EPISTLE DEDICATORY.

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forth those Argos and Trojan horses, about this happyisland, we are to fear nothing from without it; andwhilst we remain obedient to your just commands,nothing from within it.

It is now some years past, that your Majesty was plea-sed to declare your favourable acceptance of a Treatiseof Architecture, which I then presented to you, withmany gracious exprefsions, and that it was a most usefulpiece. Sir, that encouragement (together with thesuccefs of the book itself, and of the former editionsof this) has animated me still to continue my oblation

to your Majesty of these improvements: nor was itcertainly without some provident conduct, that we havebeen thus solicitous to begin, as it were, with materialsfor building, and Directions to Builders, if due re-flection be made on that deplorable calamity, the con-flagration of vour imperial city ; which, neverthelefsby the blefsing of God , and your Majesty’s graciousinfluence, we havq seen rise again a new and much moreglorious Phoenix.

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