DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4324#0006
ii PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
As this narrative professes the strictest regard to truth, it would be disinge-
nuous to insinuate, that a serious plan for the promotion of Arts was the only
motive for forming this Society : friendly and social intercourse was, undoubt-
edly, the first great object in view; but while, in this respect, no set of men
ever kept up more religiously to their original institution, it is hoped this work
will show that they have not, for that reason, abandoned the cause of virtu, in
which they are also engaged, or forfeited their pretensions to that character
which is implied in the name they have assumed.
Upon a report of the state of the Society's finances in the year 1764, it ap-
peared that they were possessed of a considerable sum above what their current
services required. Various schemes were proposed for applying part of this
money to some purpose which might promote taste, and do honour to the So-
ciety; and after some consideration it was resolved, " That a person or persons
properly qualified should be sent, with sufficient appointments, to certain parts
of the East, to collect informations relative to the former state of those countries,
and particularly to procure exact descriptions of the ruins of such monuments
of antiquity as are yet to be seen in those parts.'
Three persons were elected for this undertaking. Mr. Chandler, of Mag-
dalen College, Oxford, editor of the Marmora Oxojtiensia, was appointed to
execute the classical part of the plan. The province of architecture was
assigned to Mr. Revett, who had already given a satisfactory specimen of his
accuracy and diligence, in his measures of the remains of antiquity at Athens.
The choice of a proper person for taking views, and copying bas-reliefs, fell
upon Mr. Pars, a young painter of promising talents. A committee was ap-
pointed to fix their salaries, and draw up their instructions; in which, at the
same time that the different objects of their respective departments were dis-
tinctly pointed out, they were all strictly enjoined to keep a regular journal,
and hold a constant correspondence with the Society.
They embarked, on the ninth of June, 1764, in the Anglicana, Captain
Stewart, bound for Constantinople, and were put on shore at the Dardanelles on
the twenty-fifth of August. Having visited the Sigean Promontory, the Ruins
of Troas, with the Islands of Tenedos and Scio, they arrived at Smyrna on the
As this narrative professes the strictest regard to truth, it would be disinge-
nuous to insinuate, that a serious plan for the promotion of Arts was the only
motive for forming this Society : friendly and social intercourse was, undoubt-
edly, the first great object in view; but while, in this respect, no set of men
ever kept up more religiously to their original institution, it is hoped this work
will show that they have not, for that reason, abandoned the cause of virtu, in
which they are also engaged, or forfeited their pretensions to that character
which is implied in the name they have assumed.
Upon a report of the state of the Society's finances in the year 1764, it ap-
peared that they were possessed of a considerable sum above what their current
services required. Various schemes were proposed for applying part of this
money to some purpose which might promote taste, and do honour to the So-
ciety; and after some consideration it was resolved, " That a person or persons
properly qualified should be sent, with sufficient appointments, to certain parts
of the East, to collect informations relative to the former state of those countries,
and particularly to procure exact descriptions of the ruins of such monuments
of antiquity as are yet to be seen in those parts.'
Three persons were elected for this undertaking. Mr. Chandler, of Mag-
dalen College, Oxford, editor of the Marmora Oxojtiensia, was appointed to
execute the classical part of the plan. The province of architecture was
assigned to Mr. Revett, who had already given a satisfactory specimen of his
accuracy and diligence, in his measures of the remains of antiquity at Athens.
The choice of a proper person for taking views, and copying bas-reliefs, fell
upon Mr. Pars, a young painter of promising talents. A committee was ap-
pointed to fix their salaries, and draw up their instructions; in which, at the
same time that the different objects of their respective departments were dis-
tinctly pointed out, they were all strictly enjoined to keep a regular journal,
and hold a constant correspondence with the Society.
They embarked, on the ninth of June, 1764, in the Anglicana, Captain
Stewart, bound for Constantinople, and were put on shore at the Dardanelles on
the twenty-fifth of August. Having visited the Sigean Promontory, the Ruins
of Troas, with the Islands of Tenedos and Scio, they arrived at Smyrna on the