without opposition from me; for were their lordships unhorsed this very night--’tis ten to one but that many of them would be worse mounted by one half before to-morrow morning. Not one of these instances therefore can be said to break in upon my rest. ----But there is an instance, which I own puts me off my guard, and that is, when I see one born for great actions, and what is still more for his honour, whose nature ever inclines him to good ones; --when I behold such a one, my Lord, like yourself, whose principles and conduct are as generous and noble as his blood, and whom, for that reason, a corrupt world cannot spare one moment; --when I see such a one, my Lord, mounted, though it is but for a minute beyond the time which my love to my country has prescribed to him, and my zeal for his glory wishes, --then, my Lord, I cease to be a philosopher, and in the first transport of an honest impatience, I wish the HOBBY-HORSE, with all his fraternity, at the Devil. “MY LORD, “I maintain this to be a dedication, notwithstanding its singularity in the three great essentials of matter, form, and place: I beg, therefore, you will accept it as such, and that you will permit me to lay it, with the most respectful humility, at your Lordship’s feet, --when you are upon them, --which you can be when you please; --and that is, my Lord, whenever there is occasion for it, and I will add, to the best purposes too. I have the honour to be, “_My Lord, Your Lordship’s most obedient, and most devoted, and most humble servant_, TRISTRAM SHANDY.” CHAPTER IX I solemnly declare to all mankind, that the above dedication was made for no one Prince, Prelate, Pope, or Potentate, --Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, or Baron, of this, or any other Realm in Christendom; ----nor has it yet been hawked about, or offered publicly or privately, directly or indirectly, to any one person or personage, great or small; but is honestly a true Virgin-Dedication untried on, upon any soul living. I labour this point so particularly, merely to remove any offence or objection which might arise against it from the manner in which I propose to make the most of it; --which is the putting it up fairly to public sale; which I now do. ----Every author has a way of his own in bringing his points to bear; --for my own part, as I hate chaffering and higgling for a few guineas in a dark entry; --I resolved within myself, from the very beginning, to deal squarely and openly with your Great Folks in this affair, and try whether I should not come off the better by it. If therefore there is any one Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, or Baron, in these his Majesty’s dominions, who stands in need of a tight, genteel dedication, and whom the above will suit, (for by the bye, unless it suits in some degree, I will not part with it)----it is much at his service for fifty guineas; ----which I am positive is twenty guineas less than it ought to be afforded for, by any man of genius.