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exertions in their own proper line, and to transfer their time and fkill to other fubjects, 

 which they are in the habit of confidering as of an inferior clafs; for which therefore 

 they can have no powerful predilection, and on which, as they are little converfant with 

 them, they are not very willing to hazard their reputation. And if artifts of lefs 

 reputation were propofed to be tried, it would be found that they are frequently the 

 moil: jealous of their dignity, who have the leaft pretentions to fame; that if fome 

 might fubmit their pride to their poverty, yet merit is not fo often the companion of 

 obfcurity, as literary men have fometimes complained ; and that whatever might be the 

 abatement in the reward would be more than balanced by a proportionate deficiency in 

 the quality of their labours. 



In this diftrefs the author conceived the project of endeavouring to accomplifh his 

 delign by means as fimple as they were new : he had to find for the execution of his 

 purpofe fuch hands as, poneffing abilities adequate to the end, could not, from their 

 fituations in life, be more profitably employed in other occupations. The labour of 

 boys he knew is always cheaper than that of men : and he concluded, that where nature 

 had plentifully fown the feeds of genius for any particular purfuit, very little art would 

 be requifite to cherifh and rear the plant to maturity. 



There was alfo another recommendation, which powerfully operated upon his mind. 

 He thought it. probable that in the productions of boys, all of whom had received their 

 nrfl rudiments of good tafte from the fame common preceptor, and who mould execute 

 whatever they did under his immediate inflection and controul, there would generally 

 be found that uniformity and equality of ftyle, conception, and execution, which it 

 would be vain to require from a variety of independent artifls, who may have been bred 

 in very diffimilar fchools, and over whom little authority could be exercifed. 



Impressed with this idea, his attention was now directed to difcover, and inflruct 

 a number of young perfons, who, born of good but humble parents, could not from 

 their own means afpire to the cultivation of any liberal art ; at the fame time that they 

 gave indications of natural talents for drawing and deiign, and of minds influenced by a 

 decided preference for thofe pleafing and elegant ftudies. 



One of this defcription foon prefented himfelf; and while by early promife of 

 future excellence he afforded the molf pleaimg encouragement to the profecution 

 of the plan, he became alfo, by his rapid proficiency, a moft ufeful infiniment in 

 the formation of this infant academy. At different intervals nine young perfons of 



fimilar 



