ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WILLIAM, LORD MANSFIELD, LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND.

man,

JANUARY 1, 1759.

No 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 most celebrated names. They were both, it is true, public magiftrates of the first distinction, and had applied themselves severely 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 embellifhed their other talents by early cultivating the finer arts, and which has spread, 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 Phoebo gratior ulla

"Quam fibi quæ Vari præfcripfit pagina nomen.'

And were I as fure, my Lord, that it is deserving 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 justify my ambition in prefenting it to you. But, of that, the public only must 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 person 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 honest 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 fend 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 sentiments, which great merit, employed to the best purpofes, naturally creates.

May

May you enjoy, my Lord, through the whole course of this and many more years, that found health of mind and body, which your important labours for the publick fo much want, and fo juftly merit! And may you foon have the fatisfaction to fee, what I know you fo ardently wish, this destructive war, however neceffary on our part, concluded by a safe and lasting peace! Then, and not till then, all the noble arts, no less ufeful than ornamental to human life, and that now languish, may again flourish, under the eye and encouragement of thofe few, who think and feel as you do, for the advantage and honour of Great Britain. I am, with the fincereft attachment,

MY LORD,

Your moft faithful

humble fervant.

WIL

L 4

WILLIAM AND MARGARET.

I.

TWAS at the filent, folemn hour,

When night and morning meet ;

In glided Margaret's grimly ghost,
And stood at William's feet.

II.

Her face was like an April-morn,
Clad in a wintery cloud;
And clay-cold was her lily-hand,

That held her fable fhroud.

III.

So fhall the fairest face appear,

When youth and years are flown :

Such is the robe that kings must wear,
When death has reft their crown.

IV.

Her bloom was like the fpringing flower,

That fips the filver dew;

The rofe was budded in her cheek,

Juft opening to the view.

N.

But Love had, like the canker-worm,
Confum'd her early prime :

The rofe grew pale, and left her cheek;

She dy'd before her time,

VI. Awake!