But with whatever Zeal I am led to do Justice to the Ashes of the Dead, I propose to do no Violence to the Character of theLiving. Your Grace fhall not be arraign'd without Reason, nor condemned without Proof: To fupport every Article advanced under the Head of Vanity, in particular, I fhall make use of your own Words; and in that Cafe there will be no need of any farther Evidence. You must give me Leave, Madam, to add, that the Public has been long put in Expection of this Production of yours; and, as it was feared it would be pofthumous, many Perfons were almost as impatient to see your Grace in the Hands of the College, that they might have the Pleasure of reading your Works, as if they had been Heirs to your immenfe Riches. But then they expected a Hiftory of your own Times, not an Apology for your ownConduct: they expected many important Secrets would have been brought to Light: That, efpecially, no Confideration whatever, would have A 3 ́have prevailed with you to ftifle (a) all you knew relating to that BIRTH, which has been so often reprefented as an Imposture, tho' never proved to be one. In Justice and Gratitude to the Father, to whom your Lord ow'd fo much: In Juftice and Gratitude to the People, of whofe Liberality Blenheim is like to be an almoft eternal Monument, they imagined you ought to have stated the whole Affair, with all the Clearness it would admit of: That either no Pretence might have been left to keep alive two Viper-like Factions, which feed on the Vitals of their Country; or that the real Reafons might be known, which induced the Revolution-Patriots to connive at fo infamous a Calumny, and vifit the Iniquities of the Father on his innocent Pofterity. All this, however, your Grace has thought fit to leave as you found it; like Eternity covered (a) Lady Churchill was then of the Bed-Chamber to the Princess of Denmark, and brought her the News of the 's Delivery; on which Occafion many remarkable Pleafantries, for which her Highnefs had a paffionate Fondness, paffed between them. covered with Darkness and Perplexity: In which however it must be acknowledged, you have played the Politician; and by not interfering with our Difficulties, have very effectually avoided any Addition to your own. I fhall clofe my Introduction, Madam, with obferving that our prefent incompara.ble Laureat, a (a) profeffed Admirer of your Grace, was the first Apologist in Form for his own Life, who has appear'd in our Times: That his hopeful Son, as I am informed, did himfelf the Honour of treading, foon :after, on his Father's Heels: That your -Grace is the Third in this remarkable Lift ; and that if the (b) eminent Perfon your Grace has fo happily distinguish'd by his inftinctive Averfion to Accounting was to do the fame, this (c) Table of Fame might be supposed to be full, and that there would fcarce be - Room for any future Candidate. Your Grace has given us to understand, - that your Afcendancy over your Royal (a) Vide Cibber's Apology. (6) See Tatler. A 4 Mistress Mistress had its Foundation almost in your Infancy, tho' by what Accident you happen'd to fall in her Way, you have not thought proper to explain: That she ever took a Delight to honour you: That your firft Preferment to her Service was at her own earnest Requeft. And that her Court was fo oddly compofed, that it was making yourself no great Compliment to say, her chufing to spend more Time with you than any of her other Servants, was no Difcredit to her TASTE," though you had never read, as you afterwards inform us, though you had devoted all your Leifure Hours to Cards, and Lady Clarendon was, at least, qualify'd to talk like a Scholar, though the look'd like a Madwoman, as you are pleased to tell us, archly enough. I fhall make no other Remark on thefe minute Particulars, than this; viz. That either your Grace has been rather too partial to your own Excellencies, or it must be allowed, the Princefs had both a difcerning Eye and a well-difpofed Heart; fince the could [9] could both find out, and enter into Friendship with the most amiable, and accomplished Perfon in her Court. Your Grace proceeds. Be that as it will, it is certain the at length diftinguished me by fo high a Place in her Favour, as perhaps no Perfon ever arrived at a higher with Queen or Princess. And, if from hence I may draw any Glory, it is, that I both • obtained and held this Place without the Affiftance of Flattery; a Charm, which in Truth her Inclination for me, together with my unwearied Application to ferve ' and amufe her, rendered needlefs; but 'which, had it been otherwise, my Temper ' and Turn of Mind would never have fuffer'd me to employ. Your Grace farther adds, certain other Flourishes on your Abhorrence of Flattery: which, in my humble Opinion, are not so conclufive on that Head as you seem to imagine. Flattery does not always imply fulfome Praises and flavish Compliances; none but the groffeft Appetites can fwallow fuch coarse Food: There is a Species of a much more refined I |