A То ANTHONY HENLEY, ESQ MAN of your character can no more prevent a dedication, than he would encourage one; for merit, like a virgin's blufhes, is ftill moft difcovered, when it labours most to be concealed. It is hard, that to think well of you, should be but juftice, and to tell you fo, fhould be an offence: thus, rather than violate your modefty, I must be wanting to your other virtues; and, to gratify one good quality, do wrong to a thousand. The world. generally measures our efteem by the ardour of our pretences; and will fcarce believe that fo much zeal in the heart, can be confiftent with fo much faintnefs in the expreffion; but when they reflect on your readiness to do good, and your industry to hide it; on your paffion to oblige, and your pain to hear it owned; they will conclude that acknowledgements would be ungrateful to a perfon, who even feems to receive the obligations he confers. But though I fhould perfuade myself to be filent upon all occafions; thofe more polite arts, which, till of late, have languished and decayed, would appear under their prefent advantages, and own you for one of their generous reftorers; infomuch, that Sculpture now breathes, Painting fpeaks, Mufic ravishes; and as you help to refine our taste, you diftinguish your own. |