University of Virginia Library

To the Right Honourable CHARLES, Earl of ORRERY.

My Lord,

It is owing to your Lordship's great Condescention, that I now presume to recommend to your Care an Orphan Child of Shakespear; who throws her Self at your Lordship's

Feet, in the State of a Vertuous Woman in a Vicious Age, whose Innocence may be generally commended, tho' it be but sparingly incourag'd. Whatever Disguise I may have put upon Her, I hope, She retains those strong Lines of her Family, which may entitle Her, as a Descendant from that Great Parent, to Your generous Protection.

I had much rather it should be thought a Piece of Vanity in me, to boast of the good Opinion and Favours of your Lordship; than be guilty of Ingratitude, in not declaring to the Publick, that I shall with the utmost Zeal and Industry labour to deserve the

Obligations, which your Lordship vouchsafes to confer upon Me.

For tho' it be granted, that the truly Great and Generous Minds neither want, nor expect, These Declarations; yet, whether it be a Virtue, or Infirmity, in Nature, the Persons obliged cannot forbear Them, and the World will justify Them.

'Tis a happy Constitution in your Lordship's Genius, that you are obliged to mend One Virtue by Another: to recommend your Good Sense by your Superior Modesty, your Charity by your Secrecy, your high Station by your Condescention, and your distinguishing Taste in Learning

by your Indulgence to those, that but aim at the Excellence, which they are directed to by the Example of your Lordship's perfect Compositions. And this Pattern of fine Writing was set us by your Lordship at an Age, when Other Young Noblemen are to learn what fine Writing should be, and hope not to excell but by Imitation.

There is a Sort of Merit in the World founded upon Ancestry, and the particular Favour of the Crown, depending only on accidental Supports: An unworthy Descendant shall stain the Honours of his Family; and Dignities, conferr'd by the Grace of the Crown, dye with the Wearer:

But solid Virtue neither disgraces the Fame of its Predecessors, nor subsists, and dies, at the Pleasure of External Favour.

As your Lordship has deriv'd true Nobility from your Ancestors, so You have paid That back with ample Additions: And, not content to grace the present Age in your own Person, have secur'd a Stock for the Admiration of Futurity. I would be understood to mean, That Branch of shining Honours, which we owe to the Labours of your Lordship's Pen:

—Nec deficit Alter
Aureus.—

You boast a Son, the darling Object of your Affections, and

who promises, even Now, to transmit a faithful Copy of your Virtues by his Own Life: which that your Lordship may long live to see, is the sincere Wish of,

My Lord,
Your Lordship's most
Obliged, and most Obedient,
Humble Servant,