то

THE HONORABLE

GEORGE LYTTLETON Efq;

ONE OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS

OF THE TREASURY.

SIR,

NOTWITHSTANDING your conftant refufal,

when I have asked leave to prefix your name to this Dedication, I muft ftill infift on my right to defire your Protection of this Work.

To you, Sir, it is owing that this History was ever begun. It was by your defire that I first thought of fuch a compofition. So many years have fince paft, that you may have, perhaps, forgotten this circumftance: but your defires are to me in the nature of commands; and the impreffion of them is never to be erafed from my memory.

Again, Sir, without your affiftance this History had never been completed. Be not

a

startled at the affertion. I do not intend to draw on you the fufpicion of being a Romance writer. I mean no more than that I partly owe to you my existence during great part of the time which I have employed in compofing it; another matter which it may be neceffary to remind you of; fince there are certain actions of which you are apt to be extremely forgetful; but of these I hope I shall always have a better memory than yourself.

Lastly, it is owing to you that the History appears what it now is. If there be in this Work, as fome have been pleased to fay, a ftronger picture of a truly benevolent mind than is to be found in any other, who that knows you, and a particular acquaintance of yours, will doubt whence that benevolence has been copied? The world will not, I believe, make me the compliment of thinking I took it from myfelf. I care not: This they shall own, that the two perfons from whom I have taken it, that is to fay, two of the best and worthiest men in the world, are strongly and zealously my friends.. I might be contented with this, and yet my vanity will add a third to the number; and him one of

the greatest and nobleft, not only in his rank, but in every public and private virtue. But here whilst my gratitude for the princely benefactions of the Duke of Bedford burfts from my heart, you must forgive my reminding you, that it was you who first recommended me to the notice of my Benefactor.

And what are your objections to the allowance of the honor which I have folicited? Why, you have commended the Book fo warmly, that you should be ashamed of reading your name before the Dedication. Indeed, Sir, if the Book itself does not make you ashamed of your commendations, nothing that I can here write will, or ought. I am not to give up my right to your Protection and Patronage, because you have commended my Book: for though I acknowledge fo many obligations to you, I do not add this to the number; in which friendship, I am convinced, has fo little share; fince that can neither biafs your judgment, nor pervert your integrity. An enemy may at any time obtain your commendation by only deferving it; and the utmost which the faults of your friends can hope for is your filence; or, perhaps, if too feverely accufed, your gentle palliation.