TO 

 THE HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND 



S H U T E, 



LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM. 



My Lord, 



The circumstances which induce me 

 to solicit 1/our Lordship's protection for the 

 follorving pages are such, that L trust they 

 tiill ensure pardon for myself, and more in- 

 dulgence for my performance than I might 

 expect, even from your Tjordship's usual 

 goodness towards me. 



The contents of these pages were, in a very 

 unfinished state, honoured with the approba- 

 tion and encouragement of an excellent and 

 lamented lady, to whom they loere destined to 

 he offeftd in their present less umvorthy con- 

 dition. I should have been proud to have 

 ^ sheltered them under her patronage, because 

 ^ I have always found the most intelligent cri- 

 '^ tics the most indidsyent. Their general ten- 

 :^ dency at least, as calculated to render an 



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