Cupio in tantis reipublicæ periculis non diffolutum videri. In Two VOLUME S. VOL. I. The fecond EDITION with Corrections. LONDON: Printed in the Year M DCC LVI. And fold by S. CROWDER and H. WOODGATE at the Golden- The most high, puissant, and noble Prince * * * * * Duke of * * Marquifs of *** ** &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. T MY LORD, HE pleasure which attends this dedication to your Grace, is of fo fingular a nature, that very few writers, I imagine, have ever poffeffed the like felicity. It is no lefs, my Lord, than a power of fhewing how totally the letters of this papift which I have tranflated, are divefted of all foundation of truth, in the observations which they contain. IT is too frequently the hard fate of writers, my Lord, to be obliged to tranflate the works of authors which they do not approve, and contradict the fentiments of their hearts thro' a long work in every line which flows from their pen. THIS, my Lord, tho' it may unhappily fall to my fhare, I cannot let pass unobserved, as too many British tranflators might have carelessly done; I intend therefore to fhew with the best abilities, which fo fhort a space will allow me, the falfities of his obfervations, by the recital of a very few of your Grace's virtues, actions, and excellencies; and thus oppose experience to fpeculation. YET, my Lord, I implore you to believe, that this defign arifes entirely from a full conviction of the truth of what I fhall deliver, and not from any idea, partially entertained in your fa vour; at the fame time I affure your Grace, that it does not fpring from. any base inclination of flattering you; the truth of which I am convinced you will have the goodness to believe before you have read thro' this addrefs; but from a laudable defire of doing strict justice to your unparallell'd parts, and fingular character, which I am fully affured no age has yet produced an equal to, and no future-; but let me not pretend to dive into the receffes of futurity, a fudden turn. of thought towards the court of the heir apparent inclines me to believe, that your Grace may leave a fucceffor equal to yourself in all the high arts, and accomplishments of governing. In this dedication to your Grace, I am made peculiarly happy by the two most delectable ideas, which can attend the human mind; the pleafure of doing you justice, in convin |