PREFACE.
Reading edition
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,
A
THE ANT.
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.
B
THE Butter-fly.
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.
C
THE Crocodile.
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.
D
The Dog.
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.
E
The Eagle.
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.
F
THE Fox.
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
G
THE GRASS HOPPER.
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.
H
THE HEN.
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.
J
THE Jay
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.
K
THE KITE.
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.
L
THE LAMB.
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
M
The MERMAID
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.
N
THE Nightingale.
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
O
THE Ostrich.
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.
P
The PELICAN.
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.
Q
The QUAIL.
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.
R
The ROSE
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.
S
A Ship in a Storm
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.
T
The Turtle-Dove.
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
V
The VULTUR.
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.
W
The War Horse.
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
X
XERXES.
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.
Y
Youth.
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.
Z
A ZEALOT.
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.
