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R E F A C E. 



IN offering to the world a new edition of the work on South Sea Shells, the author 

 deems it neceffary to acquaint the public with the nature and principles of a private 

 eftablifhment which he has formed for the inftruction of youth, in the art of illuftrating 

 and painting fubjects of natural hiftory; as it was in this feminary that the prefent, and 

 various other publications of a fimilar kind, were executed, and in which he flatters 

 himfelf many other performances of equal merit will fhortly be produced, fo as to 

 reflect honour on the inftitution, and render its members as well of real utility, as an 

 ornament to feveral branches of the polite arts. 



It is now upwards of feven years fince the author firfl commenced the defign of 

 attempting a new work on Shells ; the reafons for which are given in the Introduction 

 to the work itfelf. One of the principal inducements however to this performance 

 was, his becoming about that time poffeffed of a considerable number of new fpecies, 

 found amongft different collections of Shells which he had recently purchafed of feveral 

 officers then lately returned from the Pacific Ocean. 



In the profecution of this defign many and great difficulties neceffarily prefented 

 themfelves. To execute a work perfectly original in its kind, where the higheft and 

 molt finished ftyle of painting was intended particularly to characterife the performance, 

 was an undertaking attended with obftacles of no common magnitude : for to have 

 effected this purpofe in the ordinary way, by employing thofe who might be found 

 capable of executing the work according to the author's ideas, would eventually have 

 been attended with an expenfe fo great, as in its neceffary confequences would more 

 than have trebled the prefent price of each volume. 



One very effential caufe of this aggravation of expenfé is, that there are few 

 artifts (we may indeed fay none) who peculiarly devote the application of their 

 talents to this particular branch of the art. Of the miniature painters who excel, it 

 can never be worth the while, without a very liberal compenfation, to interrupt their 



exertions 



