Printed by T. BENSLEY, Bolt Court, Fleet Street, For J. Johnfon, J. Nichols and Son, R. Baldwin, F. C. and J.Riving 824Ad2 OSCES (i) TO JOHN, LORD SOMERS', BARON OF EVESHAM. 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 acknowledged merit. None but a person of a finished character can be a proper patron of a work which endeavours to cultivate and polish human life, by promoting virtue and knowledge, and by recommending whatsoever may be either useful or ornamental to fociety. I know that the homage I now pay you, is offering a kind of violence to one who is as folicitous to fhun applause, as he is affiduous to deferve it. But, my lord, this is perhaps the only particular in which your prudence will be always disappointed. While juftice, candour, equanimity, a zeal for the good of your country, and the most perfuafive eloquence in bringing over others to it, are valuable diftinctions, you are not to expect This diftinguifhed lawyer was born at Worcester in 1652. He was first taken notice of at the trial of the feven bishops, for whom he was one of the counfel. See p. ii. |