that the public will so far comply with your inclinations, as to forbear celebrating such extraordinary qualities. It is in vain that

you

have endeavoured to conceal your share of merit in the many national services which you have effected. Do what you will, the present age will be talking of your virtues, though posterity alone will do them justice b.

Other men pass through oppositions and contending interests in the ways of ambition; but your great abilities have been invited to power, and importuned to accept of advancement. Nor is it strange that this should happen to your lordship, who could bring into the service of your sovereign the arts and policies of ancient Greece and Rome; as well as the most exact knowledge of our own constitution in particular, and of the interests of Europe in general; to which I must also add, a certain dignity in yourself, that (to say the least of it) has been always equal to those 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 saw, that of the arraignment of its prelates; and how far the civil power, in the late and present reign, has been indebted to your counsels and wisdom.

But to enumerate the great advantages which the public has received from your administration, would be a more proper work for an history, than for an address of this nature.

Your lordship appears as great in your private life, as in the most important offices which you have borne. I would, therefore, rather choose to speak of the pleasure you afford all who are admitted to your conversation, of your elegant taste in all the polite arts of learning, of your great humanity and complacency of man

candlesticks,' he was by king William made solicitor general, May 7, 1789; then attorney general, May 2, 1692; and lord keeper, 1693. April 21, 1697, he was created lord Somers, baron of Evesham, and made lord chancellor of England; from which poit he was removed in 1700, and in 1701 impeached by the commons, but acquitted on his trial by the lords. He then retired to his studies, and was chosen president of the Royal Society. In 1706, he projected the union. In 1708, queen Anne made him lord president of the privy council; but, on the change of her ministry in 1710, he was also displaced. Towards the latter end of the queen's reign, he grew very infirm; which probably was the reason why he had no other post than a seat at the council-table at the accession of king George h. He died of an apoplectic fit, April 26, 1716, after having for some time unfortunately survived the powers of his understanding. This dedication gives a lively sketch of his character ; but surely no man's was ever better depicted by a pen than this nobleman's is by Mr. Addison, in that admirable paper, intituled The Freeholder, published on the 4th of May, (the day of his lord hip's interment), to which the curious are referred. His writings are too well known to need enumeration, and too numerous 19 be mentioned within the compass of a note.

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ners, and of the surprising influence which is peculiar to you, in making every one who converses with your lordship prefer you to himself, without thinking the less meanly of his own talents. But if I should take notice of all that might be observed in your lordship, I should have nothing new to lay upon any other character of distinc

tion. I am,

My Lord,

Your Lordship’s most devoted,

Most obedient humble servant,

The SPECTATOR.

THE

SPECTATOR.

Vol. I.

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