ADDRESS.

the

The principal motive which induced the Proprietor to fubmit to the Public this Library, was irregular, ponderous and inconvenient fize in which most of the esteemed and popular works were printed, the inelegant manner in which they were executed, and the enormous Prices which have ever been attached to them; which obvious objections it is the intention of this Library to remove; as it unites elegance with cheapness and utility, and embraces all the advantages of the largest Editions, without omitting the convenience of the smallest.

A plan embracing fuch essential requifites, demands the ferious attention and encouragement of the Public; for, by engaging the first Artists in the kingdom to embellish and decorate the refpective works in the fuperior Edition, the arts are not only encouraged, but the taste and judgment of those who are difpofed to cultivate them greatly promoted and highly improved; while the CHEAP EDITIONS are no less important to the general class of readers, as they place within their reach the MOST ESTEEMED PRODUCTIONS in the English language, by affixing to each work but Half the Price they have ever yet been fold at.

As a COMPLETE LIBRARY, comprismg all the most esteemed works in the English language, each printed on the fame Type, on the fame Size, on the fame Paper, and embellished by the fame. Artists, was never before attempted in this Kingdom: it is prefumed that the advantages refulting from it will be evident to the Public; particularly as each Edition of the refpective works will excel in Elegance any that have preceded them, and be reduced to less than Half the Expence of the most common and unadorned editions. This important purpose has been effected by deferting the usual mode of printing on types disproportionably large, with preposterous margins, confiderable spaces between the lines, and unneceffary blanks before and after the chapters, heads, &c. by which means former works have been enhanced to a double expence, without embracing one good purpose for their end. This plan of eafy purchase has also been further promoted by the facrifice of a very confiderable portion of the profits ufually attached to works of celebrity. This plan, therefore, from the Cheapness, is a saving of more then Fifty per cent. to the purchafer, as is demonftratively evident from the Prices attached to each Work.

The Octo-decimo size in all the works being invariably adhered to, the Library, therefore, appears with that UNIFORM ELEGANCE which a collection of volumes of promifcuous fizes cannot exhibit; and the volumes, from their uniformity, are infinitely more decorative to the library than an arrangement in the promiscuous sizes of Quarto, Octavo, Duodecimo, &c. This fize is alfo more commodious than the Octavo or Duodecimo, which are too large and ponderous for the pocket, and calculated more for works of science than amuse..

ment.

The uniformity of the works through the whole of the Library, has enabled the Proprietor to adapt to them Portable Bookcafes. He has alfo had another Bookcase constructed, which occupies a space of only feven inches from the back of the room, a circumstance which, for small apartments, must be peculiarly convenient and defirable; nor is it less eligible for a room of great extent. This new and commodious contrivance, contains and exhibits to view, as many works as other Bookcafes of five times its magnitude, and may be purchased at one Third of the Expence. A bookcafe upon this commodious, yet elegant plan, may be fseen at the warehouse of the Proprietor, who engages to fupply the Nobility and Gentry with Bookcafes upon the fame plan, adapted to any space required. As this Plan has the united advantages of Economy, Elegance, and Portability, it is hoped it will meet with the Patronage of the Admirers of Polite Literature; and from the efforts the Proprietor has exerted in its accomplishment, he flatters himself that his Editions will gain admiffion into the Libraries of the Literati, and the most fashionable of the present Age.

That the Public may form an idea of the fuperior Execution of the Embellishments which accompany this Select Library, the Paintings and Drawings from which the Prints are taken, are fubmitted to inspection, free of expence, from the Hours of Nine to Three, at the Proprietor's Exhibition Room, in Paternoster Row; where also may be seen, such subjects as are prepared for other Works, intended to be added to this Library. Thofe Paintings from which Engravings have been taken, having subserved the purpose of the Publications, are to be disposed of confiderably under their original coft.

CATALOGUE

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CATALOGUE OF THE

POETS, NOVELS, AND SACRED CLASSICS,

ALREADY PUBLISHED,

Which may be had in Volumes, fewed or bound. For the Accommodation of those who should prefer taking the Works more progrenively, either of them may be had in feparate Numbers,

Price only Sixpence each.

As any of the Works may he had detached from the Ref, the Readers may

confine their Choice to as few as they think proper.

