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the Science, Taste, and Customs of our Ancestors, they become eminently interesting to enlightened curiosity; and as immediately connected with our National History, they furnish a theme of instructive entertainment to Englishmen. It is a fact justly regretted, that many fine English Buildings are entirely obliterated, and others of singular beauty are daily falling a prey to the slow but sure dilapidations of time, and the reprehensible neglect, or destructive hand of man. To preserve correct delineations, and accurate accounts, of those that remain to dignify and ornament the country, is the decided object of this work, the leading feature of which will be, Views, Plans, and Architectural details of such buildings as are distinguished for their antiquity, curiosity, or elegance. Each of these will be drawn and engraved with scrupulous accuracy, and the most interesting will be further illustrated by enlarged representations of particular parts and ornaments. The whole will be elucidated by such descriptive accounts, as are calculated to define the styles and dates of ancient buildings, and as ultimately tending to develope the History of Saxon, Norman, and English Architecture.

This work will collectively include, besides representations of the earliest buildings, several views of the magnificent Cathedrals, elegant Collegiate Churches, richly ornamented Chapels, and other distinguished objects of Architectural importance. Thus it will exhibit specimens of the various Styles which prevailed at different Eras, in the Ecclesiastical, Castellated, and Domestic Architecture of Great Britain; and display different examples of the plain and sculptured semi-circular arches, with their corresponding mouldings, columns, capitals, &c. also, the diversities in the pointed style, from the earliest examples.

The present publication, though not exclusively appropriated to any class of men, will be found more immediately useful to the Antiquary, the Architect, the Historian, and the Artist: each of whom will instantly perceive its application to his respective profession and pursuits. To the first, it will furnish a fund of antiquarian information, and direct him to the most important subjects, connected with his favourite study. The ARCHITECT will find it equally useful, as from the various au

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thentic examples it will embrace, he can select those particular parts, whose date and character may best accord with his designs. It is from such data only that the true style of ancient buildings can be imitated, so as fully to meet the approbation of the antiquary and the man of taste. As the arts and cus toms of a people constitute a prominent feature in the annals of a country, the HISTORIAN must be also interested in the present subject; and the ARTIST will view with delight those objects which conspire to give grandeur and picturesque beauty to his historical compositions, and to his landscapes.

CONDITIONS.

To avoid the inconvenience and objection that attend works published in Numbers, this will come out in PARTS, one of which will appear every three months.

Every Part will contain six, seven, or eight engravings, with historical descriptions of each subject.

It will be printed on Quarto paper, at 10s. 6d. each Part; and a few copies will be worked off on a superfine Imperial Paper, with the First Impressions of the Plates, at 16s. each Part; which will class with the large paper copy of Lysons', and with most other fine topographical books.

The Third Part will be published at Christmas, and contain a

HISTORY OF ROUND CHURCHES;
With illustrative Plans, Views, and descriptions of the TEMPLE
CHURCH, London; and the two circular Churches, at North-
ampton and at Cambridge.

A Subsequent PART will be appropriated to

MALMESBURY ABBEY CHURCH, WILTSHIRE, which presents some extremely curious and fie specimens of the semicircular ornamented Arch, with massive Columns, &c. Another PART will embrace a

HISTORY OF CROSSES,

with Views, &c. of those at Waltham, at Northampton, and at Geddington, which were erected to the Memory of Queen

Eleanor, the beloved consort of King Edward the First. Other crosses will also be represented.

Among the Subjects preparing for this Work; arc, PLANS and PRINTS of the two Magnificent Chapels;

ST. GEORGE'S AT WINDSOR, AND HENRY THE SEVENTH'S
AT WESTMINSTER.

The Author will consider himself much obliged, by the loan of any document, or the communication of any Memoranda, relating to either of the above Subjects; or for any hint tending to illustrate the Ancient Architecture of Great Britain,

CRITICAL TESTIMONIES,

Which are respectfully presented as the sentiments of some Learned Writers.

"We cannot convey to our readers a better idea of this beautiful and interesting Work, than by transcribing the respectable Author's Prospectus." This done, the reviewer proceeds to add," that the Engravings (in this first part)are execated in a superior style; and that the descriptions are sufficiently ample, and appear to be accurate. And, under the superintendance of so able an Antiquary as Mr. Britton, there can be no doubt that the succeeding parts will display a corresponding excellence." Antijacobin Review, August, 1805.

