Ke 13032

HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

ΤΟ

EDWARD WORTLEY MONTAGUE, ESQ'.

SIR,

WHEN I send you this volume, I am rather to

make you a request than a dedication. I must desire, that if you think fit to throw away any moments on it, you would not do it after reading those excellent pieces with which you are usually conversant. The images which you will meet with here, will be very faint, after the perusal of the Greeks and Romans, who are your ordinary companions. I must confess I am obliged to you for

1 Grandson of Edward Montague, first earl of Sandwich. On the accession of George I. he was made one of the lords of the treasury, and afterwards ambassador-extraordinary to the Grand Signior, at whose court he remained between two and three years. In the first parliament called by king George I. he was chosen for the city of Westminster, and afterwards served for Huntingdon, and was a member for the city of Peterborough when he died, Jan. 22, 1761, aged 80 years. He married the lady Mary Pierrepoint, eldest daughter to his grace Evelyn duke of Kingston, and by her (who died Aug. 21, 1762) he had issue an only son, Edward Wortley Montague, who was representative in three parliaments for Bossiney, in Cornwall; and a daughter, Mary, who in 1736 married John Stuart earl of Bute,

the taste of many of their excellencies, which I had not observed until you pointed them to me. I am very proud that there are some things in these papers which I know you pardon; and it is no small pleasure to have one's labours suffered by the judgment of a man, who so well understands the true charms of eloquence and poesy. But I direct this address to you; not that I think I can entertain you with my writings, but to thank you for the new delight I have, from your conversation, in those of other men.

May you enjoy a long continuance of the true relish of the happiness heaven has bestowed upon you. I know not how to say a more affectionate thing to you, than to wish that you may be always what you are; and that you may ever think, as I know you do, that you have a much larger fortune than you want.

I am, SIR,

Your most obedient, and

most humble servant,

ISAAC BICKERSTAFF.