To the RIGHT HONOURABLE

J

OH N

LORD VISCOUNT TYRCONNEL, Baron CHARLEVILLE, and Lord BROWNLOWE, Knight of the BATH.

MY LORD,

your

PART of this poem had the honour of Lord

ship's perufal when in manufcript; and it was no fmall pride to me, when it met with approbation from. fo diftinguishing a judge: fhould the reft find the like indulgence, I fhall have no occafion (whatever its fuccefs may be in the world) to repent the labour it has coft me-But my intention is not to purfue a difcourfe on my own performance; no, my Lord, it is to embrace this opportunity of throwing out fentiments that relate to your Lordship's goodness, the generofity of which, give me leave to fay, I have greatly expe-

rienced.

I offer it not as a new remark, that dependance on: the Great, in former times, generally terminated in

difappointment; nay, even their bounty (if it could be called fuch) was, in its very nature, ungenerous. It was, perhaps, with-held, through an indolent or wilful neglect, till thofe, who lingered in the want of it, grew almost past the sense of comfort. At length it came, too often, in a manner that half canceled the obligation, and, perchance, must have been acquired too by fome previous act of guilt in the receiver, the confequence of which was remorfe and infamy.

But that I live, my Lord, is a proof that dependance on your Lordship, and the prefent Miniftry, is an affurance of fuccefs. I am perfuaded, diftrefs, in many other instances, affects your foul with a compassion, that always fhews itself in a manner most humane and active; that to forgive injuries, and confer benefits, is your delight; and that to deferve your friendship is to deferve the countenance of the beft of men. To be admitted into the honour of your Lordship's converfation (permit me to speak but juftice) is to be elegantly introduced into the most inftructive, as well as entertaining, parts of literature; it is to be furnished with the fineft obfervations upon human nature, and to receive, from the most unaffuming, fweet, and winning candour, the worthiest and most polite maximsfuch as are always enforced by the actions of your own life. I could alfo take notice of your many public-fpirited fervices to your country in Parliament, and your conftant attachment to Liberty, and the Royal, Illuftrious Houfe of our Moft Gracious Sovereign; but, my Lord, believe me, your own deeds

are

are the nobleft and fitteft orators to speak your praise, and will elevate it far beyond the power of a much abler writer than I am.

I will therefore turn my view from your Lord.ip's virtues to the kind influence of them, which has been fo lately fhed upon me; and then, if my future morals and writings fhall gain any approbation from men of parts and probity, I must acknowledge all to be the product of your Lordship's goodness to me. I must, in fine, fay with Horace,

Quod fpiro, & placeo, (fi placeo) tuum eft.

I am, with the highest gratitude and veneration,

MY LORD,

Your Lordship's most dutiful

and devoted fervant,

RICHARD SAVAGE.

THE

WANDERER.

A VISION.

FAIN

CANTO I.

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AIN would my verfe, Tyrconnel, boast thy name, Brownlowe, at once my fubj & and my fame ! Oh! could that fpirit, which thy bofom warms, Whofe ftrength furprizes, and whofe goodness charms! That various worth! could that infpire my lays, Envy fhould fmile, and Cenfure learn to praise : Yet, though unequal to a foul like thine, A generous foul, approaching to divine, When blefs'd beneath fuch patronage I write, Great my attempt, though hazardous my flight. O'er ample Nature I extend my views ; Nature to rural fcenes invites the Mufe: She flies all public care, all venal ftrife, To try the ftill, compar'd with active life; ́· To prove, by these the fons of men may owe The fruits of blifs to burting clouds of woe; That ev'n calamity, by thought refin'd, Infpirits and adorns the thinking mind.

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