Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/17



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In offering to the public this work commemorating the great minds that in every age and in every country have, each in its own department, aided the progress of humanity, no fitter name can be found to adorn its dedication-page than that of your Lordship.

Philosopher, statesman, and jurist—author, orator, and scholar—you combine in yourself those elements that, singly, have made so many illustrious. We recognize in you what high genius, assiduous cultivation, indomitable energy, and a life-long industry can achieve in almost every department of intellectual acquirements. Our own age honours you as one of the great diffusers of knowledge—one of the truest of social civilizers: posterity will place you amongst the intellects, many-sided and capacious, that leave their impress on the age in which they have lived.

The very favourable judgment which your Lordship has been pleased to pronounce on the work is its highest recommendation to the public, and has been the strongest incentive to myself and my fellow-labourers to make "" worthy of your Lordship's patronage.

My Lord,

Your Lordship's obedient Servant,

JOHN FRANCIS WALLER, LL.D..