CONTENTS. Advertisement to the present Edition · - CCV A Letter to Sir WILLIAM WINDHAM; written in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventeen ADVERTISEMENT. ALTHOUGH it has been thought proper to retain Dr. Goldsmith's elegant Life of Lord Bolingbroke in the present edition of his works, the length of time which has elapsed since that Life was written rendered it necessary, to add many particulars, that have transpired within the last thirty years. These have been selected from the various authorities quoted, and especially from the Letters published lately by the reverend Gilbert Parke, which contain much information' respecting the memorable peace of Utrecht. Unfortunately, they break off at the period of the Queen's death. Could another connected series of his lordship's confidential correspondence be recovered, his political character might be freed from obscurity, and very probably from much of the obloquy thrown upon it by the connexions of the Walpole family. The opinions of those who have offered to delineate his conduct, and which are collected among these additions to his life, however contradictory, show that he was considered by all as a politician of an important class-that those who have been at most pains to defame him as an enemy, would have been very desirous to secure him as a friend; and that they may be credited in VOL. I. A 3 every every thing, sooner than in their affecting to undervalue his almost unrivalled talents. In the compilation of these articles, no concealment has been made, which can affect his character where it was obviously blamable. Like Chesterfield and Hume, he left something behind him worse than he had produced in his lifetime, and subjected himself to accusations to which he could no longer reply. The documents now collected, and others which are referred to, may incline the reader to pause on the merits of a character, that appears to have suffered equally by the just resentment of piety, and by the unforgiving preju-. dices of party; and they may, it is hoped, suggest to some future writer, of candour and talents, that an impartial life of lord Bolingbroke is yet a desideratum. January 1809. |