167 THE SPECTATOR. WITH SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF THE AUTHORS, AND EXPLANATORY NOTES. IN EIGHT VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY T. HAMILTON, 37, PATERNOSTER-ROW, AND M. OGLE, WILSON-STREET, GLASGOW. -1808. 824 1808 TO THE RIGHT HON. HENRY BOYLE*. SIR, As the professed design of this work is to entertain its readers in general, without giving offence to any particular person, it would be difficult to find out so proper a patron for it as yourself, there being none whose merit is more universally acknowledged by all parties, and who has made himself more friends, and fewer enemies. Your great abilities and unquestioned integrity, in those high employments which you have passed through, would not have been able to have raised you this general approbation, had they not been accompanied with that moderation in an high fortune, and that affability of manners, which are so conspicuous through all parts * This gentleman, to whose kindness Addison partly owed his introduction to lord Godolphin, was the youngest son of Charles lord Clifford. He was appointed by king William, chancellor of the exchequer, in March 1701; in which post he continued till Feb. 1707-8, when he was made one of the principal secretaries of state, and so remained till Sept. 1710. George I, on his accession, created Mr. Boyle lord Carleton, and soon after made him president of the council. He died a bachelor, March 1724-5. |