well of mankind is always lookd upon as a commendable thing.
I ſhal recite: – I. What I knew of him in the earlier part of my own life.
II. What I learned of his family & the earlier part of his life.
III. What I knew of the lattr part of his life.
the reader's mind is too much ingag'd, to discern the imperfections of the writer. & whilst we are paying a juſt debt to their memory, we throw in an incitement to others, to merit in their turn. but the illuſtrious perſonage here in ſome ſort again preſented to the publick view, of all others commands a particular regard & veneration.
tho' my abilitys are much too inconſiderable to make any elogium on ſo great a name, yet I have this ample excuſe in my favor, that it can need none. I only pretend to tell chiefly some private ſtorys of his life, as they fell under my own cognizance; or what I learn'd from report of credit. but even theſe have dignity enough to merit a remembrance. & I cannot but account it a very particular felicity in my own life, that it was connected with some part of his: & in having the opportunity of converſing with him on many familiar occaſions.
but what I chiefly aim at in this paper, is to recount ſomewhat of the juvenile part of his life. for which I had a fitting opportunity offerd me by my going to live at Grantham, juſt before he dy'd; & juſt before some of the oldest people in that
