis impoffible to behold you without Adoring; yet dazzled and awed by the Glory ⚫ that furrounds you, Men feel a facred Power, ' that refines their Flames, and renders them pure as those we ought to offer to the Deity. • *** The Shrine is worthy the Divinity that ' inhabits it. In your Grace we see what Woman was before the fell, how nearly allied to the Purity and Perfection of Angels. And 'WE ADORE AND BLESS THE GLORIOUS WORK!

UNDOUBTEDLY thefe, and other Periods of this moft Pious Dedication, could not but convince the Dutchefs of what the Eloquent Authorefs affures her at the End, that The was her Servant with most ardent Devotion. I think this a Pattern of a new Sort of Stile, not yet taken notice of by the Criticks which is above the Sublime, and may be called the Celestial; that is, when the moft facred Phrafes appropriated to the Honour of the Deity are applied to a Mortal of Good Quality. As I am naturally emulous, I cannot but endeavour, in Imitation of this Lady, to be the Inventor, or, at least, the firft Producer of a new kind of Dedication, very different from hers and moft others, fince it has not a Word but what the Author religiously thinks in it. It may serve for almost any Book, either Profe or Verfe, that has, is, or fhall be published, and might run in this manner.

The AUTHOR to HIMSELF.

Moft Honoured Sir,

THESE Labours, upon many Confiderations, fo properly belong to none as to you: First, as it was your moft earnest Defire alone that could prevail upon me to make them publick: Then as I am fecure (from that conftant Indulgence you have ever shewn to all which is mine) that no Man will fo readily take them into Protection, or fo zealously defend them. Moreover, there's none can fo foon discover the Beauties; and there are fome Parts, which 'tis poffible few befides yourself are capable of understanding. Sir, the Honour, Affection, and Value I have for you are beyond Expreffion; as great, I am fure, or greater, than any Man elfe can bear you. As for any Defects which others may pretend to discover in you, I do faithfully declare I was never able to perceive them; and doubt not but thofe Perfons are actuated purely by a Spirit of Malice or Envy, the infeparable Attendants on fhining Merit and Parts, fuch as I have always efteemed yours to be. It may perhaps be looked upon as a kind of Violence to Modefty, to say this to you in Publick; but you may believe me, 'tis no more than I have a thoufand times thought of you in Private. Might I follow the Impulfe of my Soul, there is no Subject I could lanch into with more Pleasure

than

than your Panegyrick. But fince fomething is due to Modefty, let me conclude by telling you, that there's nothing fo much I defire as to know you more thoroughly than I have yet the Happiness of doing. I may then hope to be capable to do you fome real Service; but till then can only affure you that I fhall continue to be, as I am more than any Man alive, Dearest SIR,

Your Affectionate Friend, and

the greatest of your Admirers.

N° 5

Tuesday, March 17.

Laudantur fimili prole puerperæ.

Hor. Od. 5. 1. 4. v. 23. The Mother's Virtues in the Daughters fhine.

HAVE in my fecond Paper mentioned the Family, into which I was retained by the Friend of my Youth; and given the Reader to understand, that my Obligations to it are fuch as might well naturalize me into the Interefts of it. They have, indeed, had their deferved Effect; and if it were poffible for a Man, who has never entered into the State of Marriage to know the Instincts of a kind Father

I wiper

to an Honourable and Numerous House, I may fay I have done it. I do not know but my Regards, in fome Confiderations, have been more ufeful than those of a Father; and as I wanted all that Tenderness, which is the Bias of Inclination in Men towards their own Offfpring, I have had a greater Command of Reafon when I was to judge of what concerned my Wards, and confequently was not prompted, by my Partiality and Fondness towards their Perfons, to tranfgrefs against their Interefts.

AS the Female Part of a Family is the more conftant and immediate Object of Care and Protection, and the more liable to Misfortune or Dishonour, as being in themselves more fenfible of the former, and from Custom and Opinion for lefs Offences more exposed to the latter; I fhall begin with the more delicate part of my Guardianship, the Women of the Family of Lizard. The Ancient and Religious Lady, the Dowager of my Friend Sir Ambrofe, has for fome time eftranged herself from Converfation, and admits only of the Vifits of her own Family. The Obfervation, That Old People remember beft those things which entered into their Thoughts when their Memories were in their full Strength and Vigour, is very remarkably exemplified in this good Lady and myself when we are in Conversation: I choofe indeed to go thither, to divert any Anxiety or Wearinefs, which at any time I

find

.