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IV

P R E F A C E.

The present Undertaking is an attempt towards such a Work. How' far it willanswer the design is not easy for me to determine : Men are but indifferent Judges oftheir own productions. '

Unbiassed by any private Interest, nor blindly attached to any single System, Iihall consider, with Candour and Impartiality, what has been hitherto produced on theSubject of Architecture ; extracting from thence what to me appears best. Particulartimes or persons will have no influence on the Choice. Every Age hath afforded hadArtists, and all Men, however excellent, have sometimes erred. Where Reason orDemonstration take place, they shall be employed; but where they are deficient, thegeneral received Opinion must prevail. Abstruse and fruitless arguments shall carefullybe avoided; nor will I puzzle the Ignorant with a number of indiscriminate examples;judging it more eligible to offer a few that are good. Perspicuity, Precision, and Bre-vity will constantly be aimed at in the Style ; and in the Designs, Simplicity, Symme-try, Character, and Beauty of Form. If I can keep up to this Plan, I shall havelaboured to some End : If I fall short of it, the difficulty and extent of the task mustplead my excuse.

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