Various efforts have been made for crowning with all the honour of the prefs and pencil, the Hiftory of our Country, and the fublime productions of our Immortal Bards; it was therefore prefumed the moft efteemed Noyels merited the fame regard, and more particularly as there are many Lovers of the Polite Arts, whofe tafte would lead them to patronife Publications of fuch a lively defcription; and who deem the fallies of mental recreation, as well, at least, adapted for the Embellishments of Genius, as the feverer ftudies of the closet, or the sublimer ftrains of Poetical Fancy. Should either the Novels, Poets, or Sacred Claffies, in their progress, degenerate in any inftance from the Specimens already published, their declenfion will recoil upon the Proprietor; as on the completion of each respective work, which will feidom exceed Three Numbers, the Subfcribers have an opportunity of refenting any breach of engagement, by immediately withdrawing their fupport. The Proprietor recommends to those who wish to be fupplied with the beft impreffions of the Plates, to give orders for the refpective works as early as poffible, as they will be delivered, without partiality, according to priority of Application. The Proprietor had made confiderable preparations for publishing the British Claffics, as a work abfolutely effential to the perfection of his plan, of comprifing, in his Pocket Library, all the most efteemed productions in the English Language. This he has poftponed, (but not relinquished,) that he might the better fuperintend the publication of his Novels, which be thought fhould precede the Claffics, being a more eligible companion to the Poets, as the one comprifes fubjects generally of a serious and préceptive Nature, and the other is replete with thofe effufions of Genius, which, having a powerful tendency to amufe and enliven the Fancy, are confequently more congenial to the fpirit of the Poets, and conformable to that unifon of Tyfte which characterizes the Readers of fuch productions. The Proprietor has made preparations for publishing a work, entitled The BRITISH THEATRE; many of the Paintings and fome of the Engravings e finished, and may be feen at his Warehouse. SACRED Economy of Human Life s. d. Price o 6 I Number, Price of 6 2 Numbers, Price 1 o 2 Numbers, Price 1 o 2 Numbers, Price 1 o 2 Numbers, Price 1 o 2 Numbers, Price 1 o 4 Numbers, Price 2 o Hervey's Meditations, &c. 4 Numbers, Price 2 o Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progrefs 4 Numbers, Price 2 o Although Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progrefs cannot come under the Lenomination of a Claffic Production, we have introduced it in the Sacred Claffics, as it exhibits a very curious Specimen of the allegorical Style of Writing; and from its moral Tendency ferves to co-operate with other Works in promoting the important Caufe of Religion and Virtue. The Defign of this undertaking is to prefent to the Pub lic, under the Title of the SACRED CLASSICS, a Collection of the moft ESTEEMED Works on MORAL and RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS, written by Authors of known Celebrity, and happily adapted to form the Mind to the Love and Practice of Piety and Virtue. The Writings of the Authors we have felected for this Purpose, tend to convey both Inftruction and Entertainment: fome of them exhibit Examples of Virtue to attra Admiration; others Inftances of Vice to excite Abhorrence; and all of them abound with exalted Sentiments and appofite Allufions; and thereby contribute to impart Knowledge of the mot important and interesting Nature. In an age of Erudition and free Enquiry, it must give a fenfible Pleasure to reflecting Minds to fee Inflru&ion mingled with Amusement, and the most serious and important Truths introduced to our Notice in the Garb of Pieafure and Entertainment. As the Utility of the Sacred Claffics must be evident, not only as they relate to Perfons in General, but the Rifing Generation in particular; a Confideration which must recommend them to Parents, Guardians, and Superintendants of Seminaries of Learning as peculiarly adapted to animate. at once the Progrefs of Youth, in their religious and literay Pursuits, by introducing the Opinions of the best and wifeft Men, upon the most important Subjects of Religion, at a fmall Expence; and as they tend fo effentially to promote the Chriftian Caufe, and Interest and Happiness of Society; they will deferve every poffible Recommendation from thofe who are anxious for the advancement of Piety and Virtue; nor has there been any Collection of Moral and Religious Works yet published, fo well adapted to accomplish this important End; for, by Means of this cheap and elegant, yet clofe Method of Printing the Sacred Claffics, we are able to produce fuch valuable and expenfive Books to People of every Line of Life, as have hitherto, from the enormous Expence attached to them, been in the hands of few; though, from the Importance and Value of the Subjects, they ought to be companions of every Christian Reader. The Proprietor has a peculiar fatisfaction in laying before the Public, Works, at a reduced Price, which tend not only to amufe but inftruct, and thereby ferve both as a Source of Entertainment and incitement to Virtue. He therefore entertains the flattering Expectation, that a Work of fuch evident Utility will meet with Encouragement, when writings of much lefs Importance are purchased