Qui fe ipfe norit, intelliget fe habere aliquid Divinum, femperque et sentiet CICERO. A NEW EDITION, LONDON: PRINTED FOR C. DILLY, IN THE POULTRY MDCCXCIV, то HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS DOWAGER of WALES*, May it pleafe Your Royal Highness, WERE ERE the subject of the following sheets treated in a manner suitable to its importance, the work would make an offering worthy of a Princefs, whofe character and conduct exhibit fo fair a pattern of the Dignity of Human Nature. The gracious condefcenfion voluntarily fhewn to the Author of the following weak Effay, by YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, on various occafions (which he chooses to touch upon in the flightest manner poffible, not from an unnatural and affected infenfibility, but to avoid imputations altogether contrary to his temper and intentions) encouraged him humbly to hope, that YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS would deign to patronife a work, which, however imperfectly executed, YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS knows to be fincerely intended for the purpose, which You have above all things at heart; The general advancement of Truth, Virtue, and Religion. Were it suitable to the rank and abilities of the Author, it would be very much fo to the defign of the following work, would make one of the nobleft parts of it, and might, in happier times than ours, prove of advantage to thofe of the higher ranks in life, and, through them to a whole people; to labour to delineate a character, and hold forth an example, of which there is, in this part of the world, but one perfon, that ought not to esteem it an honour to be the imitator. But to fay nothing of the difproportionate qualifications of the writer for fo delicate an undertaking, there is but little reafon, in this thoughlefs and voluptuous age, to expect any very great and extenfive good effects from propofing to general imitation the most amiable and perfect A 2 * First printed in the Year 1754 model. |