The principal part of the following little Poem (if it deserves so high a
character) was composed ten or a dozen years ago, and is extracted from a
much longer Eulogy upon our Great Patriot, his Holkham, and his
Agriculture; but which, for reasons not necessary to mention here, has
never met the public eye; nor would what is here published, have done so
now, had the Author been aware of any Competitor in the same field, who
had attempted to do justice to the great and good man whose fame he
aspires to sing. But now the Guardian of our County’s rights, her
liberties and laws, has resigned his seat in Parliament, and after seeing
the great measures for which he so long contended in the House of Commons
(namely, a Reform in the Representation—a repeal of the Corporation and
Test Acts—and the destruction of the rotten Boroughs;) granted to the
energetic exertions of a great People, aided by the support of a
Patriotic Monarch, and a wise Ministry; has retired to the Sylvan shades
of his wide domain, to enjoy the well earned meed of public virtue and
private spirit; the Author could no longer delay presenting this humble
tribute to his fame, and he trusts it will now be deemed neither
misplaced nor ill timed, and although its pretensions are so humble, yet
as they are ardent and sincere, he hopes it will be received with the
candour and indulgence such trifles (while they survive) are usually
received, when the praise is so justly due—so dearly earned—and so seldom
deserved; in which case he will be highly gratified and his labour amply
rewarded.
_PHILO_.