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DAVID GARRICK, ESQ

SIR;

THERE HERE is a peculiar propriety in infcribing to you the works of Villiers Duke of Buckingham, that zealous reformer of the English stage; what his laughing and poignant fatire began, the juftness of your example has accomplished; and while sense and nature adorn the writings of our dramatic authors, they are frequently heightened by your unrivalled excellence in acting.

To you, Sir, the memory of the noble Author has the greateft obligations; whenever your inimitable performances of Bayes and Don John delight the crouded theatre, his fame is embalmed afresh. His Grace was the early friend and companion of a gay and VOL. I. diffipated

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diffipated monarch; who, as a learned prelate remarks, took pride in corrupting the morals of the rifing nobility; under fuch a mafter, this accomplished nobleman purfued all the pleafures of a licentious and abandoned court, from which the graces fied.

Happy would he have been in his own age, and revered by pofterity, if, like the gentleman I now addrefs, he had united real goodness of heart to great abilities. That your health may long permit you to entertain an admiring Public, and enjoy the most honourable connections, is the ardent wifh of him who feels a ftrong felicity in being able to boaft the friendship of Mr. Garrick.

Strand, May 1, 1775.

T. EVANS.

OF THE

À U

THOR.

THE noble Author, who is the subject of the following Memoirs, was fon and heir of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, the minifter and favourite of two fovereigns.

His Grace was born January 30, 1627, at Wallingford-Houfe, in the parish of St. Martin's in the Fields, in the Liberty of Westminster, and baptized February 14, by Dr. Laud, then Bishop of Bath and Wells. The next year he had the great misfortune to lose his father by the cruel hand of an enthufiaftic affaffin, Lieutenant John Felton, who believing him the author of National Grievances, and too mighty grown for law, ftabbed him at Portsmouth, August 23, 1628.

Charles I. endeavoured to confole the Dutchefs of Buckingham: he affured her he would be a hufband to her, and a father to her children.

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Her Grace was then great with child, and being foon after delivered of a fon at Chelfea, the King, and Francis, Earl of Rutland, the child's grandfather, were his fponfors. After fome compliments who should give the name, the King named him Francis; and the grandfather gave him his benediction of feven thousand pounds a year.

The duke and his brother were bred up by the King with his own children, under the fame. tutors and governors. Both the brothers were sent young to Trinity College, Cambridge, and their names entered in the college book with Prince Charles. Here the Duke became ac

quainted with the celebrated Mr. Abraham Cow ley and Mr. Martin Clifford, for whom he ever entertained the greateft efteem: nor were they lefs attached to his grace. On leaving the univerfity, the duke and Lord Francis travelled abroad under the care of William Aylesbury, Efq. fon of Sir William Aylesbury, appointed to that office by the king.

They continued abroad till after the Civil War had commenced; and upon their return were conducted by their governor to his Majefty,

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