DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1623#0008
îv
PREFACE
us for their publication , exacting nothing from us, but perfection in the exe-
cution and fidelity in the drawing, and reserving to himself the honour only,
of bringing them to light, under the Auspices of a GREAT KING, to
•whom he has been attached from his infancy , by the ties of the most profound
respect and the most sincere Gratitude ; and indeed, nothing could be more pro-
per than to offer such a work to a Prince, who having ever been a lover of
the liberal Arts from his most tender youth, las carried with him upon the
throne, the taste which he had for them ; without suffering it as yet to be
weakened by the toilsome cares of Government, to which he devotes himself
entirely. To dedicate such a work to the King of England, is to consecrate it
to the utility of his Country, to that of all Europe, to whom this Prince
is dear by the gentleness of his manners, by the wisdom of his views, and by
his love of peace ; what . do not the arts owe to him ? what thanks are not
due to him from littérature , which can only flourish under the shadow of
that peace, which vain Ambition and the immoderate desire of becoming po-
werful troubles but too often ? May his happy days {filled whith that solid
dory, which springs from the sublime character of Benefactor to those whom
fate has rendered his inferiors, though by Nature his equals, and that noble
piety which rendered the two Antonines the delight of Mankind) be as lasting
as his virtues and felicity, may his August Name, like that of Titus , beco-
me a Name of honour for all good Princes, may he neither acknowlegde or
esteem any title more glorious than that of Father of his Country, nor a
greater happiness than that of uniting Moderation with Power, Equity with.
Strength, and the love of public tranquillity, with the desire of pouring
blessings upon those whom Providence has intrusted to his care: these prayers,
rising from the bosom hof my solitude which , thanks to the arts, is rendered
easy to me, are not those of deceitful interest, or the insatiable desire of
possessing riches and honours, but arise from my love to human Nature, and
are consequences of the wishes I form for the happiness hof my Contempora-
ries .
Our Readers without doubt will lose much by Mr Hamiltd'ns not ha-
ving leisure from the occupations of his employment, to publish himself the
Cabinet which he has formed with so much knowledge, this work in the
hands of one so much more capable than us of understanding ifs merit would
have
PREFACE
us for their publication , exacting nothing from us, but perfection in the exe-
cution and fidelity in the drawing, and reserving to himself the honour only,
of bringing them to light, under the Auspices of a GREAT KING, to
•whom he has been attached from his infancy , by the ties of the most profound
respect and the most sincere Gratitude ; and indeed, nothing could be more pro-
per than to offer such a work to a Prince, who having ever been a lover of
the liberal Arts from his most tender youth, las carried with him upon the
throne, the taste which he had for them ; without suffering it as yet to be
weakened by the toilsome cares of Government, to which he devotes himself
entirely. To dedicate such a work to the King of England, is to consecrate it
to the utility of his Country, to that of all Europe, to whom this Prince
is dear by the gentleness of his manners, by the wisdom of his views, and by
his love of peace ; what . do not the arts owe to him ? what thanks are not
due to him from littérature , which can only flourish under the shadow of
that peace, which vain Ambition and the immoderate desire of becoming po-
werful troubles but too often ? May his happy days {filled whith that solid
dory, which springs from the sublime character of Benefactor to those whom
fate has rendered his inferiors, though by Nature his equals, and that noble
piety which rendered the two Antonines the delight of Mankind) be as lasting
as his virtues and felicity, may his August Name, like that of Titus , beco-
me a Name of honour for all good Princes, may he neither acknowlegde or
esteem any title more glorious than that of Father of his Country, nor a
greater happiness than that of uniting Moderation with Power, Equity with.
Strength, and the love of public tranquillity, with the desire of pouring
blessings upon those whom Providence has intrusted to his care: these prayers,
rising from the bosom hof my solitude which , thanks to the arts, is rendered
easy to me, are not those of deceitful interest, or the insatiable desire of
possessing riches and honours, but arise from my love to human Nature, and
are consequences of the wishes I form for the happiness hof my Contempora-
ries .
Our Readers without doubt will lose much by Mr Hamiltd'ns not ha-
ving leisure from the occupations of his employment, to publish himself the
Cabinet which he has formed with so much knowledge, this work in the
hands of one so much more capable than us of understanding ifs merit would
have