HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND

JAMES YORK, D. D.

LORD BISHOP OF ELY.

MY LORD,

WH HEN five years ago an important station in the University of Cambridge awaited your Lordship's disposal, you were pleased to offer it to me. The circumstances, under which this offer was made, demand a public acknowledgement. I had never seen your Lordship: I poffeffed na connection which could poffibly recommend me to your favour: I was known to you, only by my endeavours, in common with

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many

many others, to discharge my duty as a tutor in the University; and by fome very imperfect, but certainly well intended, and, as you thought, useful publications fince. In an age by no means wanting in examples of honourable patronage, although this deserve not to be mentioned in refpect of the object of your Lordship's choice, it is inferior to none in the purity and difinterestedness of the motives which fuggefted it.

How the following work may be received, I pretend not to foretell. My first prayer concerning it is, that it may do good to any my fecond hope, that it may affift what it hath always been my earnest wish to promote, the religious part of an academical education. If in this latter view it might feem, in any degree, to excufe your Lordship's

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judgement

judgement of its author, I fhall be gratified by the reflection, that, to a kindnefs flowing from public principles, I have made the best public return in my power.

In the mean time, and in every event, I rejoice in the opportunity here afforded me, of testifying the fense I entertain of your Lordship's conduct, and of a notice which I regard as the most flattering distinction of my life.

I am,

My Lord,

With fentiments of gratitude
and respect,

Your Lordship's faithful

And most obliged fervant,

W. PALEY.