蕊

Efteem; but the Paffionate Veneration I have for Your Lordship, I think, flows from an Admiration of Qualities in You, of which, in the whole Course of these Papers, I have acknowledged my self incapable. While I bufie my

ID 10

felf as a Stranger upon Earth, and can pretend to

no other than being a Looker-on, You are confpicuous in the Bufie and

1

e

11

of

Polite World, both in the

World of Men and that of Letters: While I am filent, and unobferved in publick Meetings, You are admired by all that approach You as the Life and Genius of the Converfation. con tal ve

What an happy Conjun

ction of different Talents

tion

meets in him whose whole

a

Difcourfe is at once ani

mated by the Strength and Force of Reason, and aadobeal modorned

dorned 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 Efteem which they have with the active Part of Mankind. Knowledge of Books in reclufe Men, is like that fort of Lanthorn which hides him who car

3

ries it, and serves only to

S pass through fecret and

gloomy Paths of his own; but in the Poffeffion of a Man of Bufinefs, it is as a Torch in the Hand of one who is willing and able to fhew thofe, who are bewildered, the Way which leads to their Profperity

Great and Noble, are what actuate all Your Life, and Actions; and I hope You will forgive me that I have an Ambition this Book may be placed in the Library of fo good a Judge of what is valuable, in that Library where the Choice is fuch, that it will not be a Difparagement to be the meaneft Author in it. Forgive me, my Lord, for taking this Occafion of tel

1