Page:Caledonia (Defoe).djvu/19

 When I come farther, and view the Inhabitants, when I ee the Politenes of the Schollars, the Courteie of the Gentlemen, the Beauty of the Ladies, and at lat the Grandeur of your Graces Court, the Illutrious Nobility, and all the Oeconomy of State and Government: Amaz'd at thee things, I can only acquaint your Grace, that it Produc'd the following Poem.

For all its Imperfections, Meannees, and whatever may render it or its Author depicable in your Grace's, or the Nations Opinion, he depends upon that Principle of Generoity inherent in the Scottih Gentlemen, and which makes them deervedly eteemed all over the World, to cover it with their Goodnes, and look rather at the incerity and Jutice of the Deign, than the perfection of the Work.

And yet, as if I did not think it was perform'd to ome Advantage, I hould be unaccountably to blame, to preent it to your Grace; So I acknowledge my elf in ome treight, when I mut either profes to believe it worth your Grace's Perual and Acceptance, or reflect on your Grace's Judgment and my own Modety, to offer your Grace what merited only to be rejected.

I come off of this, by auring your Grace, that I have two Merits to plead for the Acceptance with your Grace, and the whole Scottih Nation. Firt, That the attempt is perfectly new, and as Inventions Generally find Improvement in thoe that come after; o I hope this hall have the ame Fate, and be a tep to ome Gentleman, of which Scotland is far from wanting a ufficient Number to perfect this Embrio, and do their Countrey more complaet Jutice. And Secondly, That it coming from a Stranger, and in meer Sene of Jutice to your Grace's Countrey, the Gentlemen of Scotland however exceeding me in the performance, hall never have Advantage of me there, who have had the Honour, however rudely, to be the firt Man that ever attempted to recue 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 poible 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 ubcribe.

Your Graces mot Humlble and mot obedient Servant,

DANIEL DE FOE.