TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM LORD COWPER', MY LORD, BARON OF WINGHAM. AFTER having long celebrated the superior graces and excellencies, among men, in an imaginary character, I do myself the honour to shew my veneration for transcendent merit under my own name, in this address to your lordship. The just application of those high accomplishments of which you are master, has been an advantage to all your 1 He succeeded Sir Nathan Wright, as lord keeper of the great seal, in 1705; was created Baron Cowper of Wingham, 1706, and appointed lord chancellor, 1707; which post he held till 1710. On the accession of King George he was again appointed lord chancellor; and, on resigning the great seal, was created Earl Cowper, and Viscount Fordwich, March 18, 1717-18. His lordship died Oct. 10, 1723. N fellow-subjects; and it is from the common obligation you have laid upon all the world, that I, though a private man, can pretend to be affected with, or take the liberty to acknowledge, your great talents and public virtues. It gives a pleasing prospect to your friends, that is to say, to the friends of your country, that you have passed through the highest offices, at an age when others usually do but form to themselves the hopes of them. They may expect to see you in the house of lords as many years as you were ascending to it. It is our common good, that your admirable eloquence can now no longer be employed, but in the expression of your own sentiments and judgment. The skilful pleader is now for ever changed into the just judge; which latter charac ter your lordship exerts with so prevailing an impartiality, that you win the approbation even of those who dissent from you, and you always obtain favour, because you are never moved by it. This gives you a certain dignity peculiar to your present situation, and makes the equity, even of a lord high chancellor, appear but a degree towards the magnanimity of a peer of Great Britain. Forgive me, my lord, when I cannot conceal from you, that I shall never hereafter behold you, |