TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL CORNWALLIS, KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER; ONE OF HIS BRITANNICK MAJESTY'S HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL; LIEUTENANTGENERAL OF HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES; GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF ALL THE POSSESSIONS AND FORCES OF HIS BRITANNICK MAJESTY, AND OF THE HONOURABLE THE UNITED COMPANY OF MERCHANTS OF ENGLAND, IN THE EAST-INDIES, &c. &c. &c. MY LORD, DEDICATORY praife hath ever been fufpected of fincerity; and paffes, indeed, among men of the world, as a strain of turgid language, defigned to court favour, footh the vanity of a patron, or — in its best sense, to exprefs the hafty dictates of gratitude. Yet, I have the con fidence fidence to hope, that the tenor of this dedication will deferve a lefs fevere cenfure, and that it will be even said, I have narrowed the limits of my fubject. WHEN I had refolved to intrude my book of Travels on the notice of the public, I naturally looked around, being an unknown author, for fome name, to give it a fanction; not the fanction of wealth or grandeur; for they are not always the criterion of worth: but that which was to be obtained from the man, who flood eminent for the qualities which moft effentially contribute to the honour and welfare of his country. THE object of this fearch, which does not cross the eye at every glance, was feen with pleasure; and though the uses derived from it may be deemed prefumptuous, I could not refift the defire of fixing so bright an ornament to my work; and of offering however flender, my tribute of applause to actions, which demand a diftinguished page in the annals of our nation. ILL Fortune, which from the day of ancient Rome, ROME, has been ordinarily followed by neglect, obfcurity, and oftentimes disgrace, opened a more extenfive field for the difplay of YOUR LORDSHIP'S endowments; and like the blafts of Winter on the rooted oak, hold out honourable teftimony of fuperior ftrength. IN the Eastern world, YOUR LORDSHIP has been opposed to an enemy far more formidable, the poffeffion of a power never before exercised by a British subject; not even committed to the first magiftrate of our ftate; and which extends over a spacious region, a numerous and wealthy people. Yet, far removed from controul, in a land whofe every principle of government is actuated by a rapacious avarice, whose people never approach the gate of authority without an offering, we have seen, and with wonder, the inflexible maintainance of an integrity, only to be be equalled by a temperate use of command. BUT, panegyrick being the leaft grateful where it is the most due, I will clofe this addrefs, with a zealous wish, that YOUR LORDSHIP may yet con |