Or, The SOURCE of the BEING An ESSAY towards proving, that the Im- WITH An Attempt to fhew, that a Revival of the ART of IN THREE PARTS. 1. Of the Ufe of thefe Studies STITUTION. II. Their abfolute Neceffity in order to refine, afcertain, III. Their Ufe in the Cultiva- tion of the IMITATIVE By THOMAS SHERIDAN, A. M. Hoc opus, hoc ftudium, parvi properemus, et ampli, DUBLIN: HOR. Printed by GEORGE FAULKNER in Effex-Street.. M,DCC,LVI. on these occafions; but merely from a regard to propriety. As I do not confider this in it's effential parts to be of the nature of dedications, as I have none of their ufual ends in view, neither have I observed any of the usual forms. I have afked no permiffion to prefix your Lordship's name; I have prepared no gilded book with Turky cover to be presented with one hand, whilft the other is held open to receive the fordid wages of adulation: I shall not pretend to sketch out your character, which I confefs is far above my abilities; I have no thoughts of doing you honour, which in me would be the height of prefumption; I have no expectation of deriving any to myself from prefixing your name, fince the fcandalous abuses of a cuftom, originally well founded, have put an end to all fuch power, even in names of highest merit, My Lord, as a fubject of Great Britain, I claim a privilege to addrefs You, as a patriot, upon a point which concerns the public good. Nor is it in my own name only I prefume to claim this privilege; it is, mý Lord, |