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confidence rely upon your ufual Candour for indulging me in fuch a piece of vanity, when at the fame time that I am gratifying it by this Addrefs, I do the most effential service to the Subject of these Papers which accompany it. For though I cannot presume fo much upon the relation above-intimated, as to expect your Lordship's full concurrence with me in every particular Sentiment; your Lordfhip knows right well, how very far I was from aiming to make fuch an use of it in Education; how cautious to guard those that were placed under my care against implicit prejudice of every kind:

yet it is natural enough to imagine, that from fo advantageous a Poft which gave opportunity of forming the most favourable Impreffions, and which both Duty and Inclination had determined me by no means to neglect : from a free friendly intercourfe which ever passed betwixt us, and which invited and encouraged me to withhold nothing from you that I judged in any respect worthy of your regard; hence it is eafy to fuppose, that a fimilar way of thinking might

in general be produced: and if this has been the cafe in any confiderable degree; if it should engage your Lordship publickly to countenance the following Difcourses, which have received fo much improvement from your Lordship's hand in private, this will give new Life to them, and fresh cause of rejoicing to their Author.

Your Lordship will excufe me, if I am tempted to dwell a little longer on the prefent Subject, than may prove agreeable to your Lordship's inclination: a Subject, which I have often dwelt upon with pleafure; and which must always be attended with a fecret fatisfaction, fince it leads to a Period wherein fo many favourite Scenes prefent themselves to view: when I reflect upon those many amiable Qualities, which then began to appear, and which have fince exerted themselves fo happily in higher ftations; and when I am able to flatter myself with having in fome measure contributed to the unfolding and directing fome of them. That clear difcernment, and true judgment of things; that open, honeft ingenuity of mind;

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mind; that chearful, candid, humane difpofition; that universal sweetness of temper, and integrity of heart: thefe excellent endowments were your own, my Lord, by nature; and they as naturally produced, not only an innocent and agreeable, but a very useful and improving converfation among all your acquaintance. But that early application of them to fome folid and fubftantial parts of Science; the nature, origin, and ufe of our intellectual faculties; Author and the End of our Being; the Government of other Beings in the Univerfe, and our connexions with them; the fundamental Principles of Virtue and Religion; the Laws, Rules, Rights of Society; the grounds of our obedience to civil Government, and the bounds of civil and religious Liberty, particularly under our own Conftitution: →→→ that fair and ferious turn to a fober examination of the Truth in fuch important points as thefe; -the Love of Truth and Knowledge in general, more especially that of the Holy Scriptures, and all fuch Studies as are properly preparative thereto :

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