fons. I have known an Hero complimented upon the decent majesty and ftate he affumed after a victory; and a nobleman of a different character applauded for his condefcenfion to inferiors. This would have seemed very ftrange to me but that I happened to know the authors: He who made the first compliment was a lofty gentleman, whofe air and gait difcovered when he had published a new book; and the other tippled every night with the fellows who laboured at the prefs while his own writings were working off. 'Tis obfervable of the female poets and ladies dedicatory, that there (as elsewhere) they far exceed us in any strain or rant. As beauty is the thing that fex are piqu'd upon, they fpeak of it generally in a more elevated ftyle than is used by the men. They adore in the fame manner as they would be adored. So when the authoress of a famous modern romance begs a young Nobleman's permiffion to pay him her kneeling adorations, I am far from cenfuring the expreffion, as fome Criticks would do, as deficient in grammar or fenfe; but I reflect, that adorations paid in that pofture are what a lady might expect herself, and my wonder immediately ceafes. Thefe, when they flatter moft, do but as they would be done unto; for as none are fo much concerned at being injured by calumnies, as they who are readieft to caft them upon their neighbours; so, 'tis certain none are fo guilty of flattery to others, as those who most ardently defire it themselves.

What led me into these thoughts, was a Dedication I happened upon, this morning. The reader muft understand that I treat the leaft inftances or remains of ingenuity with refpect, in what places foever found, or under whatever circumftances of disadvantage. From this love to letters I have been so happy in my fearches after knowledge, that I have found unvalued repofitories of S3 learning

learning in the lining of bandboxes. I look upon these pasteboard edifices, adorned with the fragments of the ingenious, with the fame veneration as antiquaries upon ruined buildings, whofe walls preferve divers infcriptions and names, which are no where else to be found in the world. This morning, when one of Lady Lizard's daughters was looking over fome hoods and ribbands, brought by her tirewoman, with great care and diligence, I employed no lefs in examining the box which contained them; it was lined with certain fcenes of a tragedy, written (as appeared by a part of the title there extant) by one of the fair fex. What was moft legible was the Dedication; which, by reafon of the largeness of the characters, was least defaced by thofe Gothick ornaments of flourishes and foliage, wherewith the compilers of these fort of ftructures do often induftriously obscure the works of the learned. As much of it as I could read with any eafe, I fhall communicate to the reader, as follows. *** « Though it is a kind of "prophanation to approach your Grace with fo

poor an offering, yet when I reflect how accept"able a facrifice of first fruits was to Heaven, in the "earliest and pureft ages of religion, that they "were honoured with folemn feasts, and confe"crated to altars by a Divine command; *** Upon "that confideration, as an argument of particular "zeal, I dedicate *** 'Tis impoffible to behold

you without adoring; yet dazzled and aw'd by "the glory that furrounds you, men feel a facred 66 power, that refines their flames, and renders "them pure as those we ought to offer to the "Deity. **** The fhrine is worthy the divinity "that inhabits it. In your Grace we fee what "woman was before the fell, how nearly allied to "the purity and perfection of Angels. And we "adore and bless the glorious work!”

Undoubt

Undoubtedly these, and other periods of this moft pious Dedication, could not but convince the Duchefs of what the eloquent authoress affures her at the end, that she was her fervant with most ardent devotion. I think this a pattern of a new fort of ftyle, not yet taken notice of by the Criticks, which is above the fublime, and may be called the celeftial; that is, when the moft facred praises appropriated to the honour of the deity, are applied to a mortal of good quality. As I am naturally emulous, I cannot but endeavour, in imitation of this Lady, to be the inventor, or, at least, the first producer of a new kind of Dedication, very different from hers and moft others, fince it has not a word but what the author religioufly thinks in it. It may serve for almost any book either Profe or Verse, that has, is, or fhall be published; and might run in this manner.

The AUTHOR to Himself.

Moft Honoured Sir,

HESE labours, upon many confiderations, fo properly belong to none as to you: first, that it was your moft earnest defire alone that could prevail upon me to make them publick: then, as I am fecure (from that conftant indulgence you have ever fhown to all which is mine) that no man will fo readily take them into protection, or fo zealoufly defend them. Moreover, there's none can so foon difcover the beauties; and there are some parts, which 'tis poffible few befides yourself are capable of understanding. Sir, the honour, affection, and value I have for you are beyond expreffion; as great, I am fure, or greater, than any man else can bear you. As for any defects which others may pretend to discover in you,

I do faithfully declare I was never able to perceive them; and doubt not but thofe perfons are actuated purely by a spirit of malice or envy, the infeparable attendants on fhining merit and parts, fuch as I have always esteemed yours to be. It may perhaps be looked upon as a kind of violence to modefty, to say this to you in publick; but you may believe me, 'tis no more than I have a thoufand times thought of you in private. Might I follow the impulfe of my foul, there is no fubject I could launch into with more pleasure than your panegyrick: But fince fomething is due to modefty, let me conclude by telling you, that there's nothing I fo much defire as to know you more thoroughly than I have yet the happiness of doing. I may then hope to be capable to do you fome real fervice; but, 'till then, can only affure you, that I shall continue to be, as I am more than any man alive.

No 11.

Dearest SIR,

Your Affectionate Friend, and
The greatest of your Admirers.

Tuesday, March 24.

Huc propiùs me,

Dum doceo infanire omnes, vos ordine adite.

I

"flatter myself Í may claim your Countenance and " Protection. I am by Profeffion a Mad Doctor,

6

" but

but of a peculiar kind, not of those whose Aim "it is to remove Phrenzies, but one who make it 66 my Business to confer an agreeable Madness on "my Fellow-Creatures, for their mutual Delight

and Benefit. Since it is agreed by the Philo"fophers, that Happiness and Mifery confift chief"ly in the Imagination, nothing is more necef"fary to Mankind in general than this pleafing "Delirium, which renders every one fatisfied with "himself, and perfuades him that all others are ❝ equally fo.

"I have for feveral Years, both at home and abroad, made this Science my particular Study, "which I may venture to fay I have improved in almost all the Courts of Europe; and have reduced it into fo fafe and eafy a Method, as to "practise it on both Sexes, of what Difpofition, "Age, or Quality foever, with Succefs. What "enables me to perform this great Work, is the "Ufe of my Obfequium Catholicon, or the Grand "Elixir, to fupport the Spirits of human Nature. "This Remedy is of the moft grateful Flavour in "the World, and agrees with all Taftes whatever. "'Tis delicate to the Senfes, delightful in the Ope"ration, may be taken at all Hours without Con"finement, and is as properly given at a Ball or "Play-houfe as in a private Chamber. It reftores "and vivifies the moft dejected Minds, corrects "and extracts all that is painful in the Knowledge "of a Man's felf. One Dofe of it will inftantly "difperfe itself through the whole Animal Syf"tem, diffipate the first Motions of Diftruft fo as

never to return, and fo exhilarate the Brain and "rarify the Gloom of Reflexion, as to give the "Patients a new flow of Spirits, a Vivacity of Be❝haviour, and a pleafing Dependence upon their ❝own Capacities.

"Let