TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES LORD HALIFAX. MY LORD, From the Hovel at Hamptonwick, April 7, 1711. WHEN I firft refolved upon doing myself this honour, I could not but indulge a certain vanity in dating from this little covert, where I have frequently had the honour of your lordship's company, and received from you very many obligations. The elegant folitude of this place, and the greatest pleasures of it I owe to its being fo near thofe beautiful manors wherein you fometimes refide: it is not retiring from the world, but enjoying its most valuable bleffings, when a man is permitted to share in your lordship's conversation in the country. All the bright images which the wits of past ages have left behind them in their writings, the noble plans which the greatest statesman have laid VOL. IV. A down down for administration of affairs, are equally the familiar objects of your knowledge. But what is peculiar to your lordship above all the illuftrious perfonages that have appeared in any age, is, that wit and learning have from your example fallen into a new era. Your patronage has produced thofe arts, which before fhunned the commerce of the world, into the service of life; and it is to you we owe, that the man of wit has turned himself to be a man of bufinefs. The falfe delicacy of men of genius, and the objections which others were apt to infinuate against their abilities for entering into affairs, have equally vanished. And experience has fhewn, that men of letters are not only qualified with a greater capacity, but also a greater integrity in the difpatch of bufinefs. Your own studies have been diverted from being the highest ornament, to the highest use to mankind; and the capacities which would have rendered you the greatest poet of your age, have to the advantage of Great Britain been employed in purfuits which have made you the moft able and unbiaffed patriot. A vigorous imagination, an extensive apprehenfion, and a ready judgment, have diftinguished you in all the illuftrious parts of administration, in a reign attended with fuch difficulties, that the fame talents without the fame quickness in the poffeffion of them would have been incapable of conquering. The natural fuccefs of fuch abilities has advanced you to a feat in that illuftrious, houfe, where you were received by a crowd of your relations. Great as you you are in your honours, and perfonal qualities, I know you will forgive an humble neighbour, the vanity of pretending to a place in your friendship, and fubfcribing himself, My Lord, Your Lordship's moft obliged, and moft devoted fervant, RICHARD STEELE. A 2 |