advancement of the polite arts is more owing to his generofity or his example. That fuch a genius as my Lord Bolingbroke, not more diftinguifh'd in the great fcenes of bufinefs, than in all the ufeful and entertaining parts of learning, has not refus'd to be the critick of these sheets, and the patron of their writer. And that fo excellent an imitator of Homer as the noble author of the Tragedy of Heroick Love, has continu'd his partiality to me, from my writing Paftorals, to my attempting the Iliad. I cannot deny my self the pride of confeffing, that I have had the advantage not only of their advice for the conduct in general, but their correction of several particulars of this tranflation.

I could fay a great deal of the pleafure of being diftinguish'd by the Earl of Canarvon, but it is almoft abfurd to particularize any one generous action in a person whose whole life is a continu'd feries of them. The Right Honourable Mr. Stanhope, the prefent Secretary of State, will pardon my defire of having it known that he was pleas'd to promote this affair. The particular zeal of Mr. Harcourt (the son of the late Lord Chancellor), gave me a proof how much I am honour'd in a fhare of his friendship. I muft attribute to the fame motive that of feveral others of my friends, to whom all acknowledgments are render'd unneceffary by the privileges of a familiar correspondence: And I am fatisfy'd I can no way better oblige men of their turn, than by my filence.

In fhort, I have found more patrons than ever Homer wanted. He would have thought himself happy to have met the fame favour at Athens, that has been fhewn me by its learn'd Rival, the Univerfity of Oxford. If my author had the Wits of after-ages for his defenders, his tranflator has had the Beauties of the prefent for his advocates; a pleasure too great to be changed for any fame in reverfion. And I can hard

ly

ly envy him thofe pompous honours he receiv'd after death, when I reflect on the enjoyment of fo many agreeable obligations, and eafy friendships, which make the fatisfaction of life. This dictinction is the more to be acknowledg'd, as it is shewn to one whofe pen has never gratify'd the prejudices of particular parties, or the vanities of particular men. Whatever the fuccefs may prove, I fhall never repent of an undertaking in which I have experienc'd the candour and friendship of fo many perfons of merit; and in which I hope to pafs fome of thofe years of youth that are generally loft in a circle of follies, after a manner neither wholly unufeful to others, nor difagreeable to my felf.