"The Part before us contains eight engravings, four of which are inscribed to some distinguished Author, or Artist. The bold and rich style in which the several subjects are engraven do great credit to the respective parties concerned; and if the work be continued with correspondent spirit, care, and elegance, we think it cannot fail of meeting with encouragement from the Amateurs of the Arts." European Magazine, Sep. 1805.

"The portion of the work which is now before us, is certainly executed with uncommon spirit; the choice of subjects has been made with judgment; and the author and his artists are equally entitled to our thanks."-At the end of a critique, occupying four pages, the writer observes, " If the first part may be considered as a pledge of what the work will be, we readily give it our warmest commendation. In elegance it has not often been surpassed." Critical Review, Sep. 1805.

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V.

POETRY.

I.

THE LAY of the LAST MINSTREL; a POEM. By WALTER SCOTT, Esq. The Second Edition. Elegantly printed by Ballantyne, in Octavo. Price 10s. 6d. boards.

II.

THE MINSTRELSY of the SCOTTISH BORDER; consisting of Historical and Romantic Ballads, collected in the Southern Counties of Scotland; with a few of a modern Date, founded on local Tradition. With an Introduction, and Notes by the Editor, WALTER SCOTT, Esq. Advocate. In 3 vols. 8vo. finely printed by Ballantyne of Edinburgh. Price 11. 118. 6d. boards. The Third Volume may be had separate, Price 10s. 6d. boards.

III.

SIR TRISTREM, a Metrical Romance of the Thirteenth Century. By THOMAS of ERCILDOUNE, called the RHYMER. Edited from the Auchinleck MS. by WALTER SCOTT, Esq. Advocate. Superbly printed in Royal Svo. by Ballantyne. (Only 150 Copies printed.) Price 21. 2s. boards.

IV.

MADOC: a Poem, in Two Parts. By ROBERT SOUTHEY. Elegantly printed by Ballantyne, with Four beautiful Vignettes. In one large Volume, Quarto. Price 21. 28. boards.

V.

JOAN of ARC, an Epic Poem. To which is added, The VISION of the MAID of ORLEANS. By ROBERT SOUTHEY. In 2 vols. printed on fine wove paper, hot pressed. Embellished with an elegant Portrait of the Maid of Orleans. The third Edition. Price 12s. in boards.

VI.

POEMS. BY ROBERT SOUTHEY. 2 vols. Price 1 1s. in boards.

VII.

THALABA the DESTROYER, a Metrical Romance, with copious Notes. By ROBERT SOUTHEY. Elegantly printed in 2 vols. foolscap 8vo. Price 148, in boards.

VIII.

METRICAL TALES, and other POEMS. Selected from the "Annual Anthology." By ROBERT SOUTHEY. In 1 vol. foolscap octavo. Price 5s. 6d. boards.

IX.

LYRICAL BALLADS; with PASTORAL and other POEMS. By W. WORDSWORTH., The fourth Edition. In 2 vols. foolscap octavo. Price 1 1s. boards.

X.

The NATURE of THINGS; a didactic Poem. Translated from the Latin of TITUS LUCRETIUS CARUS, accompanied with the original Text, and illustrated with Notes philological and explanatory. By JOHN MASON GOOD. In 2 large vols. Quarto. Embellished with elegantly engraved Frontispieces. Price Four Guineas, in boards.

The original Text is from Mr. Wakefield's Edition, reprinted by consent of the Proprietor, and the few variations from it that occur in the Translation are specified in the Notes alone, that its integrity might not be infringed upon.

XI.

The WOODMAN's TALE, after the Manner of SPENSER. By the Rev. HENRY BOYD, A. M. Translator of the Divina Comedia of Dante. In 1 vol. demy 8vo. Price 10s. 6d. boards.

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XII.

The PENANCE of HUGO: a Vision. In the Manner of DANTE; in Four Cantos. Translated from the Italian. By the Rev. H. Boyd, A.M. Translator of the Divina Comedia of Dante. Foolscap 8vo. Price 5s. boards.

XIII.

The POEMS of OSSIAN; containing the Poetical Works of JAMES MACPHERSON, Esq. in Prose and Rhyme; with Notes and Illustrations, by MALCOLM LAING, Esq. In 2 large vols. 8vo. Price 11. 10s. boards.

XIV.

REPORT of the HIGHLAND SOCIETY of SCOTLAND, respecting the Authenticity of Ossian's Poems, drawn up by HENRY MACKENZIE, Esq. Svo. Price 12s. 5oards.

XV.

POEMS. BY THOMAS BROWN, M. D. 2 vols. foolscap 8vo. Price 12s. boards.

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