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Taken by permission of the Proprietors of Lyttletons History of England from a drawing by Rorbould.

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Azgermain

TO THE

KING'S

MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

SIRE,

WITH humble Duty the

Proprietor and Author of the History, Antiquities, and Modern State of the Metropolis of your United Kingdom, submit the Fruit of their Labours to your Majesty's gracious Protection, as the Head of the glorious Constitution ;-the Promoter of British Commercethe Patron of Arts and Manufactures—and, above all, the King and Father of a great and free People; in the fullest Confidence, that all Works tending to promote Utility and Information are certain of your Majesty's benign Patronage.

May your Majesty, your illustrious

Successors, and the British Nation, be long preserved a bright Example of the joint Confidence, Esteem, and Gratulation of a beloved Monarchy, and a happy Country.

May such Happiness consolidate

that Fabric which Discord cannot separate, nor Arrogance, with Impunity, invade.

Every Briton, possessing a Consti

tution replete with such united Blessings, must

adopt in his Prayers

"ESTO PERPETUA!"

E

ADDRESS

TO SUBSCRIBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS,

AND TO

THE PUBLIC.

112, Holborn-Hill.

VERY due acknowledgment upon the completion of Two Volumes of this work to the numerous subscribers, who have not only given liberal encouragement, but bestowed encomiums on the mode in which the undertaking is carried on, having been premised; a few remarks may not be altogether irrelevant on the general tenor of the subject.

That the labour of the compiler is as arduous as it is humble, must be evident; but the general benefit produced evinces its utility and importance. Such a motive induced Dr. Hughson to attempt the present work, which he is happy to declare has received extensive and liberal patronage, the truest test of public opinion; and a palm to merit, however attained, does honour to his exertions, and will consequently encrease the energy of his assiduities.

Two volumes have been completed to popular satisfaction, and some vanity is induced, though not without grateful acknowledgments for singular favours. The estimation of such favour is not easily appreciated; it is beyond all temporary applause, and will be made permanent by the continuation of materials, in the ensuing parts of this undertaking, for in formation and instruction, at once intrinsically good and valuable.

One person, however, must find that the task which he has thus im posed upon himself is more than equal to the most comprehensive abilities. This has compelled him to resort to such authorities in his researches as needed only their names to stamp the highest recommendation; and Dr. Hughson considers himself justified, by the countenance he has received, in conceiving that his arrangements have not been injudicious, nor the product unentertaining. He is bold to add, that though some parts of the preceding history may, in a few instances, have been unavoidably prolix, such a fund of anecdote and agreeable recital of events, connected with the general purport of the work has been afforded, as to render the whole applicable to its original intention. Nothing shall be omitted which the nature of the subject can suggest or perseverance perform, to render the future part of the Description of London and its Neighbourhood worthy of further liberality and patronage. The work has been undertaken with determined resolution, and the progress of the design has not hitherto betrayed the principle with which it was commenced.

Having thus intruded a few remarks on the literary performance of Hughson's London, little need be said on the graphic embellishments; the various specimens of which speak their several encomiums, and only urge a surprize how they could be afforded for so cheap a price, did not the answer suggest, "THAT THE NUMBER SOLD COMPENSATES THE FIRST

EXPENCE.

The whole of the additional Embellishments of Churches, &c. are from original drawings, and engraved in the best stile in the highly improved

art

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