JOHN HILEY ADDINGTON, Esq. JOINT PAYMASTER-GENERAL OF HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES. MY DEAR SIR, Vicar's Hill, Jan. 8, 1803. Ir is a pleasure to me, that these little publications afford me an opportunity of giving a teftimony of my affection to fome of my early friends, whofe conduct in life has given me fo much fatisfaction. With various branches of your family I have had much intimate acquaintance, if I may not call it friendship; among whom I have feen all the duties of private life very pleasingly fulfilled. It has been the impudent boaft of profligacy, that private vices are public benefits. I fhould not think the welfare of my Country ran much risk, under the influence of an oppofite maxim.-I dare even venture to conceive, the influence of private virtues will ftill be more beneficial, the more they are exalted into public-Nay, I own, my dear Sir, I am fuperftitious enough to believe, a religious prince, and a religious ininiftry, are, even in a political light, among the greatest bleffings of a nation. Profligacy, with all its boafted benefits, I fhould dread to fee connected with any department of the Public. It makes a plain man fhudder to hear patriots bawling for the public good, while every action of their lives, perhaps, is an addition to the public guilt. Let us rather confider the virtues of a private life, as a pledge to the Public; and think ourselves happy when our friends have given this pledge to their country. Warmed with thefe fentiments, I beg you, my dear Sir, to believe me, with the greatest fincerity and efteem, Your truly affectionate friend and fervant, WILL: GILPIN. OF THE SERMON S. I. GLORY to God in the higheft, &c. II. Let every one that nameth the name of Chrift,&c. 12 III. What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole Except your righteoufnefs fhall exceed that of the Scribes and Pharifees, &c. VII. In the night I commune with my own heart VIII. The widow's mite 54 65 79 |