[vi]

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

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 refpect to beauties of art or of nature, is fcarce endeavoured in any feminary of learning; a lamentable defect, confidering how early in life taste 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 present undertaking.

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To promote the fine arts in Britain, 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 fenfual gratification: Selfishness rears its head; becomes fashionable; and, infect ing all ranks, extinguishes the amor patriæ, and every fpark of public fpirit. To prevent or to retard fuch fatal corruption, the genius of an Alfred cannot devise 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 vir tue. Of this happy effect, ancient Greece furnishes one shining inftance; and why fhould we despair of another in Bri

tain?

IN the commencement of an aufpicious reign, and even in that early period of life when pleasure commonly is the fole purfuit,

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purfuit, your Majesty has uniformly difplay'd to a delighted people, the noblest principles, ripen'd 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 object 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 discipline is fufceptible 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 fyftem of education, feems referved by Providence for a Sovereign who commands the hearts of his fubjects. Succefs will crown the undertaking, and endear

GEORGE

[ix]

GEORGE THE THIRD to our latest posterity.

THE moft elevated and most refined pleasure of human nature, is enjoy'd 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 with of

December 1761.

Your Majesty's

Devoted Subject,

HENRY HOME.