My opinion of Lord ******* is neither better nor worse, than it was
of Mr. ***. Honours, like impressions upon coin, may give an ideal
and local value to a bit of base metal; but Gold and Silver will
pass all the world over without any other recommendation than their
own weight.
The same good-will that made me think of offering up half an hour’s
amusement to Mr. *** when out of place—operates more forcibly at
present, as half an hour’s amusement will be more serviceable and
refreshing after labour and sorrow, than after a philosophical
repast.
Nothing is so perfectly _amusement_ as a total change of ideas; no
ideas are so totally different as those of Ministers, and innocent
Lovers: for which reason, when I come to talk of Statesmen and
Patriots, and set such marks upon them as will prevent confusion and
mistakes concerning them for the future—I propose to dedicate that
Volume to some gentle Shepherd,
Whose thoughts proud Science never taught to stray,
Far as the Statesman’s walk or Patriot-way;
Yet _simple Nature_ to his hopes had given
Out of a cloud-capp’d head a humbler heaven;
Some _untam’d_ World in depths of wood embraced—
Some happier Island in the wat’ry-waste—
And where admitted to that equal sky,
His _faithful_ Dogs should bear him company.
In a word, by thus introducing an entire new set of objects to his
Imagination, I shall unavoidably give a _Diversion_ to his passionate
and love-sick Contemplations. In the mean time,
I am
THE AUTHOR.