Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

and discretion leaves us no room to doubt, but that perfect harmony and good understanding, which is so necessary, as well to your own happiness, as to the success of the undertaking, will subsist among you; yet, in order to prevent any possible dispute, which might arise about different measures, in the course of this expedition, we expressly declare, that the direction of the whole is hereby lodged in Mr. Chandler, assisted by Mr. Revett: and although Mr. Revett, and Mr. Pars, should protest against any measure proposed by Mr. Chandler, it is our meaning, that any such difference of opinion should not, in the least, interrupt or suspend your operations, but that, at the same time, that such persons as dissent from, or disapprove of, what is proposed, shall transmit to us their reasons for such dissent, they do notwithstanding continue to pursue Mr. Chandler's plan, until they receive our further orders for their conduct.

Given under our hands, at the Star and Garter, this seventeenth day of May, 1764.

CHARLEMONT.

ROB. WOOD.

THO. BRAND.

WM. FAUQUIER.

JAMES STUART.
MIDDLESEX.

LE DESPENCER.

J. GRAY.

BESBOROUGH.

It may be proper to mention here, that Mr. Revett had given satisfactory evidence of his abilities, as an architect, in a work entitled Ruins of Athens; which, it will please the lovers of ancient elegance to know, is still carrying on by his companion and fellow-labourer, Mr. Stuart. Mr. Pars, a young painter, was recommended by his promising talents, and justified the hopes conceived of him. He has lately published a set of views in Switzerland, being part of a collection made for the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Palmerston; and is now preparing to study at Rome with a stipend from the Society of Dilettanti.

The diligence of these gentlemen was manifested in a large number of plans, views, and drawings, now in the possession of the Society; many of them taken in the tour related in the ensuing volume; and the remainder in Greece, particularly at Athens, where we resided several months, and where I made a very choice collection of ancient marbles, now likewise in the possession of the Society.

Soon after our return the Society generously ordered, that a specimen of these labours should be engraved and printed at their expense; and to this work, which they permitted to be published, entitled Ionian Antiquities, the reader is sometimes referred in the following volume. The preface was written by the late excellent Mr. Wood, the editor of the Ruins of Palmyra and Balbec, who also drew up our instructions; the account of the architecture by Mr. Revett; and

the historical part by the relater. All the remaining views have been finished by Mr. Pars; and Mr. Revett is employed by the Society to complete the drawings of architecture.

The other materials were a book of inscriptions and a journal of our tour, which the Society were pleased to bestow on me, to be examined at my leisure and published. The inscriptions, many of which are uncommonly curious and ancient, have been lately printed in a separate volume; it having been judged expedient to detach them from the journal. The learned reader is referred to that collection for such of them as are connected with the following work.

The journal, consisting of two parts, one of which relates to ASIA MINOR, the other to GREECE, is now offered to the public. No labour has been spared in it; the geography of the countries is explained, and the narration illustrated by maps, plans, and charts; many mistakes are rectified, and difficulties obviated or removed.

The writer is aware, that he may be asked by the more curious reader, on what foundation he has mentioned in this volume certain barrows now extant, as those of Achilles and other classical heroes; as also his reason for supposing Niobe to be still visible on Mount Sipylus. The essay, advertised at the end of it, is partly intended to satisfy any such inquirer.

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »