то SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. I Dear SIR, Can have no expectations in an addrefs of this kind, either to add to your reputation, or to establish my own. You can gain nothing. from my admiration, as I am ignorant of that art. in which you are faid to excel; and I may lose much by the feverity of your judgment, as few have a jufter tafte in poetry than you. Setting intereft therefore afide, to which I never paid much attention, I must be indulged at prefent in following my affections. The only dedication I ever made was to my brother, because I loved him better than most other men. He is fince dead. Per mit me to infcribe this Poem to you.. How far you may be pleafed with the verfifica-tion and mere mechanical parts of this attempt, I don't pretend to enquire; but I know you will object (and indeed feveral of our beft and wifeft friends concur in the opinion) that the depopulation it deplores is no where to be feen, and the disorders it laments are only to be found in the poet's own imagination. To this I can fcarce make any other anfwer than that I fincerely believe what I have written; that I have taken all poffible |