T HIS Collection of Poems, which with much Gratitude is paid as a Debt to All who have been pleas'd to encourage it, I beg Leave to present to Your Lordship from my particular Devotion, over and above that Justice by which it is due to You in Common with others: and I am not without Excufe for the Freedom of this Addrefs, if to have had a peculiar Eye to Your Approbation, through the whole Courfe of the Work, gives me a Title to Your Pa tronage. I know not whether I have here the good Fortune to offer You many Things, whofe Life and Sprightliness may seem to be calculated to please Your Youth; but fuch a Regard will, I hope, appear to have been every where preserv'd for all that is either Sacred, Moral or Decent, as cannot fail of being agreeable to Your Virtue; and the not offending against Religion and good Manners is, I am fure, in Your Account, fo neceffary a Qualification to Poetry, that without it all others would be infufficient. You were yet at School, My LORD, when I receiv'd thofe Impreffions of You, which would make me fear, did I not my felf deteft it, to approach You with any thing that is profane or licentious; and will always give me that Paffion, for a Share in your Regard, with which we pursue the Favour of the Ingenious and the Good. It is not then hard to imagine with what Deference and Affection You are attended at the University; where Your Difpofition is the fame, and Your Accomplishments greater. May You continue to gain by Your own Merit the Obfervance and Distinction You have been hitherto unwilling to owe to Your noble Birth alone, and secure an universal Esteem by the only Right that can make it folid and permanent. I must earnestly intreat You, however the Book may acquit it felf to Your Judgment, to indulge me with Your usual Goodness the Employing this Opportunity to fhew the Refpect and Honour which A 3 |