Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Volume 1.djvu/12

 TO THE

KING.
SIR,

THE ARTS and SCIENCES humbly crave Audience of Your Majesty. The near Concern they have in the Happiness of a People, assures 'em of the favourable Attention of a Prince who makes that Happiness his own. 'Tis by These, the Parsimony of Nature is supplied, and Life render'd easy and agreeable under its numerous Infirmities. By these the Mind is reclaim'd from its native Wildness ; and enrich'd with Sentiments which lead to Virtue and Glory. 'Tis these, in sine, that make the Difference between your Majesty 's Subjects, and the Savages of Canada, or the Cape of Good Hope.

THE Protection of Arts has ever been esteemed the proper Province of the Great. 'Tis a Branch of the Regal Office; which a Prince, like Your Majesty, equal to the whole Charge of a Crown, will not suffer to be alienated into other Hands. From this, do the first and most distinguish'd Names in the List of Fame, derive a large Share of their Glory : and if there be any Age or Nation more conspicuous than the rest, and which is look'd on with Envy by our own ; 'tis that wherein the Sovereigns have signaliz'd themselves most in this Quality. Indeed, the Time seems at hand, when we are no longer to envy Rome her AUGUSTUS and Augustan Age, but Rome in her turn shall envy ours.

SOMETHING extraordinary is apparently intended by Providence in calling such a Prince, to such a People : A Prince who feels a generous Impulse to devote his Cares and all his Toils to the Welfare of Mankind ; and a People conspiring with unexampled Ardor and Unanimity to all his glorious Views. Some of our best Princes have had their Hands ty'd down ; check'd by reluctant Factions, who opposed every nobler Design : Your Majesly has sound the happy Secret, to make even Contention do you Homage ; and turn Opposition itself into Approbation, and Applause.

THERE is a Time reserv'd in Fate for every Nation to arrive at its Height; and the uppermost Place on the Terrestrial Ball is held succesfively by several States. May not the numerous Presages which usher in Your Majesty's Reign, give us room