I DID conceive that the bare mentioning that I intended the benefit, which I might have expected by this work, for that first of Charities, the LYING-IN-HOSPITAL, would have brought in ten Subscribers for one I have had but, notwithstanding this my intention has been fo fignified these two years paft and upwards, not only in difperfed printed propofals, but in advertisements

in

in public papers at no fmall expences for fubfcriptions, and that when I was told the finances of the charity would not afford to rifk advancing the expence of publishing, had offered it myself, yet not any have been procured thereby; and the number of Subscribers which I have myself been able to get (not having time to folicit in perfon) has been fo fmall, and the expence of publishing fo heavy, that, but for my good-will to the charity, and my respect to those who gave me the honour of their names, as my propofals were not to print until three hundred subscriptions were had, I would have returned them to fuch of the Subfcribers as had paid.

WHEREFORE, and as I had intended a legacy for this charity in my Will, but, for reafons, chofe this method of giving it in my life-time, I shall send into it One Hundred and Thirty Sets, bound and lettered on the back, according to the published proposals, clear of all expences to it, which will produce about One Hundred and Six pounds for its benefit, and is almost double the amount of the fubscriptions paid and to be paid; (for I am to obferve, that feveral of the names therein are of perfons to whom I had prefented them) and, as I have printed much more than I purpofed at the time of my propofals, I hope to be enabled to give fome advantage alfo to fome other charities or charity.

ΤΟ

TO HIS EXCELLENCY,

THE EARL OF CARLISLE,

LORD LIEUTENANT GENERAL AND

GENERAL GOVERNOR OF IRELAND.

MY

LORD,

S I am convinced, were I, according

A to the usual course of this species of

addrefs, to proceed with a detail of your Excellency's univerfally confeffed illuftrious race, eminent qualifications and fuperiour abilities, confirmed by thofe high and weighty trufts repofed in you at fuch an uncommon early period of life, in which you had been called thereto, with your unremitted labours for the good of those over whom you were appointed to prefide, and whose bleffings will attend you on your now-announced departure, I could not more offend your exquifite delicacy: I shall therefore only fay, that if these my leisure amusements, which I have thus prefumed to offer at your Excellency's fhrine, fhall be fo honoured as to meet in any degree the approbation of

that

that Attic taste, with which the youthful fallies of your rich imagination have convinced the world you are so especially endowed, I fhall efteem well recompenfed thofe my lamp-light, fleepless hours they have at times ingroffed: Yet, at the same time, should they not fucceed in this refpect, as I could wish, the sentiments of Religion and Virtue, those ever fure promoters of the Peace and Happiness of Society, which I have meaned fhould breathe through this my very humble offering, wherever I could with propriety introduce

them; and as, in the few controverfial matters of Conftitutional Policy, on which I have therein treated, inftead of attempting to deceive, or inflame, (as is too often the cafe) I have endeavoured, all I could, to explain and conciliate; withal, as the benefits of it are intended for charity, I therefore flatter myself that it will be indulged with that patronage which will much contribute to make happy,

YOUR EXCELLENCY'S

MOST RESPECTING, DUTIFUL

AND OBEDIENT SERVANT,

G. E. HOWARD.

A$

$ fome of my Effays and Productions have met with a favourable reception from the Publick, and the approbation of several of the first in judgment and tafte; and as it has been a matter of furprize to numbers, not only how a person reared as I have been in the servile, ceaseless drudgery ftate, for years, of a profeffion where the tender feelings of humanity are too often nearly extinguished, could preserve such heart-affecting fentiments as are breathed (as it is faid) through my dramatic productions; or on the other hand, who had the smallest spark of that celeftial fire, that gives fuch rapturous joys to its poffeffors, could have endured to pen (as I have done) a dozen volumes in the Law, of all studies none lefs pleasing, or, I may fay, more infipid; or, in short, that a perfon fo eternally immersed in business, could ever have found time to write a single VOL. I.

b

sheet