TO THE
KING.
SIR,
YOUR Majeſty's having graciouſly permitted me to prefix your royal name to this tragedy, has impreſs'd me with ſo deep a ſenſe of the honour, that I deſpair of finding terms ſufficient to expreſs my acknowledgements.
Tho' the public, which is ſeldom diſpoſed to receive favourably, performances deſtitute of merit, has been pleaſed to give this a very induglgent reception, I muſt ſtill regret its imperfections, when I conſider that it may for a moment become the object of your Majeſty's attention. Having ommitted nothing in my power to render it not entirely unworthy of ſuch an exalted patronage, I can't forbear to flatter myſelf, that it may raiſe in the breaſt os your Majeſty thoſe emotions which well imagined diſtreſs never fails to excite in the nobleſt natures: but at the ſame time I more anxiouſly wiſh, that no other eaſineſs but from ſuch ficticious ſorrow may ever approach youl and that the greateſt and moſt amiable ſovereign in Europe, may be alſo for ever diſtinguiſhed as the moſt proſperous and happy.
I am,
SIR,
Your Majeſty's
moſt dutiful ſubject,
and moſt obliged
humble ſervant,
ROBERT JEPHSON.
