TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES, EARL OF SUNDERLAND'. MY LORD, VERY many favours and civilities (received from you in a private capacity) which I have no other way to acknowledge, will, I hope, excuse this presumption; but the justice I, as a Spectator, owe your character, places me above the want of an excuse. Candour and openness of heart, which shine in all your words and actions, exact the highest esteem from all who have the honour to know you; and a winning condescension to all subordinate to you, made business a pleasure to those who executed it under you, at the same time that it heightened her majesty's favour to all who had the happiness of having it conveyed through your hands. A secretary of state, in the interest of man 'This was the Right Hon. Charles Spencer, Earl of Sunland, who was appointed secretary of state December 5, 1706; from which office he was dismissed June 14, 1710. On the 1st of September, 1715, he had a pension of 1,2007. per annum settled on him; on the 16th of April, 1717, he was again made secretary of state; on the 16th of March, 1717-18, he was appointed lord president of the council; on the 6th of February, 1718-19, made groom of the stole ; and died on the 19th of April, 1722. He married Lady Anne Churchill, second daughter of John Duke of Marlborough. kind, joined with that of his fellow-subjects, accomplished with a great facility and elegance in all the modern as well as ancient languages, was a happy and proper member of a ministry, by whose services your sovereign and country are in so high and flourishing a condition, as makes all other princes and potentates powerful or inconsiderable in Europe, as they are friends or enemies to Great Britain. The importance of those great events which happened during that administration in which your lordship bore so important a charge, will be acknowledged as long as time shall endure. I shall not therefore attempt to rehearse those illustrious passages; but give this application a more private and particular turn, in desiring your lordship would continue your favour and patronage to me, as you are a gentleman of the most polite literature, and perfectly accomplished in the knowledge of books and men, which makes it necessary to beseech your indulgence to the following leaves, and the author of them; who is, with the greatest truth and respect, MY LORD, Your Lordship's obliged, obedient, and humble servant, THE SPECTATOR. |