Chapter III: Preface

THE Usefulness of Books calculated for the Improvement of young People in the Arts of _Writing_ and _Drawing_, are too evident to need being insisted upon.--We shall therefore only beg leave in a very concise Manner to point out the particular Merits of the Work we here offer the Public.

FIRST, then, it is humbly proposed as an Assistant to School-Masters; for as the greatest Part of these our Moral Copies were first wrote by that able and experienced Penman, Mr. _William Chinnery_ Senior, and engraved from thence by an Artist very eminent in his Way; they will save such Masters the Trouble as well as Time of writing a Variety of Copies for their young Pupils with their own Hands.

AGAIN, this little Book will undoubtedly be found of infinite Advantage to such Persons, as either cannot write at all, or but very indifferently, and have no Opportunity of being instructed by any able Master; for here they will find not only all the Characters made use of in Printing; but those, likewise, in all the Hands that are most useful, and most practised throughout _Great-Britain_ in the Way of Trade and Business.

AND, that No One, who may be desirous of Improvement in the two important Branches above mentioned, may want that Aid or Assistance, which this Attempt is so well calculated to afford them, the Editor has set so low a Price upon it, that it will fall within the Compass of almost every one's Purchase:--And it must be acknowledged, by all who are Judges of the Expense of such a Number of Plates, and those, likewise, so well executed, that it is the very cheapest Book of the Kind that has ever hitherto been published.

AS to our Ornamental, Emblematic Devices, which we have ventured to call our DRAWING-BOOK, and we hope with some Degree of Propriety, it has One Thing, if Nothing more, to recommend it; namely, that Not One Single Design ever appeared in public before; and we apprehend, that the Whole is exhibited in an accurate and workmanlike Manner:--Such, therefore, as it is, it is freely submitted to the Censure or Approbation of the Public, by

_Their Most Obedient Servant_,

DILIGENCE, FRUGALITY.]

The Ant.

Who can observe th' industrious Frugal Ant
And not provide in Time for future Want?

Application.

Industry is All in All.

VANITY and SELF-CONCEIT.]

The Butter-fly

What is the gawdy Butter-fly?... At best
A worthless Caterpillar richly drest.

Application.

All is not Gold that glitters.

DISSIMULATION INFIDELITY]

The Crocodile.

As the false Crocodile bemoans his Prey;
So weeps the Heir on his Sire's dying Day.

Application.

There is no Foe like a False Friend.

VIGILANCE and FIDELITY.]

THE DOG.

The Dog that's true and watchful in his Kind,
With Love and Gratitude should fire our Mind.

APPLICATION.

Adversity is the Touchstone of Friendship.

HONOUR and AMBITION.]

THE EAGLE.

As Eagles, if well taught, ascend the Skies;
So Youth, by Dint of Education rise.

APPLICATION.

Manners make the Man.

HYPOCRISY and PROPHANESS.]

THE FOX.

When the Fox preaches, 'tis the Geese he wants:
So Hypocrites for Gain turn formal Saints.

APPLICATION.

There is no Guard against an Impostor

INDOLENCE and INACTIVITY.]

THE Grass-hopper.

In Mirth the Grass-hopper spends all the Spring,
But is a giddy, thoughtless, lazy Thing.

Application.

Indolence is the Inlet to all Misfortunes.

PARENTAL INDULGENCE.]

_THE_ Hen.

The Hen and ev'ry Bird that flies at large,
Instructs each Female in a Parent's Charge.

Application.

No Nurse like the indulgent Mother.

The PLAGUES of WEDLOCK.]

_THE_ JAY

The Jay is for his noisy Nonsense priz'd,
But the loud female Tatler is despis'd.

Application.

No Torment like a wedded Shrew.

TYRANNY and OPPRESSION.]

_THE_ KITE.

As Kites without Remorse devour their Prey;
So Tyrants take their Subjects Lives away.

Application.

Might for the most part overcomes Right.

RURAL PASTIME.]

THE LAMB

The harmless Lamb that in the Meadow plays,
The Picture of true Innocence displays.

Application

Chearfulness is the constant Attendant on Innocence

The FATAL CHARMER.]

THE MERMAID,

Sweet is the Mermaid's Voice and fair her Face,
But certain Death attends her Soft Embrace.

Application

Beauty without Virtue is a painted Sepulchre.

The Charms of Solitude.]

_THE_ Nightingale.

When Philomela warbles through the Grove,
All Nature Smiles, and the Whole World's in Love.

APPLICATION

The Charms of Music are irresistible

PARENTAL NEGLIGENCE.]

_THE_ Ostrich.

The thoughtless Ostrich drops her Eggs, nor cares
Who tramples on, or who her Offspring rears.

APPLICATION.

Hard-hearted Parents are worse than Infidels.

The true PATRIOT.]

The PELICAN.

The tender Pelican well pleas'd, will bleed,
Whilst her Sick Young Ones on her Vitals feed.

APPLICATION.

A good King is the Darling of his Subjects.

DIVINE BENEFICENCE.]

The QUAIL.

The Jews by Miracle were fed with Quails:
Who prays, and puts his Trust in Heav'n prevails.

APPLICATION.

God's Providence is over all his Creatures.

TRANSIENT ENJOYMENTS.]

_THE_ ROSE.

The lovely Rose Strikes ev'ry Eye To-Day;
But e'er To-Morrow dawns her Charms decay.

APPLICATION.

Beauty is a fair but fading Flower.

CIVIL DISCORD.]

A Ship in a Storm.

As Ships by Tempests driv'n on Rocks are tost,
So Kingdoms are by Civil Discords lost

APPLICATION.

Factions too often ruine the most potent States.

Connubial AFFECTION.]

The TURTLE-DOVE.

In constant Friendship and connubial Love,
We learn our Duty from the Turtle Dove

APPLICATION.

A virtuous Wife is an inestimable Treasure

VIOLENCE and INJUSTICE.]

The VULTUR

As greedy Vulturs prey upon the Heart,
So conscious Guilt creates incessant Smart.

APPLICATION.

Conscious Guilt is the Emphasis of Hell.

COURAGE and CONQUEST.]

_THE_ War-Horse.

Fearless the War-horse, to the Battle flies,
And Hero-like, or vanquishes or dies.

_APPLICATION._

The Virtuous Man is always intrepid

PRIDE and FOLLY.]

XERXES.

Xerxes to shew his Folly and his pride,
To bind the Hellespont in Fetters try'd.

Application.

Pride was never made for Man.

HARMLESS PASTIMES.]

YOUTH.

As Lands, if unmanur'd, to Ruin run;
So Youth, if once misguided, are undone.

Application.

Ill Habits, once contracted, can seldom be remov'd.

PAPAL BARBARITY.]

A ZEALOT.

Religion is a pure and Spotless Dame;
But Zeal, misguided, is a furious Flame.

Application

Bigotry is the Parent of Enthusiasm.

* * * * *

Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious missing periods were replaced.

Subscriber's names, the unusual order of the names was retained. For example, "Goddard" coming before "Duill" and "Faden" coming after "Fulling."