442 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
corespondance I shall be proud to enjoy it even at the rate of being the subject of your diversione.
Your Lordship is pleas'd to be so mery with your humble servant as to prefer my loe taste in architectur to the con- summated experience of Bingley and the rising merit of Bathurst. Forgive me my Lord if from an impartiall reflec- tione on my own abilityes I refuse the acceptance of so unmerited a preference ; it is honor enough for me to be ranked in a classe inferior to the hight that they do shine in, for I do freely own myself to be in the same situatione with respect to them in architectur, that I am as to your Lordship in regaird of your other great good qualityes, that is, I admire in you that noble ardor and heroick virtue that I cannot equall, as I do in them, these architecturall Accomplishments I ne're can arrive at, much lesse exceed, and therfor must content myself at a distance to contemplat and kindle at your respective excellencyes, and far off your steps adore.
I return your Lordship my humble thanks for your plans of Stainborough and Twitnam, but above all for your print, which, notwithstanding of the profane use you devote it to in your letter, I cannot treat with too much respect. I am indeed sensible that in comparisone of these noble happy seats that providence has justly rewarded you with in requitall of your great deserts, the finest apartment in my possessione is no more than such a necessary house as you mentione, yet as the Gods of old disdain'd not to be enshrin'd in the humblest temples of their votaryes, I flatter myself you will submitt to accept of a place for your effigies in the politest recesses of the habitation of your friend, and tho' to your Lordship this slender demonstratione of respect can be no more an additione, then adoratione is to them. Yet to me or mine may possibly arise this benefit, by viewing the pictur, to be fir'd and excited to the imitatione of the virtues of the originall.
The inscription at the bottom containing the many great offices your Lordship so honorably obtain'd and so deservedly bore (were I the great man at court you mentione) would rather afford me an agreeable reflectione then the mortifying
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