Pastorals Epistles Odes (1748)/Dedication

by Ambrose Philips

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To His Grace

THOMAS

Duke of Newcastle.

My Lord,

HE Honours of your antient and illustrious Family, which that noble Writer Algernon Sidney places among the first in these Kingdoms for Prerogative of Birth, the Titles which You have long worn with distinguished Lustre, and the high Station which You have many Years filled, and now fill, in the Government, give Your Grace a just Preheminence in the Community; but they are Excellences of a more exalted Kind to which this Tribute of my Respect is paid. Your early Zeal in the Cause of Liberty, which manifested itself at the Close of a late Reign, when the worst of Schemes were promoted against this Nation by the worst of Men, the Association (of which I had the Honour to be an humble Member) into which You then entered, with some others eminent for their Birth, Fortune, and Knowledge, for securing the Succession of the House of Hanover to the Throne of these Kingdoms, your Taste of useful and polite Literature, and the Encouragement which You have been always ready to give to it, your friendly Regard to, and Connection with, that University which has been the Nurse of the greatest Statesmen, Heroes, Philosophers, and Poets, of English Growth, and the open Liberality of your Heart on all laudable Occasions, must give You a Place in the Affections of all Englishmen who know the Interest of their native Country: and to those Virtues, more than to the private Friendship with which your Grace has long honoured me, I make this Offering of the few poetical Pieces which were the Produce of my leisure, but some of my most pleasant, Hours: your Grace will be able to distinguish those which have been printed before from those which now make their first Appearance: and I number among the Felicities of my Days this Opportunity of approaching You with something perhaps not unworthy your Acceptance; and I have the Honour to be,

 

My Lord,

 

Your Grace's

 

most devoted, obliged,

 

and most humble Servant

 

April, 1748.

 

Ambrose Philips.