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Printed for Harrison and (77. 8. 18. late moster Row

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TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THOMAS EARL OF WHARTON.

MY LORD,.

HE Author of the Spectator having prefixed before each of his volumes the name of fome great perfon to whom he has particular obligations, lays his claim to your Lordship's patronage upon the fame account. I must confefs, my Lord, had not I already received great inftances of your favour, I fhould have been afraid of fubmitting a work of this nature to your perufal. You are fo thoroughly acquainted with the characters of men, and all the parts of human life, that it is impoffible for the leaft mifreprefentation of them to escape your notice. It is your Lordship's particular diftinction that you are mafter of the whole compafs of business, and have fignalized yourfelf in all the different fcenes of it. We admire fome for the dignity, others for the popularity of their behaviour; fome for their clearness of judgment, others for their happiness of expreffion; fome for the laying of fchemes, and others for the putting of them in execution: it is your Lordship only who enjoys thefe feveral talents united, and that too in as great perfection as others poffefs them fingly. Your enemies acknowledge this great extent in your Lordship's character, at the fame time that they ufe their utmost industry and invention to derogate from it. But it is for your honour, that those who are now your enemies were always fo. You have acted in fo much confiftency with yourfelf, and promoted the interefts of your country in fo uniform a manrer, that even thofe who would mifreprefent your generous defigns for the public good, cannot but approve the fteadiness and intrepidity with which you purfue them. It is a molt fenfible pleasure to me that I have this opportunity of profeffing myself one of your great admirers, and, in a very particular manner,

My LORD,

Your Lordship's moft obliged,

And most obedient, humble Servant,

THE SPECTATOR.

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