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Thefe, My LORD, are fome of the Advantages, which Men of elevated Character and refined Genius, communicate to him who is honoured with their Intimacy, and whofe Mind is fufceptible of the Impreffions. They raise him, as it were, above himself, giving him to enjoy fome Share of their Spirit, and darting a Light into his Breast, from that Fire which enflames their own

Quafi lumen de lumine fuo accendunt.

If, under the Incitement of these animating Influences, he should try to display the Beauties of Delicacy; the Greatness of the Encouragement may, in some measure, juftify the Boldness of the Attempt; though it will be far from excufing the unfuccefsful Execution. And fhould he happen not to fail; he can claim no other Merit, but that of a faithful Relator; fince his Pretenfions go no farther, than to give them back the Images of their own Minds.

With this View the following ESSAY was undertaken; which is here, with a warm, Senfe of Gratitude, addreffed to Your LORDSHIP; whofe Indulgence lifted me up to that Experience of Life, and Obfervation on Tafte and Manners, which gave Birth to this Defign, fupplied me with Materials, and was the only Foundation, on which I could build any Hopes of Succefs.

Lam, My LORD, with the utmost Deference and Respect,

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· Your LORDSHIP's Moft Obedient and most obliged Humble Servant,

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The PREFACE.

MIDST the Variety of Compofitions, with

which the Learned of this Nation have enriched the Republic of Letters, we ftill want a Treatife upon that Quality, which gives the finishing Touches to the Culture of the Underflanding, and diffuses the finest Delights through the Commerce of HUMAN LIFE.

Though in the celebrated Performances of our most elegant Writers, we meet with many mafterly Strokes, and beautiful Obfervations upon it; yet lying widely fcattered in various intermitted Speculations, they have not that Efficacy, which refults from a regular Plan and connected System.

But if all that occurs were brought into one entire View, and ranged in the best Order; many Things would ftill be wanting to complete the Work, and give us that Fulnefs of Satisfaction, which we should have received, had they entered profeffedly upon the Subject. Therefore, as it is impoffible not to admire what they have done; it is natural to wish they had done more, and anticipated the Neceffity of any farther Enquiries.

This Omiffion, it has been faid, was owing to an Opinion, for fome Time too fuccefsfully propagated-That He only, who had attained the high Accomplishment, was equal to the Tafk; and that to undertake the Subject, carried with it an Air of arrogating the Character. This was an Obstruction not to be furmounted by the cautious Candidate for literary Fame; fince the very Attempt

Attempt to obtain, must unavoidably frustrate his Hopes of public Approbation.

If the Author of the following Essay had been perfuaded, either that this Opinion had any Foundation in Truth, or was ftill generally received; the fame restraining Confiderations would have kept him in the fame Bounds. But fance he finds it has now no longer the Countenance of Numbers, and is satisfied it never had the Authority of Reason, he hopes he may endeavour to explain the Nature, and illuftrate the Beauties of DELICACY, without the Imputation of affuming to himself the Glory of the Attainment.

A Man may certainly be qualified to describe a Character in his Clofet, though he cannot act up to it in Life: As we often find Men well versed in the Theory of an Art, and able to point out its feveral Excellencies, who want either Faculties or Attention to reach the Practice. The Talents are founded upon different Principles; and the one may fubfift without the other, in the higheft Perfection..

If this be not allowed; the Poet as well as the Hiftorian, must be poffeffed of every great Quality, which he paints with Accuracy, or traces. with Difcernment. And when we find him fuccefsful in defcribing the Exploits of an Hero, we muft conclude, that he is himfelf no lefs expert in the military Art, and endued with equal Magnanimity. But it cannot be denied that there has been many a Writer capable of drawing up an Army, and fighting a Battle in all the Propriety

M. 4.

andi

and Vigour of Language, who had confeffedly as little Addrefs to conduct the one, as Courage to attempt the other in the Field of Action.

--lingua melior, fed frigida bella

Dextera.

And why fhould the Poffeffion of the Quality be thought more requifite in the Display of DELICACY? This is fo far from appearing evident, that it seems rather to be, in fome Refpects, a kind of difqualifying Circumftance. It is not improbable, that the fine Senfations in the Soul of him, who has attained to this high Refinement, might prevent him from doing full Justice to his own Accomplishments; for DELICACY is always found to withdraw itself from every thing that has the least Appearance of Vanity. But if this Obftruction could be got over; yet when it is known to be his own Picture, which he exhibits to View, it may be looked upon as the Reprefentation of Features and Lineaments, heightened by Self-regard and the Bias of a partial Judgment,

But though the Attainment of the Quality is not requifite in the Writer; yet it is effentially necessary that he should be intimately acquainted with those, in whom it is found to exist.

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This is the Source from whence he must draw not only the Materials for his Work, but the Ability of carrying it into Execution. For it is only by frequent Intercourfes with Men of Rank, and polite Acquirements, that he can wear himself into that Caft of Sentiment and Expreffion, which the Dignity of his Subject indifpenfably demands.

It has been the Author's Fortune, to be ad

mitted

mitted into thofe high Scenes of Improvement, and to have long been honoured with the Acquaintance of Perfons, not lefs diftinguished by the Refinement of their Abilities, than the Eminence of their Station.

On this Foundation he builds his Hopes. On the Encouragement of fuch Advantages he rests his Apology for the Undertaking; neither vainly affuring himself, that he has been able to make a right Ufe of the Opportunities, nor meanly courting the Reader's Favour, by profeffing a very low Opinion of his Performance. He chooses rather freely to confefs, he has here exerted his best Endeavours, and entirely fubmits himself to the Decifion of the Public.

If he should be judged unequal to the Tafk; yet (he is inclined to think) the Design may not be altogether useless. Though the Plant did not thrive where it first sprung; yet being removed to a better Soil, it may gain new Vigour, and advance to Maturity.

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But whatever be the Event; it will be attended with this agreeable Reflexion; that he has not spent his Hours in trifling Amusements, but in Difquifitions of a ferious Nature and real Concernment to Mankind. Certainly we were intended for fome farther Satisfactions, than the Attainment of fuch Things only, as are barely necessary to the Support of our Being. We have Facul ties adapted to the Enjoyment of refined Delights: Those Delights must therefore be relative to Human Life; which would prove a very infipid Poffeffion, without this heightening Relish of Exif

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