with avidity. And to render this Work as captivating as possible. the Proprietor has fpared neither Pains nor Expence in the Execution and Embellishment of it, fo that it embraces every advantage that can recommend it to the Curious in Printing, and the admirers of ornamental Illustration; being decorated with all the elegance that the Artist can devife, or the Printer difplay. In short, it has been the endeavour of the Proprietor throughout the whole of this Pocket Library, to unite the Two Important Objects of moderate Charge, and refpectable Execution; and he flatters himfeif, that his Efforts to maintain perfection in every department, will justify his pretenfions to public Sanction. And it is prefumed, as the Works already published are fo numerous, they will afford fufficient Specimens of what may be expected from the future; on which teft alone the Proprietor refts his pretenfions to the permanent Reputation of the Editions he now offers; as he fhall ever pride himfelf in having prefented to the Public, through his own Exertions, and the Aid of eminent Artists, Works, by no Means outrivalled in the Graphic and Typographic Departments. HISTORY OF ENGLAND, From the Invafion of JULIUSCESAR to the REVOLUTION. WITH THE AUTHOR'S LAST CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. Comprifed in Twelve Volumes, price only Two Shillings each. From the Revolution to the Death of George II. Comprifed in Seven Volumes, price only Two Shillings each. AND A FURTHER CONTINUATION From the Death of George II. to the present Time. The Whole EMBELLISHED with upwards of Eighty SUPERB ENGRAVINGS, fome of which represent the PRINCIPAL EVENTS recorded in the HISTORY; the rest are PORTRAITS of all the British Monarchs, from WILLIAM the Conqueror to his prefent MAJESTY, and other illuftrious Characters, habited in the dreffes of the times in which they lived. The Work alfo includes the Portraits of Hume, Smollett, Cormick, and Lloyd. The whole of the Portraits are highly finished in Stippled Engraving, by W. RIDLEY, whofe abilities in this peculiar and beautiful mode of Engraving are two well known to need any Eulogium. Thofe readers who object to the purchafing of Hume's England, with Smollett's Continuation conjunctively, may have each of them feparately, either in the whole, or in part, by one or more Volumes at a time, By avoiding ufelefs blanks before and after the Chapters, introduced in former Editions of Hume, for the purpose of enlarging them to an unneceffary and voluminous extent, the Proprietor is enabled to present the Public with an Edition of Hume, containing the Author's laft Corrections and Improvements, at half the original price, notwithstanding the work is printed verbatim et literatim from the Original Edition, and on better paper; fo that, for One Pound Four Shillings, may be purchafed what has hitherto been fold for Two Pounds Eight. Befides the fingular cheapnefs of this Edition, it is alf alfo printed in a fuperior manner, and more elegantly and profufely embellifhed than any preceding or cotemporary Edition. From the fuperiority of the Paper, the elegance of the Printing, and the fplendor of the Engravings, the Proprietor trufts the preference of this work to any prior Edition will be obvious to every one who may infpect the Volumes, and flatters himself that his efforts to deferve will obtain the approbation of his readers, and be admitted as a juftifiable plea for requesting the favour of their recommendation of his Edition to their friends. The high price which has ever been affixed to former Editions of Hume, the indifference of the Paper, and the inferiority of the Embellishments, it is prefumed, will be a fufficient apology for introducing this Edition to the notice of the Public. It is prefumed that the propriety of our continuation of the Hiftory from the death of George II. to the prefent date, will be generally admitted, when it is obferved, that no Hiftorian, of acknowledged authenticity, has traced the Annals of Eng land beyond the period of the Termination of the American War, and the peace which took place between the Belligerent Powers in confequence of that events from which it may justly be inferred, that we have no Hiftory that can be deemed complete; befides, as the events which have taken place fince that period, are as interefting as thofe of any period in the 'Hiftory, an anxious defire muft generally prevail of feeing tranfactions, which have fo recently occurred, faithfully recorded. In the Continuation of the Hiftory, from the Revolution to the Death of George II, we have given preference to Smollett, from the fame motives which induced us to make choice of Hume. Thefe were the concurrent approbation of the Literati in particular, and the Public in general; and if the merit of a Writer may be efteemed from the rapid fale of his productions, the claim of Smollett's Hiftory to the rank of pre-eminence cannot be difputed. The reafon is obvious, if we confider the nervous elegance of his diction; his picturefque difplay of characters and that degree of animation which gives a glofs to his colouring, and diffufes a life, fpirit, and energy throughout the whole of his hiftorical Narrative. As there are various Editions of Hume and Smollett, with Continuations, and moft of them fo expenfive, yet fo indifferently printed and embellished, the Proprietor requests the Public to be particular in giving Orders for Cook's Edition. |
