THEY 1014 SPECTATOR. VOL. IV. The TWELFTH EDITION. DUBLIN: Printed for PHIL. CRAMPTON, Bookfeller, at Addifon's-Head, oppofite to the Horfe-Guard, in Dame-Street. MDCC XXXVII. TO THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. MY LORD, Sit is natural to have a Fondness for what has coft us much Time and Attention to produce, I hope your Grace will forgive an Endeavour to preserve this Work from Oblivion, by affixing it to your memorable Name. A 2 I fhall I fhall not here prefume to mention the illuftrious Paffages of your Life, which are celebrated by the whole Age, and have been the Subject of the most fublime Pens; but if I could convey you to Posterity in your private Character, and defcribe the Stature, the Behaviour and Afpect of the Duke of Marlborough, I queftion not but it would fill the Reader with more agreeable Images, and give him a more delightful Entertainment than what can be found in the following, or any other Book. ONE cannot indeed without Offence, to your self, observe, that you excel the rest of Mankind in the leaft, as well as the greatest Endowments. Nor were it it a Circumstance to be mentioned, if the Graces and Attractions of your Perfon were not the only Preheminence you have above others, which is left, almost, unobserved by greater Writers. YET how pleafing would it be to those who fhall read the furprizing Revolutions in your Story, to be made acquainted. with your ordinary Life and Deportment? How pleafing would it be to hear that the fame Man who carried Fire and Sword into the Countries of all that had oppofed the Cause of Liberty, and ftruck. a Terror into the Armies of France, had in the midst of His high. Station a Behaviour as gentle as is ufual in the first A 3· Steps |