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THE

SPECTATOR.

WITH

Sketches of the Lives of the Authors,

AN INDEX,

AND

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

IN TWELVE VOLUMES.

VOL. XI.

PHILADELPHIA:

CRISSY & MARKLEY,

AND THOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT & CO.

BODLEIAN

12 DEC 1980

P

LIFFAN

1899

2911

• SIR,

TO MR. METHUEN.

Ir is with very great pleasure I take an opportunity of publishing the gratitud: I owe you for the place you allow me in your friendship and famíliarity. I will not acknowledge to you that I have often had you in my thoughts, when I have endeavoured to draw, in some parts of these discourses, the character of a good-natured, honest and accomplished gentleman. But such representations give my reader an idea of a person blameless only, or only laudable for such perfections as extend no farther than to his own private advantage and reputation.

But when I speak of you, I celebrate one who has had the happiness of possessing also those qualities which make a man useful to society, and of having had opportunities of exerting them in the most conspicuous manner.

The great part you had, as British ambassador, in procuring and cultivating the advantageous commerce between the courts of England and Portugal, has purchased you the lasting esteem of all who understand the interests of either nation.

Those personal excellencies which are overrated by the ordinary world, and too much neglected by wise men, you have applied with the justest skill and judgment. The most graceful address in horsemanship, in the use of the sword, and in dancing, has been employed by

M.S.Y

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