Si quid urbaniusculè lusum à nobis, per Musas et Charitatem et omnium poetarum Numina, Oro te, ne me malè capias. VOL. IX. ORIG. EDIT. A DEDICATION ΤΟ A GREAT MAN, HAVING, a priori, intended to dedicate The Amours of my Uncle Toby to Mr. *** I fee more reafons, a pofteriori, for doing it to Lord ******* I fhould lament from my foul, if this expofed me to the jealoufy of their Reverences; because, pofteriori, in Court Latin, fignifies the kiffing hands for preferment, or any thing elfe, in order to get it. My opinion of Lord ******* is neither better nor worse than it was of Mr. ***. Honours, like impreffions upon coin, may give an ideal and local value to a bit of base metal; but gold and filver will pafs all the world over, without any other recommendation than their own weight. The fame good-will that made me think of offering up half an hour's amusement to Mr. *** when out of place,-operates more forcibly at prefent, as half an hour's amufement will be more serviceable and refreshing after labour and forrow, than after a philofophical repast. Q 2 Nothing |