tance. To establish a complete system of education, feems referved by Providence for a Sovereign who commands the hearts of his fubjects. Succefs will crown the undertaking, and endear GEORGE THE THIRD to our latest posterity.

THE most elevated and moft refined pleasure of human nature, is enjoyed by a virtuous Prince governing a virtuous people; and that, by perfecting the great system of education, your Majefty may very long enjoy this pleasure, is the ardent wish of

Your Majesty's

Devoted Subject,

HENRY HOM E.

December 1761.

PREFACE

то тНЕ

SECOND EDITION.

RINTING, by multiplying copies at will, affords to writers great opportunity of receiving inftruction from every quarter. The author of this treatise, having always been of opinion that the general tafte is feldom wrong, was refolved from the beginning to fubmit to it with entire refignation: its feverest disapprobation might have incited him to do better, but never to complain. Finding now the judgment of the public to be favourable, ought he not to draw fatisfaction from it? He would be devoid of fenfibility were he not greatly fatisfied. Many criticifms have indeed reached his ear; but they are candid and benevolent, if not always juft. Gratitude, therefore, had there been no other motive, must have roufed his utmost in

dustry,

duftry to clear this edition from all the defects of the former, so far as suggested by others, or discovered by himself. In a work containing many particulars, both new and abftrufe, it was difficult to express every article with fufficient perfpicuity; and, after all the pains beftowed, there remained certain paffages which are generally thought obfcure. The author, giving an attentive ear to every cenfure of that kind, has, in the prefent edition, renewed his efforts to correct every defect; and he would gladly hope that he has not been altogether unfuccefsful. The truth is, that a writer, who must be poffeffed of the thought before he can put it into words, is but ill qualified to judge whether the expreffion be fufficiently clear to others in that particular, he cannot avoid the taking on him to judge for the reader, who can much better judge for himself.

June 1763.

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