THE SPECTATOR. IN EIGHT VOLUMES. VOLUME the FIRST. EDINBURGH: Printed by A. DONALDSON, and fold at his MDCCLXVI. To the RIGHT HONOURABLE JOHN LORD SOMMER S, MY LORD, I SHOULD not act the part of an impartial Spectator, if I dedicated the following papers to one who is not of the most confummate and most ac-, knowledged merit. None but a perfon of a finifhed character, can' be the proper patron of a work, which endeavours to cultivate and polish human life, but promoting virtue and knowledge, and by recommending whatfoever may be either useful or ornamental to fociety. I know that the homage I now pay You, offer ing a kind of violence to one who is as folicitous toshun applause, 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, are valuable diftinctions, You are not to expect that the publick will fo far comply with your inclinations, as to forbear celebrating fuch extraordinary qualities. It is in vain that you have endeavoured VOL. I 3.2. 2.7 *** to conceal your fhare of merit, in the many nati onal fervices which you have effected. Do what you will, the prefent age will be talking of your virtues, though pofterity alone will do them justice.. Other men-pafs thro' oppofitions and contending interests in the ways of ambition; but your great abilities have been invited to power, and importun ed to accept of advancement. Nor is it ftrange that this fhould happen to your Lordship, who could bring into the fervice of your fovereign the arts and policies of ancient Greece and Rome; as well as the most exact knowledge of our own conftitution in particular, and of the interests of Europe in general; to which I must also add, a certain dignity in yourself, that (to fay 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, has been indebted to your counfels and wif dom. But to enumerate the great advantages which the public has received from your adminiftration, would be a more proper work for an history than for an addrefs 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 chufe to fpeak of the pleafure you afford all who are admitted ... into into your converfation, of your elegant tafte in all the polite parts of learning, of your great humanity and complacency of manners, and of the furprifing influence which is peculiar to You in making every one who converfes with your Lordship prefer You to himfelf, without thinking the lefs meanly of his own talents. But if I should take notice of all that might be obferved in your Lordship, E fhould have nothing new to fay upon any other character of distinction. I am, My LORD, Your Lordship's Moft obedient, most devoted; humble Servant, The SPECTATOR |