HE Author of the Spectator having prefix'd before each of his Volumes the Name of fome great Per fon to whom he has particular Obligations, lays his Claim to your VOL. V. A Lord Lordship's Patronage upon the fame Account. I muft confefs, my Lord, had not I already received great Inftances of your Favour, I fhould have been afraid of fubmitting a Work of this Nature to your perufal. You are fo thoroughly acquainted with the Characters of Men, and all the Parts of human Life, that it is impoffible for the least Misrepresentation of them to escape your Notice. It is Your Lordship's particular Distinction that you are Master of the whole Compass of Business, and have fignalized Your Self in all the different Scenes of it. We admire fome for the Dignity, others for the Popularity of their Behaviour; fome for their Clearnefs of Judgment, others for their Happiness of Expreffion; fome for the laying of Schemes, Schemes, and others for the putting of them in Execution: It is Your Lordship only who enjoys these several Talents united, and that too in as great Perfection as others poffefs them fingly. Your Enemies acknowledge this great Extent in Your Lordship's Character, at the fame time that they ufe their utmoft Industry and Invention to derogate from it. Bùt it is for Your Honour that those who are now Your Enemies were always fo. You have acted in fo much Confiftency with Yourself, and promoted the Interefts of Your Country in fo uniform a Manner, that even thofe, who would mifrepresent Your Generous Defigns for the Publick Good, cannot but approve the Steadiness and Intrepidity with which You A 2 T purfue |