SIR,

HE fine arts have ever been en

Tcouraged by wife princes, not

fingly for private amusement,

but for their beneficial influence in fociety. By uniting different ranks in the fame elegant pleasures, they promote benevolence: by cherishing love of order, they inforce fubmiffion to government : and by inspiring delicacy of feeling, they make regular government a double blessing.

THESE Confiderations embolden me to hope for your Majesty's patronage in behalf of the following work, which

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treats of the fine arts, and attempts to form a ftandard of tafte by unfolding torrinciples that ought to govern the those

tafle of every individual."

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T

In is rare to find one born with fuch delicacy of feeling, as not to need inftruction it is equally rare to find one fo low in feeling, as not to be capable of inftruction. And yet, to refine our taste with refpect to beauties of art or of nature, is fcarce endeavoured in any feminary of learning; a lamentable defect, confidering how early in life tafte is fufceptible of culture, and how difficult to reform it if

,..

unhappily perverted. To furnish materials for fupplying that defect, was an additional motive for the prefent undertaking.

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Y

has become of greater importance than is generally imagined, A flourishing commerce begets opulence; and opulence, inflaming our appetite for pleasure, -is commonly vented on luxury and on every four sensual gratification: Selfishness rears its head; becomes fashionable; and, infecting all ranks, extinguishes the amor patriæ, and every spark of public fpirit. To prevent or to retard fuch fatal corruption, the genius of an Alfred cannot devife any means more efficacious, than the venting opulence upon. the fine arts: riches fo employ'd, instead of encouraging vice, will excite both public and private virtue. Of this happy effect, ancient Greece furnishes one fhining inftance; and why fhould we defpair of another in Britain?

In the commencement of an aufpicious reign, and even in that early period of

life