Inscription to Mr. Addison, written in 1805. EXIMIO VIRO, JOSEPHO ADDISON: GRATIA, FAMA, FORTUNA COMMENDATO; HUMANIORIBUS LITERIS UNICÈ INSTRUCTO; HAUD IGNOBILI POETÆ; IN ORATIONE SOLUTA CONTEXENDÅ SUMMO ARTIFICI; CENSORI MORUM GRAVI SANÈ, SED ET PERJUCUNDO, LEVIORIBUS IN ARGUMENTIS SUBRIDENTI SUAVITER, RES ETIAM SERIAS LEPORE QUODAM SUO CONTINGENTI; PIETATIS, PORRÒ, SINCERÆ, HOC EST, CHRISTIANÆ, STUDIOSISSIMO CULTORI: EXIMIO, PROINDĖ, VIRO, JOSEPHO ADDISON, HOC MONUMENTUM SACRUM ESTO. R. W. 1805, Sept. 5. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JAMES CRAGGS, Esq. HIS MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE. DEAR SIR, I CANNOT wish that any of my writings should last longer than the memory of our friendship, and therefore I thus publickly bequeathe them to you, in return for the many valuable instances of your affection. That they may come to you with as little disadvantage as possible, I have left the care of them to one, whom, by the experience of some years, I know well qualified to answer my intentions. He has already the honour and happiness of being under your protection; and, as he will very much stand in need of it, I cannot wish him better, than that he may continue to deserve the favour and countenance of such a patron. |