PREFACE. vii 



hour to our country. It would be difficult 

 perhaps to afTign a phyfical reafon, why a 

 nation that produced Shakefpear, fhould 

 owe its glory in another walk of genius to 

 Holbein and Vandyck. It cannot be im- 

 puted to want of prote6lion : Who coun- 

 tenanced the arts more than Charles the Firfl ? 

 That Prince, who is cenfured for his want 

 of tafte in penfioning Quarles, is celebrated 

 by the fame pen for employing Bernini — 

 but want of protection is the apology for 

 want of genius : Milton and Fontaine did 

 not write in the bafk of court-favour. A 

 poet or a painter may want an equipage or 

 a villa, by wanting prote6lion : They can 

 always afford to buy ink and paper, colours 

 and pencils. Mr. Hogarth has received no 

 honours, but univerfal admiration. 



But whatever has been the complaint 

 formerly, we have ground to hope that a 

 new aera is receiving its date. Genius is 

 countenanced, and emulation will follow. 

 Nor is it a bad indication of the flourifhing 

 flate of a country, that it daily makes im- 

 provements in arts and fciences. They may 

 be attended by luxury, but they certainly 

 are produced by wealth and happinefs. The 

 conveniences, the decorations of life are 

 a 4 not 



