THE

167

SPECTATOR.

WITH SKETCHES

OF

THE LIVES OF THE AUTHORS,

AND

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

IN EIGHT VOLUMES.

VOL. IV.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY T. HAMILTON, 37, PATERNOSTER-ROW, AND
R. OGLE, 295, HOLBORN; OGLE AND AIKMAN,
PARLIAMENT-SQUARE, EDINBURGH; AND

M. OGLE, WILSON-STREET, GLASGOW.

1808.

Printed by J. Muirhead, Edinburgh.

8264
Adzap

1808
2.4

TO THE

DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

MY LORD,

As it is natural to have a fondness for what

has cost us much time and attention to produce, I hope your Grace will forgive my endeavour to preserve this work from oblivion, by affixing to it your memorable name.

I shall not here presume to mention the illustrious passages of your life, which are celebrated by the whole age, and have been the subject of the most sublime pens; but if I could convey you to posterity in your private character, and describe the stature, the behaviour, and aspect of the Duke of Marlborough, I question 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 yourself, observe, that you excel the rest of mankind in the least, as well as the greatest endowments. Nor were it a circumstance to be mentioned, if the graces and attractions of your person were not the only pre

VOL. IV.