That they may come to you with as little disadvantage as poffible, I have left the care of them to one, whom, by the experience of fome years, I know well qualified to anfwer my intentions. He has already the honour and happiness of being under your protection; and, as he will very much ftand in need of it, I cannot wish him better, than that he may continue to deserve the favour and countenance of fuch a patron. I have no time to lay out in forming fuch compliments, as would but ill fuit that familiarity between us, which was once my greateft plea fure, fure, and will be my greatest honour hereafter. Inftead of them, accept of my hearty wishes, that the great reputation, you have acquired fo early, may increase more and more: And that you may long ferve your country with those excellent talents, and unblemished integrity, which have so powerfully recommended you to the moft gracious and amiable Monarch that ever filled a throne. May the frankness and generofity of your fpirit continue to foften and fubdue your enemies, and gain you many friends, if poffible, as fincere as yourself. When you have found fuch, THE PREF A CE. 70% Ofeph Addifon, the fon of Lancelot Addifon, D. D. and of Jane the daughter of Nathaniel Gulfton, D. D. and fifter of Doctor William Gulfton Bishop of Bristol, was born at Milfton near Ambrofebury, in the county of Wilts, in the year 1671. His father, who was of the county of Westmorland, and educated at Queen's. college in Oxford, paffed many years in his travels through Europe and Africa, where he joined, to the uncommon and excellent talents of nature, a great knowledge of letters and things; of which feveral books published by him are ample teftimonies. He He was rector of Milfton abovementioned, when Mr. Addison his eldest' fon was born; and afterwards became archdeacon of Coventry, and Dean of Litchfield. Mr. Addifon received his firft education at the Chartreux, from whence he was removed very early to Queen's college in Oxford. He had been there about two years, when the accidental fight of a paper of his verses, in the hands of Doctor Lancafter then Dean of that house, occafioned his being elected into Magdalen college. He employed his first years in the study of the old Greek and Roman writers; whofe language and manner he caught at that time of life, as ftrongly as other young people gain a French accent, or a genteel air. An early acquaintance with the claffics is what may be called the good-breeding of poetry, as it gives a certain gracefulnefs which never forfakes a mind, that contracted it in youth, but is feldom |