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TO.

Her ROYAL HIGHNESS, the

PRINCESS of WALES.

MADAM,

XXIS I am conscious, that no

Composition 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 submitting to

Your

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Your Protection the best Dramatic Poet that these Kingdoms could ever boast of. He enjoyed, whilst living, the Favour of the greatest 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 soon discover a fort of Parallel betwixt the Poet and his Patroness. His Excellencies were as great, as they were various; his Beauties strong, and

all

all native; the Frame of his Mind as sweet 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 preserving all Hearts, that once felt the Influence of his Attractions.

After what I have said, MADAM, I am afraid the Duty of this Address should be misconstrued a Panegyrick on Your Royal Highness. But I have profeffed myself

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unequal to the Talk of drawing his Portraiture, and my humble Sphere in Life sets me at too great a Distance to take even the Out-lines of Your Perfections. I would not therefore, where I cannot presume to do Justice, be thcught to descend to the unbecoming Art of Flattery. I must lanch out, indeed, a great way, to make myself liable to that Iinputation, with regard to Your Royal Highness; but Dedications are generally suspected of Overftraining

How