ΤΟ THE HONOURABLE CHARLES YORKE, ATTORNEY-GENERAL to His MAJESTY. SIR, HE Liberty I have taken in dedicating to TH You in a publick manner, this Edition of the Statutes, will I hope, be excused, when you confider that it owes in a great measure it's very Being to You. WHEN the uncommon abilities with which You vindicated the right of the University to print Law-books, had fo clearly refuted every objection, and difpelled every doubt from the mind of that Honourable Court the King's Bench, that their noble Chief, who always breathes the Spirit of the Laws, would permit no unneceffary delays to fufpend their Juftice; You applied it immediately VOL. XXV. a diately to the Honour of the University and the Public Utility, by suggesting such a publication of an intire body of the Statutes as was likely to prove of most general convenience : my defire to make a thankful acknowledgment for the honour of being entrusted with the execution of your Plan, has been hitherto awed by the fear of offending, but united with the inclination of the Univerfity, pardon me if it can no longer be reftrained in Silence. THAT learned body, on your firft appearance among them, faw You poffeffed of richer Stores of learning than many others are at their leaving it; and the more admired to observe You, indefatigable in the purfuit of new attainments, devote to Science that early season of life, too frequently refigned to pleasure and diffipation; and that admiration became ripened into the highest esteem and friendship with it's most refpectable members, whilft You were no lefs diftinguished by your most regular obfervance of every thing that Academical authority requires, than by the moft polished and amiable manners. THE Seafon that called you forth into Action, feemed only the Harvest due to the cultivation of fuch talents at the fountain of learning; and the mafterly skill with which You explained various queftions of Policy and Law, in the Senate and at the Bar, not only fixed the at attention of all the men of bufinefs, but attracted the regards of a Sovereign, who being himself poffeffed of every virtue, feels the nobleft Satisfaction in exalting modeft worth; and therefore called You to that important office, -a Choice that reflects mutual luftre both on the Royal Donor and on the Receiver. IN the Character of Sollicitor General You endeavoured to deftroy a Monopoly, and to extend the freedom of the Prefs to the University; because You forefaw that they would exercise it for the public good; and because neither the weight nor variety of business could ever interrupt the good offices of your antient friendship; on the contrary, You rendered it inftrumental to the protection and honour of that body; and it's particular Members, in the most difficult cafes, ever found in You, at once an able adviser, and a generous Patron. BUT I have been betrayed infenfibly by the warmth of my own Sentiments and of others, into the danger of giving offence, where I intended the reverfe :- indeed, the delicacies of your Character demand an abler hand than mine, — I forbear therefore, though not without a fecret murmur, that You are continually deferving praises, yet are unwilling to hear them, though they afford the highest pleasure to every one befide. AT leaft, Sir, permit this Offering of the First-fruits of a Prefs, for which you pleaded with fo much learning, spirit and force, that the University might almoft call it Your's, and which under Your Aufpices they propose to employ for the general fervice of the nation: permit me to entreat Your Pardon for this intrufion, and Your favourable acceptance of this work, and to affure You that I am, with the fincerest Respect, Inner-Temple, January 26. 1763. SIR, Your most obedient, and devoted humble Servant, DANBY PICKERING. |