n the Defensive. If any think fit to take up Arms
against me, I have great Confidence in the Protection of the Learned,
the Candid, and the Noble; amongst which, from as many as bear the
Ensigns of St. _George_, I cannot doubt of that help, that true
Chevalrie can afford, to any Damsel in Distress, by cutting off the
Heads of all those Dragons, that dare but to open their Mouths, or
begin to hiss against her. But, Sir, before I conclude, I must do
you the Justice to insert an extract of two Letters from the Right
Honourable _D. P._ to the Reverend Dr. _R. Taylor_, relating to your
_Thesaurus. Lingg. Vett. Septentrion._ which indeed might more
properly have been placed in the eighth Page of this Preface, had
it come sooner to my Hands. It is as follows,

--"The _Dean_'s Present, which I shall value as long as I live for
his sake. _Dom. Mabillon_ was the first that told me of that Work,
and said, that the Author was a truly learned Person, and not one
of those Writers who did not understand their Subject to the
bottom, but, said he, that learned Man is one of ten thousand."

[Footnote F: See the Epistle to the Reader in the Essay towards
a Real Character, p. 3.]

And in another Letter to the abovemention'd Dr._ Taylor_--. "When
_Dom. Mabillon_ first told me of it, he did not name the Author, so as
I understood who he was, but the Elogium he made of him, was indeed very
great, and I find that the _Dean_ in one Word, has done that worthy Man
Justice." This high Elogium of your self, and of your great Work, from so
renowned an Antiquary, as it is a great Defence and Commendation of the
_Old Northern Learning_, so is it the more remarkable, in that it was
given by one, against whom you had written in the most tender Point of
the Controversy, _De Re Diplomatica_, as may be seen in your _Lingg.
Vett. Septentr. Thesaur. Praefat. General._ p. _xxxvi_, &c.

Sir, I once more heartily beg your Pardon for giving you so much
trouble, and beg leave to give you my Thanks for the great Assistance
I have received in the _Saxon_ Studies from your learned Works, and
Conversation; and in particular for your favourable Recommendation of
my Endeavours, in a farther cultivating those Studies, who with sincere
Wishes for your good Health, and all imaginable Respect for a Person of
your Worth and Learning, am,

_SIR_,

Your Most Obliged,

Humble Servant,

_