When I come farther, and view the Inhabitants, when I ſee the Politeneſs of the Schollars, the Courteſie of the Gentlemen, the Beauty of the Ladies, and at laſt the Grandeur of your Graces Court, the Illuſtrious Nobility, and all the Oeconomy of State and Government: Amaz'd at theſe things, I can only acquaint your Grace, that it Produc'd the following Poem.
For all its Imperfections, Meanneſſes, and whatever may render it or its Author deſpicable in your Grace's, or the Nations Opinion, he depends upon that Principle of Generoſity inherent in the Scottiſh Gentlemen, and which makes them deſervedly eſteemed all over the World, to cover it with their Goodneſs, and look rather at the ſincerity and Juſtice of the Deſign, than the perfection of the Work.
And yet, as if I did not think it was perform'd to ſome Advantage, I ſhould be unaccountably to blame, to preſent it to your Grace; So I acknowledge my ſelf in ſome ſtreight, when I muſt either profeſs to believe it worth your Grace's Peruſal and Acceptance, or reflect on your Grace's Judgment and my own Modeſty, to offer your Grace what merited only to be rejected.
I come off of this, by aſſuring your Grace, that I have two Merits to plead for the Acceptance with your Grace, and the whole Scottiſh Nation. Firſt, That the attempt is perfectly new, and as Inventions Generally find Improvement in thoſe that come after; ſo I hope this ſhall have the ſame Fate, and be a ſtep to ſome Gentleman, of which Scotland is far from wanting a ſufficient Number to perfect this Embrio, and do their Countrey more complaet Juſtice. And Secondly, That it coming from a Stranger, and in meer Senſe of Juſtice to your Grace's Countrey, the Gentlemen of Scotland however exceeding me in the performance, ſhall never have Advantage of me there, who have had the Honour, however rudely, to be the firſt Man that ever attempted to reſcue Scotland out of the Jaws of Slander, that Grave of her Character, and the Gulph in which all the great Actions of her Nobility and Gentry, are too much buried, and if it were poſſible for Vertue to dye, would be forgotten.
Other Merit than this, and being a Lover of Scotland, I plead none, except only that I may have the Honour to ſubſcribe.
