To His Grace
PHILIP
Duke of Wharton.
May it please your Grace;
I. am not ignorant of the Censure I lay my-self open to, in offering so incorrect a Work to a Person of Your Grace's Judgment; and could not have had Assurance to do it, if I was unacquainted with Your Grace's Goodness. As this is not the first time of this Excellent Author's appearing in English, my Undertaking must expose me to abundance of Cavil and Criticism; and I see my-self reduced to the Necessity of applying to a Patron who is able to protect me.
Our modern Dedications are meer Daub and Flattery; but 'tis for those who deserve no better: Your Grace cannot be flatter'd; every body that knows the Duke of Wharton, will say there is no praising him, as there is no loving him more than he deserves. But like other Great Minds, Your Grace may be blind to your own Merit, and imagine I am complimenting, or doing something worse, whilst I am only giving your just Character; for which reason, however fond I am of so noble a Theme, I shall decline attempting it. Only this I must beg leave to say, Your Grace can't be enough admir'd for the Universal Learning which you are Master of, for your Judgment in discerning, your Indulgence in excusing, for the great Stedfastness of your Soul, for your Contempt of Power and Grandeur, your Love for your Country, your Passion for Liberty, and (which is the best Characteristick) your Desire of doing Good to Mankind. I can hardly leave so agreeable a Subject, but I cannot say more than all the World knows already.
Your Grace's illustrious Father has left a Name behind Him as glorious as any Person of the Age: it is unnecessary to enter into the Particulars of his Character; to mention his Name, is the greatest Panegyrick: Immediately to succeed that Great Man, must have been extremely to the Disadvantage of any other Person, but it is far from being so to Your Grace; it makes your Virtues but the more conspicuous, and convinces us the Nation is not without one Man worthy of being his Successor.
I have nothing more to trouble Your Grace with, than only to wish you the Honours you so well deserve, and to beg you would excuse my presuming to honour my-self with the Title of,
May it please your Grace, Your Grace's most Obedient, Humble Servant,
Gabriel Roussillon.
