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chiefly, I fhould celebrate your liberality towards men of great parts and small fortunes, and give you broad hints, that I mean myself. And I was just going on, in the ufual method, to perufe a hundred or two of dedications, and tranfcrible an abftract to be applied to your lordship; but I was diverted by a certain accident: for, upon the covers of these pers, I cafually observed written in large letters the two following words, DETUR DIGNISSIMO; which, for aught I knew, might contain some important meaning. But it unluckily fell out, that none of the authors I employ understood Latin; (though I have them often in pay to tranflate out of that language) I was therefore compelled to have recourse to the curate of our parish, who englished it thus, Let it be given to the worthieft: and his comment was, that the author meant his work should be dedicated to the fublimeft genius of the age for wit, learning, judgment, eloquence, and wisdom. I called at a poet's chamber (who works for my shop) in an alley hard by, fhewed him the tranflation, and defired his opinion, who it was that the author could mean; he told me, after fome confideration, that vanity was a thing he abhorr'd; but, by the description, he thought himself to be the person aimed at; and at the fame time, he very kindly offer'd his own affistance gratis towards penning a dedication to himself, I defired him however to give a fecond guefs; why then, faid he, it must be I, or my Lord Sommers. From thence I went to feveral other wits of my acquaintance, with no fmall hazard and wearinefs to my perfon, from a prodigious number of dark, wind

ing ftairs; but found them all in the fame ftory, both of your lordship and themselves. Now your lordship is to understand, that this proceeding was not of my own invention; for I have fomewhere heard, it is a maxim, that thofe, to whom every body allows the second place, have an undoubted title to the first.

This infallibly convinced me, that your lordship was the person intended by the author. But, being * yery unacquainted in the style and form of dedications, I employ'd those wits aforefaid, to furnish me with hints and materials, towards a panegyric upon your lordship's virtues.

In two days, they brought me ten sheets of paper, fill'd up on every fide. They fwore to me, that they had ranfack'd whatever could be found in the characters of Socrates, Ariftides, Epaminondas, Cato, Tully, Atticus, and other hard names, which I cannot now recollect. However, I have reason to believe, they impofed upon my ignorance; because, when I came to read over their collections, there was not a fyllable there, but what I and every body elfe knew as well as themselves: therefore I grievously fufpect a cheat; and that these authors of mine, ftole and tranfcribed every word, from the universal report of mankind. So that I look upon myself, as fifty fhillings out of pocket, to no manper of purpose,

* Very unacquainted in, &c. is an impropriety of speech; it should be, very little acquainted with, &c,

If, by altering the title, I could make the fame materials ferve for another dedication (as my betters have done) it would help to make up my lofs; but, I have made feveral perfons dip here and there in thofe papers, and before they read three lines, they have all affured me plainly, that they cannot poffibly be applied to any person befide your lordship. I expected, indeed, to have heard of your lordship's bravery at the head of an army; of your undaunted courage in mounting a breach, or scaling a wall; or, to have had your pedigree trac'd in a lineal descent from the house of Austria; or, of your wonderful talent at dress and dancing; or, your profound knowledge in algebra, metaphyfics, and the oriental tongues. But to ply the world with an old beaten ftory of your wit, and eloquence, and learning, and wisdom, and justice, and politenefs, and candor, and evenness of temper in all scenes of life; of that great difcernment in difcovering, and readinefs in favouring deferving men; with forty other common topics; I confess, I have neither confcience, nor countenance to do it. Because there is no virtue, either of a public or private life, which fome circumstances of your own, have not often produced upon the stage of the world; and those few, which, for want of occafions to exert them, might otherwise have paffed unseen, or unobferved, by your friends, * enemies have at length brought to light. your

*In 1701 lord Sommers was impeached by the Commons, who either finding their proofs defective, or for other reasons, delayed coming to a trial, and the lords thereupon proceeded to the trial without them, and acquitted him.

It is true, I should be very loth, the bright example of your lordship's virtues should be lost to afterages, both for their fake and your own; but chiefly because they will be fo very neceffary to adorn the hiftory of a late* reign; and that is another reason, why I would forbear to make a recital of them here; because I have been told by wife men, that, as dedications have run for fome years paft, a good hiftorian will not be apt to have recourse thither in search of characters.

There is one point, wherein I think we dedicators would do well to change our measures; I mean, instead of running on fo far upon the praise of our patrons liberality, to spend a word or two in admiring their patience. I can put no greater compliment on your lordship's, than by giving you fo ample an occafion to exercise it at prefent. Though perhaps I shall not be apt to reckon much merit to your lordship upon that score, who having been formerly used to tedious harangues, and fometimes to as little purpofe, will be the readier to pardon this; especially, when it is offered by one, who is with all respect and veneration,

K. William's; whofe memory he defended in the H. of Lords

against fome invidious reflexions of the E. of Nottingham.

THE

TO THE READER.

T is now fix years fince thefe papers came first

IT

to my hand, which feems to have been about a twelve-month after they were written: for, the author tells us in his preface to the first treatise, that he has calculated it for the year 1697, and in several paffages of that difcourfe, as well as the fecond, it appears, they were written about that time.

As to the author, I can give no manner of fatisfaçtion; however, I am credibly informed that this publication is without his knowledge; for he concludes the copy is loft, having lent it to a perfon, fince dead, and being never in poffeffion of it after: fo that, whether the work received his laft hand, or, whether he intended to fill up the defective places, is likely to remain a secret.

If I fhould go about to tell the reader, by what accident I became master of these papers, it would in this unbelieving age pass for little or more than the cant, or jargon of the trade. I therefore gladly spare both him and myself so unnecessary a trouble. There yet remains a difficult queftion, why I published them no fooner. I forbore upon two accounts: first, because I thought I had better work upon my hands; and fecondly, because I was not without some hope of hearing from the author, and receiving his directions, But, I have been lately alarmed with intelligence of a furreptitious copy*, which a certain great wit had new polished and refined, or as

• See the apology.

Our