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TO

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WILLIAM, LORD MANSFIELD,

LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND.

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JANUARY 1, 1759.

O man, in ancient Rome, my Lord, would have been furprized, I believe, to fee a poet infcribe his works, either to Cicero, or the younger Pliny; not to mention any more amongst her moft celebrated names. They were both, it is true, public magiftrates of the firft diftinction, and had applied themfelves feverely to the ftudy of the laws; in which both eminently excelled. They were, at the fame time, illuftrious orators, and employed their eloquence in the fervice of their clients and their country. But, as they had both embellished their other talents by early cultivating the finer arts, and which has fpread, we see, a peculiar light and grace over all their productions; no fpecies of polite literature could be foreign to their taste or patronage. And, in effect, we find they were the friends and protectors of the best poets their refpective ages produced.

It is from a parity of character, my Lord, and which will occur obviously to every eye, that I am induced

to place your name at the head of this collection, fuch as it is, of the different things I have written.

"Nec Phobo gratior ulla

"Quam fibi quæ Vari præfcripfit pagina nomen.”

And were I as fure, my Lord, that it is deferving of your regard, as I am that these verses were not applied with more propriety at first than they are now; the publick would univerfally juftify my ambition in prefenting it to you. But, of that, the public only muft and will judge, in the last appeal. There is but one thing, to bespeak their favour and your friendship, that I dare be positive in without which, you are the last perfon in Britain to whom I fhould have thought of addreffing it. And this any man may affirm of himfelf, without vanity; because it is equally in every man's power. Of all that I have written, on any occafion, there is not a line, which I am afraid to own, either as an honeft man, a good subject, or a true lover of my country.

:

I have thus, my Lord, dedicated fome few moments, the first day of this new year, to send you, according to good old cuftom, a prefent. An humble one, I confefs it is; and that can have little other value but what arifes from the difpofition of the fender. On that account, perhaps, it may not be altogether unacceptable; for it is indeed an offering rather of the heart than the head; an effufion of those fentiments, which great merit, employed to the best purpofes, naturally creates.

May

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