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TO

Her ROYAL HIGHNESS, the

PRINCESS of WALES.

MADAM,

XXS I am confcious, that no AX

Compofition of my own

could be worthy to be laid at Your Royal Highness's Feet; It is my Happiness, as an Editor, to have this Opportunity of approaching You, by fubmitting to

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Your Protection the beft Dramatic Poet that thefe Kingdoms

could ever boaft of. He enjoyed,,

whilft living, the Favour of the greateft Queen that has fate on the English Throne; and therefore, I hope, is intitled to Your Royal Highness's Smiles over his Urn.

Could I picture out his Character equal to its Merits, the World would foon discover a fort of Parallel betwixt the Poet and his Patronefs. His Excellencies were as great, as they were various; his Beauties ftrong, and

all

all native; the Frame of his Mind as fweet and candid, as his Countenance was open and engaging; and his Sentiments as chafte, as his Conceptions were noble: He knew how to charm without Affectation; and had the wondrous Force of preferving all Hearts, that once felt the Influence of his Attractions.

After what I have faid, MADAM, I am afraid the Duty of this Addrefs fhould be mifconftrued a Panegyrick on Your Royal High

nefs. But I have profeffed myself A 4

unequal

unequal to the Task of drawing his Portraiture, and my humble Sphere in Life fets me at too great a Distance to take even the Out-lines of Your Perfections. I would not therefore, where I cannot prefume to do Justice, be thought to defcend to the unbecoming Art of Flattery. I muft lanch out, indeed, a great way, to make myself liable to that Imputation, with regard to Your Royal Highness; but Dedications are generally fufpected of Over

ftraining.

How

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