Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

ΤΟ THE

K I N

G.

SIR,

T

HE fine arts have ever been encouraged by wife princes, not

fingly for private amusement, but for their beneficial influence in fociety. By uniting different ranks in the fame elegant pleafures, they promote be nevolence: by cherishing love of order, they inforce fubmiffion to government : and by infpiring delicacy of feeling, they make regular government a double bleffing.

[blocks in formation]

[iv]

THESE Confiderations embolden me to hope for your Majefty's patronage in! behalf of the following work, which treats of the fine arts, and attempts to form a standard of tafte by unfolding those principles that ought to govern the taste of every individual.

4

IT 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 respect 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.

To

[ ]

To promote the fine arts in Britain, has become of greater importance than is generally imagined. A flourishing com merce begets opulence; and opulence, inflaming our appetite for pleasure, is commonly vented on luxury and on every fenfual gratification: Selfifhnefs rears its head; becomes fashionable; and infecting all ranks, extinguishes the amor patrie and every spark of public fpirit. To prevent or to retard fuch fatal corruption, the genius of an Alfred cannot devise any means more efficacious, than venting opulence upon the fine arts. the fine arts. Riches fo employ'd, instead of encouraging vice; will excite both public and private vir tue. Of this happy effect, ancient Greece furnishes one fhining inftance; and why should we defpair of another in Britain? Wh greign

[ocr errors]

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

life

[vi]

life when pleasure commonly is the fole purfuit, your Majefty has uniformly dif play'd to a delighted people, the nobleft principles, ripened by early culture; and for that reafon, you will be the more difpofed to favour every rational plan for advancing the art of training up youth. Among the many branches of education, that which tends to make deep impreffions of virtue, ought to be a fundamental measure in a well-regulated government: for depravity of manners will render ineffectual the most falutary laws; and in the midst of opulence, what other means to prevent fuch depravity but early and virtuous difcipline? The British difcipline is susceptible of great improvements; and if we can hope for them, it must be from a young and accomplished Prince, eminently fenfible of their importance. To establish a complete system of education, feems referved by providence for a Sovereign who commands

the

« AnteriorContinua »