The Great Part You had, as British Ambassador, in Procuring and Cultivating the Advantageous Commerce between the Courts of England and Portugal, has purchased You the lasting Esteem of all who understand the Interest of either Nation.

Those Personal Excellencies which are over-rated by the ordinary World, and too much neglected by Wise Men, You have applied with the justeft Skill and Judgment. The most graceful Address in Horsemanship, in the Use of the Sword, and in Dancing, has been employed by You as lower Arts, and as they have

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occasionally served to cover, introduce the Talents of a skilful Minister.

But your Abilities have not appear’d only in one Nation. When it was your

Province to Aet as Her Majesty's Minister at the Court of Savoy, at that time incamped, You accompanied that Galant Prince thro' all the Vicissitudes of his Fortune, and shared, by his Side, the Dangers of that Glorious Day in which He recovered His Capital. As far as it regards Personal Qualities, You attained, in that one Hour, the highest Military Reputation. The Behaviour of our

Minister

Minister in the Action, and the good Offices done the Vanquished in the Name of the Queen of England, gave both the Conquefor and the Captive the most lively

. Examples of the Courage and Generosity of the Nation, he represented.

Your Friends and Companions in your Absence frequently talk these things of You, and You cannot hide from us, (by the most discreet Silence in any Thing which regards Yourself) that the frank Entertainment we have at your Table, your easy Condescension in little Incidents of Mirth and Diversion, and general Compla

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cency of Manners, are far from being the greatest Obligations we have to You. I do affure You there is not one of your Friends has a Greater Sense of your Merit in general, and of the Favours You every Day do us, than,

SIR,

Your moft Obedient, and

moft Humble Servant,

Richard Steele.