Mr. BRAUND.
SIR,
et Mercenary Authors flatter the Great, and subject their Principle to Interest and Ambition, I scorn such sordid Views; You only are Eminent in my Eyes: On You I look as the most Useful Member in a Body-Politic, and your Art far superior to all others: Therefore,
Tu mihi Mecænas Eris!
O Braund, my Patron! my Pleasure! my Pride! disdain not to grace my Labours with a kind Perusal. Suspend a-while your more momentous Cares, and condescend to taste this little Fricassee of Mine.
I write not this, to Bite you by the Ear, (i. e.) flatter you out of a Brace or two of Guinea’s: No; as I am a true Dumpling Eater, my Views are purely Epicurean, and my utmost Hopes center’d in partaking of some elegant Quelque Chose tost up by your judicious Hand. I regard Money but as a Ticket which admits me to your Delicate Entertainments; to me much more Agreeable than all the Monkey-Tricks of Rival Harlequins, or Puppet-Show Finery of Contending Theatres.
The Plague and fatigue of Dependance and Attendance, which call me so often to the Court-end of
the Town, were insupportable, but for the Relief I find at Austin’s, your Ingenious and Grateful Disciple, who has adorn’d New Bond-street with your Graceful Effigies. Nor can he fail of Custom who has hung out a Sign so Alluring to all true Dumpling-Eaters. Many a time and oft have I gaz’d with Pleasure on your Features, and trac’d in them the exact Lineaments of your glorious Ancestor Sir John Brand, vulgarly call’d Sir John Pudding.
Tho’ the Corruption of our English Orthography indulges some appearance of Distinction between Brand and Braund, yet in Effect they are one and the same thing. The ancient Manor of Brand’s, alias Braund’s, near Kilburn in Middlesex, was the very Manor-House of Sir John Brand, and is call’d Brand’s to this Day, altho’ at present it be in the Possession of the Family of Marsh.
What Honours are therefore due to One who is in a Direct Male Line, an Immediate Descendant from the Loins of that Great Man! Let this teach You to value your Self; this remind the World, how much they owe to the Family of the Braunds; more particularly to You, who inherit not only the Name, but the Virtues of your Illustrious Ancestor. I am,
SIR,
With all imaginable
Esteem and Gratitude,
Your very most
Obedient Servant, &c.
Page 5. line 15, &c. for Barnes read Brand.
