то

Her ROYAL HIGHNESS, the

PRINCESS of WALES.

MADAM,

****S I am confcious, that no Compofition of my own could be worthy to be laid at Your Royal Highness's Feet; It is my Happiness, as an Editor, to have this Opportunity of approaching You, by fubmitting to A 3

Your

Your Protection the best Dramatic Poet that thefe Kingdoms

could ever boaft of. He enjoyed,,

whilft living, the Favour of the greateft Queen that has fate on the English Throne; and therefore, I hope, is intitled to Your Royal Highness's Smiles over his Urn.

Could I picture out his Character equal to its Merits, the World would foon discover a fort of Parallel betwixt the Poet and

his Patronefs.

His Excellencies

were as great, as they were various; his Beauties ftrong, and

all

all native; the Frame of his Mind as sweet and candid, as his Countenance was open and engaging; and his Sentiments as chafte, as his Conceptions were noble: He knew how to charm without Affectation; and had the wondrous Force of preferving all Hearts, that once felt the Influence of his Attractions.

After what I have faid, MADAM, I am afraid the Duty of this Addrefs fhould be mifconftrued a Panegyrick on Your Royal Highness. But I have professed myself

unequal to the Task of drawing his Portraiture, and my humble Sphere in Life fets me at too great a Distance to take even the Out-lines of Your Perfections. I would not therefore, where I cannot prefume to do Justice, be thought to defcend to the unbecoming Art of Flattery. I muft lanch out, indeed, a great way, to make myself liable to that Imputation, with regard to Your Royal Highness; but Dedications are generally fufpected of Over

ftraining.

How