Cette édition in-4», de Londres, porte la date de

2. Guillehnine-Dorothée-Charlottc de Brandebourg-Anspach femme de George II, morte le l*"" décembre 1737, âgée de claqua Qte-quatre ans.

PAt\ M. DE MARMONTEL. xv

his roemory be so well protected, as by ber who resembles 80 much Elisabeth in her personal virtues?

« Your Majesty will fincl in this book bold impartial truths; morality unstained with superstition ; a spirit of liberty, equally abhorrent of rébellion and of tyranny; the rights of kings always asserted, and those of mankind never laid aside.

a The same spirit, in which it is written, gave me the confidence to offer it to the virtuous consort of a king who, among so many crowned heads, enjoys almost alone the inestimable honour of ruling a free nation, a king who makes his power consistin beingbeloved, and his glory in being just.

« Our Descartes, who was the greatest philosopher in Europe, before Sir Isaac Newton appeared, dedicated his Principles to the celebrated princess palatine Elisabeth; not, said he, because she was a princess (for true philosophers respect princes and never flatter theui), but because of ail lus readers she uaderstood him the best, and loved truth the most.

« l beg leave, Madam (without comparing myself to Descartes), to dedicale the Henriade to your Majesty, upon the like account, not only as the protectress of ail arts and sciences, but as the best judge of them.

«1 am, wilh that profound respect which is due to the greatest virtue, as well as to the highest rank, may it please your .Majesty.