letter fhould live to inform them) that it was written in Ireland, under your Grace's government, and honoured with your patronage—A patronage, which, however diftinguished by the advantages of high station, most noble birth, and a long line of illuftrious ancestors, had yet neither been desirable to this author, nor fought by his friends, had it not been eminently diftinguifhed by thofe virtues, which give birth and station their true dignity: clear, unfullied, unsuspected honour, in the patron's public character; and every amiable quality, in his private: conjugal fidelity and affection; paternal tenderness, exemplary humility, fincere and steady friendship, and extensive charity: and all thefe founded upon their only true and folid bafis; True Religion, MY [v] MY LORD, it is the proper province of the annalist, and the hiftorian, to do juftice to your Grace, in your public capacity; to inform pofterity, in how fteady and uniform a tenour of honest zeal, and unaffected fortitude, you have ever afferted the distinguishing character of your noble family; Loyalty to your Sovereign, unfevered from the true love of Liberty and your Country. In a word, it is their bufinefs to tell, with what integrity you filled and adorned the greatest stations. THESE are the duties of their province; and let them be their themes: but let me be allowed, for the interest of virtue, to mention one thing, which may not fall within their obfervation; to thank your Grace, in the name of thou A 3 thousands, for your inlarged and iterated bounty to the poor of this city, in the day of their calamity; when frozen with cold, and famished with hunger, in the fevereft feafon this region ever felt, your liberality opened the way to the moft generous charity that ever relieved fo great a diftrefs. THESE, my Lord, are acts of goodnefs, which fhould be known, for the benefit of mankind, in the bleffing of good example: and the more, because their authors are ftudious to conceal them; for they are the fruits of that truly christian virtue, which vaunteth not berfelf. GoD be praised, my Lord, there are yet inftances, in the highest ftations, of pure religion and undefiled before Him, to vifit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unfpotted from the world. MA A y your Grace long enjoy all the bleffings, that naturally and providentially await so amiable a character, and derive them to a late, and a numerous posterity! And may I be allowed to hope that it will be no difadvantage to you with them, that this address atttends you, from a man who fhould be prefumed fuperior to flattery, because he is understood to be above dependence; one who would not (if he knows himself) for any vanity of this world, difgrace The Life of DAVID with the imputation of one untruth prefixed to it; one, who, whilft he wishes to do honour to your name, has not the leaft ambition ei |