University of Virginia Library

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Countess of Litchfield.

MADAM,

I Have the honour of your Ladyship's permission to present to you a Tragedy, which, though it met with numerous and unprecedented difficulties and discouragements in the theatre, will, I hope, be thought not altogether unworthy your protection in the world.—Indeed, if the unpopularity of its late situation could in the least affect that degree of merit, which your Ladyship's candor, or the indulgence of the town, may allow it to have, it would ill become me to recommend

it to my readers, under the sanction of so polite and illustrious a name.— But your Ladyship has too much good sense, as well as generosity, to judge of this performance by mere appearances, and accidental or unlucky circumstances; and therefore, tho' it will stand as a kind of memorial of the bad fortune, and worse treatment of its author; it may at the same time be a proper testimony of the high respect with which I am,

Madam,
Your Ladyship's
most obliged
and most obedient Servant,