To the Right Honorable Thomas, Earl of Pembroke, &c., Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and one of the Lords of Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council
My Lord,
You will perhaps wonder that an obscure person, who has not the honor to be known to your lordship, should presume to address you in this manner. But that a man who has written something with a design to promote Useful Knowledge and Religion in the world should make choice of your lordship for his patron, will not be thought strange by any one that is not altogether unacquainted with the present state of the church and learning, and consequently ignorant how great an ornament and support you are to both. Yet, nothing could have induced me to make you this present of my poor endeavors, were I not encouraged by that candor and native goodness which is so bright a part in your lordship's character. I might add, my lord, that the extraordinary favor and bounty you have been pleased to show towards our Society gave me hopes you would not be unwilling to countenance the studies of one of its members. These considerations determined me to lay this treatise at your lordship's feet, and the rather because I was ambitious to have it known that I am with the truest and most profound respect, on account of that learning and virtue which the world so justly admires in your lordship,
My Lord,
Your lordship's most humble
and most devoted servant,
and most devoted servant,
No comments:
Post a Comment