TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GRANVILLE LEVESON GOWER, EARL GOWER, Lord Chamberlain of his Majefty's Houfhold. MY LORD, THE following little Comedy, founded on a story of M. Marmontell's, and calculated to expofe the frivolity and ignorance of the pretenders to learning, with the infolence and vanity of their fuperficial, illiberal protectors, can be addreffed to no nobleman with more propriety than to Lord Gower; whofe judgment, though elegant, is void of affectation; and whofe patronage, though powerful, is deftitute of all faftidious parade. It is with pleafure, my Lord, that the Public fees your Lordship placed at the head of that department which is to decide, without appeal, on the most popular domain in the whole republic of letters; a fpot that has always been diftinguished with affection, and cultivated with care, by every ruler the least attentive to either chaftifing the morals, polishing the manners, or, what is of equal importance, rationally amufing the leisure of the people. The Patron, my Lord, who now begs your protection, has had the good fortune to be well received by the public; and, indeed, of all the pieces that I have had the honour to offer them, this feems to me to have the faireft claim to their favour. But the play, ftripp'd of thofe theatrical ornaments for which it is indebted to your Lordfhip's indulgence, muft now plead it's own caufe; nor will I, my Lord, with an affected humility, echo the trite, coarfe, though classical compliment, of Optimus patronus, peffimus poeta: for if this be really true of the laft, the first can have but small pretenfions to praife; patronizing bad poets being, in my poor opinion, full as pernicious to the progrefs of letters, as neglecting the good, In humble hopes, then, my Lord, of not being thought the meanest in the Mufes train, I have taken the liberty to prefix your name to this dedication, and publicly to acknowledge my obligations to your Lordship; which, let me boaft too, I have had the happiness to receive, untainted by the infolence of domestics, the de lays |