SELECT POETS.

Price. Authors. Price. Authors.

Authors.

Trice.

Goldsmith

06 Mallet

Shakespeare

16

Cunningham Io Broome

IO

Milton

46

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The above Works of the Poets, as also those enumerated in the Catalogue of the Novels, and Sacred Classics, will be followed by others of equal Estimation, as none will gain Admission into this Library but fuch as have been stamped with univeríal Ap. probation.

From the very low Prices affixed to the above Works, the Public may perceive how infinitely cheaper these Editions are than any others offered to their Notice, as will be evident by referring to Jobufon's or Bell's Editions, whence it will appear, that these Editions are nearly One Third cheaper, although embellished and printed in a Manner fuperior to either, which a Moment's Inspection will clearly demonstrate. The same Reduction of Prices, and Superiority of Execurion, accompany the Select Poets and Sacred Claffics.

As the Intention of this Work is to give only the original Productions of the respective Poets, it will not, of course, con. tain any Translations, except in a few Instances, where the Translations are not fufficiently ample to fill a Volume, in. which Case they will be interspersed with the original Pieces; but that those Readers who are partial to the Translations, may not be disappointed of poffefsing Editions of them, on a Scale corresponding with the present Selection, it is intended to publish them, as a separate Work, upon a Plan precisely similar to the present, in which will be given those much-esteemed Productions, Pope's Homer, Dryden's Virgil Garth's Ovid and Francis's Horace, which will be followed by other Tranflations of equal Celebrity.

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At a Period when the Arts have arrived to a Degree of Perfection unexampled in the Annals of this Countrywhen the Genius of the Nation is refined in Proportion to its Improvement, and an universal Taste prevails for Beauty and Excellence, it was thought the best Season for offering to the Notice of the Public, the complete Productions of the most esteemed British Bards: and since the Productions of the Drama, and the most esteemed Novels, have been reduced to a convenient and portable Size, and embellished with the most finished Execution of the Press and Pencil, the Proprietor thought the Poets no less entitled to those fuperior Decorations.

There is an happy Combination between the Arts of Poetry and Painting. What the Poet achieves by elaborate Detail, the Painter accomplishes by instantaneous Effect. To the Imagination of the Poet the Painter is indebted for all his happiest Subjects; and, in return, the Embellishments of the Pencil reflect a Lustre on the best Productions of the Mufe. The Union, therefore, of Poetry and Painting affords an Employment for the Mind, at once elegant, delightful, and inftructive; and, when recommended with every De

gree

of Ta Taste and Elegance, they must evidently claim the. Liberal Patronage of the Admisers of Poetic Genius, exerted in all the Display of lively Fancy. It is, therefore, the Defign of this Work to combine the fublime and refined Ideas of the Poet with the picturesque 'and elegant Representations of the Artist; and to present at once, to the Mind and the Eye, the most beautiful and striking Objects, in all the Harmony of Verfe and Force of Colouring.

Poetry opens a more extensive Field for the Flights of Fancy, and the Indulgence of the Imagination, than the Productions of the Historian or the Moralift; for what can be a more luxurious Banquet to the speculative Mind, than the fublime De fcriptions of Milton, the enchanting Pictures of Shenstone, the ruftic Scenery of Thomson, or the beautiful Imagery of Akenfide.

When Objects so happily adapted to expand the Ideas, are be'ghtened by the united Efforts of the Prefs and Pencil, it is prefumed that a Work formed on so eligible a Pran, тау стbolden the Proprietor to folicit, not only the Support of those Friends who have patronised his former Undertaking, but the Countenance of all the Lovers of the Polite Arts, to whom the Effufions of exalted Genius must ever appear Objects for beau #iful Illustration.

The cheap Editions of the NoVELS, POETS, and SACRED CLASSICS, contain an elegant Engraving in every Number. The fuperior editions of each respective work contain Portraits of the Authors, Scene Representations, and Vignette Frorstispieces; and, as many of the works are comprized in one Number, all fuch Numbers, of course, contain Three Engravings, at the finall advance of only Sixpence each Number; therefore, Specimens of those works may be had on easy terms, which will demonftrate their fuperiority more effectually than any Eulogium that can be bestowed. Various

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