,
As the Reformation of any Part of our Civil Polity requires as much the Knowledge of the Stateman as of the Lawyer, the following Sheets are, with the trictet Propriety, addresed to a Peron of the highet Eminence in both thee Capacities.
The Subject of this Treatie cannot be thought unworthy of uch a Protection, becaue it touches only thoe Evils which have arien in the lower Branches of our Contitution. This Conideration will account for their having hitherto ecaped your Lordhip's Notice; and that alone will account for their having o long prevailed: But your Lordhip will not, for this Reaon, think it below your Regard; ince, however ignoble the Parts may be in which the Dieae is firt engendered, it will in time be ure to affect the whole Body.
The Subject, indeed, is of uch Importance, that we may truly apply to it thoe Words of Cicero, in his Firt Book of Laws: Ad Reipublicæ formandas & tabiliendas vires, & ad anandos Populos omnis pergit Oratio. How far I have been able to ucceed in the Execution, mut be ubmitted to your Lordhip's Candour. I hope I have no immodet Opinion of my own Abilities; but, in truth, I have much les Confidence in my Authority. Indeed the highet Authority is necesary to any Degree of Succes in an Attempt of this Kind. Permit me, therefore, my Lord, to fly to the Protection of the Highet which doth now exit, or which perhaps ever did exit, in this Kingdom.
This great Sanction is, I am convinced, always ready to upport what really tends to the Public Utility: If I fail, therefore, of obtaining the Honour of it, I hall be fully atified that I do not deerve it, and hall it down contented with the Merit of a good Intent: for urely there is ome Praie due to the bare Deign of doing a Service to the Public. Nor can my Enemies, I think, deny that I am intirely diintereted in my Endeavour, unles they hould dicover the Gratification which my Ambition finds in the Opportunity of this Addres.
I am,
with the mot profound Repect,
,
Your Lordhip's mot obedient,
mot devoted humble Servant,
Henry Fielding.
