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To Sir ASHTON LEVER, Knight. 
S I R, 
T H E noble, magnificent, and curious Museum you have 
colleded ^tLeiceJîer-Houfe^ for the infpecSlion of the Public, 
is univerfally allowed to be a National Honour. The appro- 
bation of our SACRED SOVEREIGN, a Prince Patron and 
Encourager of the Sciences and Arts, and the fatisfaélion of 
all ranks of people who refort to view it, are indubitable marks 
of the fuccefs of your efForts, The Perfecftion of the Specimens; 
the Elegance and Order of their Arrangement; the Choice and 
Variety of the Objedls, colleâed from all parts of the known 
world ; at once declare your Munificence in an unbounded 
Expence, and your unv/earied AfTiduity in the Study of Na- 
ture. A glorious fludy ! that leads the human mind into a 
truly religious contemplation of the numberlefs, fiupendous, 
and incomprehenfible Works of the Awful and Eternal Divi- 
nity. As a perfon who has always, attached himfelf to this 
inftruélive and delightful purfuit, permit me thus publicly to 
offer my acknowledgment, by dedicating this work, my 
BRITISH CONCHOLOGY, to your Patronage ; and 1 lhall 
cfteem myfelf happy if it meets with your Approbation and 
Protedion. My earneff wifhes are, that the Almighty .may 
grant 
