To the Right Honourable CHARLES Earl of Dorfet and Middlesex, Lord Chamberlain of His Majefty's Houfhold, Knight of the Moft Noble ORDER of the GARTER, &c. My LORD, Τ HE Wishes and Defires of all good Men, which have attended your Lordfhip from your First Appearance in the World, are at length accomplish'd in your obtaining thofe Honours and have fo deferv'd. There are no Factions, the irreconcilable to one another, that are not united in their Affection to you, and the Refpect they pay you. They are equally pleas'd in your Profperity, and wou'd be equally concern'd in your Affliction. Titus Vefpafian was not more the Delight of Human-kind. The Univerfal Empire made him only more known, and more powerful, but cou'd not make him more belov'd. He had greater Ability Dignities, which concil of doing Good, but your Inclination to it, is not lefs: And tho' you cou'd not extend your Beneficence to fo many Perfons, yet you have loft as few Days as that excellent Emperor; and never had his Complaint to make when you went to Bed, that the Sun had fhone upon you in vain, when you had the Opportunity of relieving fome unhappy Man. This, my Lord, has justly acquir'd you as many Friends, as there are Perfons who have the Honour to be known to you: Meer Acquaintance you have none; you have drawn them all into a nearer Line: And they who have convers'd with you, are for ever after inviolably yours. This is a Truth fo generally acknowledg'd, that it needs no Proof: 'Tis of the Nature of a first Principle, which is receiv'd as foon as it is propos'd; and needs not the Reformation which Descartes us'd to his: For we doubt not, neither can we properly fay, we think we admire and love you, above all other Men: There is a Certainty in the Propofition, and we know it. With the fame Affurance can I fay, you neither have Enemies, nor can scarce have any; for they who have never heard of you, can neither Love or Hate you; and they who have, can have no other Notion of you, than that which they receive from the Publick, that you are the best of Men. After this, my Testimony can be of no farther use, than to declare it to be Day-light at High-noon: And all who have the Benefit of Sight, can look up as well, and fee the Sun. 'I'is true, I have one Privilege which is almost particular to my felf, that I faw you in the East at your first arifing above the Hemisphere: I was as foon fenfible as any Man of that Light, when it was but juft fhooting out, and beginning to travel upward to the Meridian. I made my early. Ad |