To the King’s Moft Excellent Majefty. 
Moft Gracious Sovereign, 
P ERMIT us, your very loyal and dutiful Subjects, the Prefidents 
and Council of the Society of CYMMRODORION, to 
lay before y0U r Majefty, this our firft Effort, towards fulfilling the end 
of our Inftitution: that of promoting natural Knowledge, and ufeful 
Charities, among this Part of your Majefty’s Subjects, the Ancient 
Britons. 
% 
As you are gracioufly pleafed, to mingle with the heavier Cares of 
Government an Attention to the polite Arts; we humbly prefume to 
offer to your Royal Protection, this yet unattempted Labor, this 
national Work; a Natural Hiftory of the Quad r up e d s and Birds 
of Great-Britain and Ireland. 
The one great Object of this Hiftory, is to promote the Glory of 
the Almighty, by demonftrating his Wifdom in the Works of the 
Creation; the other, to relieve the Indigent, the Orphan, the Deferted 
of our own Country: To whom then, can we with equal Propriety 
addrefs ourfelves for Protection, than to a Prince whole Life is not 
lefs diftinguilhed by his Piety towards his Creator , than by his Tender- 
nefs towards thofe whom the 
Almighty hath given him in Charge. 
Indulge then, Moft Gracious Sovereign, this our Ambition; the 
greateft we can hope for, next to that of being efteemed, 
Your MAJESTY’S, 
Moft Loyal, and 
Moft devoted Subjects, 
i 
