Monthly Retro[pect 
trait of his Majety, as a Fronfi(piece to 
the firft volume of the large Prints, paint- 
ed by Sir W. Beechey, engraved by B. 
Smith: a whole-length Portrait of her 
Majetty, as-.a Frontifpiece to the fecond 
volume of the large Prints, by the fame 
painter, engraved by Ryder: the Title- 
pages to both the volumes, from defigns 
in_baffo-relievo,by the Honourable Mrs. 
Damer, engraved by Leney. It contains 
alfo the two following Dedications, a Pre- 
face, a Catalogue of the Prints, &c. &c. 
To the King’s moft Excellent Majefy. 
In prefenting this Volume of the Shakers 
{peare Prints to yeur Majefty, I only fuifil 
the intentions of my departed relation, Mr. 
Alderman Boydell; who, in all his arduous 
endeavours to improve the Fine-Arts in this 
lis native country, always found in your Ma- 
jefty’s goodnefs a kind and encouraging pa- 
tronage, that’animated him to ftruggle with 
all his difficulties. He has taken every op- 
pertunity to proclaim with gratitude that pa- 
tronage with which he was fo highly honour- 
ed. Itherefore flatter myfelf your Majefty 
will be” gracioufly pleafed to accept this his 
laft labour from the hands of 
Your Majefty’s dutiful and 
devoted fervant; 
Jostan BoypEtr. 
London, March 255 1805. 
To the King’s mop Excellent Majefty. 
_ It’ was always. the ambitious wih of my 
late departed relation Mr. Alderman Boydell, 
Rtrongly.imprefied as he was with your Ma- 
fefty’s goodnefs to him, to have the honour 
of laying this Volume of the Shakefpeure 
Prints. at your Majefty’s feet. He has for 
that purpofe graced the Volume with your 
Majefy’s Portrait. 
In executing the wifhes of my late refpe&- 
ed relative, I hope your Majeity will be gra- 
sioully pleafed to accept the humble duty of 
Your Majetty’s moft devoted fubjeét 
and fervant, 
Jostau Boypett. 
Mr. Boydell begins the Preface. by 
ftating, that, by the death of his much. 
lameoted uncle Mr. Alderman Boydell, it 
has onforiunaieiy fallen to his lot to give: 
the fubleridbers of the Shakefpeare fome 
account of the rife and progrefs of that 
work ; which originated in a converfation 
that took place im the year 1787, as ap 
pears by a paper written and printed by 
Mr. Nicol, giving ax account of what he 
had done for the improvemeat of printing 
in this country. 
In this paper, which is fubjoined, Mr. 
Nicol fays, 
«© When-l'firft seo sion to Meffrs. Boydell 
te os & national edition of Shakefpsaie; 
of the Fine-Arts. [July 1, 
ornamented with defigns by the fir artifts of 
this, country,.it muft be confetied I did not 
latter myfelf with feeing it carried into im= 
mediate execution. The idolatry with which 
I have ever regarded the works of that in= 
fpired poet, has often prompted me to make 
fimilar propolitions. “At fo early a period of 
my life a3 the Jubilee at Stratford, the propo- 
fal was miade to Mr. Garrick, that great 
hiftrionic commentator on the. avthor.— 
Why it was then neyleéted, it is not now eafy 
to fay : I at’ribute it more to the youth and 
inexperience of the propofer than to any want 
of. propriety in the plan. The event has 
fhewn the propofal was neither impropef nor 
impraticable? 
The converfation that led to the prefent 
undertaking wes entirely accidental. It 
happened at the table of Mr. Jofiah Boydell, 
at Weft End, Hampftead, in November 1787. 
The company confited of Mr. Weft, Mr, 
Romney, and Mr. P. Sandby ; Mr. Hayley, 
Mr. Horle, Mr,. Brathwaite, Alderman Boy- 
dell, and our hoft. In fuch ‘a company it is 
needlefs to fay that every propofal to cele- 
brate genius or cultivate the fine-arts would 
be favourably received.” | : 
Early.in.the year.1789 ie sssbasiealaiehe 
was fofar advanced, that-a great number 
of the piétures were painted, and’a gallery 
built on the fite of Mr. Dodfley’s houfe in 
Pall Mall to receive them. ‘This: is fol- 
lowed by an Addrefs:to the public, and 
a letter to Sir J. W. Ander‘on, by the 
late worthy Alderman, in which he ftates, 
that the great object of his undertaking 
was to eftablih an Englifh School of Hit. 
‘torical Painting ; and that he helieves it 
will be-readily,admitted that no fubjects are 
fo well calc ieod for this purpofe as the 
fcenes of Shakefpeare.. That he once 
flattered himfelf withbeing able to have 
lett the pictures and gallery to that gene- 
rous public who have fo long enccuraged 
his undertakings, but the convalfons on — 
the Continent, &c. &c. put it out of his 
power. 
Mr. Boydell concludes the Preface by 
ftating, that this fo peculiarly regards the 
fubfcribers to the Shakefpeare, that fome 
explanation feems.neceflary. He adds, 
‘© It certainly was the late Alderman’s in- 
tention, as well-as my own, to have prefent-. 
ed the Shakefpeare Gallery to the public for 
the improvement of young artifts in hiftori- 
cal painting ;' the whole to have been imme- 
diately under the patronage of the fubfcribere- 
to the Shakefpeare. But the imperious cir- 
cumftances of the times, as he hastrvly ftat- 
ed, rendered his liberal and patriotic purpofe 
abortive. 
«¢ Mefirs. Boydeil and Nicol beg leave te 
inform the fuodfcribers to the Shakefpeare, 
that the medal which they mean to have the | 
honour 
& 
